“Wizard Body Art: Should She or Shouldn’t She?”
I didn’t intend for so many of my characters to have tattoos. I don’t have any tattoos, after all. All of my nieces and my nephew have them. Oddly enough, both of my paternal grandparents had them. Yes, you heard it here first, folks. My grandmother had a tattoo of a heart on her arm that she got when my grandfather joined the Navy during WWI. It probably seemed romantic and all at the time but when she was in her 60s and I was a kid, it was weird.
But I digress.
My wizard heroine, DJ, is thinking about getting a tattoo. She’s been dithering about it for a while but doesn’t know what to get, where to put it, and is afraid she’ll really have buyer’s regret. I mean, a tramp stamp on an urban fantasy heroine is just so 2008, right?
Meanwhile, I began looking at my other characters and, holy cow. Tats galore. How did that happen? Here’s the tally.
Alex Warin, DJ’s co-sentinel in South Louisiana, has an Enforcer’s mark on his right pec. It’s really more of a scar than a tattoo. Well, okay, technically, it’s a brand. The shape is a crescent moon, signifying the start of a new moon cycle. A lot of the Enforcers are weres, although Alex is not. The enforcers are the beefy guys with weapons that the wizards call in when all else fails. They kill the monsters with very specialized ammo.
Jake Warin, Alex’s cousin and a new Enforcer, is a former Marine, so he has a Marine Devil Dog on his right forearm. Think ticked-off bulldog in a helmet. I think he has another tat on his upper arm but I’d have to dig out my series notebook to find out for sure.
Rene Delachaise is a merman who lives in Orchard—a community in Plaquemines Parish, southeast of New Orleans, near the town of Venice, Louisiana. Water…think lots and lots of water. Perfect for a merman, right? Rene is one of those full-on body art guys, which is not an easy feat since in the world of the Sentinels series, merpeople are aquatic shapeshifters. So they heal too fast for an ordinary tattoo to work. Rene gets around it with salt and vinegar to irritate the skin into scarring. He just has to refresh his ink now and again. Hmmm….high pain tolerance, wouldn’t you think? Rene’s twin brother, Robert, doesn’t have tattoos (especially not that SPECIAL diving bottle-nosed dolphin tat Rene has in a, um, special place). Yeah, Rene’s quite a colorful guy.
Eugenie Dupre, DJ’s human neighbor (who doesn’t know she’s surrounded by wizards, mers and shifters), has five or six tattoos. She’s kind of a new-agey hippie girl who has her own small hair salon, so Euge has the tramp stamp. She has suns and moons and stars and raindrops. (She also has some very creative haircolor but so far hasn’t talked DJ into experimenting.)
That’s a lot of ink, right? About the only major character so far without ink is the undead pirate Jean Lafitte. He considers himself quite handsome enough without any embellishment, so I don’t expect you’ll be seeing him inking up anytime soon.
Which brings us back to DJ. Rene the merman has offered to hook her up with his tattoo artist. Should she or shouldn’t she? Weigh in. If she should get a tattoo, what should it be, and where should she put it? I can tell you this much: it will be small enough to hide—you know, just in case of that buyer’s remorse thing.
Title: River Road
Author: Suzanne Johnson
Series: Sentinels of New Orleans ~ Book Two
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN: 978-0765327802
ASIN: B00842H5VI
Number of pages: 336
Word Count: approx. 92,000
Cover Artist: Cliff Nielsen
Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator.
Wizards are dying, and something—or someone—from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who—or what—is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two.
It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.
The minute hand of the ornate grandfather clock crept like a gator stuck in swamp mud. I’d been watching it for half an hour, nursing a fizzy cocktail from my perch inside the Hotel Monteleone. The plaque on the enormous clock claimed it had been hand- carved of mahogany in 1909, about 130 years after the birth of the undead pirate waiting for me upstairs.
They were both quite handsome, but the clock was a lot safer.
The infamous Jean Lafitte had expected me at seven. He’d summoned me to his French Quarter hotel suite by courier like I was one of his early nineteenth-century wenches, and I hated to destroy his pirate-king delusions, but the historical undead don’t summon wizards. We summon them.
I’d have blown him off if my boss on the Congress of Elders hadn’t ordered me to comply and my co-sentinel, Alex, hadn’t claimed a prior engagement.
At seven thirty, I abandoned my drink, took a deep breath, and marched through the lobby toward the bank of elevators.
On the long dead-man-walking stroll down the carpeted hallway, I imagined all the horrible requests Jean might make. He’d saved my life a few years ago, after Hurricane Katrina sent the city into freefall, and I hadn’t seen him since. I’d been desperate at the time. I might have promised him unfettered access to modern New Orleans in exchange for his assistance. I might have promised him a place to live. I might have promised him things I don’t even remember. In other words, I might be totally screwed.
I reached the door of the Eudora Welty Suite and knocked, reflecting that Jean Lafitte probably had no idea who Eudora Welty was, and wouldn’t like her if he did. Ms. Welty had been a modern sort of woman who wouldn’t hop to attention when summoned by a scoundrel.
He didn’t answer immediately. I’d made him wait, after all, and Jean lived in a tit- for- tat world. I paused a few breaths and knocked harder. Finally, he flung open the door, waving me inside to a suite plush with tapestries of peach and royal blue, thick carpet that swallowed the narrow heels of my pumps, and a plasma TV he couldn’t possibly know how to operate. What a waste.
“You have many assets, Drusilla, but apparently a respect for time is not among them.” Deep, disapproving voice, French accent, broad shoulders encased in a red linen shirt, long dark hair pulled back into a tail, eyes such a cobalt blue they bordered on navy. And technically speaking, dead.
He was as sexy as ever.
“Sorry.” I slipped my hand in my skirt pocket, fingering the small pouch of magic-infused herbs I carried at all times. My mojo bag wouldn’t help with my own perverse attraction to the man, but it would keep my empathic abilities in check. If he still had a perverse attraction to me, I didn’t want to feel it.
He eased his six-foot-two frame into a sturdy blue chair and slung one long leg over the arm as he gave me a thorough eyeraking, a ghost of a smile on his face.
I perched on the edge of the adjacent sofa, easing back against a pair of plump throw pillows, and looked at him expectantly. I hoped what ever he wanted wouldn’t jeopardize my life, my job, or my meager bank account.
“You are as lovely as ever, Jolie,” Jean said, trotting out his pet name for me that sounded deceptively intimate and brought back a lot of memories, most of them bad. “I will forgive your tardiness— perhaps you were late because you were selecting clothing that I would like.” His gaze lingered on my legs. “You chose beautifully.”
I’d picked a conservative black skirt and simple white blouse with the aim of looking professional for a business meeting, part of my ongoing attempt to prove to the Elders I was a mature wizard worthy of a pay raise. But this was Jean Lafitte, so I should have worn coveralls. I’d forgotten what a letch he could be.
“I have a date after our meeting,” I lied. He didn’t need to know said date involved a round carton with the words Blue Bell Ice Cream printed on front. “Why did you want to see me?”
There, that hadn’t been so difficult—just a simple request. No drama. No threats. No double- entendre. Straight to business.
“Does a man need a reason to see a beautiful woman? Especially one who is indebted to him, and who has made him many promises?” A slow smile spread across his face, drawing my eyes to his full lips and the ragged scar that trailed his jawline.
I might be the empath in the room, but he knew very well that, in some undead kind of way, I thought he was hot.
I felt my face warming to the shade of a trailer- trash bridesmaid’s dress, one whose color had a name like raging rouge. I’d had a similar reaction when I first met Jean in 2005, two days before a mean hurricane with a sissy name turned her malevolent eye toward the Gulf Coast. I blamed my whole predicament on Katrina, the bitch.
Her winds had driven the waters of Lake Pontchartrain into the canals that crisscrossed the city, collapsing levees and filling the low, concave metro area like a gigantic soup bowl.
But NBC Nightly News and Anderson Cooper had missed the biggest story of all: how, after the storm, a mob of old gods, historical undead, and other preternatural victims of the scientific age flooded New Orleans. As a wizard, I’d had a ringside seat. Now, three years later, the wizards had finally reached accords with the major preternatural ruling bodies, and the borders were down, as of two days ago. Jean hadn’t wasted any time.
***
Suzanne Johnson writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance from Auburn, Alabama, after a career in educational publishing that has spanned five states and six universities. She grew up halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis’ birthplace and lived in New Orleans for fifteen years, so she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of SEC football and fried gator on a stick.
DJ should definitely get a tattoo – that’s tasteful and symbolic and like you said in a discreet place. Maybe something, a symbol, that means something to her, or a short phrase from a poem? Or something that means a lot to wizards:)
ccfioriole at gmail dot com
Maybe the inside of the ankle area…definitely something symbolic for her.
Oh,yes, D.J. should get a tattoo. Something from the Elves maybe. A symbol with some sort of magical meaning. Something that ties her to Charlie. A rune. One that has some magic of it’s own.
Yes, runes! In an early draft of Royal Street, when she was trying to figure out what Charlie was, there was actually a set of runes I drew and gave the meaning for…I’ll have to find them.
OMG, “a tramp stamp on an urban fantasy heroine is just so 2008” – I was dying!!!! So funny!!!! I’m not really into tattoos, to be honest. Maybe it’s the Southern Belle in me? I’ve always thought of tattoos as permanent reminders of temporary insanity. That said, I like Roger’s idea of a magical tattoo.
I like them…on other people. Have to admit I’ve been tempted, just not enough to actually go through with it! I like Roger’s idea, too. Hm…maybe it could LITERALLY be a magical tattoo that she stores some emergency magic inside. *brains starts to spin*
I’m not really into tattoos but ifDJ gets one it should be small and someplace she can cover with clothing.
DJ agrees with you completely, Sandy!
no tatoo or something small easily hidden and not done without thinking about the meaning and such after all it’s permanent so better to be sure ( not a boy name etc)
Yes, it has to be something meaningful to DJ (not a guy for sure) and discreet.
I think she should get a symbol or rune on her ankle or back of her neck that has something to do with the elves, since she has elvish ancestors!
Ooh, back of the neck is interesting. I might like that better than ankle.
I love looking at tattoos! I’m a little too scared of needles to actually GET one.. but they can be drop dead gorgeous! Hmmm, the ankle idea is a really good one. It’s a sexy but conservative place.. can be covered easily. A rune would be a good idea.. or anything that gives DJ strength just by looking at it and remembering. 🙂
(It’s coming up as Anonymous.. but my id : Readsalot81 🙂 )
LOL–glad you told me who you were! I also like looking at them, and some of them are just beautiful!
Suzanne, thanks so much for stopping by and talking with us today! A tattoo is a lifelong commitment (unless you don’t mind extensive visits for removal!) so I don’t blame DJ for thinking it through. I myself only have one which is not completely visible and took a few years to decide whether or not I would go through with it.
I think something small and hidden would be best for her, anything flashy would definitely make her stand out more than she already does in the supernatural community…I really like the idea of a rune or a magical tattoo. Even if she decides against it we have plenty of tattooed hotties to go around in the series!
Thanks for having me here, Lori! Yes, DJ doesn’t have to have her own tattoo–she obviously has plenty to look at, just on Rene 🙂
Lol, great topic Suzanne, I do love tattoos and would love one myself, but I so hate needles I am never going to do it. But if I would get the courage somewhere, it would be small and on a place I could see it myself everyday. Perhaps the inside on my underarm. (My boyfriend has the Klingon symbol there!). But I would choose something bookish myself.
I like the small, discreet ones, too. And you definitely need something bookish…have to get past the needle thing, though 🙂
Definitely…urban fantasy has to have a tattoo..you think bad a**. If it needs to be small…my friend actually got one where no one can see it unless she shows them…She has long hair and its under her hair, igh on her neck line in the back. Its a small tattoo for protection. If you lift her hair up you can see it coming out from under her hairline…it’s actually pretty cool. Maybe DJ could get something like that.
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com
That’s another vote for back of the neck. I really like that because if it’s something she can infuse with magic, it would be easy for her to touch it to “activate” it. Now you guys will have to stay tuned to see what shows up in the books!
We’d stay tuned in regardless 🙂 Love your series.
I’m terrible at suggesting ideas. But if she gets a tattoo, like you said small and discreet.Something symbolic to her.Nothing she’s gonna regret.Great post.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Thanks for stopping by, Elaine!
Well I can not tell you not to get one because I have one and I do plan to get another one. Of course this is a choice of only the one getting the tattoo. If I were to pick one for you it would have to be something that connects with New Orleans. And one more bit of advise is that if someone judges you because of a piece of art that means enough to you to wear it then you don’t need them. As the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover!!!
Happy reading and writing*
Teresa
morris1963tess@yahoo.com
Thanks, Teresa–I’d thought if she didn’t get a rune I might give her the one I’d get if I got one–a fleur de lis, which is the symbol for New Orleans.
I have a tattoo. I have a pegasus on my back and yes I want to get another one. I am looking at getting one on my ankle maybe a lilly or butterfly. I would suggest something like that. Thanks for the giveaway. Tore923@aol.com
I bet Pegasus is cool! I don’t think I’ve seen any lilies, but that would be pretty 🙂
I cant even decide that for myself. I have been going back and forth for years.
tattoo? i’m a little scared of needles, so if i ever gonna get one i’ll go for anything small and well hidden.
I think if DJ wants a tattoo she should get one, but a small one, like a symbol or rune with meaning – on a hip so she can see it, but it would be hidden unless she wanted it to be seen. I just don’t get the whole back tattoo thing – if I were to mark my skin, I’d want to be able to see it without a mirror. 😀