Category: writing

News Flash: Sept 21

On my desk today. Dahlias from Hey Day Farm and a notebook devoted to Archivist Series world building.
  1. Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) releases in eight days. I’m trying to not freak out because I really thought I had MORE TIME. In fact, I’d somehow convinced myself that I actually had everything under control. But I have no marketing banners (Gene Mollica is working on those for me right now), I haven’t remembered to type up the granola recipe and put it in the Adept Universe cookbook (that needs to happen this week) (ugh, and I need photos!!), and I haven’t even shared a nice, long excerpt of Chapter 1 (that will happen tomorrow)!
  2. Amplifier 4 will release in eBook form on September 29. Rob from 52novels is currently formatting the paperback and Tia Rider is already recording the audiobook, so hopefully, those will follow in October.
  3. There is a bonus short story in the back of Amplifier 4, The Music Box (Amplifier 4.5) from Opal’s POV. It’s just a fun piece with a tiny crossover. But, since it needs to be read AFTER Amplifier 4, it didn’t make sense to use it as a preorder giveaway, so I tucked it in the back of the book. I’ll mention this a few times in a few places over the next week or so because I don’t want you to miss it!!
  4. In nonAmplifier news: Whitney Dykhouse just dropped her audio files for Catching Echoes (Reconstructionist 1) in my inbox so I get to start listening through the audiobook tonight – YAY!
  5. Currently writing: a short prequel (maybe 25k?) for a new series called The Archivist. Set in the Adept Universe with a twenty-five-year-old dragon as the main character. I already have scenes rolling around in my head for book two and three so the muse is obviously excited. The sibling relationship with Dusk’s much younger brother is really lovely (and something I haven’t explored yet). Also toying with a slow, slow burn, hot, hot romance with an ‘alpha.’ I’m not usually into the ‘alpha’ character trope but it might work for the character/the story. We shall see …

Have a great week!!

Amplifier 4: Paisley wants to play.

I’m working through the editor’s line edit on Idol and Enemies (Amplifier 4) and since I’m refining the text, etc, I thought it would be fun to share a short snippet. When I asked for requests over on Facebook and Twitter, the overwhelming majority voted for more Paisley content. So here you go!

Warning: it’s rather difficult to pull chunks out of Amplifier 4 without spoilers, so there are characters in this snippet that you haven’t met yet.

Aiden released my hand, stepping over to the kitchen island. “Whose turn is next?”

Khalid cleared his throat, eyeing Paisley and then glancing over Aiden’s shoulder at me. “Mine. If I step back, will Paisley try to rip my throat out?”

“I never really know,” I said casually. “Shall I ask her not to eat you, sorcerer?”

“You haven’t already?” Ocean cried. Then she blushed fiercely.

I didn’t answer.

So apparently, I could play games. For my own pleasure, at least. Though by the look Aiden angled at me, I’d managed to amuse him as well.

Aiden took Khalid’s spot at the island. Paisley hooked paws that were too big for her current body on the edge of the speckled quartz counter and pulled herself up. Her nose skimmed the low edge of the magical grid. Sickled claws shot out from her paws.

Across from the demon dog, Sky meeped.

I wasn’t certain I’d ever heard a human make that particular sound before.

“Paisley,” I said in a warning tone.

The demon dog retracted the claws, laughing at me with her eyes.

– Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4)

Me. Today so far …

Honestly, some days I’m not sure I should be in charge of my own schedule. For example, this is me today so far:

The plan: Add at least 2k to Misfits 2 before lunch, then chat with my mentee about branding, etc, in the afternoon.

The reality: Oh, wait! I need to set The Amplifier Protocol to free on all stores so Amazon will price match before I launch all the other marketing stuff* leading up to the release of Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4). *Yeah, the fact that I call it ‘stuff’ probably doesn’t bode well.

Okay, done! Now new words!

Wait, it’s time for coffee? Where the hell is the morning going? I should wash and sort this box of blueberries. Okay, Leo needs attention (snap a picture, post to Instagram, play with a mouse and his new blueberry box). And I really should wash and freeze the flat of strawberries as well. I also need to make some vanilla ice cream.

No. I can do that tomorrow.

Back to work! *Noting the pile of items cluttering the dining table as I walk by.* I really should at least take pictures of Cindy’s (aka my sis-in-law’s) new picturebook and get a giveaway posted on my blog. *takes pictures* Ugh, the internet connection sucks today. I’ll do that tomorrow.

Now new words!

Hmmm, maybe I’ll share another chunk of the first draft of Misfits 2? That would be fun. Let’s see if it is ready to read … *scrolls back and starts rewriting, getting completely caught up adding 500+ more words of extra sass, baring of teeth, and werewolves games.*

OMFG! It’s time for freaking lunch!??

Wolf moon sketch purloined from Nature’s My Friend‘s 2017 calendar. I have it tucked into my notebook for Misfits 2 (aka Kandy’s book) for inspiration.

So, um, yeah. No ‘new’ words.

Misfits 2: A tiny bite.

So … I’m supposed to be writing Amplifier 5. Instead, needing to work on something playful (with a whole lot of bite) and distracting, I wrote the opening scene for Misfits of the Adept Universe – book 2. No release date yet, but I’ll probably keep working on it for the next while.

I tugged at the stiff collar of my light blue dress shirt, trying to ignore the miasma of scents emanating from the crowd gathered around the international arrivals gate at the Vancouver Airport.

The guy nearest me had just come in from the parking lot dragging the scent of asphalt, gasoline, and a lingering crispness with him. The woman rocking her kid in a stroller, cradling flowers in her free arm, was way too fond of pineapple and coconut. It was in her skin cream and conditioner. Well, fake coconut and pineapple. The bartender in the open bar behind me pulled draught after draught of pilsner and amber ale for the customers lining the bar stools and the waitstaff slinging burgers and garlic-riddled Caesar salad.

Three days from the December full moon, aka the Cold Moon, and my skin was already itching under the suit I’d been forced to stuff myself in.

Apparently, it wasn’t appropriate for the head of security for a shapeshifter summit to wear a sports bra, leggings, and an obscenely printed T-shirt while on duty. I’d capitulated on the clothing — finding a black pant suit with as much lycra as possible and pairing it with shiny zippered ankle boots that added a much needed three inches to my height — but I refused to dye my currently florescent pink hair back to its natural mousy brown.

And there was no way I was removing the ridiculously-out-of-place runed-etched, raw diamond gold cuffs that perpetually adorned my wrists. The Wolf’s Bracers, the Adept snobs were prone to calling them. I’d deliberately rolled up the sleeves of the dress shirt and the jacket to display the artifacts. Even though doing so made me look like I was posing for the cover for some fashion magazine. Not that I was pretty enough to actually book such gig. My nose too slim and straight, jaw too angular, and teeth too pointy to pull print media off.

Okay, so, the teeth only got pointy when I was being nasty.

I adored being nasty.

But only when someone pissed me off.

Which was, admittedly, often.

How the hell had I wound up being the head of security for this stupid wedding and pack status hearing?

Right.

My lord and alpha, and the head of the Godfrey coven, had conspired against me.

– untitled, Misfits 2, first draft

ATV: the evolution of a book cover and giveaway

In between writing (apparently, I’m randomly working on an Opal short story that falls after Amplifier 4) I’ve been thinking about branding because it’s a topic I’m discussing with my SFWA mentee, Natasha. We’ve been chatting about book covers and finding something simple but evocative to convey the genre and tone of your story in a single image. Which made me think about my very first novel, After The Virus.

So … here is the evolution of the book covers for After The Virus with some thoughts on each and why I rebranded at each stage. At the bottom of the post I’ve made some copies of After The Virus free via BookFunnel just in case you haven’t had a chance to give it a read. I’ve capped the giveaway at 50 copies.

Late-Spring 2011. Self-designed. My first foray into self-publishing,

This was the first cover for the ebook. I designed it myself, which I’m sure you can tell at a glance. Lots of mistakes here, including that I didn’t need the ‘by’ (a holdover from writing screenplays for 12 years prior to writing a novel). My author name is WAY too small. And overall the cover isn’t dynamic enough.

Summer 2011. Designed by Scott Fitzgerald Gray.

My absolutely brilliant editor Scott Fitzgerald Gray asked if he could take a stab at the cover and he came up with this tweak. Instantly, so much more dynamic. And the lighter colour really popped whenever ATV was grouped/listed with other post-apoc or horror novels. But still not really conveying the themes of the novel itself …

Summer 2012. Designed by Irene Langholm.

Then I commissioned an original book cover from Irene Langholm. And I absolutely, utterly adored it. The art/photo manipulation is outstanding. But, in hindsight, my name and the title of the book are far too small. It definitely conveys genre, but it doesn’t ultimately fully express the main aspect of the book – that it’s a love story. If you happen to have (a typo-ridden) paperback of After the Virus from way back when it had this cover.

Fast forward to January 2017. Designed by Elizabeth Mackey.

I decided I wanted to refresh a bunch of my older book covers in early 2017, and I asked Elizabeth Mackey to take a crack at After the Virus, adding in the tag ‘a post-apocalyptic love story’. This cover is much simpler and utterly evocative. It nails genre and tone. The title and my name are much more prominent. Readers know exactly what they are getting when they buy based on this cover. And, in my opinion, fulfilling expectations (while entertaining) is a writer’s ultimate goal.

After The Virus. The evolution of a book cover, from 2011 to 2017.

So there you go!

Interested in reading After The Virus? Yes? Well, that is cool because I’m giving away 50 copies!

>> Grab After The Virus for free from BookFunnel <<

Synopsis: “Plunge headlong into a decaying world of ruined cites, ruined lives, and ruined aspirations.” After the virus decimates 99.9% of the world’s population and all traces of humanity along with it, Rhiannon and Will are forced to move beyond their past fame, fortune, and personal demons to rescue a mute girl from the clutches of two warring cults.

Amplifier 4: cover reveal

Cover design by: Gene Mollica Studios Models: Devon Ericksen and Jonathan Cannaux

COMING SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

PREORDER NOW

– AMAZON – KOBO – APPLE BOOKS – BARNES & NOBLE – SMASHWORDS –

Idols and Enemies is the fourth book in the Amplifier Series, which is set in the same universe as the Dowser, the Oracle, the Reconstructionist, and the Misfits of the Adept Universe series.

Mass giveaways coming throughout August and September!!! Including a chance to grab The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) for free (coming very soon) and dozens of download codes for all the audiobooks, starting August 30. I’ll send a newsletter with all the dates, etc, soon.

New to the Adept Universe? The first book Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) is currently free on all platforms. Click here for the full reading order.

Waiting on the next book in the Adept universe? Subscribe to my mailing list to make sure you never miss a new release!

Women of the Adept Universe, Phase One

Okay, the epically talented, and ever-lovely Memo made us a treat!! Okay, she made me a treat but I thought you all might like it as well. Squee!!!

The Women of the Adept Universe – Phase One:

From left to right: Kandy (werewolf), Scarlett (witch), Jade (dowser/alchemist), Pearl (witch), Mory (necromancer), Burgundy (witch/healer), Gabby (amplifier), and Peggy (telepath).

Guess what my new desktop photo is???!!! 🙂

New to the Adept Universe? The first book Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) is currently free on all platforms. Click here for the full reading order.

Waiting on the next book in the Adept universe? Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) is coming soon!! Subscribe to my mailing list to make sure you never miss a new release!

Amplifier 0: Flynn

I’m working my way through the Amplifier books today, making sure all the ‘marketing’ bits are in place as I ready for the upcoming push through to the release of book four (preorder TBA). And I happened upon this scene (and the scene right before), and – once again – blubbered through it. Ugh. So much heartache on the Five’s path to freedom of choice.

We were about three-quarters of the way along the corridor when Flynn unleashed his death curse in the northeast stairwell.

By succumbing to death.

Magic slammed against Fish’s nullifying field. It actually shoved him forward into Knox and Bee.

The concrete floor rumbled under our feet. Anyone in the path of the spell, whatever team was blocking the northeast stairwell and whoever had hit Flynn with the spell that had killed him, wouldn’t be left standing. In fact, based on the light display pulsing across Fish’s shield, I doubted whether the stairwell would even be passable.

A sorcerer of Flynn’s caliber held a lot of magic in his blood, in his life force. Enough to wipe out many enemies.

But then, if you were willing to die to do so, you could wreak a lot of vengeance.

Waiting for the residual to fade before moving, we all turned to look at Zans.

She was standing a couple of steps ahead, head bowed, hands clenched at her sides.

Flynn’s magic faded.

Zans glanced back down the corridor, snarling and laughing at the same time. “I bet that stung them. And I haven’t even gotten started yet.” She pinned her dark gaze to me. “Are you with me, Socks?”

She didn’t have to ask. Truthfully, she really shouldn’t have asked, because there was wild magic embedded in vows — when the words were wielded by those such as us.

“To the end,” I said.

“To the end.” Knox, Bee, and Fish echoed the words behind me.

Magic shifted around us, then settled. We were already tied. By birth, by blood, and by magic. Those bonds might have been forced upon us, but we had no one else. No reason not to die for each other.

– The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0)

Oracle 3: audiobook giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED. Last but certainly not least, here is the audiobook giveaway for I See Us (Oracle 3)!!

Cover design by Elizabeth Mackey. Narrated by Jennifer Grace.

Okay! As before, this is a first-come, first-win deal. The giveaway remains open until all the download codes have been claimed.

Do you want to listen to I See Us (Oracle 3) on audiobook?

Yes?

Okay then!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!!

Reviews are always welcomed and appreciated!!

Amplifier 4: Paisley and …

*SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS*

Paisley shoved herself between Aiden and his father. A single tentacle sprung forth from her neck. It was wrapped around a large bovine bone. The demon dog flashed a double row of sharp teeth at Kader, then poked him in the thigh with the bone.

“Ah,” Kader said. “Look at you, beautiful. I didn’t know that any of you had survived.” He glanced at me. “Did you get the entire litter out?”

I hadn’t. Only Paisley had survived the destruction we Five had wrought on the compound when we’d escaped the Collective.

Paisley poked Kader with the bone again.

“Yes, sorry,” he said to her. Then he wrapped his hand around the end of the bone, gazing deliberately into Paisley’s blood red eyes.

Silence stretched. A distant rooster crowed, then the rooster overseeing our flock responded. An airplane passed overhead.

Aiden glanced my way questioningly.

I shrugged. Paisley had done something similar when Opal had appeared on the property, making her hold the bone as well. I hadn’t thought to mention it to anyone. But the demon dog seemed to be using the bone that Aiden had given her as some sort of way to vet intruders, friend from possible tasty treat.

Not that I’d let the demon dog eat someone. Though, even I couldn’t stop everything that might happen in the heat of battle.

– Excerpt from Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4), 4th draft. Releasing Sept/Oct 2020.