Amplifier 5: coven witches , sharks, and surfing

It’s happening!!! #AmWriting #AmplifierSeries #AdeptUniverse

Another exclamation erupted from the backseat of the convertible, drawing our attention to the left again. For the briefest of moments a view of a gray sand beach broke through the trees. If not for the roar of the wind already buffeting my ears, the sound of the pounding surf would no doubt be impressive.

“Surfers!” Opal exclaimed, picking out black dots among waves that had to be at least four meters high. Even in June the water was cold enough that surfers wore wet suits if they wanted to be in the ocean for an extended period of time.

“But no sharks, right?” Ocean howled over the wind.

“You know there is!” Opal huffed, exacerbated. “We looked it up!”

“But not near shore.” Ocean muttered, reassuring herself. “Not man eaters.”

“Don’t worry,” Opal crowed gleefully. “The orcas will eat you before the sharks.”

I glanced at Ocean in the rearview mirror. The eighteen-year-old potions specialist looked utterly aghast. Aiden’s youngest sister had returned from the Academy with Opal last night. She was a member of the Myers coven but interested in apprenticing with one of the Godfrey witches for the summer. Hence, joining us for the retreat.

“But not near shore, right?” Ocean repeated, brushing the dark brown, blond tipped hair that had worked free from her loose bun away from her light blue eyes.

Lani laughed. “You don’t have to surf, Ocean.”

The Myers witch huffed, crossing her arms. “You don’t know witches. Show any weakness, and they’ll freeze me out.”

– Instincts and Imposters (Amplifier 5), chapter one, scene one, first draft

New to the Amplifier Series? Start reading with The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0). Or click here for the reading order of the entire Adept Universe (so far).

Amplifier Series: brainstorming oracle cards

With Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2) off for line/content edit, I’m turning my attention back to the Amplifier series. I’m actually brainstorming/outlining book five and six at the same time, because I’m seriously contemplating wrapping up the series at book six (technically seven, if you count the prequel). Which means, you should get two Amplifier books back to back, which is always fun.

I already had book five all outlined, and partly written, but if I intend to finish the series with book six then I need to make sure that book five sets everything up that must come full circle for a satisfying ending. And part of that is working out what oracle cards reflect the key plot points for the books.

I’m also digging through the book cover photo shoot to select the photos that I want to use for the last two book covers – fun! fun!

Brainstorming the oracle cards that will mentioned/featured in Amplifier 5 and 6.

The editor always has your back.

Just in case you ever wondered what the editor aka SFG aka Scott Fitzgerald Gray does for you specifically, my lovely readers, I stumbled across this seven year old Facebook post that exemplifies his power for good perfectly:

A screenshot of MCD’s Facebook post about adding a final scene to Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic (Dowser 2).

And how was the book going to end (had SFG not intervened)?

[massive spoiler for Dowser 1 below, just in case you haven’t read it yet!!]

I gazed at the golden god of a man across from me. My mind was reeling and my thoughts unfocused. He looked maybe thirty-five if I attributed the crinkles around his eyes to age, rather than to sun and laughter.

He let me look at him. His sword had returned to wherever he pulled it from. His arms were at his sides, palms open to face me … in surrender or acceptance?

“I have my mother’s eyes,” I said, releasing the breath that had been blocking my ability to speak.

“Yes,” Yazi, the warrior of the dragons, answered. “But every other inch of you is me.”

He was right. I was his spitting image.

Half-witch, half-dragon. Well, that was one mystery solved.

I smiled, hitting him with one of my best efforts ever.

“Hi, Dad,” I said.

– Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic (Dowser 2)

Editing and Allsorts

After nine weeks, I dropped the latest round of off-label headache meds yesterday – Candesartan, actually used for blood pressure regulation – because the side effects were becoming too detrimental and the constant/daily headache was completely undaunted. Already feeling slightly better, I happily spent the day working through the story editor’s notes on Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2).

Slowly but surely, I will get the next book in the Archivist series in your hands! Along with the first collection of the Moments of the Adept Universe stories. More info and release dates TBA!

But, more importantly, Michael bought me a treat to aid the editing/story pass.

On MCD’s desk today – editing Archivist 2 with the help of some liquorice Allsorts.

Liquorice (aka licorice) Allsorts!

Allsorts are definitely on the edge of too sweet for me, but I still enjoy the chewy texture. And the childhood connection/memory – one set (of four) of my grandparents always had a bowl of Allsorts on their coffee table when I visited in the summers.

I hope to get Archivist 2 back in the editor’s inbox by the end of next week. Wish me luck!

Moments of the Adept Universe: Audrey 0.5

Anchored in the Moment (Moments of the Adept Unvierse 0.7) aka Audrey 0.5 – First draft. Done. 🙂

Set after Dowser 1, and featuring Desmond, this ‘moment’ turned into a fun and sexy short. I was just going to share it on my blog, but I might also put out a random newsletter next week. [subscribe or check your subscription here] October is usually my fav month – Thanksgiving, my birthday, harvest, and halloween – but things are really rough around here right now – we think we’re losing Leo all of a sudden, because he won’t eat – and I needed something short and sweet to focus on. A distraction that would also help me feel productive.

Snippet below:

“You have a position open, in your pack,” I said without further preamble.

“The beta position is Kandy’s,” Desmond said, pointedly looking out the side window. It was a beautiful day, sunny but not hot. “It has always been Kandy’s.”

“Yet Kandy is in Vancouver.”

He glanced at me then, narrowing his eyes. “Fulfilling a temporary need.”

I eyed him for a moment, trying to figure out how much Desmond Llewelyn liked to be pushed. “She won’t take it,” I said evenly. “Just like she’ll let her inheritance rot, just like she won’t step up and take the Assembly seat.”

“Those are her choices.” Desmond frowned — I was getting to him, finally.

“Exactly. And you have a hole in your pack. An imbalance.”

He half grimaced, half snarled. “And you will be alpha when your father steps aside.”

“He’ll never step aside. He’ll wait for someone to take the pack from the Rothchilds. And you know —” I laughed bitterly. “You know, he hopes that’s going to be Kandy. A Tate.”

Desmond looked at me then. Really looked.

Finally.

I’d thought about how to approach the cat, already knowing that seducing him wouldn’t get me what I wanted. Though many alphas preferred to fill the position of beta with a lover or a family member. I had no doubt that the sex would be vigorous and as rough as I wanted it to be, but Desmond would never fuck his beta.

“He’s broken,” I whispered, though my voice was still harsh, hard-edged. “Justin’s death broke him. Like it broke Kandy. And me.”

“Kandy isn’t broken,” Desmond snarled, automatically defending his wolf. Like a true alpha.

I smirked. “I’m not saying that she isn’t strong. Fierce. And loyal. But she’s not your beta. She’s not the beta you need.”

“It’s not a post for a princess,” he snapped, shards of green magic flickering in his eyes.

“Test me,” I purred. “I can take anything you throw at me.”

He shook his head. “The answer is no.”

– Anchored in the Moment. First draft.

Amplifier 4: the re-reading of

Though I have Amplifier 5 all roughly outlined, I’m finding it difficult to force myself to focus on the first draft while the editor has Archivist 2. I’ve been writing Dusk, not Emma, for almost a year straight, and I have two side projects, not counting the short stories, that are occupying a lot of my brain space. I’m also likely a little burnt out – as we all are with the ongoing Covid19 restrictions/concerns – and, of course and annoyingly, the constant headache always makes writing interesting as well.

Anyway! I made myself a new desktop image, and I’m rereading Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) to get back into Emma’s headspace. I’m going to try to read slowly (not a strength of mine 😂 ) and I’ll be sharing some favourite bits over on my social media sites (possibly with some annotations). That should help hone my focus!

MCD’s current desktop/computer/treadmill desk setup.

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. It is bundled with The Music Box (Amplifier 4.5).

Reading order:

The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0)
Close to Home (Amplifier 0.5) (bundled with Amplifier 0)
Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1)
Bonds and Broken Dreams (Amplifier 2)
Mystics and Mental Blocks (Amplifier 3)
Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4)
The Music Box (Amplifier 4.5) (bundled with Amplifier 4)

Click here for the full reading order of the Adept Universe.

Archivist 1.5 update and an excerpt

Writing update: Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2) is off to the editor (aka SFG) for story editing. Finally! With the increase of pain (tried hormone therapy from Feb to July which helped with a ton of my other symptoms but unfortunately worsened the constant headache), my writing capacity was really slowed down. Thankfully, while I’m still in constant pain, the level has decreased enough that I’m managing to write most days again for at least a couple of hours.

Which leads me to the excerpt from Archivist 1.5 below. I need to get it sent off to SFG as well, since he’d probably like to read it sooner than later for story purposes.

I’m still not certain if I will simply give this short away to everyone who wants it or make it a preorder giveaway. And then I’m not certain if I should tuck it at the back of Archivist 2 (which technically would be out of order) or tuck it in with the Adept Universe shorts when I get them all bundled together. A preorder giveaway is certainly super fun, but it is a lot of extra work on my part.

Anyway!

This made me laugh out loud this morning:

“Some new playthings will please you,” Brady said.

“Artifacts and books aren’t playthings,” I retorted, then broke into a grin. “But maybe something hidden among the witch’s things will try to kill us. That’s always fun.”

The werewolf enforcer chuckled. Gleefully wicked.

At least we had that in common.

No lying necessary.

– untitled, Archivist 1.5, second draft

Archivist Series: without regrets

I didn’t risk glancing back a third time.

I knew what I had to do. And I needed to move quickly, without regrets.

Because I was a dragon, not a witch.

And dragons protected the world and all the magic within it.

– Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2), Chapter Nine, Second Draft

In other news, all the Dowser Series recipe cards have been mailed (Thank you, Michael!). Canada Post’s delivery standard is supposedly nine business days, even internationally. But I have serious doubts. 😂

Archivist 2: exposing those … forearms.

A drive-by excerpt of my current work in progress (Archivist 2), just because it made me laugh.

Ravine pushed a plate into my hands. “Kellan is manning the barbecue. Literally.” She grinned suggestively. “Cooking steak perfectly, wearing an apron, and exposing those … forearms. You might want to take a picture.”

I blinked. Once again rendered mute by her teasing. Okay, fine, my brain had just gone blank, then thrust the image she’d just described to the forefront.

Would taking a picture be rude? Or … I mean, people did take pictures to commemorate celebrations, right?

Ravine giggled gleefully, grabbing the salad tongs. “Eat, Dusk. You’ll need the energy.”

– Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2), Chapter Six, Second Draft

Reading order of the Archivist Series:

Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0)
Invoking Infinity (Archivist 1)
TBA (Archivist 1.5) – releasing late 2021
Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2) – releasing late 2021

Discussion thread: From One Moment to the Next (Kandy 0.75)

I just dropped From One Moment to the Next (Moments of the Adept Universe 0.5) (aka Kandy 0.75) into the inboxes of my newsletter subscribers, and as promised, I actually remembered to start a discussion thread!

The short (2600k) is just a sweet (well, my version of sweet) glimpse into Kandy’s life. It is set between her leaving her first pack and the events of Dowser 1. And features two other reader fav characters.