A Writer's Dream

It's 2012 - Let the reading challenges begin!

2012-01-03T00:55:00.000-08:00

Hello 2012!

I took a much needed vacation away from work and now am getting reacquainted with writing, artwork and more. Hello old friends!

My pens are inked, my notebook pages are stacked and my library has strangely grown in the past few days with all the book sales running rampant on the web. I'm trying to be good and not buy new books. Instead I want to read the ones I have in the mean time. What better way to cut through the stack than with book challenges! Woo hoo!

I updated the ones I joined last year, which you can see on the sidebar there. This year I hope to read many more books and reach my reading goals (hello again, my friend Goodreads)!

So here we go! To kick us off, let's begin with:

TBR Challenge 2012

Category romance - January 18 Review Date

TBA

2012 Muti-Cultural Book Challenge Book #1

2012 SFR Reading Challenge - Book #1

To be Released January 10th, 2012

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ The Twilight Zone Legacy + Blog Contest

2011-12-31T00:00:00.001-08:00

The Twilight Zone

I can't remember the day I saw my first Twilight Zone episode. I do know that ever since then, I haven't been able to pass by a marathon or an episode without giving it a peek. Anyone who has chatted with me about my favorite genre shows knows I'm a huge T-Zone fan.

Ever year I tune into the annual Twilight Zone New Year's marathon (and this year there was a special treat of having a classic Outer Limits marathon on Christmas Day woo hoo!) with my sparkling cider and kick up my feet to watch some of my fave episodes. This year we also have the TDtSSS Blog Tour so what better way to chat genre fiction than to write about my favorite series and episodes?

Creator Rod Serling changed the face of television and inspired me greatly with his anthology that touched on the entire spectrum of humanity. While exploring everything from innocent lost and gain to nostalgia, fear and never-ending love, greed and absence, he enterained us, frightened us and enlightened us--sometimes all at once.

This year I want to celebrate Twilight Zone and speculative fiction by naming my top five Twilight Zone episodes.

1) The Shelter -Impending invasion brings out the worst in neighbors

2) The Monsters are Due on Maple Street - Aliens invade and paranoia grows between neighbors

3) The Living Doll - Talky Tina reigns terror on Kojak

4) To Serve Man - It's a cookbook!

5) The Bewitchin' Pool - Children of an abusive couple going through a divorce escapes through the pool and to an awesome land of happy kids and ginormous cake.

I'd also like to invite visitors to enter a special end of the tour contest where you can win a ebook of Cimmerian City, my most recent release, and an ebook of A Kiss of Ashen Twilight, the first in my Ashen Twilight Series. Alls you have to do is post a comment about your fave Twilight Zone memories and episodes or if you haven't seen the series, post a comment about how you know about it!

Bonus for those who have a hankering to follow me here at AWD or on Twitter. ;-)

Let the TZone love begin and don't forget to check out the Sci-Fi Channel's (sorry, I just can't bring myself to post it the new way cause it's too weird!) New Years Day Marathon!

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Author Marie Harbon

2011-12-30T14:00:00.000-08:00

Day 4 brings us our last special treat of the day! Marie Harbon, author of the recent YA spec fic novel, drops by to share a bit of how she would handle The Day the Sun Stopped Shining.

Author Marie Harbon

You wake up one morning and there is no daylight – it is pitch dark outside, not even electricity… Something happened to turn out all the light and there are strange noises outside…

Nothing had changed since yesterday; I was still isolated from my comrades, the door was still firmly closed and it was still pitch black. It surprised me that despite the lack of electricity, the door hadn’t released so I surmised that there must be a back up source of power somewhere feeding the controller of my new prison cell.

It was disorientating being shut off from society, enclosed in a sensory deprivation environment… maybe it was being done deliberately. When the power had inexplicably died several hours ago, my comrades had been on the other side. Then an alarm had sounded and the door had swung shut, the electronic locks clicking in an indication of my impending doom.

But what I had heard on the other side of the door truly chilled me to the bone… people screaming, real torturous shrieks like some grisly apocalyptic scene. Then silence, and that was the worst part of all. I now felt isolated because I was either separated from my comrades in life and death, or through distance.

That silence had now given away to some strange shuffling and scraping sounds coming from the other side of the door. There had to be at least one person out there, anyone… I couldn’t bear the isolation. Without hesitation, I began banging on the door to draw their attention but then the shuffling and scraping stopped. I called out but there was just silence.

This wasn’t working. I had to make sense of what was going on, so I pictured what I could remember of the room’s interior… entrances and exits. The point of entry we used was above and to the left, I think; my sense of direction was completely lost in the pitch black. This heist certainly wasn’t going to plan.

If the world really was ending, what 3 things would you do?

Make sure I was surrounded by my family and friends, so that if we go down, we go down together.
Reflect on the good times and the greatest things I’d achieved throughout my life.
Along with my friends and family, I’d take a boat and lay claim to an island somewhere, away from the hysterical and looting population. (It’s ending, but not completely finished!).

Marie Harbon is an author and screenplay writer who lives in Nottingham, UK. Her first and current novel is the first in a five part paranormal/science fiction epic called ‘Seven Point Eight: The First Chronicle’, which is available on the Kindle for $0.99 and in paperback for $18.00.

Download a copy from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Point-Eight-ebook/dp/B005IBYKC0/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325201684&sr=1-1

Follow me on Twitter @marieharbon

Visit my website at www.marieharbon.com

Like my Facebook page ‘The Seven Point Eight Chronicles – Science Fiction/Paranormal Series’ https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Seven-Point-Eight-Chronicles-Science-FictionParanormal-Series/187502084680196?sk=info

You can also add me on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5069707.Marie_A_Harbon

Many thanks, Rae for welcoming me to your site.

Thanks for dropping by Marie! ~ AWD

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Author Ju Ephraime

2011-12-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

Day 4 of the tour also brings us another special treat in the form of author Ju Ephraime. Ju's mystery entitled The Man in the Black Top Hat is available now! Here's a snapshot of our second author of the day as well as a look into her new book!

Ju Ephraime

http://juephraime1.blogspot.com/

Brief Bio: Ju Ephraime has been reading and writing from her teenage years. However, over the years, the heavy load of academic reading and writing, in pursuit of her educational goals, forced her to step away from reading and writing, just for the fun of it. A year ago she revisited her first love, writing for fun and enjoyment, and has not stopped since. She has written several children's books, including four romance novels, and her first paranormal. Professionally, she is the administrator of a career school in Connecticut and the President of a non-profit organization, Professional Wardrobe, Inc., which dresses individuals for job interviews. Ms. Antoine is very active in her community and is always willing to assist and help someone in need.

The Man in the Black Top Hat

Brief Synopsis: In this her first paranormal romance novel, Ju Ephraime has given us a book filled with suspense, mystery, ghostly happenings, and sex. For most authors of paranormal romance, this would have been an ambitious undertaking, but Ephraime delivers this story in her usual quick pace and attention to detail. The Man In The Black Top Hat, is not your ordinary paranormal romance novel.

Set in Connecticut, The Man In The Black Top Hat will have you on the edge of your seat, as you try to follow the interactions between Syria Warrington and the Ghost that invaded her home. Told in the voice of the heroine, Syria Warrington, the story takes you from Syria's first meeting with the Ghost on her front step, to her bringing it into her home, and the nightly going ons between them, as, night after night she found herself caught up in sexual escapades, the like of which she had never experienced before. The story has the reader wondering, was Syria's meeting with the Ghost an accident or had she been targeted by the Ghost in a former life?

Get a copy here at: The Man In The Black Top Hat

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Author P.R. Mason

2011-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

AWD is excited to present today's first guest for Day 4 of the tour! Author P.R. Mason's wonderful guest post on villains and her recent release, Entanglements!

A Villain Who Thinks He's a Hero: Playing with History

By

P.R. Mason

Like many people no doubt, my life has been touched by a moment in time I would give anything to change. For me an ordinary day could have continued in its infinite ordinariness if not for the convergence of some relatively innocuous happenings that conspired to create a tragedy. As a result I've been fascinated by the idea of alternate worlds or universes and alternate history. What might have been if but one thread in the tapestry of time had been different. A yellow rather than blue. A coffee break not taken. A stop sign repaired rather than fallen.

ENTANGLEMENTS, my recent release, is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy about a teen who enters a dangerous alternate dimension to rescue her stepsister. In plotting the story, I knew the villain would be the "different" thread. He would be that point in the history of his world where its timeline of events diverged from the world we know. Much of Entanglements takes place in a dimension where history has taken an alternate path to that of our universe. I imagined a place largely frozen in Victorian times. It's a London where paranormal creatures abound.

I wanted to include a villain who's more than just a stock baddie. He had to be dark and evil, of course. But I didn't want him to be like a slasher movie automaton, acting inexplicably except for some psychopathically insane dementia. To me, an evildoer's far more insidious and scary if there's an understandable motive to his actions. So I set out to create a villain who's also a hero...or at least one who thinks he's a hero.

In researching Victorian England to come up with an historical figure that could serve as the basis for my villain, I sought to find someone who could have, if events were slightly different, come into a position of power and authority. The perfect candidate presented himself in the personage of His Royal Highness Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, the son of Britain's Queen. My decision to use Leopold was solidified when I learned he was afflicted with hemophilia, a genetic disease that prevents blood clotting and significantly shortens the life of a sufferer. Even a trip and fall can result in internal bleeding and death...which is what happened to Leopold in real life.

In my alternate history, the Queen, desperate to save her son, employs a wizard to find a cure. But this cure is less than successful and transforms Leopold into a vampire. The prince then sets about fathering a vampire aristocracy and gathering other paranormal creatures into his Empire

As a side note, a bit of unexpected synergy occurred in the selection of Leopold as the villain. One integral part of the Entanglements plot is that heroine, Kizzy, accidentally opens a vortex/portal to the Prince's world. In researching one such alleged vortex located in my hometown of Savannah, Georgia, I discovered that the symbol purportedly drawn to open the portal was a swirling circle. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a glyph used by Queen Victoria included this same swirl.

As Entanglements begins, the human race is on the verge of extinction in Leopold's world. Even though "free-range" humans are being rounded up and put into a feedlot system, the food supply for Leopold and his subjects is dwindling. He views the heroine, Kizzy, as the key to opening the portal to our world for exploration and plundering. Obviously, Prince Leopold thinks he's the hero of the story.

At one point, Leopold asks: “Am I so very different from you, Kizzy? You do all you can to save your sister and your friends. I merely do all I can to save my people. I wish to prevent them from perishing in unspeakable agony. How can that be wrong?”

And to her surprise, Kizzy sort of understands his logic. She recognizes the morality of monsters feasting on human flesh and using their bones as toothpicks is relative.

I hope I achieved my goal of creating a heroic villain or villainous hero. One the reader can empathize with even as he scares them silly.

Please follow me on twitter @PRMason and visit my website www.prmason.net

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Stories of Duality

2011-12-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

House Like Stars and Escape From Manor House

Stories of Duality

I wrote these stories about a year ago for a challenge about POVs. Authors were supposed to take a story idea and write it from two different opposing viewpoints. This offered up a ton of different ideas and possibilities. So much that I may try it again in the future while exploring themes in various shades of good and evil.

In these two stories, I explore the opposite side of a robbery in an old, magical house. The intruder discovers sinister forces at work...or are they really trying to escape something themselves?

I hope you guys enjoy both House Like Stars and Escape From Manor House. :-)

Read both stories after the jump

House Like Stars

by

Rae Lori

House like stars

Windows like eyes.

There’s no point in hiding

From Manor House ties.

It was an old rhyme from the locals. Deria Lockwood had heard the stories since she was a child but she never believed in fairytales. Folks used to come to this house seeking help from some old mage to get them through difficulties in life. Whether they were financial troubles, romantic woes or personal issues, they believed the mage who could tap into the supernatural world and become their rescuer. Some surmised that strange magical rituals went on at the top floor of the house. People reported seeing flashing lights that disappeared in the blink of an eye. Deria never saw any lights herself so she paid the claims no mind. She shrugged it off as silly superstition. If this was the Deep South—somewhere like New Orleans where magic and history intertwined like thick vines on an old estate—she’d give it a second thought but this was Central California. Ghosts of the past lived in moving pictures and fictional narratives.

Deria made her way across the lawn and toward the large, looming house. She was getting out of the city tonight. What little she knew of her family had roots here but she never felt compelled to visit the house.

For some reason, that night the house called to her as an invitation on a deep, ethereal level she couldn’t quite understand. As far as she was concerned, it belonged to a dark family legacy she would soon leave behind. Theft had become the only thing she controlled and the people she stole from had no business rubbing their good fortunes in her face. It was time they all paid up what she deserved.

Since she was young, she’d had nothing but bad fortune. That would all end tonight when she would leave this town, her history and all the bad things that had happened to her in the past where they belonged. She just had to finish this one last job with the new owner.

House like stars.

Bright white paint to refurbish the outside shone like a star against the blackened sky. She bet the inside was shiny and new, too.

The front door opened with a click. Everyone trusted each other in this little town. Perhaps too much. Deria was fortunate the locals had clued in the new owner about that or else she would have to waste more time trying to slip into the house

Big fancy doctor meant big fancy money and she knew there had to be a nice little stash hiding out somewhere around the house. He’d decided to turn the long abandoned building into something of an office/home, offering healthcare to those who couldn’t afford it in the area. A noble cause but eventually he would want something more than just ‘thanks’ and ‘bless you’s’ for his troubles. In a way, she was helping him and his patients by stopping him before he got to that point.

A breeze outside brushed the trees against the window, scratching the clear glass. The swaying shadows on the walls broke the illumination of the muted pale white of the moon’s glow all around the room.

A creak broke out from one of the rooms upstairs. She chalked it up to the wind. Maybe there was a window open somewhere on the second floor.

Yeah, that’s it.

She ventured deeper into the house searching drawers, nooks and crannies. Sparse amounts of furniture sat in the rooms. Only a few pieces thrown in for show or perhaps the good doctor was still in the process of moving in. Dark chocolate chairs, a matching loveseat, mixed with navy blue wallpaper and lack of decorative accents told her a male definitely owned this house. She dodged the pile of boxes sprinkled throughout the house as another creak broke out upstairs.

Then a click interrupted the silence, as if a door had closed.

Was someone here?

Deria’s heart thudded to a pounding beat in her chest. She ran her clammy, warm palms against her jeans. She froze, waiting…listening.

Silence.

Must’ve been her imagination. It had to be.

She exhaled softly then continued her search.

A few five dollar bills sat in one of the downstairs office drawers. She also spotted some change in the unused crystal ash tray in another room which appeared like a second office. Chump change for a doctor, Deria figured. One more check in the bedroom and then she’d chalk it up to most of his money being in the bank. If she didn’t find any other dollars stashed away, she’d search for some bank info, grab anything of value. Then she would be out of here.

While stuffing her pockets, she started up the stairs. Her hand grazed the sleek wood of the banister. A soft creak emitted with each step beneath her sneakers.

Creak. Creak. Creak.

Until she stopped at the top step.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The sound of footsteps across the wood floor continued long after she froze. That couldn’t be her imagination. That was closer, louder than when she was downstairs. From where she stood, she could see the master bedroom bathed in the moonlight that spilled into the hall. The door was slightly ajar, allowing a peek into a sparsely decorated room with a large King sized bed draped in dark blue sheets and a midnight blue comforter. The rest of the rooms—two down the hall from the right of the bedroom and one on the opposite wall—had closed doors.

Wait a minute. The lone door on the other wall caught her eye. She didn’t know why at first, until she leaned in closer to look. Slowly, the doorknob turned and the door opened with a creak.

Something was drawing her inside, a force she couldn’t stop but one she felt with every cell inside of her. The room held a familiar presence. There were no lights, no windows and no furniture. The only thing inside that caught her eye was a dome-shaped glass object sitting atop a circular table. Inside the glass were millions of tiny sparkling objects and a large ball of light that darted around its small enclosure.

Windows like eyes.

Deria knew she should have run but the moment the thought crossed her mind, the door behind her slammed shut. She ran to the door but the small brass painted doorknob came right off when she tried to turn it. It was as if it had aged a hundred years in those mere moments.

The sound of thousands upon thousands of tiny rapid whispers made her turn toward the glowing glass. Slowly, the table lifted and began to turn around and around in place.

“Deria Lockwood,” the scores of tiny voices whispered.

“H—How,” she quickly swallowed to clear her throat which was growing raw. “How do you know my name? What…are you?”

“Your grandfather’s grandfather owned this house,” the voices continued, as if she had never spoken. “Captured and imprisoned whatever he wanted.”

Grandfather’s grandfather? Was that why she was drawn to this house? It couldn’t be. She didn’t believe in such fairytales.

“All of his descendants have suffered dark and twisted fates.”

It was true. Deria heard the stories of her family legacy’s crumbling hotel fortune and every investment since then; every inheritance or opportunity turned into a bust.

“Now is the time to end the cursed line.”

Deria thought she sensed a presence and when a flash of light brightened the entire room up, she thought she saw a man dressed in old period garb standing in the corner with his hands folded in front of him.

“Come closer,” the tiny voices beckoned.

Each step she took was not her own. The nerves of her feet, her blood, skin, veins and vessels were commanded by another being that now consumed and guided her.

Amidst the high-pitched whispers, Deria thought she heard another voice, deep like that of a male’s. And just as soon as it appeared, it disappeared into the back of her mind. All that mattered now was the sparkling lights within the glass before her.

Her hands reached up and wrapped around the object, gently raising it in the air. The tiny sparkles grew bright and danced, coming alive with the anticipation of…something.

There’s no point in hiding.

A bright light basked the room in the purest, whitest glow. The cacophony of whispers and voices invaded her ear until it grew into a loud thunderous sound saying one final line:

From Manor House ties.

She felt light headed and the blood rushed to her head as her knees gave out below her. The sound of coins and paper money crashed to the ground in a chorus of tiny clinks. The crystal ashtray crashed and shattered millions of tiny pieces along with the glass that fell from her grasp.

And then she fell backward as unconsciousness consumed her.

But she continued to fall…

Further and further she went…

Past the steps and down the floors of the large house.

Beneath the dirt and lawn of the home, beneath the deep Earth, until she fell into a chasm of blackness.

She tried to scream but there was no sound left in her. Her momentum finally slowed and she felt the ground beneath her when she landed softly, then floated up like a feather suspended in the air.

What was happening? She couldn’t feel her feet! Nor could she feel her hands as she tried to reach out to her surroundings. It was just an invisible enclosure that gave a muted tap when she bounced against it.

Help! She tried to yell. Her tiny whisper was drowned out by thousands of other similar sounds.

Somebody please! The words echoed in her mind but the exterior sounds never came.

The curse is lifted, the whispers said. Manor House is free. Manor House is free.

Over and over it went.

The room lit and as the whispers died out around her, Deria saw her environment from inside the glass dome.

That was where she was! Inside the glass structure! The room had somehow grown a hundred times bigger…or perhaps it was she who had shrunk a hundred times smaller than her human size.

No hands. No feet. No legs.

No longer human.

A young woman stepped into her view as if she’d slipped out of thin air. Part of her long, dark hair was wrapped around her head with the rest cascading down her back in thick waves. She had a warm glow about her. Big dark brown eyes stared back at Deria and she noted the woman’s attire consisted of a beautiful gold dress with long sleeves, ribbons, laces and a high collar. She looked human but Deria knew she wasn’t. The young woman turned slightly and that was when Deria saw it. Her ears were delicately pointed at the tips and long, thin, ethereal wings sprouted from her back. She wasn’t human! But…what was she?

“And so the curse is lifted,” she said.

Deria read the woman’s lips, for the sound was muted from within her glass enclosure.

A large pale hand reached out to rest on the young woman’s lower back and she turned to smile at the man outside of Deria’s view.

“Please! Get me out of here!” Deria tried to yell. She tried even harder to move but only ran into the glass.

“We must hurry before the new owner comes,” the male said.

“Yes. He will be returning soon and it would be a shame to have such a mess lying around.” The woman scooped up the glass dome. She froze, peering at it for long moments.

Was the woman having second thoughts? Would she help her after all?

Deria’s hopes were dashed when the woman snapped out of her trance and went to retrieve the fallen clothes and stolen items from the floor.

“I saw her take those,” the male said. “They belong to the new owner.”

“We should return them to him.” The young woman waved her hand and, in response, the millions of tiny shards moved as if time had rewound itself. They assembled themselves, returning back into the shape of the untouched crystal ashtray resting on her open palm.

The male put his arm around the woman and Deria wondered if they were lovers. In an instant, their surroundings changed. They appeared downstairs in the office where the young woman slipped the dollars back into one of the office drawers. Then they transported again before appearing in another room where the pointy eared young woman placed the change and the rest of the dollars under the unused ash tray.

Each time they stopped, they placed the money and items exactly where Deria had taken them.

Then, in another blink of an eye, they were outside in the cool summer California evening.

“He will be home soon,” the young woman said. “The door to the secret room will be open now and he’ll have no memory of it being locked.”

The glass dome ascended into the air and as Deria tipped her gaze, she finally saw the two. A beautiful young woman with warm, dark brown skin and a man with light pinkish pale skin, golden eyes and a shiny yellow mane tied back into a short ponytail. He wore a buttoned up vest and shirt with a high collar and breeches with thick fabric. His ears too were pointed like the female’s and he also had wings sprouting from his back. Atop his head sat a crown decorated with tiny jewels hovering and twirling round and round in place.

“Fireflies,” the girl said softly. “He would think they were fireflies in here. Caught by the local children.”

“Come,” the man said, offering his arm to her. “We have preparations for your arrival...my princess-to-be.”

She took his arm with a smile and off they went walking side by side into the night.

“No! Wait!” Deria tried to yell. “You can’t leave me like this! How do I get back?! Change me back!”

The darkness surrounded the two until they disappeared into a soft haze.

Deria was alone with the realization that there was no going back. She would never escape this glass prison or have a chance to right her wrongs. In a way, perhaps this was her redemption...and her punishment.

There’s no point in hiding.

From Manor House ties.

But she didn’t believe in fairytales...

She didn’t believe in fairytales...

She didn’t believe...

Escape From Manor House

by

Rae Lori

When a Sprite is summoned by a mortal for help, they would always arrive for assistance. Humans with the ability to contact the supernaturals—named Whisperers—knew this. They also had the gift to bridge the two worlds of communication.

Kyleah trusted this knowledge when she arrived at the large two story mansion near the West Coast of the American continent. The world of Sprites was in an uproar over her upcoming wedding with Prince Talyn. Sure she had a few days, but her duties to help mortals would have to come first.

The house sat in the middle of a large stretch of green land. Its two story structure was carefully designed with an elegance foretelling of its history upon the lands. She remembered when there were no structures of wood, brick and stone to break the vast green landscape. Now there had been a surge of industry since the new inhabitants took over from those who lived off the land.

Outside the house, a bronze sign sat near the dark brown painted French doors: Manor House. She passed through and ventured into the fully furnished home decorated with clean and upscale antiques.

She found the Whisperer upstairs sitting across the table from a man dressed in a long jacket with coattails and loose coffee colored wool breeches. Time had no measurement with Kyleah’s people but the mortals measured it as 1,812 years since the son of their creator’s death. Or as the mortals call the year: 1812.

The Whisperer was dressed in a long dark blue velvet gown with a collar buttoned up to her neck. Her long grey hair fell in wild waves across her shoulders. Ethereal silver eyes flashed open and looked right at Kyleah once she entered the room.

“She’s here,” the Whisperer’s low, cracked voice announced.

The man, an older pale bald man smiled as he turned to her.

To them, she was just a ball of light floating freely around the air. She swirled about before landing on the floor, ready to take the form of a fully grown human sized young woman.

Kyleah landed but before she could start the change, a whiff of air blew over her and then a glass structure closed around her.

What was happening?

She tilted upward to gaze at the large, pale hand covering the top of the glass. Then the older man’s face came into her view. A diabolical smile darkened his face as he watched her with a fascination that nearly turned her stomach. It reminded her of a boy who would find a sick pleasure from plucking the wings off a fly. As she looked into his eyes, his past flashed through her mind. She felt sick. The man not only tortured flies as a child, but animals, even her fellow Sprites.

Kyleah had a sinking feeling that nothing good would come of this meeting. The idea that she was in a place where she couldn’t escape--with no knowledge of what she was called here for--scared her like never before.

“I did not believe it was possible to capture one of these creatures,” he said holding up Kyleah’s glass in admiration. “You can help me get this house and all the riches I desire. I don’t want to be poor or want for anything. You hear that, little faerie?”

“Now,” the Whisperer said coming up behind him. “You will pay me what you owe me for my services.”

The man’s smile melted into a frown before he looked over his shoulder at the old woman.

“Pay?”

“My services do not come for free, Mr. Lockwood.”

“Oh! Of course. Of course.” He set the glass structure down on the table then faced the woman.

Kyleah knew what was coming before it happened. The slow movement of his steps haunted her as he reached into his pocket and stopped mere inches from the woman. In a flash of movement, he grabbed the old woman by the throat and squeezed as tight as he could. Her screams quickly died out to tight breaths struggling for air.

Kyleah flitted around the glass dome. Her movements elicited a tiny tink, tink, tink sound each time she crashed against it. She wanted to scream. She wanted to use her powers to save the Whisperer, but there was nothing she could do from within her glass prison. Nothing but watch the woman’s demise. Once she was on the ground, he grabbed a bronze statue bust of the philosopher Aristotle from the table and struck the woman’s head.

Once.

Twice.

And one last time before he threw the statute onto the beautifully designed rug stretched out over the wood floor.

It fell with a loud clunk and rolled over to Kyleah. She saw the dark red liquid against the bronze and her heart constricted with sadness from the woman’s passing.

Kyleah continued to watch helplessly as the man moved to cover up his tracks. He moved the table off the rug and onto the floor, then used the material to wrap up the broken, dead body. He left for a few moments then returned to the room, stuffing a piece of paper in his side pocket.

The deed to Manor House.

This was the Whisperer’s home!

The realization hit Kyleah the moment she saw the contentment on the man’s face as he rubbed his hands together. He went to her and picked up the glass prison from the ground. “Now you will grant my every wish, little faerie,” he said. “This house and everything within its walls, including you, now belong to me.”

Kyleah felt the fire within her. The white hot glow that she now embodied burned brighter and hotter until it burst into thousands of smaller orbs of light around her. She still felt the Whisperer’s presence in the room and all throughout the house. She used it to empower her and give her a voice to communicate with the man.

“This house,” she said, her voice spreading like a thousand whispers creeping through every inch of the room. “This house may now belong to you and all of your kin.,but you will never have fortune. You will never be free. Until out of this glass prison I am able to flee.”

The man frowned. “No. That’s not the way it is supposed to go. You listen to me! I own you now!”

No one owns me, Kyleah thought. I must suffer here until I can find a body to escape through. It must be an exchange from a descendent of Lockwood to help free me from this glass prison.

House like stars.

The mansion would now loom against the night sky like a beacon to all the mortals who hold the Lockwood name.

Windows like eyes.

She would watch the visitors come and go, each would suffer the punishment of lifelong misfortune bestowed upon the house and the name of Lockwood.

There’s no point in hiding

From Manor House ties.

Dread filled the man’s face and he grew white as a ghost, his expression deathly blank. Then, with an angry yell, he raised the glass and hauled it to the floor.

But it didn’t break.

The glass structure simply rolled away while the sparkling lights danced around Kyleah.

More tenants moved in thereafter. The man’s last remaining family within the Lockwood bloodline brought whatever fortunes they had into the home. The father was a well known businessman in the shipping industry. His children went to the best schools while his wife catered high society. Shortly after moving into Manor House, his business suffered set backs that ended up in his business being shutdown. His wife was cast out of society with a terrible scandal that fell over the family like a cloud. Destitution set in and Kyleah listened to all the spousal arguments that would stay suspended in the house long after the wife took her children and left the man of the house to live out his days in loneliness. One after another, the Lockwoods would die in poverty.

And the years slipped on.

Kyleah thought she would die within these walls. She didn’t know how long time passed...until her Prince Talyn found her. The desperation in his eyes and the sorrow in his voice nearly broke her. When he placed his palm against the cool glass as he set her atop a small circular table, she would go to it and rest against the imprint.

“I won’t leave or rest until the curse has been fulfilled,” he said softly. “Every Lockwood that enters these walls will suffer.”

He stayed by her side, watching and waiting in the shadows. He would communicate to their people using a small blue orb of light as a go-between while he remained in the room with her. Time slipped away in a tangled mesh of days and nights.

Each family that moved in the house would call Talyn’s presence a ‘haunting’. He would move items around, throw books and trinkets across the desk to scare them away. It added to their misfortune and frightened them more. But none would dare go to the top room where she sat in waiting. She sensed each presence: Lockwood after Lockwood. Daughter and son after Mother and Father until the day when one who wasn’t in the bloodline moved in.

This man was different. His heart and intentions were pure. Because he didn’t carry the Lockwood bloodline, she couldn’t quite read him as easily as the others. From what Talyn told her, he was a physician set on helping those who couldn’t afford to pay for such services otherwise. She was grateful the man used the house in such a way but part of her was disappointed. Would she never be free of this prison? Many years had passed and they had entered the year 2,010. The time that passed seemed like a lifetime and she was growing mad from the lack of touch from her prince who was only a step away. If only she could be free to hold him, to touch him…

To go home.

And then one night she felt it.

A daughter of Lockwood prowled the green lawn stretched out in front of the house. And she was coming inside.

Could fortune smile upon them so easily? Was it finally time for the curse to be removed?

Talyn had fallen asleep in a chair next to her table. His arm lay outstretched around the glass dome as if to hold an arm around her. He jolted awake as if sensing her feelings.

Kyleah hit the side of the glass with a soft clink, urging Talyn to look towards the door.

Once he caught on, he rushed to his feet and walked over to the door. The weight of his steps elicited a soft creak against the aged wood floor. He opened the door and peeked outside for a moment before gently closing it with soft click. Kyleah felt the woman downstairs freeze and look toward the upstairs. Did she hear Talyn’s movements?

The floor reacted again when he returned to her side.

Creak. Creak. Creak.

Talyn stopped and smiled down at her. “She knows we’re here. Perhaps she even senses what’s about to happen.”

Kyleah felt herself grow brighter. It was time.

The tiny sparks of light floating around her grew more animated as the whispers returned.

House like stars.

The daughter of Lockwood was coming closer. Kyleah felt her sense of urgency and the dark aura surrounding her like a gloomy, bitter smoke off a raging fire. A name was coming to her. Angry, fierce emotions mixed with naked fear of the unknown.

Kyleah tapped her body of light against the side of the glass.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

She urged the daughter of Lockwood up the stairs.

Closer.

Until.

The door opened to the dark room with a low, creaking sound.

Windows like eyes.

She watched the woman run to the door for an escape but the doorknob came right off in her hand. The air grew thick as the Lockwood woman looked at her; dark eyes wide like saucers with the realization that things were now out of her control.

The light that was Kyleah’s body brightened as she lifted the table beneath her glass prison, using pure will and the strength of her powers. She felt the Whisperer’s spirit give her strength and a voice to communicate.

“Deria Lockwood.”

“H—How,” the daughter of Lockwood stuttered. “How do you know my name? What…are you?”

“Your grandfather’s grandfather owned this house.” Kyleah felt her strength grow with each word, helping her to continue on. “Captured and imprisoned whatever he wanted.”

“All of his descendants have suffered dark and twisted fates.”

“Now is the time to end the cursed line.”

Talyn moved beside her and the Lockwood woman turned. Her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed as if she saw him within the shadows.

“Come closer,” Kyleah and the whispers said.

“She won’t see me,” Talyn said softly. “I would be what they call a ‘ghost’ to her. An apparition of her mind.” His jaws tightened. “I should make her pay for the curse brought upon you.”

“No.” Kyleah’s response was softer this time. Her heart constricted as she watched the fearful woman before her. The daughter of Lockwood was now in her control, entranced by the light within the glass. The power of the Sprites. “The Whisperer did not die at her hands.”

“But it is her life where the Whisperer’s curse ends.”

Kyleah nodded. “Her suffering will end tonight.”

The lights sparkled and danced within the dome as if to show their agreement.

The woman, Deria, continued to stare at the light in the glass. She then reached up and grabbed it, lifting it high over her head.

After so many years trapped in this small, glass prison, Kyleah would be free again. Free to change her form, to touch Talyn once more and to live with him in his castle and see her family. Free to do anything she wanted.

The lights around her spun in a whirlwind of light.

There’s no point in hiding.

Joining together, the lights melted into Kyleah’s body. Her heart, her soul and body grew warmer as their strength combined together in a single orb of pure, white light.

The whispers grew together for one final line that would break the curse.

From Manor House ties.

The light burst outward like a star exploding. The warm energy stretched throughout the room and expanded beyond the walls and the mansion itself.

The glass dome crashed to the ground and Kylean felt the cool energy within the air touch her skin. The moment she felt the old wood floor beneath her, she changed. The hot light dimmed to coolness and she felt…She felt!

Hands, arms, legs, feet.

Talyn rushed to her side and pulled her into a tight embrace. “I thought I lost you,” he breathed. Material crushed between them, soft silks, ribbon and lace. She broke free from him and saw the 19th century style dress that she had planned to wear that morning when she was called to Manor House.

She was free!

With tears stinging her eyes, Kyleah laughed and cried. She melted into Talyn’s arms and grabbed his face to bring him forward for a flurry of kisses and hugs. She couldn’t stop touching him and neither could he stop touching her. She wanted to make sure he was real and that she could actually use her senses to reach out and feel him. Knowing she would be safe in his arms.

A loud whoosh behind them caught their attention.

The shards of the broken glass shook violently until it assembled itself piece by piece with one small light remaining within. Then it burst into tiny sparkles of light around a larger orb. Deria Lockwood.

A tiny voice called out but the sound was drowned out by the calmness of the Whisperer’s voice, echoing in a thousand murmurs.

The curse is lifted. Manor House is free. Manor House is free.

“We must hurry before the new owner comes,” Talyn said.

“Yes. He will be returning soon and it would be a shame to have such a mess lying around.”

Kyleah plucked the glass dome off the ground and peered at it, amazed that she was in that prison moments ago for too long. Now she had traded places to balance the mystical covenant brought on by the Lockwood ancestor. She then scooped up the woman’s fallen clothes and the items that fell from her pockets.

“I saw her take those,” Talyn said. “They belong to the new owner.”

“We should return them to him.”

Broken glass still lay on the floor to what looked like a priceless heirloom. Kyleah waved her hand and willed the glass to return to its original shape. Then Talyn joined her side, slipped an arm around her shoulders and in an instant, they appeared downstairs.

Kyleah watched Talyn return the items back to their original places. A wad of paper and metal currency. The pretty glass dish. She then looked around the house at the new decoration. Things had changed since she arrived years ago. What kinds of advancements had occurred since then?

“Come,” he said with a smile. “I’ll tell you all about the changed times and the new ‘technology’ as the humans call it.”

They disappeared and in a flash, they appeared outside in the cool evening night.

Kyleah repressed the urge to run freely along the open grass. She wanted to feel the Earth beneath her feet, the wind at her back and the overall joy of freely moving about in her human form. While her former body of light offered movement, the human form offered so many more nerve endings and combined senses to experience the world around her.

She pushed the thoughts out of her mind and lifted the glass to hang on the limb of a tree.

“Fireflies,” Kyleah said softly. “He would think they were fireflies in here. Caught by the local children.”

“Come,” Talyn said, offering his arm to her. “We have preparations for your arrival...my princess-to-be.”

Kyleah took his arm and smiled, noticing the floating crown that now hovered over his head. A soft cry filtered into the night behind them, but she quickly dismissed it the further they got from Manor House.

She felt their surroundings slip away as Talyn wrapped an arm around her waist.

“The world has changed much since our days,” he said. “Technology has replaced magic. There are not many believers in us anymore.” He turned to her with an assuring smile. “But we will go somewhere where there will always be magic.”

Too much time had passed since she last saw her family and her people. Her heart raced beneath her chest as they ventured home.

Soon, all would be right again.

Now that she was finally free from Manor House ties.

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Author Michelle Franklin

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

AWD would like to welcome author Michelle Franklin as our guest for today's tour!

Michelle has a wonderful prologue to share from her book The Commander and the Den Asaan Rautu, the first book in the Haanta series. Learn more about the series at Michelle's site.

Blurb: In a desperate attempt to save her homeland, one commander makes an alliance that will change her life and her kingdom forever.

When Frewyn's last line of defense falls, Boudicca MacDaede, leader of the Frewyn armed forces, enlists the assistance of Den Asaan Rautu, one of the Haanta giants from the islands to the far north. After winning a war, spending a year fighting by her side, Rautu is called back to his people but finds it impossible to leave without the woman he has come to love. Now he must find a way to make her his mate while fending off an impending attack against his people that threatens to break them apart forever.

From the prologue:

Original cover lineart by Twisk

At the far end of the garrison, the captain found a peculiar creature lurking within one of the holding cells. She eyed it with circumspection, having little idea what it was, but when she neared, she observed that it was a Haanta, one of the mysterious giants from the islands to the far north. She had never before seen one of the reticent giants, but his violet and black eyes, his mauve-grey skin, his white hair and immense stature suggested that he must be a Haanta. The rings and shells adoring his molded locks, the foreign symbols inked into his forearm, his embroidered war kilt, and the heap of various pelts adorning his back and shoulders gave him an appealing and distinguishing air. Though his expression was stern, his features made him almost handsome, his wide maw, high cheekbones and proud nose balanced his reproachful countenance. His body was a work of exertion: his muscles were large and well-formed, his arms and back were gifted with overpowering might, his skin was scarred, and his hands were thick and calloused. Here was a creature of majesty, and the captain found a consolation in seeing the giant at such a time. She supposed he must be a Haanta of some consequence to be so decorated, but before she could ask his abilities with a weapon, the attentive mountain spoke.

“You are holding those incorrectly, woman,” the giant said, gesturing toward the blades dangling from her hands.

He spoke and the captain felt a ripple of sound resonate through her from his low and commanding voice. “I believe I’ve been taught well enough to use them effectively,” she said to the giant as he turned away. “Do you have some claim to the marks on your arm or are they merely for show?”

Her remarks caught his consideration and his violet eyes tapered with growing dislike. He was at least dejected in his solitude, and now she had come to ruin his isolation and compel him to speak when he would otherwise be enjoying silence. He pressed his immense body against the bars of the cell in hopes of intimidating her, but the captain remained complacent and unaffected by his display.

“Leave me, woman,” he bellowed at her.

“I fear a cannot do that just now. I might need your help, should you wish to give it.”

He groaned and turned aside. “I will not assist you.”

“It is rather a shame you won’t. I was going to offer you your freedom.”

The giant turned back and looked at her with hesitation. He studied her form and face and her apparent composure despite the battle ensuing beyond the armoury walls. Her wide shoulders, her high carriage, her half-smile all proposed collectedness, but the pleading look in her dark eyes had told him there was much she feared regardless of her outward tranquility. He made her no answer and continued his investigation of the odd woman.

“I have little doubt of your eventually freeing yourself, creature,” she said. “But by the time you should do so, this outpost will be overrun with Galleisians. If you help us now, I will open that door and give you a weapon.”

“And if I use the opportunity to kill you and leave?” the giant said in a tone half-serious half-arch.

“I have never known warriors to be dishonourable. Should you prove me wrong, we will all be dead anyway. There is nothing so ugly as reneging a promise, wouldn’t you agree?”

The giant clenched his teeth and looked down. “I would,” he murmured.

“If you agree to help us maintain our borders, I will disregard the reason for your imprisonment and allow you to return to your home in secrecy.” She turned over one of her swords and offered it to him.

The giant gaped at the small blade with a reluctant expression. She had sworn him liberation, but he was tentative to follow or fight for a nation other than his own when he had been a leader once himself. He lifted his hand momentarily to accept, but soon dropped it again to further consider her offer. He could escape if he wished; their meager contrivances could not hold him for long should he truly wish his independence, but the weight of his transgression had plagued him and he hadn’t made nor would make an attempt to free himself. He looked at her again, perceiving the determination in her manner, and then looked at the hilt of the blade. His hand ached to hold it and gravitated toward it with unconscious movements. He was silent in his deliberation, but in the work of an instant, the deal was done; the giant conceded, and he would be freed from confinement and armed so that he may save Frewyn’s borders.

The captain swiped at the lock on the cell door and the rusted bolt fell to the ground, releasing the giant from his cell. He stood out from his cramped confinement, stretched his massive arms, and neared with heavy footfalls.

He tightened his clasp around the weapon in his hand, calming at the feeling of his place being reclaimed. “I will win this battle for you,” he declared.

“I daresay you shall,” she said smilingly.

They exchanged a look of understanding and rushed out of the garrison, remaining close to one another while lunging toward the rampant assault.

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ The Girl in the Basement

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Girl in the Basement was a short horror story I wrote way early in my writing venture. It was one of the first short stories I sold as a teen (this one sold to Dark Moon Rising) and later on I updated it to be a more smoother read. I thought it would be perfect for The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour since for one character, the sun no longer shines. Two guesses as to why. ;-)

The girl here was a character I had written about in three other stories that were never published. One day, depending on the workability of the stories, I may release them.

Hope you enjoy the story!

Click to read after the jump!

The Girl in the Basement

Justin gingerly took the rare morsel off the electric stove. He placed it on a plate then peeked his head out of the kitchen to listen for any signs of his parents wandering the halls. Once the coast was clear, he flipped off the light and headed for the basement. In his mind, he ran back the events of the night: he had dinner, watched television, and then did his homework. But this particular evening, he had heard something down in the downstairs. When he went to investigate, he found the last thing he ever thought would be dwelling in a suburban basement.

He slowly walked past his parents' room and stole a glance at the bottom of the door. The room was dark with no lamp or tv lights on. He figured they must’ve finally went to bed.

He balanced the large, bloody steak on the plate as he walked by, careful not to make any loud noises. His
smooth, handsome face grimaced as he looked down at it. The thing was repulsive, but it was what she wanted after all.

Slowly, he entered the dark basement. Pale moonlight streamed from a window in the corner. It was the only light in the otherwise darkened room. His hand reached out for the light switch hanging from the wall.

"NO!" a female voice yelled.

He stopped in his tracks, remembering the deal. She would stay as long as she had the food which he carried and the darkness. Always darkness.

Justin continued down the steps as he followed the moon's light shining in the sky. He waited, hearing the soft caress of a velvet robe against the cold, hard floor.

"I have it," he announced. "Just like you wanted."

The air was silent as he waited, wondering what to do next. He braced himself as he heard a slight rustle in the dark corner.

"Put it in the moonlight," the female voice urged.

He approached the light slowly and set the plate down. With a blink of an eye, the plate was snatched into the dark. Justin listened, his ears ready for the sound of chewing, but there was only silence.

An unnerving silence.

A dark, bare foot appeared in the light and then another. His blue eyes followed the outline of the body before him. He barely made out the face of a young woman staring innocently upon him.

She didn't smile. Her wavy, black hair was long and silky, falling past her shoulders in soft waves. Her full lips were glossy and inviting. He watched her shed the cloaked hood draped around her body, revealing a barmaid's dress. He remembered it from one of his history books when he studied the French Revolution in his junior year. He could tell her curvaceous body was perfect beneath the dress. He forced himself not to look down at her pronounced cleavage.

"You didn't eat your dinner," he said softly.

"I will."

Her lips slightly lifted at the corner. "You are not always this...shy, are you? I can tell.”

“Yeah." He smiled and shifted his weight. “Just not sure what I should do.”

He noticed her slight movement and before he could blink, he felt her soft hands on his face. Her glowing eyes stared at him through the darkness. Gently, she caressed his soft face while slowly moving her hands under his small, thin shirt. He shuddered slightly as her hands lined the muscles in his arms and chest. He flexed and waited for her to sigh out of infatuation like the dreamy-eyed girls at his school.

Instead of sighing, she continued exploring his body as if trying to figure him out.

"I-I didn't catch your name," he said suddenly. Why he was so nervous, he had no idea. He didn't feel nervous over all the girls that fell over themselves for him at school. Then again, they weren't as mysterious as this girl. And she wasn't as naive as them. He could tell that from the look in her eyes.

"Why do you want to know?" she asked breathlessly as she moved her hand across his chest.

"I'll tell you mine. It's Justin."

The girl didn't say a word. Instead, she slowly stepped back, moving away from him and drowning herself in the shadows once more.

"I'm coming!" Justin yelled back.

The plate slid across the floor once more and he heard soft chomping noises and squicky sounds of the meat moving in his hands. He swallowed, trying not to imagine the blood covering her pretty face as she gorged herself.

"Are you going to be ok?"

The silence answered him. Brushing it off, he turned and exited, leaving the girl to herself.

* * *

Justin looked across the field at his fellow teammates as they practiced for the upcoming football game. He ran his hands through his sweaty, honey blond hair. He glanced at the cheerleaders practicing their cheers, some of them looking his way and smiling. He imagined making out with each of them, on different nights of the week. He knew he could do it. He could balance them all so they wouldn’t know about each other. Then they would all talk about the man he would become. He smiled briefly to himself.

Then he stopped. Amidst the crowd of blue and white sweaters, skirts and pom poms, there was black. A cloaked figure stood in the background. Not moving. Not doing anything. Just standing there.

Justin rose to his feet. It was the girl in his basement.

"Hey Justin!" He turned and saw one of his teammates, Dominic, heading towards him.

He quickly shook off the eerie feeling and the shiver that claimed him despite the warm weather. "What's up?"

"Oh."

Justin turned to see if the girl was still there, but as quickly as she had appeared, she vanished. He sat down and breathed slowly, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart.

"You all right, man?" Dominic asked.

Justin smiled. "I'm more than all right."

Dominic sat down next to Justin on the bleachers. "Oh, do tell."

Justin laughed. Partly out of the eager sound in Dom's voice. Mostly because he needed it to break the growing tension inside of him. Was his mind playing tricks on him?

"It's a girl, I can tell,” Dom said with a wide grin. “Who's the lucky cheerleader this time?"

Justin leaned forward on his knees. "She's not a cheerleader, Dom."

Dominic sat up in his seat. "Oh?" He nudged Justin's arm with his elbow. "Come on, more details."

Justin cleared his throat. Should he tell his friend? Of course, he would think he was nuts. Who would believe a girl who looked like she dropped right out of his history books would be living in his basement? He stole a glance at the cheerleaders continuing to practice. He tilted his head slightly as they kicked their legs high in the air.

"I have a girl in my basement."

Dominic moved back. "What? You're joking, man."

He shook his head. "Completely serious. She must've snuck in there somehow. She wanted me last night."

"Oh, man." Dominic laughed. "So, you have your own girl. Weird as that sounds. She look homeless or whatever?"

He shook his head. "Nah, actually pretty hot."

"A runaway?"

Justin shrugged, "Maybe, but not like any I've seen."

Silence filled the air and Justin looked at Dominic who was still staring at him with his mouth open.

"What?"

"Don't tell me you have a girl in your house and your parents don't know about her, I'm assuming. She wanted you and you aren't even taking advantage of that?" Dominic laughed. "She was probably offering herself on a platter and you turned that down? You're joking with me. You probably never had any of those cheerleaders out there."

"Hey, I had just about all of them," Justin said sternly.

Dominic laughed. "Yeah, all right."

Justin stood and stared down into Dominic's eyes.

"Hey! I can have any girl I want. They come to me!"

Dominic stands and holds his hands up as he backs away. "All right, man. All right. I'll believe it when I see, huh?"

The coach called the boys to the field and Dominic was the first to hop off the bleachers. Justin ran over in his head what his so-called friend said. He knew he couldn't pass up this chance. He put his helmet on, taking one last look at the cheerleaders as they began another cheer.

* * *

Night seemed to slowly creep upon the day within hours. The last thing he had on his mind upon coming home was homework. He passed the time watching tv and waiting for dinner, but still he couldn't get Dom's words out of his mind. Who did he think he was not believing him? Justin knew he was a hot guy. Those girls practically threw themselves at him.

All except the one down in his basement. The one he could have with no consequences or questions asked. He knew she wanted him. All he had to do was take it.

Justin returned down to the basement at the first sight of dusk, remembering the girl's wishes not to come down during the day. She had already asked him for food and shelter. It was time she paid up for those comforts.

He looked at the small, circular window and noticed the girl staring outdow into the black, starry sky. He made his way over to her. He ran his pale hands over her soft, caramel shoulders. His warm breath caressed her neck like a tropical wind on a cold sheet of satin.

"I thought about you today," he said.

Silence.

"Tell me how you got here. And why you stayed."

"How," she answered, "the window. Why..." She turned to him and smiled. "Shelter."

"You never told me your name."

"Roslia is my name."

Justin smiled. "So, then you're my own girl," he said.

She turned to him, her eyes burning through the darkness of the room. Her gaze changed in an instant from curiosity to sheer shock. Did she knew what he planned to do?

Slowly he backed up to the hanging light bulb in the middle of the room. He flipped on the light and looked upon her as she blocked the bright light from her eyes. He didn't know what to expect. Either that she would turn into a puff a smoke or perhaps be an invisible voice that only existed inside his head.

Either way, the sight of her was absolutely beautiful. Her skin was dark, yet ghostly pale from the dim, milky light. He watched her closely as he approached her.

"I have to go," Roslia said suddenly. "I have to get out of here before dawn breaks."

"No." Justin stepped in front of her and blocked her from leaving.

"I brought you raw meat ever since you got down here. You can't come in here and get something for nothing."

Her eyes were black. The small sparkle of reflection in her eye from the light was nonexistent. "You're not going to keep me down here," she said.

He grabbed her and pressed his thin lips against her full crimson lips. He pressed his massive body to hers and backed her into the wall. Roslia stared straight into his eyes. He smiled hungrily as he continued, rubbing his sturdy build against her.

"I wouldn't try that if I were you, Justin," Roslia's voice lowered to a warning.

"No woman tells me what to do," he said, breathing heavier. "Not ever."

He raised his hand, aiming it to back hand straight across her face when he felt a force like steel grip his wrist. Looking down, he saw her hand wrapped around his but it looked like she barely held him. His wrist ached and in he knew in one moment she could snap it.

Roslia grabbed Justin's shirt with her free hand, lifted him off the round and pushed him backwards. He hit the adjacent wall with a thud. Quickly scampering to his feet, he filled with rage.

Justin looked around for something, anything to use as a weapon or throw. When he turned to face her, she was standing right in front of her. He didn't stop to think as he backhanded her, the sound of his slap echoing across the quiet room. She fell to he ground with a soft cry and he peered down at the fallen creature, feeling more powerful and manly than he had ever felt in his life. Shaking his warm, red hand, he glared at her.

"How did you get so strong?" he demanded.

She was silent. Unmoving. Never did she meet his gaze in that moment. She just sat there, cradling her hurt cheek in her hand.

"I said, how did you get so strong?!" He said louder.

Roslia turned and slowly rose to her feet. Her red lips rose in a smile.

Justin was unsure why he shuddered as she smiled. Or why his rapidly beating heart almost stopped as she closed in on him. There was something dark that clouded her gaze. Something that said she knew exactly what was going to happen to him in those next few seconds

"No more questions."

She pinned him against the wall. Her hand shot out and grabbed his neck.

Justin wondered if she could see his pulse racing. For that moment, she stared down at his neck as if it was the most alluring thing she had ever seen in her life. Slowly she smiled and it was then he finally noticed her pearly, white teeth. Pointed teeth, like fangs.

"What are you?" he breathed, fear consuming him like a growing black, inky liquid in his stomach.

"One rule of thumb, Justin," Roslia said. "Never, ever take advantage of the innocent. You'll never know when it can backfire," she smiled wider and he could see her two sharp frontal cuspids growing, "right in your own basement."

"You're a...a..."

His words were replaced by a scream as Roslia bent down to him. Her hand slowly covered his mouth, silencing him. All he could feel now against the cool darkness was the gouge of sharp teeth tearing into his neck. He felt the life slowly drift from him as he fell limp in her arms. That was what he felt when he saw the knowing darkness in her eyes, the last few moments of his life. He had so much to say but as he fell boneless against the floor, he saw the moonlight piercing the dark room. A pair of bare feet walked in front of him. A dark velvet cloak draped around a body. She bent down to him and he met her with a scream.

* * *

Roslia rose from Justin as she looked down at his lifeless body. She licked her red stained teeth and quietly left the basement through the window from whence she came. It was still night when she slipped out of the house.

Hours later, dawn's thin streaks of light would stream through the small basement window. Dawn would shine upon the pale body of the boy she left behind as she wandered the streets once again. The night’s cloak of darkness would thereafter be unveiled to reveal the sun’s rays and she would soon have to find a new place for shelter. The times had changed before her eyes. Styles came and went as did people. Buildings appeared where there were none before. She hoped there would be a nice home somewhere to stay.

After all, she always found a place to live in her 400 years of living death. All she needed was one willing person...

* * *

Paul heard a noise down in the basement as he passed by on his way to his room. He pushed his wire rimmed glasses further on his nose and turned toward the sound. What was it?

He headed down the stairs into the dark room. When he flipped on the light, it flickered before turning to a dim, strained beam. In the corner he could barely make out the body of a beautiful girl gazing out the window.

She remained still.

"Paul?" she asked.

"Yes, how did you..."

"I am Roslia." She turned to him and smiled. "I know you what were wondering," she said as she approached him. The sound of soft velvet brushing against the hard wood floor was a strange comfort to him. Then, yet soft, cold hands moved under his shirt and onto his lanky, heaving chest.

"You're beautiful," he breathed, noticing a certain glow around her.

She didn't say a word in that moment. Instead, her hands continued to brush against his thin arms and chest as she leaned in close to him. "Tell me something. Do you like to feed off the weak, Paul?"

"No, I don't," he said. He swallowed deeply, nervously pushing up his glasses. "I-I don't really have many friends."

She smiled at hearing this and he wondered why such a fact would please him. "Would you run upstairs and get me some cold, raw meat? I can already tell we're going to be good friends.”

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Dec 26-31st

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour!

We have a den of authors who have been planning for weeks to bring a great blog tour full of giveaways, prizes and book related treats for all the fantasy, paranormal, horror and sci-fi fans out there.
All featuring the awesome web fiction The Day the Sun Stopped Shining by the talented Matthew C. Wood.

So slide a chair right on up, grab a cup of tea, cocoa, coffee or whatever your poison and enjoy the tour!

Don't forget to drop by here so you can enter a special book giveaway by yours truly!

Rules:

1) HAVE FUN!

2) THIS TOUR STARTS:

Monday, December 26, 2011 at Midnight (PST)

THIS TOUR ENDS:

Saturday, December 31, 2011 at Midnight (PST)

Winners will be drawn and posted after December 31, 2011

3) INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND SPREAD THE WORD!

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH THE AUTHORS! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY SITE'S CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL SITES IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. THE MORE SITES YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES.

6) GO ALL OUT!!! WE’RE TALKING END OF THE WORLD AFTERWARDS!

Check out the main blog for participating authors and be sure to stop by their blogs for great goodies!

http://sunstoppedshining.blogspot.com

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Living Violet: The Cambion Chronicles#1 by Jaime Reed

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Living Violet: The Cambion Chronicles#1 by Jaime Reed

Publication Date: December 27, 2011

From Amazon: Book 1 of The Cambion Chronicles

He's persuasive, charming, and way too mysterious. And for Samara Marshall, her co-worker is everything she wants most--and everything she most fears. . .

Samara Marshall is determined to make the summer before her senior year the best ever. Her plan: enjoy downtime with friends and work to save up cash for her dream car. Summer romance is not on her to-do list, but uncovering the truth about her flirtatious co-worker, Caleb Baker, is. From the peculiar glow to his eyes to the unfortunate events that befall the girls who pine after him, Samara is the only one to sense danger behind his smile.

But Caleb's secrets are drawing Samara into a world where the laws of attraction are a means of survival. And as a sinister power closes in on those she loves, Samara must take a risk that will change her life forever. . .or consume it.

"Jaime Reed breathes fresh life into paranormal romance. I loved it!" --Lee Nichols, author of the Haunting Emma series

A BF protagonist in a paranormal YA book? An IR relationship? Squeee! I fell in love with this cover and even more so when I read the blurb, so much that I would scrap together chump change to have a copy of my own on the reader. I've heard some great buzz about this book so I'm looking forward to diving into this when it's available. It's the first in a series a la the Across the Universe, Magic Under, Heist Society and Iron Fey books so I'm really excited to add this as a new favorite. I'm not sure if it will be available in audio book but I hope the publisher puts it out in that format.

Bargain hunters heads up. The cheapest ebook edition I can find at the time of this writing is at Diesel Books

Teaser Tuesdays!

2011-12-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

What a fun book meme!

I discovered this over at Mixed Book Blog and thought I would join in the fun.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser is from Geek Love by Mechele Armstrong:

"Like the Tardis from Dr. Who, it's bigger on the inside." She laughed at her own joke. page 20.

6 Days and Counting Until the Day the Sun Stopped Shining!

2011-12-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

6 days until the blog tour of The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour 2011!

We've got tons of wonderful authors offering up some great books, gifts and prizes as giveaways. We also have some nice events coming up including character interviews, guest blog posts and freebie shorts.

Here at A Writer's Dream, I'm beefing up the event here with a nice schedule of author visits, round up links and free never before seen short stories here on the blog.

Also look out for special discounts on my books from now until the end of the year. You can also give my books as gifts to the reader buds on your list and also lend out my books via Kindle and BookLending. If you want to check out a book not on the list, let me know and I'll try to make it available for ya!

Happy reading!

Books for Readers & Readers for Authors ~ It's all about the blog hops and giveaways!

2011-12-15T23:54:00.000-08:00

It's the season for gift-giving but also the season for buying books. Lots and lots of books.

If' you're like me and still collect books despite the piles that have taken over your house and the folders that have eaten up most of your hard drive, then you will like this post.

I've been checking out my events at Goodreads and hopping around checking out new authors blogs as well seeing what sequels of my favorite books are coming out. I will be a part of the The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour 2011 starting the 26th to the 31st.

I figured I'd gather all the current giveaways for the moment and post them here in case any readers are looking to sign up for some goodies and books.

For folks new to blog hops, hops are linked blogs that all host book giveaways and sometimes more to fit in with the theme of the hop. On the starting day of the event, you can visit the links below to start at one blog and hop around to enter tons and tons of book giveaways. Some may require you to answer a question or follow but it's well worth it for the fun and you may get hooked right away. Authors you can giveaways featuring your books and extra goodies for readers. They will definitely enjoy the chance to win a new addition for their bookshelf. :-)

Above all:

Have fun everyone!

Let the hunts begin!

Nurture Your BOOKS™, 2nd Annual
Celebration of Authors & Readers Worldwide!
~ November 1^st to December 31^st, 2011, 24/7 ~

More information

2011 SFR Holiday Blitz

December 11th-16th

Ends midnight EST on Friday, December 16, 2011

12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop

December 13th-24st

Visit the participating blogs to enter!

Link roundup is here

Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop

December 16th and December 23rd

Click to join the hop going on now!

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop

December 21st to 27th

Sign-up and more information here

The Day The Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour 2011
December 26th to 31st

Sign-up and more information here

Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop
December 27th to 31st

Sign-up and more information here

The Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop
December 30th to January 3rd

Sign-up and more information here

Young Adult Faeries & Fantasy Giveaway Hop

January 6th to 12th

Sign-up and more information here

For more giveaways all around the year, check out the weekly book giveaway feature at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer's Blog!

Diversity in YA Books (List of Books included)

2011-12-14T06:16:00.000-08:00

Time for a do over on book challenges - 2012 here I come!

2011 was a rough year. I went through a lot of personal things that threw a wrench into my writing and is still derailing me a bit. Sadly my reading schedule also suffered so I got behind on a lot of my challenges.

I'm resetting my clocks early and will be joining more challenges for next year. This time I'm going to be realistic so I can balance reading with writing. Sometimes I lean more toward one than the other but reading really helps me to relax and stay grounded. I think that's why I got a bit overwhelmed throughout this year.

For the past few days I've been loading up my Nook Color with books, including excerpts, so it's time for me to get cracking on some serious reading!

I stumbled upon this book challenge for more YA Multicultural books and I am simply ecstatic! YA definitely needs more diversity and I try to scour the titles for anyone who feels the same way. Two awesome titles that fit are Jaclyn Dolamore's Magic Under series and Beth Revis's Universe series, both of which I simply adored. I'm eagerly waiting for the second in both series.

Anyway, I was jazzed to see Magic Under Glass on the list and hope to grab more. If you plan on joining this book challenge, here are some titles to get you started:

Magic Under Glass - Jaclyn Dolamore 4/5 Stars
Magic Under Stone (April 10th 2012) - Jaclyn Dolamore
Across the Universe - Beth Revis 5/5 Stars
A Million Suns (January 10, 2012) - Beth Revis
Noughts & Crosses by Marjorie Blackman 4/5 Stars
Manifest - Artist Arthur
Mystify - Artist Arthur
Winter Haven - Mell McKenzie
Asleep - Wendy Raven McNair
Awake - Wendy Raven McNair
Ascend - Wendy Raven McNair
Living Violet (December 27, 2011) - Jaime Reed
Fading Amber (2012) - Jaime Reed
Burning Emerald (2012) - Jaime Reed
Bleeding Violet - Dia Reeves
Liar - Justine Larbalestier 5/5 Stars
Libyrinth - by Pearl North
Tankborn - Karen Sandler
Cat Girl’s Day Off (April 2012) - Kimberly Pauley

KM's blog has more titles but as always, I'm on the lookout for even more!

For more diverse YA titles check out the following blogs:
Reading in Color
Color Online
POC Reading Challenge
American Indians in Children's Literature
Lee and Low Books Blog (Tu Books is their Multicultural YA and MG imprint)

Author Kaye Manro's Geek Girls Tell All

2011-12-04T16:25:00.000-08:00

I love being a geek girl!

Growing up, I had alternating moments of being a girlie girl and tomboy which soon meshed into a hybrid of the two. Through it all, one thing stayed the same. My love for sci-fi and fantasy (and some elements of horror) grew as I discovered the art of storytelling.

Thanks to author Kaye Manro, I had a chance to join with my fellow geek gals and put our brains together to define what it really means to be a geek girl. Hop on over to check out the post and our responses!

http://kayemanro.blogspot.com/2011/12/geek-girls-tell-all.html

Sam Johnson of Geek Girl comics even linked to it! Checking out his website, I think I may have some new comic titles to add to my reading list. :-)

In honor of this momentous occasion, I would love to give a shout out to one of my fave sexy nerds of all time. Mr. Nigel Bailey of the awesome adventure show from way back when, Relic Hunter.

Everything Comes Full Circle - Revisiting the Cimmerian City

2011-11-30T23:08:00.001-08:00

This week has been a whirlwind of emotions. Everything from fear, excitement, withdrawal, elation and acceptance kept me pumped to the end when I would finally make my book live. It's a gamut of emotions many indie authors go through when they are about to send a book out into the world. After having the story in your head for so long, sharing it with an editor (and not just an editor, but a partner to help make it the best book you can), creating the cover and text layout--the time arrives for release.

Only with Cimmerian City, I'm relieving this experience all over again.

Cimmerian City was my very first book release back in 2007 shortly after I entered the rising digital publishing world. Up until then, I had only dreamed of writing professionally. I had sold short stories and written articles for publications...but novel writing? Nonsense! I told myself I would never write books because they were just too bloomin' long. I loved the shorter works and I had nothing more to say.

My how things have changed.

I always tell the story of how Cimmerian City came to me in English class in '99. I was studying Brave New World, The Matrix had premiered on the silver screen along with Dark City and the Thirteenth Floor. Imaginative possibilities were everywhere and the world was going through more shifts with emerging technology, scary social changes and a shape-shifting government.

Then a character named Raven Blackheart claimed my own imagination. Cimmerian City went through many transitions where I played with virtual realities, futuristic scenarios, A.I. technology on distant worlds and meditations on money ruling government...until the story hit me. Most sci-fi stories showcased the world around the characters as a character itself but it was Raven who stood out most in my mind. This was her journey in a world that affected her and her family on a personal level. It was the story about the consequences of a failed government on its citizen. Overall, it was and still remained a story about discovery and death, the dark, cruelty of how humans can be toward one another and mankind's ability to find the good in the darkness around itself.

(Slightly spoilery character backgrounds to follow)

Raven's family ties shape a big part of her present and future. A mixture of Egyptian and Native American heritage, she is a woman who lived on a reservation after losing the only family she knew to a corrupt world who saw its inhabitants as commercial experiments. The mysterious Enos Relim, a strong minded, whip smart man from the Blackfoot tribe, trains and mentors Raven. He also helps her find out the truth about what happened to her father who disappeared mysteriously years ago. The brilliant Russell Li, a young handsome Chinese American man, works as an engineer at a prestigious corporation. Soon he is invited to move up in his career...but at a price that ultimately ends in losing a part of himself. At the beginning of the novel, all three lose someone close to them which will tie them together for the rest of their lives.

(End slightly spoilery character backgrounds)

The thing I always loved about science fiction was the ability to explore humanity in all its nooks and crannies through fantastical worlds and situations. Technology, commerce, government and society all combined in a commentary I was most excited to write about.

Even though Cimmerian City explores loss, death, darkness and greed that destroys men's hearts, A Feast of Shadows--the sequel--turns the story arc on its head. Hope, renewal, recovery, romance and fate play a strong hand in the following story, as Raven races against the clock to stop the oncoming destruction of Earth. Relationships that are hinted at in the first book come to fruition in the second story. The action/adventure and thrills are amplified and we see a bit more of the future world hinted at in Cimmerian City. A romance stems from heartache from part one, while part two develops it into full fledged mode.

But I may be getting a bit ahead of myself in that aspect.

I'm very excited to bring this book back into the world after all the edits, changes and updates it went through. It was released at a time when I created this blog to document this writer's dream from unpublished, aspiring author to published author. Since then I've paved many roads, discovered many awesome books and met so many wonderful readers and fellow author friends. It's been an amazing journey and coming up at the end of this year, it seems apt to take a look from where I came to where I am now.

I hope you all enjoy the novel. I'm currently at work prepping a fantasy short story collection for release and finishing up edits on A Feast of Shadows (and new works are coming up the pipeline). Plus, there are more goodies on the way. During the first release, I dove whole hog into the promotion and created tons of artistic compositions of the characters (namely Raven) and the world of future Los Angeles. I also put together a short digital comic book with a scene inspired Cimmerian City which soon became an actual scene in A Feast of Shadows. That presentation is called Shadow Man and can be seen here courtesy of Google vid.

It's been an amazing journey from there to here and I'm excited to say I can't wait to make more of my goals and dreams come true. I'm thankful for all of you guys who have stopped by my blog, all my buddies on the networks and a wonderful thanks to the readers who check out my work. There's nothing more amazing than a dream achieved through the art of storytelling.

Coffin Hop Winners and a big ole thanks!

2011-11-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

Whew! I'm so jazzed to finally sit down and blog the winners (yup winners!) of my the Coffin Hop authors blog tour.

I tell ya guys, this has been an awesome blast. I had so much fun jumping around to different author blogs and chatting them up on Twitter and Facebook. There are so many creative minds out there that I just couldn't keep up at one point! Thanks to everyone who offered goodies and various creative snippets of their work. I had a blast checking them out. Thanks to Axel and Julie for putting together and of course to all the wonderful authors and readers who dropped by my blog to check out my post and to say a hello! You guys are awesome. :-D

Now for the winners!

The main prize which I posted about before was the first two books in the Ashen Twilight series A Kiss of Ashen Twilight & Within the Shadows of Mortals as well as The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels: Vol 1.

Plus some extra yum yums were to be announced! Well, the extra yum yums are a nice happy bag of mixed mini candy bars. Woo! Snackage!

And the random generator says....10!

Congrats to: shadow_kohler

For winning this package!

I'm tossing in a late night extra bonus prize which is the first two books in my series as ebooks.

The number generator says....dun dun dun,

Number 8!

Congrats to ash-krafton and thanks to all for entering!

I'll be contacting you both via email to either send your prizes or grab your info to ship the goodies on over to ya.

Thanks to all who participated in the hop!

*Sticky - The Coffin Hop Horror Web Tour ~ Welcome! Giveaways Galore!

2011-10-31T03:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my corner of the Coffin Hop Horror Web Tour!

Grab some cocoa and pull up a chair because I'm offering some fun free reads, a book giveaway and some fun discussion. :-D

Click to read more and enter the giveaway after the jump!

Although I don't celebrate Halloween, I do enjoy a great paranormal novel. Since I was a teen, I've been into vampires (I was a Rice girl ;-)) and since then I've been hooked on vampires, werewolves, fae and other creatures. I ate up shows like Scariest Places on Earth (Zelda Rubenstein's voice alone gave me chills) and loved the paranormal invasion of the 80s & 90s when shows like Forever Knight, Friday the 13th the series, Wolf Lake, Dresden Files, Kindred: The Embraced, Blood Ties, Moonlight et al hit the air waves. I also enjoyed the Universal monster movies of the 30s namely Dracula, Frankenstein, the Werewolf & the Mummy made their appearances. Thanks to TCM, and stations like The Travel Channel, I check in each October to see what creepy offerings will be shown for the month. (Classic movie fans should check out the classic horror movies shown every Monday on TCM!) There was something about watching an otherworldly creature surviving, loving (and sometimes just plain ole terrorizing) in a human world that made the commentary on humanity all the more interesting.

Today we have much stronger stories with more 'realistic' monsters but I will always have a certain fondness for the black and white classics.

I always cite psychological horror as my favorite type of the genre. Sometimes called 'dark suspense' these stories focus on the internal fear of the character. It's more personal and relies on challenging the viewer/reader/listener to tap into their imaginations and personal fears based on what they are experiencing. Tapping into my love for audio books, I dug up some old time radio shows I heard as a kid. Thanks to Second Life, many of these shows got a second life with a new generation of listeners sitting around a campfire on a cold, windy night. There's just something about the theatre of the mind that really resonates with us.

Take a listen to the OTR show 'The Creaking Door'

I love the vivid human imagination. The sound of a door opening, footsteps or the howl of a wind can really take a story to new heights based on what the sounds could or could not be. Not to mention the origins of said sound! The stories, movies, tv shows and video games (like Silent Hill) that exelled in really creeping me out were the ones that gave me a little bit and let me run away with 'the unknown'. Sometimes that is much more effective than being showing every bit of gory detail!

Nevertheless, the horror genre, no matter the subgenre, has made a resurgence in books thanks to digital publishing. New readers are waiting to be scared out of their wits and a new voice of authors are eager to share their stories.

What about you all? What are your favorite tv shows, movies and books in the horror genre? Do you have a favorite subgenre?

*Everyone who posts a comment, follows me here at AWD and at Facebook or Twitter (or both!) will be entered to win my goodie bag featuring a series of my books a guide to paranormal writing along with some edible treats! To see the list of prizes check out my intro blog post and also check out the main coffin hop horror blog. Don't forget to visit the other author sites to enter some great prizes and some great titles to add to your bookshelf! Have fun!

A Tale of Two TV Fables - Grimm & Once Upon A Time

2011-10-27T01:42:00.000-07:00

Fairytales and mythology seem to be taking over the entertainment media by droves. I noticed the trend rising in Young Adult Fiction where fairytale & mythological retellings have been selling like hotcakes. Movies soon caught on as producers yanked up these books to adapt into large screen presentations. Red Riding Hood premiered a few months ago and we have two Snow White movies, a Jack and the Beanstalk and a Sleeping Beauty to look forward to. Sometimes they worked (Percy Jackson) and sometimes they didn't (Beastly). It was only a matter of time before television caught on with their own versions of fairytales in modern times.

I, for one, was jazzed to see this return. I was a huge fan of Special Unit 2, Blood Ties, The Dresden Files, The Chronicle and Friday the 13th the series which took modern day characters and settings and placed them against supernatural baddies. Supernatural & Warehouse 13 also play with these themes as well but I haven't had a chance to check them out as of yet. Some came from storybooks with their own set history while others were originals, inspired by their mythological ancestors.

Click to read the rest of the post!

Two new supernatural dramas have appeared on our screens. One which made it's debut to huge premiere night numbers and the other which hasn't had much publicity.

I first sat down to watch Grimm. I tried not to watch any previews on this one but I did manage to read snippets about when it was coming and what it would be about. Otherwise, I went in blind to immerse myself in the whole experience. A girl can't get too many surprises and lately they've been lacking a bit in the entertainment department.

Anywho, Grimm was a nice supernatural police procedural centering around a young man who sees creatures masquerading as humans. He is a Grimm, a line of men and women who fought fairytale baddies. Kinda like the slayers of Buffydom. The pilot centers around victims who wear red; like the college student out for a jog who finds a trinket on a tree stump and the little girl skipping on her way to Grandma's house. You can probably guess who the big baddie was in this ep. ;-)

The story was pretty much straightforward and almost predictable until our hero Nick encounters a smart alecky wolf named Eddie who clues him in on his past and his job as a grimm. I loved Eddie's snark and how he is just another guy who happens to be a pretty intellectual wolf. He's so nice he even invites Nick in for a brew, but reminds him that he's paying for the window he broke. I also loved that Eddie was a church going, pill taking, pilates practicing wolf who was afraid of the grimm fairytales he heard as a kid (nice touch). The scenes with him stood out amidst the tried and true kidnapping angle that ran alongside the 'hero is called to duty' trope.

This show made me miss Special Unit 2 and the other shows which not only touched upon the background mythos of it's supernatural creatures, but also improved upon it. Writers of those shows weren't afraid to mix them into the modern setting and mess around with the. I must say, I've been spoiled by the complex drama of Being Human (Season 4 returns next year woo hoo!). Not only were the actors stellar, the storylines around the supes weren't corny and they tended to deal with real issues that were believable. One episode I'm reminded of is George 'coming out' to his parents as a werewolf after disappearing for so long. Also George and Nina dealing with how they will raise a baby and whether it will come out a human or as something else. Another good one was Annie exposing a trickster magician who claims to speak to the dead and seeing her mother who never got to say goodbye before her passing. One ongoing story was Mitchell the vampire's addiction to drinking blood which he tried to kick over and over again, but soon became his undoing. I'm still shocked over the last episode of season 3 because even though it felt like it would end in such a way, I refused to believe it. It was that good of a show and the characters really seemed like a family. These nuances from the BBC show that pack such an emotional impact are something I would love to see brought to the US supernatural shows but it takes a good actor to say so much with their performance and a script to challenge him to make it work for the audience. Sidenote: it was awesome to see Russell Hornsby working again as I sure miss him from Lincoln Heights (good show).

Next, I checked out Once Upon a Time which was a nice dip into fantasy, which I missed. Apparently, Snow White and Prince Charming did not have a happy ending as we dash from the past into the future simultaneously. The costumes and the sets of the past were gorgeous to look at and I loved playing a guessing game of who was who in fairytale land. The characters are paralleled into the future and I'm wondering if there is a connection between the characters (i.e. are they aware of their storybook counterparts). While I found this one more original than Grimm in its delivery, I still wasn't as WOWed as I was hoping but I was intrigued to find out more. Lately I've been diving into shows of old and British shows which have more diversity in its casting. So it's a bit of a shock to hop back into US television which doesn't look kindly on a diverse cast.

Overall, I may tune in if I remember to watch them. I'm still watching Terra Nova hoping for a better story arc and reveal. As the weeks go on with each episode, my jazzed up potential for the show is slowly dwindling. I'll still tune in because it's sci-fi (I need my fix!) and to see if they slip in anything awesome but I won't be holding my breath for the time being.

Ah well, back to the DVD vault for some oldies but goodies!

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Darkspell

2011-10-26T02:46:00.000-07:00

Darkspell
by Elizabeth Mueller
Publication Date: October 31st

Blurb: Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . .until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold.

As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into a magical realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own.

Will love prove thicker than magic?

I've been waiting for this ever since I 'met' Elizabeth on Facebook. It sounds like a nice YA romance and I can't wait to grab my copy.

Check out Elizabeth's links below including a release party for Darkspell just in time for next week's premiere!

Darkspell Launch Spookfesta
Elizabeth Mueller's Facebook
Darkspell Teaser

Free story: The Hot Dry Spell (A short urban fantasy noir)

2011-10-22T03:55:00.000-07:00

2 Days and counting!

It's the month for paranormal goodness and I'm in the giving mood!

Here is my latest release, The Hot Dry Spell, in it's entirety. This short story is available for sale in all formats if you want to buy it for your e-reader. Depending on my schedule and inspiration, I may write another story in this universe, this time featuring an IR couple. ;-)

Enjoy!

The Hot Dry Spell

Blurb: It is the Roaring 20’s and jazz is on the upswing. Flappers and the Charleston are all the rage. The nightclubs are hot and the drinks are cold. Underneath the prosperous society and booming nightlife is a world unknown to most humans. A burgeoning underworld of fantasy creatures from the Fae to Vampires, trolls and Shapeshifters are working to survive underneath human eyes.

Ariane is a young Fae woman with the nickname, Sweet Rose of Chicago. The talented beauty and her alluring voice mesmerize both mortals and immortals across the city and underworld. The one man who is resistant to her charms is the only man she longs to be with; Gerry Anderson. Gerry is a runner for the Fae King, supplying bootlegged liquor for the humans and blood for the creatures of the night within the Fae King's favor. When a shaky truce between the outcast vampires and the King's shifter creatures splinters, Gerry's life may be in danger and Ariane may lose the only man she sings and lives for.

Author's Note

The idea for this story came out of a call for short stories based in the 1920s. The kicker was placing fantasy creatures in the midst of it all. I have always been a fan of the style and music of the 1930s and '40s so this was a chance for me to really research and dive into the 1920s. For weeks I listened to the music to get myself in the mood, watched the movies based there, read books about and taking place during the time and I immersed myself in the documentaries with old film footage.

Soon, The Hot Dry Spell was born. A few readers have told me they would like to see more of the story and, considering how well the characters live in my mind, I may pen another longer story within this world.

For now, I hope you enjoy this story and the characters that live within and around the nightclub, The Hot Dry Spell.

Thank you for reading!

They called her the Sweet Rose of Chicago.

From the soles of her clickety black heels to the tops of her short curled brown hair. Ariane was a sight to the visitors of the Hot Dry Spell nightclub and she knew it. What made her even more enticing was the fact that she didn’t have a last name.

The namesake of the club was a standing homage to the city’s crackdown on hard liquor, but the inside was anything but dry.

The jazz was hot. The joint was bumpin’. The floors vibrated with an energy that was higher than anything its mortal visitors ever felt. Mixed with the house drink, the Blue Fairy, it was what made it the hottest dive on the block. To a Fae, it was like a drug she could not get enough of each night.

Hot nights and cold drinks defined Ariane’s new existence. After an existence among the green grasslands for so long, industry had moved in, pushing the natural environment out. She was finished watching the quiet farmlands the mortals tended to and welcomed the city atmosphere, coupled with fast life that came with it. Skirts were shorter, speech was hipper, and the energy shot to sky high. It was the time of the roaring twenties and she welcomed it. Anything goes and it often did. Mortals were so preoccupied with their own satisfaction that they didn’t notice the underworld of immortals moving in. The Hot Dry Spell was essentially a supernatural hideaway with only a few humans allowed to integrate with the Fae. Some even ended up in the speakeasy whisper room to be donors for the bottles of bootlegged blood and Fae drinks that would mix in with the normal booze.

That evening, Ariane heard the truck pull up outside the club. Her backup dancers were already prepping for the night’s big show when she climbed off the stage. In some distant corner of her mind, she registered telling them to finish up. Deep down, her heart thumped rapidly, as she waited for the front doors to open.

She couldn’t wait any longer.

The cool Chicago evening caressed her face when she stepped out. In moments, the doors would be opening to welcome the night crowd. The man of the hour always showed up before the show to help fill the club for its thirsty patrons. She watched him motion the delivery truck forward toward the empty spot behind his Ford and then he stepped into the driver’s view to give him directions.

Be still her triple beating heart. Gerry Anderson, the name he used for his human contacts, looked a sight in his double-breasted gray pinstripe suit. He straightened the fedora on his full head of dark slicked-back hair and stuffed one hand in his pocket while the other waved the men over. One by one, they began piling out from the back of the truck carrying crates and barrels.

“That’s it,” Gary yelled.

His familiar East Side Chicago tinted accent sent shivers up Ariane’s spine whenever she heard it. There was something masculine and enticing about the way he said his words with force whenever he worked with the men. Yet on the flip side, he would be soft and tender with her in that very same voice.

“Load ‘em up in the whisper room and don’t spill a drop. That’ll keep us going for a while. At least until we’re dry tonight.”

Ariane stepped aside to let the men by as they piled into the club and tipped their hats with their free hand as they passed. Gerry stopped once he saw her. There were many wonders in the world, many people she came in contact with and mortals who added to her mental list of what made up the bulk of humanity. But never had she been captured quite so much by a man like Gerry.

Big brown shoe button eyes, a handsome virile face and a strong build mixed with a deep voice made her body stand at attention whenever he was near. Ariane had heard about this feeling before—love—but she had never felt it…until now. She couldn't remember a time when she had as much fear as she did now when he went out on the streets or left on a run. He and his kind, the Chamelia, were the most sought after runners in the racket due to their ability to shift their bodies into anyone and anything, just with a twitch of a muscle.

Still, no matter who he became, no matter how his appearance changed or what color his eyes morphed to, Ariane always knew Gerry by that deep gaze that stared right into her like no man before. He had seen too much excitement in his life but he always craved more. She hoped that in the near future he would crave coming home to her more than the life of a runner.

Ariane shifted her stance and placed her hand on her slim hips. “Well, hello there stranger,” she said with a smile. “You look like you could use a cold one.”

“Why don’t you come over here and give me a hot one instead, huh?” He pulled her in for a kiss, his warm lips claiming hers with the hungry ferocity of a starving beast.

Ariane was made up for the night. Her thin frame was draped in a black sparkly dress and matching black high heel shoes. Each part of her makeup was carefully applied to bring out the green of her eyes and the rosy tint of her pale cheeks that gave rise to her nickname. She didn’t care if anything was out of place, as long as she got her Gerry.

“Is the King inside yet?” he asked when he slowly broke away.

Ariane shook her head. “He should be on his way. He got a little detained with court matters. I’m sure he’ll be up in no time. He likes to greet the guests before the show begins.”

Gerry leaned in. Half of a smile crossed his lips when he caressed her chin. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your opening number?”

She shrugged and said, “Had to see my favorite guy first.”

He planted a soft reassuring kiss on her cheek. “Good. Cause I like to see my favorite doll.”

Turning her around, he smacked her on the bottom and urged her toward the entrance. “Go on in before you catch your death out here. And save me a dance.”

Ariane couldn’t help the smile that crept upon her face. She would give anything to have a few close and tender moments with Gerry. She had the power to bring and keep him under her spell. Humans and other immortals alike were captivated and enticed by her very presence. Except for Gerry Anderson. She knew he cared about her and that he was attracted to her. But could he ever truly love her like he loved the high life? She asked herself the question for the millionth time, even as she went behind the stage and up the stairs to the dressing room.

“Hey Rose.”

Ariane turned at the sound of her nickname and peered down the stairs at Gerry, who thumbed his hat at an upward angle.

“Thanks for the protection tonight, doll. We definitely needed it with the human feds sniffin’ around.”

She nodded. “Anything to help.” Especially for you.

“Go on. Get out of here.”

Five feet two inches of statuesque beauty walked up the stairs in high heels and a dangerous switch of her hips. If he weren’t careful, he would be a goner like all the other suckers that crossed a Fae’s path. Gerry shook it off with a smile. The last thing he needed tonight was to be distracted from business. He hoped pleasure would come later. The Sweet Rose—his Rose—was the most sought after entertainment this side of Chicago. He knew it was due to her Fae abilities but deep down, it was all Ariane.

Patience, buster, he told himself. Playtime will come later.

“Alright,” he yelled to the men piling in the back. “Let’s get this booze loaded.”

One of the men—a short stout man with a dingy jacket—lifted his hat and cracked his knuckles. With a wave of his hand, the door emitted a bright green glow. He stepped through the sleek, polished wood as if it were an allusion. The sound of a lock lifted on the other end and the door opened.

Nice. If only the humans knew what lived under their noses. It would make hiding things a lot easier for them.

Gerry stepped inside and turned on the lights, bathing the large room in a bright light. A neat array of tables, with clean white cloth draped over the tops, sat before him. Crates sat in the back out of view and stacks of bottles sat in decorated formation behind the makeshift bar. This was where real deals were made. Many a conversation took place here in the back where the King of Fae handled his business. He ran The Hot Dry Spell with an iron fist and a tight hold on everything supernatural in this realm. Without him, there would be chaos as it was before the passage of the Volstead Act; when supernaturals preyed on humans using tricks and just for fun. Now with Prohibition, there was order. It was an odd sense of irony, if he ever saw one.

“Bloods are here. They’re waiting for their shipment.”

It took Gerry a moment to notice the other voice geared toward him. He looked over his shoulder and saw a tall lanky man wearing a high priced suit. The shifter’s name was Molano and like himself, his origin was spotty. Nevertheless, Gerry knew he could count on the man when he needed.

“Should I bring ‘em in?” Molano asked.

Gerry turned to the crowd of his men who were adding to the crates and bottles of booze and blood along the walls. Beyond the back wall was another secret room where the feedings took place.

Gerry nodded. “Let ‘em cool their heels in the back and we’ll see about getting them a supply.”

“I’ll start getting them some fresh blood right away.”

“Good man.” Gerry slapped Molano’s back and gestured toward the door. “Make sure if we have mortals in the bunch to cloud their minds first. I don’t want any leaks to give them a reason to tail us.”

“Right.” Molano turned on his heels and exited the room in two long strides.

It was another easy night but Gerry didn’t want to get too cozy. While keeping an eye on the men finishing loading the room, he took in the quiet atmosphere of the club. Soon the place would be throbbing with energy and a cacophony of music, dance, laughter, and chitchat. He enjoyed these quiet nights before the noise. Especially knowing what would happen soon after.

Black, gold, white and pastel colors shaded the interior of the Hot Dry Spell. Sky blue columns hugged carved gold sunburst designs sitting against the crème walls. The Parisian style of art deco filtered across the club and right down to the bright spotlight of the stage where his Rose will be making one of her grand entrances. Like every night, he told her to save him a dance. He hoped like every other night he wouldn’t have to miss it to go on some run. A big shipment of blood was coming in that evening thanks to a stoolie troll who had his ear to the ground near the drawbridge. Nothing went past him whenever there was money involved.

A loud raucous brought Gerry out of his thoughts and he turned toward the door. He spotted Molano trying to hold off a small group of men in tattered clothes. As he got closer to the doorway, Gerry spotted the large salivating open maws lined with fangs. Red bloodshot eyes and pointed ears completed their gangly look. Vampires. They couldn’t be the bloodsuckers Molano told him about.

“What’s the big idea, Molano?” Gerry said as he gently pulled his tie loose and straightened out his suit. He had a piece stored in his side holster, if he needed it. Tonight it was loaded with regular bullets, but he had a stack of silver-cased bullets if any of the werewolves or vampires gave him lip. Normally, the latter would be well kept in their place, but these mugs looked like they had a sour run in with an angry caretaker. “These boys giving you trouble?”

“No trouble at all, shifter,” the closest vampire said to him. “Looking for some drinks, and since you’re the local joint in town for immortals, we decided to come here.”

Gerry smiled. He was taught to be a gentleman, no matter what the wind blew in. A kind smile would sweeten any sour situation, even if the nectar were laced with venom. “We don’t take any riffraff here,” he said. “The King will be making an appearance soon and I’d thank you to take your needs elsewhere.”

“What’s the problem, shifter? Too big for your britches? I could drain you right here and now if I wanted.”

Gerry felt his blood pressure shoot up. His heart raced and in a blink of an eye, he pushed Molano out of the way and swiped his hand to his back pocket, raising a knife up to the rat-faced vampire’s neck. “You could, but me and my boys will spill that nice blood on the ground before letting you out in the sun to warm up. Now, I asked you nicely to take a hike, buddy. We don’t want trouble here. I know an outcast when I see one and the King don’t like seeing rejects nipping at his nice establishment. Now, you can kindly take you and your boys and walk out of here or be escorted out with a stake in your heart and silver in your veins. What’s your pleasure?”

The vampire lifted his large mouth in a smile. Gerry inhaled the putrid smell of death and decay on his breath. If he had any doubt they were outcasts before, now it was confirmed. The Fae King kept strict order and those who decided to take the rules of the mortal world in their own hands were cast out of the immortal realm. No insurance of survival and no more feedings. They had to get their food from the scraps that were left out. Humans and animals were off limits and covered in a protective shield to keep their kind away. They looked every bit, the pale, emaciated beings they became when they only fed on drops. There was no room for their kind and Gerry would see to it.

He waited until they slinked away to the darkness and disappeared into the night. His heartbeat was still racing and his testosterone on edge as he folded his knife back in place, and slipped it into his back pocket.

Molano’s expression hadn’t changed. The man rarely smiled and changed his blank expression even less. He was the perfect guy for keeping a lid on quiet deals.

Gerry patted his buddy’s back and gestured toward the club where the workers were pulling the upturned chairs and placing them in order for guests. “Let’s have a drink before the party starts, huh?”

Gerry and his men were two drinks in when the Fae King finally arrived. His presence keyed up the club long before his intimidating form entered the front door. The Fae Queen normally stayed behind to conduct court affairs, while the King handled matters in the mortal world.

The Chicago district had been the most lucrative area for him. It was one of the hubs of the Underworld, which offered both an inside look at all the undercover action between the mortals and a quiet haven to hide out. He traded in his old style cloth cape, large jacket, robe and crown of jewels for a three-piece suit and a fedora. He had become accustomed to looking and absorbing the mortal culture right down to the large cigar he loved to smoke when conducting business.

That evening, the Fae King entered the club with his usual entourage of elven guards and goblin footmen. They had no need for any concealed weapons. Their own internal power was enough to stave off any aggressive forces that may come their way.

Gerry took note of the imposing man walking with the Fae King.

“This looks serious,” Molano said next to him.

Before Gerry could answer, the Fae King caught his eye and nodded him toward the whisper room. The club was already beginning to fill up with guests, and tension had begun to fill the air around them. A sinking feeling told him this was indeed serious. He made a promise tonight and he intended to keep it. He hoped the Fae King wouldn’t send him on any business. Not tonight, of all times. However, even as he prayed with each step toward the speakeasy room, Gerry knew this was going to be big.

“Five minutes!”

One of the stagehands, a troll with a thick green hide and a small suit to cover his stout form, yelled the warning to the girls. Excitement filled the air as it did every show. Some of the dancers practiced their opening numbers while others readied their elaborate costumes and props.

Ariane made sure to hire only Fae dancers for the club’s entertainment. Their ethereal beauty and enticing aura added something extra to the show that no other nightclub but the Hot Dry Spell offered.

As she applied her makeup and stared at the solemn reflection in her mirror, Ariane tried to liven up her expression with a smile.

“That won’t do.”

Ariane lifted her gaze to see a thin blonde staring back at her. Betty, one of the dancers who had been with her the longest of all the girls, cocked her head to the side.

“I know that look,” Betty said. She turned her body slightly to lean on the back of Ariane’s chair. “That chameleon’s got you all wrapped up again.”

Ariane couldn’t help smiling at the thought of Gerry.

“Ah yeah. That’s the genuine article right there. It’s a dead giveaway every time. He ask you to be his girl yet?”

Ariane shook her head. “Too busy runnin’ errands for the King.”

Betty fiddled with the feather headdress sitting atop her short blonde do.

“Take it from someone who knows, honey. Runners and guys who thrive off that excitement are no good. Especially a cham with sought after ability to help the racket. It’ll only end in heartache.”

“You speaking from experience?” Ariane asked.

Betty shrugged. “Had a friend who had a friend.”

Ariane sighed, remembering Gerry’s promise. “My brain knows it. But try telling it to my heart.”

Betty gently placed her hand on Ariane’s shoulders and leaned down to meet her gaze in the mirror. “You can have any man you want. We’re Fae, doll. We don’t have to be tied to no one and nothing. And look at this world. Anything goes now and the mortal world is finally kicking its feet up and having a gay old time. Just enjoy yourself. Why get all beat up over a runner who can’t cool his heels for five seconds with you?”

Why indeed.

Because her heart swelled at the very thought of Gerry Anderson. Because she knew he was a good man set on keeping his people safe by any means. Because he promised to look out for her and always to protect her. Because the simple act of feeling his presence in the same room gave her the kind of peace, she never felt before in all her existence.

Because the reasons were too numerous to list.

Betty smiled as she stood to her full height.

“Yeah, you’ve got it bad.” She shrugged. “I hope you know what you’re getting into.”

The loud chatter was beginning to die out when Betty turned toward the door.
“We’re on,” she said. “I’ll see you out there.”

Ariane didn’t answer as she watched her bubbly friend hop out of the room.

Outside the speakeasy whisper room, a chorus of claps and cheers welcomed the chorus line of showgirls as the night’s entertainment. Gerry felt his stomach turn with part anticipation and part dread. Anticipation, because Ariane’s opening number would be following soon. Dread, because he may not be here to see it.

“The outcasts have been moving in on the territory from the East coast. I have a feeling they won’t stay put for long.”

Gerry remembered the man who accompanied the Fae King. Cornelius was a Baron placed over the territory to keep order in the city. If he was making a personal appearance, this had to be severe.

“They haven’t made any trouble this way,” the Fae King said with a puff of his cigar. A tiny stream of green smoke evaporated in the air before him.

“Not quite accurate, your majesty,” Gerry pushed away from the bar feeling the speakeasy bartender’s eyes—among others—all on him.

The Fae King lifted an eyebrow and Gerry proceeded.

“A few of them tried to enter the club about a half hour ago. We sent ‘em on their way.”

The Fae King nodded. “If they’re planning something I want us to be ready. Get some extra men outside the club to watch the area. Gerry, I want you to—”

A scream erupted amidst the loud chatter and pulse pounding music.

“Side door,” Gerry grabbed his gun from his back holster and led his men through the side entrance back into the club. A woman draped in a black dress and a long string of pearls lay face down on the floor near the club’s entrance. Gerry fell to his knees and gently turned her over.

“She just walked in looking dazed,” he heard the doorman explaining behind him. “Like the life was drained right out of her.”

Sure enough, Gerry saw the visual confirmation of the doorman’s description.

Her delicate features looked like a shadow of the pretty girl she once was moments ago. Deep blue veins underlined her paleness, as if her skin had wasted away to dying flesh, lacking any elasticity. Two angry gashes were torn into her neck where she was drained of blood.

“Please remain calm, folks,” the Fae King announced, once the music died. “Just a minor problem. Don’t worry yourselves. To add to the festivities, have a glass of Blue Fairy on the house to get you started right back up. Now, on with the show!”

Amidst the cheers, Gerry felt the energy rising in the room. The supernatural beings were too busy in their revelry to care about the minor inconvenience, while the humans were already forgetting what stopped the entertainment in the first place. A warm glow filled the entire club. When he looked up, Gerry saw the King’s glow brighter than it had been moments ago. The effect was calming to an immortal like him. He could imagine it would be pure bliss for a human in the vicinity.

Gerry finally stood and gestured for his men to remove the dead woman’s body. Whoever her family was, they would be notified and given enough money for a proper burial. The outcast vampires would pay for her futile death.

“Anderson.”

Gerry looked up at the King approaching him. “Yes, your majesty?”

“I need you to take care of this matter…personally.”

He nodded. “On my way, I’ll take some men with me and scope around to see what we can find.”

“I don’t want to smell or sense any outcast anywhere in my city…or anywhere else in this realm, for that matter.”

Gerry nodded again. “We’ll clean it up, your majesty.”

“Please do. Cornelius has his men on the East Coast and Titan has his men on the West. We need to keep up our end.” The King patted Gerry’s shoulder. “You’re a good man, Anderson. I’ll see that you are well taken care of for the rest of your days.”

Gerry gave a small bow and watched the Fae King disappear toward the back, followed by a sea of his entourage. Back in the Fae realm, the King was devastating in his own right. Here, it sometimes felt like he was one of the human gangsters.

Gary exhaled deeply and ran a hand over his face. “Okay,” he said, looking over at Molano. “We have a job to do. First…”

First, he had a promise to break in the name of duty for his King. He would give anything to stay here and watch his Rose perform, but he also promised to keep her safe. Getting rid of the bloodsucking vampires that were cast out of the city would ensure that he at least kept one promise intact.

Even if it meant breaking another…

Ariane nearly ran into a raised fist when she opened the dressing room door to the hallway. She was so deep in her thoughts that she almost missed the tall imposing figure dwarfing the doorway with his height.

The man immediately held his arm up to calm her. “I’m sorry, miss.” He quickly yanked his hat off and crushed it to his chest, as if just remembering the gesture. Mortal customs didn’t exactly coincide with that of the immortals, but to integrate with the world around them, they had to learn the mores of the time and place. “Gerry Anderson sent me to give you a message.”

She forced herself to breath and ignored the icy feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. The inkling had been there since she and Gerry finished their conversation. Now she was finally getting the confirmation.

“…regrets that he won’t make it tonight…”

“…prior engagement to the king…”

“…wanted to give you this after the show…”

Ariane barely registered his exact words but knew the overall message. She simply smiled and thanked him before sending him on his way. He looked eager to run off and engage in whatever business they had planned tonight.

Part of her wished Gerry had brought the news to her himself. Would it have made it any easier to take? Somehow, she doubted it.

Closing the door behind the man, Ariane leaned against it. She took a moment to gather herself. There was no time for tears or for feeling sorry for herself. She had a show to put on and now was not the time to let the whole club down.

Tonight she would sing as she never sang before. Wherever Gerry was, she would make sure he felt every note, every vibration and every emotion in the song.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to present to you….a delectable doll of delicious delights. A beautiful babe who can sing like the scintillating songstress she is. I present to you…the Hot Dry Spell’s own Sweet Rose of Chicago herself: Ariane!”

The club erupted with a chorus of cheers, claps, whoops and hollers. Ariane waited until the chords of her song began with an interlude. The sound enveloped her and the mood of the piece settled right in the thick of her heart.

Tell me no love songs

Sing me no lullabies

I’m lost in the danger

Caught up in your mellow eyes

Cause I’m lost in you

Trying to be true

To my heart that won’t say goodbye

The opening moan of a cello signaled the rest of the orchestra to chime in. Ariane let the atmosphere surround her. A smoky haze draped over the crowd that was enthralled by her song of love unreturned and the dancers that slinked around her in synchronized dance.

Don’t tell me not to love you

Then she felt and saw him through the midst of her mind as the song continued. The smoky atmosphere of the nightclub slipped away to reveal the cool Chicago evening. Ariane continued to sing as the scene played out like a movie.

My heart won’t lie

To my head that

Can’t say goodbye.

In the vision, Gerry straightened out his suit and led his men toward the river that connected the Fae realm to the mortal one. If offered the right amount of cash, the river troll stood on guard. Gerry questioned him about the whereabouts of the vampire outcasts’ hideout. He sweetened the pot with a large bag of gold. The trolls deep set eyes beneath his pronounced brow lit up immediately when he saw the bag. He reached for it, but Gerry held it up over his head until he got a satisfactory answer. The troll then pointed out to his left and explained. Finally, he was given his reward.

Ariane’s song died out to softness with one powerful note. The lights went to darkness and the crowd erupted into cheers.

In the dark, a slow beat of the drum got the pulses of all the club goers racing. Feet tapped beneath all the sounds, inaudible to human ears. Ariane felt her hips moving to the sound of her chorus of dancers removing their long, elegant gloves and their already short skirts to reveal more leg.

In her vision, Ariane watched as Gerry led his men to an abandoned warehouse that seemed to have been left for years.

Abandoned…but occupied.

Gerry gestured for his men to cover all sides and be on guard. The man who delivered the message earlier at her door remained next to Gerry. Perhaps that’s why he sent him, Ariane realized. He had to be Molano, Gerry’s most trusted right-hand man. His elongated face looked rougher and more on edge tonight. He was already preparing to shift.

‘There in the back,” she heard Gerry say.

“Probably already knows we’re here,” Molano responded.

Gerry smiled. “Then, let’s give them a nice homecoming gift.”

The lights brightened up in full swing of the jazz band playing Ariane’s song at faster beat. The shake and shimmy of the dancers around her matched the beat and highlighted Ariane at center spotlight.

I’m caught up in your gorgeous eyes

Lost in you

Trying to be true

To my heart that won’t say goodbye

Bye

Oh, my baby

Sweet baby

She sung out he words, putting every emotion, every power and heart left in her right down to each note. In suits and evening gowns, the people in the club had already taken to the floor, dancing and swinging their partners. Others sat at their tables enjoying their drinks and moving to the music.

In the vision, Gerry removed his suit and shifted immediately into a large beast like that of a wolfman covered with thick fur all the way down to his pawed feet and sharp talons. His other men joined him and surrounded the warehouse. As they closed in on the entrance, a handful of figures emerged from the shadows and took formation. The lead vampire looked at Gerry and smiled, revealing a set of rotted snagged teeth.

“I told you, shifter,” the vampire said in a raspy voice like pure drops of venom. “You’d have trouble. All you had to do was give us a little drop and we would be out of your hair. We can’t deny our nature. We had to do what was necessary to survive.”

“Not at the expense of exposing us all.” Gerry shook his head and smiled bitterly. “And I gave you one of two choices earlier, bloodsucker. Lucky for me I got a third option for you. Unlucky for you and your boys.”

The outcast vampire hissed loudly and they moved toward the beasts as their own private little war broke out under a full, pale moon on the streets of Chicago.

Claws ripped skin. Teeth tore into flesh and slashed away into open wounds. Ariane danced and sang despite the sting and fear she felt inside. She channeled it all into her performance of a woman with a broken heart. Soon the darkness grew too thick for her to see. She tried to hold on to Gerry, feeling his every movement through the connection. A loud yelp, accompanied with the sound of a body slammed against the ground, echoed in her mind. Then she couldn’t feel him at all.

The song came to its low, moody end.

Ariane felt as if the life was snatched right out of her. The club stilled and the dancers held their positions. All eyes watched her, waiting for the final ending to the song.

Time is a wastin’

So don’t bother saying

Goodbye

The dancers began again. The crowd moved and the band built to a crescendo under Ariane’s final notes. As it died down into the loud chorus of cheers from the crowd, the stage lights dimmed to darkness and she quickly took her leave.

After the number, Ariane went searching for the Fae King. She didn’t stop in the dressing room nor did she wait for Betty, whom was sure to be worried enough to check on her.

Navigating a sea of compliments, roses and raised champagne glasses for her performance, Ariane looked around at the specially reserved table near the back. There was no sign of the Fae King anywhere. She questioned one of the main bartenders up front and, sure enough, he was in the whisper room.

She took the side entrance, which was the only one allowed open, once the club was in full swing. Inside, the room was full. Some men gambled at one end while others sat around talking, drinking, and smoking. In the back of the room vampires in designer suits sat at tables wining—and then dining on—their dates for the evening. Not that their mortal dates had any complaints.

Ariane immediately went to the Fae King and gave a small curtsy. “Your majesty,” she began. “Gerry hasn’t returned yet, has he?”

The Fae King puffed a bit of his cigar. His bright grey eyes softened once he blew out a slow green stream of smoke.

“He hasn’t returned.”

“I know you offered him protection. During the number, I felt it and then…”

“I know,” the Fae King said. “I felt it, too.”

“Your majesty, I think he may be in danger. I know he can heal himself if he shifts, but he may be too badly hurt to do it. I need to leave early tonight. I need to find him.”

He took a slow drag of his cigar. She ignored all the eyes from the table closely watching her.

“You really care for him, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do,” she answered without hesitation.

“What’s the connection you two have? It’s not in our nature to latch onto just one person. There are plenty of men around here who would be happy to have you by their side.”

“I don’t want plenty of men,” Ariane said. “Nor any other man.” She was getting more anxious by the moment. The longer they sat here chatting, the more time passed that Gerry, not to mention his men, could need their help. She didn’t want to tell him how Gerry promised to look after her since she was a young girl. He was a Chamelia Fae, who had been swapped in the place of a mortal baby, by a dark Fae who saw human children as commerce. Gerry never knew his family and had always been a man who walked with no ties to anyone but the Fae King and his men. In a way, they were the only family he had ever known. No matter what she did, Ariane wanted to fill the void for him that only a woman could. However, no matter how hard she tried to hold on, he always slipped away; back to do the King’s bidding.

Now he could be in danger and even though he may not need her on the surface, she would be there for him…right until the end.

“No.”

She shook herself out of her thoughts at the sound of the King’s belated reply. “No?”

“You can’t go out there.”

Ariane still had a few more numbers for the night but those had to wait. She wouldn’t mind the Fae King docking part of her night’s pay. “But your majesty, I—”

“Not without some protection.” The King gestured to a few of his men who finished their drinks and then stepped forward. “I need you to take our Rose to the warehouse. Make sure she is protected and that there is no trace of any activity to lead back to us or this club.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

Ariane turned to get her fur coat and purse when she heard the Fae King call to her. She stopped and turned as he rose to his feet and walked over. She swallowed hard and stood tall despite his daunting presence. It was the same for any supernatural creature, much less any human. His charm and handsome features matched a grace that would put Douglas Fairbanks to shame.

He took her hand and placed it between his own. “Tell Gerry we’ve got more use for him. So don’t die on us, huh? If he wants to take some time off to…recover….tell him to take as long as he needs.”

She sensed the underlying tone of sympathy beneath the light, cool words. Her hands warmed with an energy that spread throughout her body and filtered down her limbs. To a human, it would look like the Fae King was offering a kind word accompanied by a warm gesture. However, the amount of energy pulsing from every living being in the room, told another story.

Ariane nodded and then took her leave with the Fae King’s men.

The clock struck midnight when the small caravan of Fords arrived at the abandoned warehouse. Ariane waited until the front car stopped at the entrance before climbing out. All along the pavement, bodies lay strewn about like the aftermath of a bloody war. The Chamelia Fae that had turned into wolves had now changed back to their human forms. Their naked, pale bodies illuminated a cool blue under the light of the moon at full rise. The rotted corpses of the outcast vampires lay in twisted formation; some with their maws slacked open. All were bloody and beaten dead.

Mentally, Ariane had to block the stench, which was like rotted meat, as she ventured inward to find out if Gerry was among the survivors.

“Alright men,” she heard Tiberius—also known as Huey, the Fae King’s main assistant—said behind her. “Let’s see if there are any survivors out here. Get these outcasts disposed of.”

It was then that she spotted Gerry’s form against the wall. His body was turned to the side and one arm lay draped across his hip toward his back. The telltale sign of his birthmark, a small pinkish-beige sunburst on his lower back, told her it was him. He had changed! That must mean he’s still alive.

She immediately went to him. Her black heels clicked against the stony pavement. She dropped to her knees and wrapped her fur coat around him, turning him over to face her.

There was nothing. There was no sign of life or movement at all to tell her that he was still alive. He had to have been alive enough to change…

Ariane tried to force back the tears. She wasn’t going to let him go that easily. She gently placed her hand on his chest, feeling a stream of tears force their way to her eyes. Every ounce of energy within her, from the nightclub-goers that evening, from the dancers down to the Fae King’s men in the speakeasy whisper room and even the Fae King himself, she used to revive Gerry’s still heart with her body.

Then…

He awakened with a gasp on his thin pink lips, and then arched his body upward into a choking cough. Looking down, he surveyed his body and breathed a sigh of relief at the absence of bloody wounds that Ariane had healed for him.

Ariane choked back a sob as she flung her arms around him. “Thank the heavens above! Gerry, I thought I had lost you.”

He pulled her to him and she reveled in the feel of his arms tightened around her. It was a small gesture but she couldn’t help feeling as if he was finally coming home to her.

It was short lived when he suddenly pulled back with a start. “My suit. Where’s my suit?”

“Honey, we can get you another one…”

“No, I need to find it. “There’s…” He swallowed, calming himself. “There’s something in the pocket that I need.”

“Alright,” she said, pushing him back down to rest. “Stay here. I’ll get it.”

She stood and saw some of Gerry’s men moving to their feet with the help of the Fae King’s men. A few helped each other toss the outcast corpses into a pile to prepare for the bonfire. Huey stood by coordinating until he raised his hands and blew a stream of blue and orange fire over his palms to light the pile.

Ariane veered her attention away to return to her task. She searched every torn suit lying on the ground until she found the one with Gerry’s knife and gun at the holster. Both still clung to the tattered waist. She quickly took it to Gerry who was examining his body for any leftover wounds.

“Here’s your suit.”

“Look in the breast pocket,” he said, nodding toward it.

She reached in and froze when she felt something hard and cold inside.

Pulling it out, she held it up at eye level. The round smooth-cut diamond glistened in a spectrum of colors, notably blue, orange and reds to reflect the light of the moon and flicker of the blazing fire.

“Mortals seem crazy about it for some reason. I thought you’d like it, especially if it came from the Earth.”

Ariane wiped her eyes. She raced to him and didn’t hesitate to wrap him in a tight hug. “I love it. Mortal women like it clasped to a pure gold ring but this is more than I could ever have hoped. Are you asking what I think you’re asking?”

Gerry smiled despite his tired demeanor. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to him. “Yeah, I am. I know it’s long overdue, kid. I wanted to tell you tonight after your big number but I was called away to take care of this mess. I know a Fae doesn’t normally stay with one person, but I wanted to talk to the King about us. Maybe request that he make allowances. Honestly, I’ll try anything at this moment. I thought I was going to die tonight, Ariane. I don’t want another day to go by without telling you how I feel. Forgive me?”

Ariane smiled. “Only on one condition.” At Gerry’s eyebrow raise, she continued, “If we could get away for a while. Just you and me. No nightclub, no interruptions.”

“The Fae King may need me to run a job for him.”

Ariane looked over her shoulder at the busy men still covering up their tracks from the mortals. With a gentle wave of her hand, she brought up an invisible shield to cloak them from the men’s senses. “I think the Fae King will be okay for a while. Besides, he’ll understand.”

“You sure?”

She winked at him. “Oh yeah. I’m sure.”

Gerry nodded slowly as his smile grew wider. “It’s a date, doll, just as long as you save me that dance.”

“Always honey,” she said as she helped him up to his feet. “Always.”

The Coffin Hop Horror Web Tour (October 24-31, 2011)

2011-10-21T03:27:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed a new event on the sidebar during the past few days. If you haven't take a gander to see something fun coming up in the next few days.

Yep!

It's The Coffin Hop Horror Web Tour (October 24-31, 2011)!

Woo hoo! I'll be visiting the hop myself to check out other the authors' works. At the same time, I'll be offering up some goodies right here on the blog!

In the goodie bag are paperback versions of:

Plus some extra yum yums to be announced!

1) HAVE A SPOOKY FUN TIME!

2) INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND SPREAD THE WORD!

3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, October 24, 2011 at Midnight (PST)

THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, October 31, 2011 at Midnight (PST)

Winners will be drawn and posted November 1, 2011

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL SITES IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. THE MORE SITES YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES.

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE A SPOOKY FUN TIME?

Readers who come to my blog will be entered by posting in the comments. As an extra special treat, I'll be posting some free reads between now and the event so be sure to check back leading up to the tour.

Mosey on over to the official Coffin Hop Horror Web Tour blog site to check out the current authors on tour!

Hope to see you there!

October is the month for Vampires...

2011-10-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

At the Broad Universe, that is!

This month, we're featuring vampires in two editions of the BU podcast.

First up is the Broad Pod!

Join hostess, Trish Wooldridge of A Novel Friend Writing & Editing, as she and the Broads celebrate what many genre writers--not even just horror!--feel is The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

The episode opens with E.F. Watkins sharing her story of a violent act that is not quite what it seems. Then, Rae Lori's excerpt involves a power struggle for the role of Regent in a nightwalker clan. Gail Z. Martin brings us into an epic battle with the undead. Finally, Jaleta Clegg finishes the episode with musings on vampire survival related to problematic food supply.

The Broad Pod is brought to you by Broad Universe, an international non-profit dedicated to promoting, celebrating, and honoring women writers of science fiction, fantasy, horror--and everything in between. To find out more about Broad Universe, or how to join the ranks of Broads, visit www.broaduniverse.org

For now, please enjoy our display of why the claims of vampire demise… have been greatly exaggerated.

http://broadpod.posterous.com/october-2011-vampires

Coming up is the Broadly Speaking podcast where we will be discussing Vampires, the changing genre and the future of the genre on October 31st!

Now Available! The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels: Volume 1

2011-10-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels: Volume 1 is now available from Dragon Moon Press! I'm proud to be among some awesome writers in compiling this great guide for authors and aspiring authors. My goal is to help writers via my blog, articles, classes and workshops as others have helped me so I'm very proud to be apart of this effort

From the blurb:

Friendly. Useful. Current.

Written by a collection of well-known authors for new authors, The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels: Volume 1 covers a wide range of topics necessary for building your first paranormal novel. Paranormal novels are found in all sections of the fiction bookstore. One of the most prevalent forms of fantasy masquerading as romances, mysteries, general fiction and urban fantasy, this guide has tips and topics specific to writing a
variety of paranormal novels.

With chapters on:

Angels & Benevolent Spirits -
Shannah Bodine

Yes, Virginia, There Are Ghosts –
Linda Madl

Fae, Fey, Faery, Fairy – A Quick Glance into the Abyss –
Sheri L. McGathy

A Map to the Charted "Unknown": An Author's Look at ESP -
Danielle Ackley-McPhail

Love, Romance and Writing the Naughty Bits -
Rosemary Laurey

'Tis a Mystery –
Lee Killough

World Building: Bringing the Impossible to Life -
Rae Lori

Breadcrumbs & Signposts: Determining the Path of Your Novel –
Tina Morgan

Professional Polishing without Paying a Professional: Editing and Critiques–
Karina Fabian

How to Win Agents and Influence Editors -
Elizabeth Burton

Dropped Eyes and Unattached Tentacles: Common & Uncommon Writing Errors -
Jane Toombs

This guide will provide a solid path to completing that first novel by offering detailed help and reference material to get you writing.

Now available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle. Also available at other online bookstores!

Wild and Crazy Works Coming up the Pipeline!

2011-10-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hey blog readers! Your friendly blog host here.

Wow, it's been a nutty year and only 2 months left after this one! Gah! Personally, I've been through some rough things recently and getting back to really trailblazing my writing forward has been helping me to get back to doing what I love. First off, I want to apologize for the delay with 'Inheritance of Ashes'. I had planned to release the book later this month to conclude the series but as I'm still adding to the book, I'll have to move the release up a bit. I won't give a date this time. I want to wait until I'm really close to the finalization process so you guys won't be frustrated with the constant moving dates but I will tell you it's not too far away. ;-) Apologies for the delay, nonetheless! As you all know I'm a perfectionist in bringing my books out in the best condition I can (no rush jobs here ;-D) and this last book in the series is definitely no exception.

I've also moved some other works up a bit as I'm going to see if they garner outside interest first before I take matters into my own hands. ;-) I'll definitely keep you guys updated with the process with any good news I may receive.

For those in Second Life, we're going to be counting down to NaNoWriMo again on October 31st! So grab your candy corn and your manuscript idea and join us in-world! A few writing and book related sims will be joining together for some write-ins, word wars and other NaNo related writing events so stay tuned! Feel free to join my kiosk at my writing cabin (#4) at the Written Word for updates and newsbits. :-)

A Writer's Dream

It's 2012 - Let the reading challenges begin!

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ The Twilight Zone Legacy + Blog Contest

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Author Marie Harbon

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Author Ju Ephraime

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Author P.R. Mason

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Stories of Duality

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Author Michelle Franklin

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ The Girl in the Basement

The Day the Sun Stopped Shining Blog Tour ~ Dec 26-31st

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Living Violet: The Cambion Chronicles#1 by Jaime Reed

Teaser Tuesdays!

6 Days and Counting Until the Day the Sun Stopped Shining!

Books for Readers & Readers for Authors ~ It's all about the blog hops and giveaways!

Nurture Your BOOKS™, 2nd Annual Celebration of Authors & Readers Worldwide! ~ November 1st to December 31st, 2011, 24/7 ~

More information

Diversity in YA Books (List of Books included)

Author Kaye Manro's Geek Girls Tell All

Everything Comes Full Circle - Revisiting the Cimmerian City

Coffin Hop Winners and a big ole thanks!

*Sticky - The Coffin Hop Horror Web Tour ~ Welcome! Giveaways Galore!

Click to read more and enter the giveaway after the jump!

A Tale of Two TV Fables - Grimm & Once Upon A Time

Click to read the rest of the post!

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Darkspell

Free story: The Hot Dry Spell (A short urban fantasy noir)

The Coffin Hop Horror Web Tour (October 24-31, 2011)

October is the month for Vampires...

Now Available! The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels: Volume 1

Wild and Crazy Works Coming up the Pipeline!

Nurture Your BOOKS™, 2nd Annual
Celebration of Authors & Readers Worldwide!
~ November 1^st to December 31^st, 2011, 24/7 ~