Kayleigh Sky's Blog, page 2
February 10, 2018
Author Interview with Anne Barwell!
Welcome everybody! Today I’m hosting Anne Barwell, and she has consented to answer some questions for us, so let’s get started. I’m so happy you’re here, Anne!
Thanks for hosting me today, Kayleigh.
It’s my pleasure. I really enjoy getting to know other authors, so I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. Let’s getting started with just… talking. Some of us do lots of it and some of us are a bit shy. Quite a few writers are are introverts and get their energy from solitude, which is helpful since writing is usually a solitary pursuit. Are you the kind of writer who can be alone and keep going for hours, or do you get worn out from being in your head for long periods and having to deal with all the drama on the page?
I always have music playing in the background when I write. I don’t mind the solitary thing so much, but I find I need to get up from the keyboard and stretch, or I get stiff shoulders, so I can’t sit and write for hours. Because of that I plan breaks every hour of so – usually something like housework, baking, or something else that needs doing. Weekdays aren’t an issue as I write for an hour then need to get organized to go to work. Unfortunately that often means I just get into the story, and doing… horr….nice…things to my characters when it’s time to leave.
Lol. Horr… nice things? No, horrible only! We must make them suffer, so their reward of a happy ending will be all the sweeter. Honestly, though, I hate making my characters suffer, but I love forcing them to change and grow. They all have a flaw—or many flaws. The books I love most put their characters through the ringer. I want you to think of a favorite book for a moment. If you’ve ever read Fahrenheit 451, you know the scene at the end of the story where everybody is memorizing a book to save for the future. I used to wonder what book I’d memorize. What book would you memorize to save for posterity, and why that one?
I love Fahrenheit 451and studied it at uni. It would be really hard to choose a book to memorise, but I think it would have to be The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper as that’s the book/series that really got me into fantasy. I love it and re-read it every so often. It’s also the story that got me hooked on Arthurian legend and Celtic mythology.
If I couldn’t choose a book, I’d have to go for poetry. Either one of the romantics as I have a soft spot for them, especially Bryon, or a poem of Tennyson’s.
Oh, cool. Byron’s one of my ancestors. My heritage is primarily Scots-Irish and German, so when I choose a pen name I went with something that reminded me of that: Kayleigh (Irish) and Sky, a variant spelling of Skye (Scottish). I like that the name represents me, but also provides a bit of a remove from my real-life personality. I tend to think of Kayleigh as my alter ego, lol. As a writer, what would you choose—avatar, famous person, cartoon character—to represent you?
I use a pen name – although it’s different from the one I use every day, it’s still legally my name. It gives me a bit of distance between my writing and other life, although it’s not exactly a super secret identity as everyone knows it’s me, and often use either/or to introduce me to others. I don’t tend to put my photo out on the internet much though for two reasons. I’m never fussed on the photos taken of me—although one of my daughters tags me by my author name on FB when she takes photos so that’s working well. Not. Also, I work in a library so having my photo on the back of my books would be a little problematic. So instead I use Augustus the plushy dragon as my avatar. It works well, as I’m a huge fantasy fan and love writing and reading about dragons.
Here’s Augustus, guys!
That is too cute, but while we’re on the subject of names, I’m curious if you need to know your characters’ names before you start writing?
Yes, and placeholder names don’t work. It has to be the ‘right’ name. Some characters turn up with names, and others I need to find. I have a baby name book, and another with NZ surnames, but also use a site that has both first names and surnames called Behind the Name –
I’m the same way. I’ve occasionally thought I’ve found a name for my characters only to realize when that character wasn’t really developing that I had the name wrong. I don’t why that matters so much, but for me the name is very important. This is a total non sequitur, but I’m wondering if you write alone or in public?
I write alone as I tend to write at home when I have the house to myself. I know of a few writers who use libraries, but as I work in one, that doesn’t work for me. I’ve handwritten stories in cafes and on airplanes but only very short snippets. Although in saying that, I often have a chat programme open and am holding a conversation while I write, with a warning that I might go quiet depending on when the characters take over my keyboard.
Wow, that’s interesting, but I guess it’s a little bit like writing out in public, unlike me who usually writes buried by my two cats. Who are your real-life writing companions? Dogs or cats? You have animals, I hope since I’m asking you that.
I have two cats, Kaylee and Frappy. Kaylee is a long haired Tortie and Fraps is a short haired ginger tabby. They’re good company but if I spend too long on the computer without giving them the attention they feel they deserve I hear about it. Fraps has snuck into one of my books—in a secret identity of course—and everyone who knows her recognized her immediately.
Ha ha ha! Let’s talk about your books. I know you have a blurb and excerpt for us, so I want to get to that right now. Keep reading, guys! Teasers and buy links below.
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A Knight to Remember – Dragons of Astria #1
I’m sharing this story, as its sequel is my WIP for the latter part of this year. It’s been too long since book one came out, and the characters are not impressed. I blame the vampires.
Blurb:
“The last of your line will be in the embrace of a dragon.”
Aric, Crown Prince of Astria, has been brought up to believe that all dragons are evil. But when he speaks with one, he finds himself questioning those beliefs. The dragon tells him to find a sword in Sherwin Forest to save not only his kingdom but also his sister, Georgia, who must otherwise wed the prince of a neighboring kingdom.
At the start of his quest, Aric dons a disguise and meets Denys, an archer and herbalist who lives alone at the edge of the forest. Denys agrees to guide Aric into the forest, but then Georgia appears, revealing Aric’s true identity.
However Aric learns he is not the only one keeping secrets. Denys has a few of his own that could change both of their lives forever.
Excerpt:
“You said you had something to tell me.” Aric cleared his throat, not wishing to reminiscence about such things, at least not now. He was losing his mind, he must be. This was a dream, it had to be. Yet why did it feel so real? “And my name is not Brandric. It’s Aric. Brandric is what my father calls me.”
“Aric, then.” The dragon inclined its head again, lowering its voice. “Your sister is to marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom. This must not be allowed to happen. It will not unite your kingdoms, but is merely a ploy to gain your father’s trust.”
“I already know that.” Aric had heard two of King Malachite’s men talking. Once the marriage had taken place, King Malachite planned to invade Astria and claim it in the name of Logan, his own kingdom. “He… they talked about using magic.” Aric had told his father about what he’d overheard, but he hadn’t been believed. King Malachite, King Brandr assured his son, would not attempt to betray Astria by using the evil that was magic. Nor would he use their children’s marriage to gain control over Astria. He was an honorable man who had stood by Astria and its people many times, their armies united against a common foe. Together they had triumphed over those who might use magic against them, and worked to rid both their lands of the threat of dragons.
Aric had never trusted King Malachite. There was something about the man that made his skin crawl, but if asked to explain, he couldn’t. Only two people had ever believed him: Georgia and Aunt Hannah.
“The only way to fight magic is with magic.” The dragon looked around, then cocked its head to the side as though listening to something Aric could not hear. “You must seek the Sword of Sherwin, Aric. The quest will not only save your kingdom, but also your sister.”
“I….” Aric stared at the dragon. He’d heard of the sword, of course he had. It was an old tale told to him by both his aunt and his mother. The sword was a thing of power. “It doesn’t exist. It’s just a story. Or if it did, it was lost generations ago.” He shook his head. Surely the dragon couldn’t be serious?
“Then it is time it was found again, isn’t it?”
“You make it sound simple. It’s not.” Aric looked up at the dragon. Its eyes were the same color as its scales. They seemed to bore into his own, searching his heart, and his soul. There was something ageless about it, powerful yet lonely. He shivered, and averted his gaze.
“You see what others don’t, young Aric.” The dragon opened its wings. Aric gasped. They were the length of several men, black cobwebs of fine leather and scale. “Follow your heart, and trust your instincts.”
“But I don’t know where to look.” Aric wanted to believe the dragon, he truly did. Georgia couldn’t be allowed to marry Prince Thorold, and Aric could not stand by and let his kingdom fall. Killing dragons had only been part of the oath he’d taken. He might not intend to keep that part of it, but he certainly would keep the other.
The dragon had already begun to flap its wings. It was preparing to leave, and Aric knew once it took flight he’d never be able to stop it. “Follow your heart, Aric. Do what is right.”
Aric stumbled back, his sword falling to the ground. He couldn’t kill the dragon, but more than that, he didn’t want to. “I don’t know where to look,” he yelled after it. The dragon did not reply but instead took to the air, gliding, hovering above him, its movement graceful, majestic. Something about it called to him, touched him.
He wiped at his eyes. They were wet.
When he looked up again, the dragon was gone.
Bio:
Anne Barwell lives in Wellington, New Zealand. She shares her home with two cats who are convinced that the house is run to suit them; this is an ongoing “discussion,” and to date it appears as though the cats may be winning.
In 2008 she completed her conjoint BA in English Literature and Music/Bachelor of Teaching. She has worked as a music teacher, a primary school teacher, and now works in a library. She is a member of the Upper Hutt Science Fiction Club and plays violin for Hutt Valley Orchestra.
She is an avid reader across a wide range of genres and a watcher of far too many TV series and movies, although it can be argued that there is no such thing as “too many.” These, of course, are best enjoyed with a decent cup of tea and further the continuing argument that the concept of “spare time” is really just a myth. She also hosts other authors, reviews for the GLBTQ Historical Site “Our Story” and Top2Bottom Reviews, and writes monthly blog posts for Love Bytes. She is the co-founder of the New Zealand Rainbow Romance writers, and a member of RWNZ.
Anne’s books have received honorable mentions five times, reached the finals four times—one of which was for best gay book—and been a runner up in the Rainbow Awards. She has also been nominated twice in the Goodreads M/M Romance Reader’s Choice Awards—once for Best Fantasy and once for Best Historical.
New Zealand Rainbow Romance Writers
February 2, 2018
Into the Unknown – Author Interview with E.M. Denning!
Hey there, everybody! Today’s interview is with E.M. Denning, who has a new release coming up on February 9th, the second book in a series called What He Craves. So mark it down on your calendars! February 9th. More info and links down below, but don’t skip, lol, enjoy the interview first. So let’s start.
I love to learn about other authors and their processes—what’s different or the same—so tell us, is there anything weird about your writing process? Can you maybe amuse us with some interesting quirk?
I listen to the same song on repeat. For hours. And I write a book to that song. Sometimes I’ll add in another song if I need to, but it’s always one song, on repeat, for hours. Days. Weeks. Months.
You know what? So many authors say they listen to music while writing that I might have to try that, but listening to the same song over and over? I have to say—that’s a first, lol. I like quiet and solitude, and once I get into my story, I can go a loooong time before coming up for air. Some writers only write for a few hours, and some can go at it the entire day or longer. Are you the kind of writer who can keep at your writing for hours, or do you get worn out from all the drama on the page?
I write in sprints. Bursts of 20 minutes to an hour, then I take a break. I seldom write for hours at a stretch. My brain needs breaks.
We, all of us, do things so differently. In fact, I do things differently now than when I started, and differently from how I always imagined it would be. I think writers go into this career with an idea of what it’s like and how their life is going to be, but soon learn that the reality is nothing like the fantasy. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Finish things. Worry less about making it GOOD the first time and just have a product to work with. Finishing it is half the battle. I’d also tell my younger self that writing crap is okay. Everyone writes crap sometimes. It’s fine. The trick is learning what’s crap you can save and what’s crap you need to let go of.
I could seriously sing that from the rooftops, but as I just said a moment ago, we all do things differently. Still, when writers talk about editing as they write, I cringe. I think new writers especially should just get words on the page because it’s too easy to become discouraged when the words aren’t miraculously perfect. There is no miracle. Writing is work, and after the writing comes the editing which is more work. And then more editing, lol, before we get a book we’re willing to take a chance on. Because, let’s face it, it takes courage to put your baby out there for readers to see. How about we give a boost to a favorite book and writer? What is your favorite book that you think just hasn’t gotten enough love in the world?
There’s a few I could mention, so I will. hahaha. First off, the absolute crown jewel of MM Romance. For Real by Alexis Hall. I love this book. It’s beautiful. It’s inspiring. It’s the kind of book I want to write when I grow up. I’ve read it at least 8 times. Maybe more. It’s a book every single MM writer and reader NEEDS to read.
Liberty by Seth King. It’s, admittedly, a HARD book to read, but it’s important. It’s beautiful.
Seeing Red: Scorched and Seeing Red: Interlude by TC Orton. Vampire books aren’t my thing, but I’m a HUGE fan of TC Orton so I took a chance and was not disappointed. The writing is fantastic. The story is unique. I really love Isaac and I find his journey to be equal parts suspenseful and emotional.
Cool. I LOVED For Real and can absolutely vouch for that one. I haven’t read the others, so thank you for adding to my TBR pile, lol. I have so many books to read! When I was a kid, I always thought I had to finish every book I started. That is a habit I have since kicked to the curb, so I have time to read the things that really resonate with me. How about you? Do you finish what you start, or have you also decided life is too short to read what you don’t like?
I do not finish every book I start. If something isn’t my taste, I’d rather set it aside and move on to something I’m going to enjoy.
And why not? We don’t all like the same things, which can be a hard lesson for new writers, who want everybody to love everything they write. The reality can crush a fragile ego. Do you think writers need loads of confidence or a big ego to make it in this business?
No. LOL
Pretty much every writer I know has insecurities about their writing. You don’t need a lot of confidence, and you don’t need a big ego, you need lovely, supportive, friends who genuinely like your work and are willing to be there for you when you’re feeling less than brilliant.
And as writers, I think we feel less than brilliant a whole lot of the time. I try to maintain some degree of separation between “author” me, who is Kayleigh Sky, and the real me in my real life, but the psychological overlap kind of does away with any meaningful division. I wanted a pen name because I liked the idea of having a part of me that was separate from the rest of me if that makes any sense. An alter ego, I guess. As a writer, what would you choose—avatar, famous person, cartoon character—to represent you if you wanted to be someone else?
Something cute and cuddly and a bit silly. A red panda, perhaps.
Lol. I think I’d go with a crow myself. I really love them. Thank you so much for taking the time to let us get to know you a little, E.M. Congratulations on your release—February 9th!!! I’m saying it again. Mark your calendars!—and I wish you the very best of luck.
Continue scrolling to get a look at What He Craves.
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Matt Simpson is notorious for his bad decisions. From his rocky teenage years to his tumultuous early twenties, he’s made a lot of mistakes. His latest, greatest, and perhaps stupidest of them all was his recent pursuit of his boss, the unattainable Steve Paulson. Desperate to make the man notice him, and knowing Steve would never get involved with an employee, Matt quits his job.
Unfortunately, Steve still won’t touch him. To make matters worse, his new job falls through and his older brother won’t hire him. Matt can’t bear to ask Steve for help, and soon he finds himself out of money and out of options. When Steve finds him living in his car and demands that he go home with him, Matt obeys, but living with the man he’s wanted for two years proves to be frustrating as well as explosively hot. As Matt begins to explore his submissive side under Steve’s firm guidance, his insecurities haunt him. What does a homeless, jobless kid with a string of failures behind him have to offer, even if Steve did want him for more than a brief fling?
January 27, 2018
Into the Unknown – An Author Interview with Nora Phoenix
I’m baaaack with another interview, lol! I’m treating you guys to two this week. Today, I’m getting together with Nora Phoenix, who had a new release yesterday. We’re going to talk a little bit about her, and then I’ll give you guys a peek at the cover of her new book, a couple snippets, and the buy link because I know you’re going to want to pick this up. So, let’s get going.
First question, Nora. Is there anything weird about your writing process? Amuse us with some interesting quirk if you have one.
I wouldn’t necessarily call it weird, but I have specific music on when I write. It’s a website names Focus@Will and they have a ‘track’ that is the perfect background for me. It’s called Focus Spa, and it’s pretty, ambient music that doesn’t really make it into your consciousness, but it does help me focus. That’s also because I live in an apartment and my downstairs neighbors can be pretty loud with their TV during the day, so this helps me drown out that noise. I put that on, turn all social media notifications off, and set a timer for a thirty-minute block of uninterrupted writing. Ready, set, go!
Um. I have headphones that I use sometimes when my neighbor’s gardener shows up or another neighbor’s kid feels it’s absolutely necessary to race her motor scooter back and forth in front of my house. Seriously? Why not her house? Oh, I know. Because her parents said, don’t bother us. Go down the street somewhere else. Ugh. So headphones, yes, but I can’t write to music. The world itself becomes white noise to me unless it’s really distracting, like… you know… a kid on a motor scooter. She really should be inside reading, lol. I read tons when I was a kid. Late at night, early morning, between classes—during class if I could get away with it. I was a voracious reader, but even if I didn’t like a book, I always felt as though I had to finish it. Thankfully, that’s a habit I have since kicked to the curb. How about you? Do you finish what you start, or have you decided life is too short to read what you don’t like?
I used to feel guilty about not finishing a book, but I let that go a few years ago. There are SO many awesome books out there, that I no longer feel required to waste my time reading something that does not hold my interested out of some weird sense of obligation or guilt. In the same way, I have no qualms anymore about skipping in non-fiction books and only reading the parts that interest me. My time is precious and I don’t want to throw it away on stuff I don’t need, like, or want.
I think that’s a wonderful, super-healthy attitude to have. When I was younger, I always wanted to write literary fiction—and don’t get me wrong, I still love it—but I found that it didn’t give me the leeway to express myself in a way that I wanted to. When I discovered M/M, it was such a relief. I could write what was in my heart. I like the things I write now—characters, genres, settings, and everything down to the scene level. That said, some things, whether you like them or not, are just plain tough to write. What are your toughest scenes and is there a particular scene that was the hardest of all?
My toughest scenes to write are scenes with fights and conflicts. I hate conflicts between people and the tension it brings, so I always have to mentally brace myself for scenes like that. Making our characters suffer is part of our job as writers, but it’s not a part I like.
In my most recent book, No Shame, there was a scene where we finally learn what’s behind the high ‘defensive walls’ of Brad, one of the main characters. He finally tells his lovers and his brother what’s been bothering him all those years, and it’s heart breaking. That was incredibly hard to write, but afterward, I felt as relieved as Brad did that it was done. There’s an old wisdom that states the truth will set you free, and I really believe it does.
That is sweet on a lot of levels, mostly the way you love your characters and feel for their struggles. I know in advance what’s going to happen to my boys, but I’m also often surprised by their motivations, which turn out to be different than what I thought, and also for the direction the story sometimes takes itself. I plot beforehand—ever since I started writing in this genre—but my stories will sometimes pick themselves up by the pants and run off. How about you—are you a pantser or a plotter or a bit of both?
I used to be a plotter, an extreme plotter, even. That came natural to me, because in real life, I’m pretty organized and structured, so I figured I needed to be that in my writing as well. I’d make extensive character sheets, little cards that plotted out the whole novel, I’d analyze each scene for emotional impact and level of conflict, you name it.
The problem was that it felt like a chore. I didn’t enjoy it, but moreover, it took some joy away from the writing process. Yet so many writers would advise that plotting was the way to go.
Then I read a book called ‘Story Trumps Structure’ and it set me free. It argues that a story should flow naturally from the characters and that you should simply ask yourself “in these circunstances, what would this character do next?” Once I started doing that, it was a whole new ballgame.
Now, I only spend time developing my main characters and a basic premise for the story, and then I start writing. Everything else will flow from that. I do make notes along the way of my decisions for each character, for instance about appearance and background and things like that, but it’s way more organic. And I love it.
I think I’m very, very lucky in that I enjoy the whole process, even—drumroll, please—editing! What is the greatest joy your writing has brought you?
My greatest joy as a writer is doing what I love, what I’ve wanted to do since I was a teen—and getting paid for it. I write fulltime, and that’s a reality I never thought I could make happen. I started writing stories as a teen (I still have them, and they’re so adorable!) and to be here, so many years later, and realize I made that dream come true, that’s bog to me. Every time I start a new day behind my desk I’m grateful I get to do this. It’s my dream job, my dream life.
Yay! A happy ending. I whole-heartedly approve. I’m so happy you’re your dream came true for you, Nora, and really pleased that you stopped by to talk to us today. Thanks so much, and best of luck on the release of No Shame. And to all you reading this—check out the links below and go buy Nora’s book!
Blurb
Brad feels nothing but shame about himself. Shame about his sexual needs, about his reputation, about his medical problem no one knows about. No one, except his best friend Charlie, but no matter what feelings Brad may have for him, he’s not going there. Charlie deserves so much better, and Brad desperately needs something not even Charlie can provide.
Charlie has loved Brad forever, but he’s never acted on his feelings, unsure of where he stood. Plus, there was the complication of his boyfriend. But when his boyfriend’s abuse gets too much for Charlie, it’s Brad who helps him escape and recover.
Miles ends up severely wounded in the line of duty as an FBI agent. He’s floored when the man he was protecting, Indy, opens his home to him so he can recover. Indy also sets him up with Brad, who turns out to be a perfect solution for Miles’ sexual issues…until Miles wants more than sex from him, and a developing friendship between Miles and Charlie complicates things even more.
Bit by bit Charlie and Miles break through Brad’s defenses, until they come crumbling down. Miles will have to prove he can provide what Brad needs, and Charlie’s sweet love will be put to the test. But when Brad finally finds the courage to break free of his shame, will the fragile love that has blossomed between the three of them survive?
No Shame is a steamy M/M/M romance that ends with a happy ever after for all characters, including those from the previous books in the series. It’s the fourth book in the No Shame Series, and is NOT a stand alone novel, so make sure to read the first three books first (No Filter, No Limits, and No Fear). It contains hot sex, a ménage, a little daddy kink, more hot sex, and a poly-amorous relationship that transcends labels.
My bio
When she was a little tot, Nora’s mom got a library subscription for her. That, as they say, was that, and a lifelong love for books was born. Nora never stopped reading and doesn’t exaggerate when she says she devours books, rather than plain reads them. She started writing stories as soon as she could hold a pen, and wrote her first full book as a teen (on a typewriter!). It took her waaaay too long to follow her dream to become a romance author.
Nora writes M/M romance, because hello, sexy boys, and likes her men flawed, strong, and a tad broken. She appreciates a little kink but insists on a happy ever after.
Come hang out with Nora in her Facebook group Nora’s Nook where she shares previews, sneak peeks, freebies, and much more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norasnook/
To stay up-to-date with new releases from Nora sign up for Nora’s newsletter here: http://www.noraphoenix.com/newsletter/
You can also stalk her on Twitter: @NoraFromBHR
Link to my book:
January 26, 2018
Into the Unknown! Author Interview with Emjay Haze!
Hi guys! I have Emjay Haze here to talk to us today. Emjay has a new release from Dreamspinner Press out today, and I’m super excited to tell you about it. Home Is Where You Are is an m/m contemporary romance that is part of the States of Love Series. As always, I’ll provide detail about Emjay’s book and buy links below, but first, let’s get to know her! So Emjay, I’m going to start you off easy, lol.
Do you need to know your characters’ names before you start writing?
Sometimes when an idea for a story pops into my head (I’m usually driving at the time), I’ll have an idea of the main character’s name, but usually they just come to me as I’m writing. I don’t sit and try to figure out names beforehand, I just let them flow. Sometimes I’ll go back and change a name as I get to know the character better, but usually my first instinct is right.
That’s almost the exact opposite of the way I do it; though, I admit Alex and Lars from Trinkets just popped into my head, but I have a love affair with names and their meanings and will spend hours looking for the ones that speak to me. If I have the name wrong, I cannot get the character down. Let’s see if we differ in other ways, shall we? I avoid reading reviews like the plague. I absolutely love getting them because I know the value they have, but I accept them as a benefit to the reader and try to stay clear. How about you? Are you a masochist? Ha, ha. Or, in other words, do you read reviews of your book?
Unfortunately, yes, I am. It’s like a train wreck, you can’t not look. I know the critique is of the work, and not me, but it’s still difficult to read a bad review. You really have to focus on the positive ones and learn from the others. Sometimes people can just be mean, and you have to overlook that, but also you can read what they say and hopefully take something from it. Good reviews are awesome to read, though. 
January 20, 2018
Into the Unknown with Author R. Phoenix!
Hi everyone! I’m so pleased to bring you a conversation with the lovely R. Phoenix, AKA Raissa. These are such enjoyable interviews. I don’t know about you guys, but I love getting to peek into the minds and imaginations of different authors. None of us are the same, but we all share certain similarities. It’s a wonderful business—I absolutely wouldn’t trade it—but it carries with it a certain portion of angst, that’s for sure. So, to lighten things up and keep this fun, I want to start with the positive. Tell us, Raissa—
What is the greatest joy your writing has brought you?
This is probably going to sound cheesy as hell, but it’s true, so I’m going to say it anyway. The absolute best thing about writing is that I have met the most amazing people in my life. Readers, other authors, bloggers… There are so many amazing people who are brought together by books and writing in general. The catharsis of writing is important, but so too is the feeling of belonging you get when someone connects with something in your books – or you. I talk to people who have never read my books, and I still feel so fortunate to have them.
I met my closest friends because of writing, and they’ve been there for me. We weren’t author and reader, or author and author; we were friends, are friends. That means so much more to me than any sales. I mean, obviously I want to sell books so I can write more books, but if I had to choose between the profit and the people, my introverted, shy as fuck, socially awkward self would choose the people.
Then there’s Elias Ivers. Elias is a witch in my Fate of the Fallen series, and the strength of people’s reactions to him have been both validating and baffling. Meredith over at Diverse Reader wrote in her review that if she had a glass of water and he was on fire, she’d drink the water, which to date is probably still my favorite. Others consider him their book boyfriend, and I have this group of amazing people who have playful “arguments” over whether he should die or not. The strength of people’s reactions… I never imagined people would feel that deeply over someone I created.
So yeah, the best part of writing has been connecting with people, even temporarily, for better and sometimes for worse.
And you know, its almost impossible to predict how your characters or story will turn out, and I often wonder if I’m doing it or them justice. Sometimes I read a review that is almost scary in how spot on the reader got everything I was trying to do while another reader just doesn’t get it at all. The process of bringing somebody to life is pure alchemy sometimes. Often, when my characters first appear in my imagination, they are no more real than a stick drawing, and it is unfailingly fascinating to me how they slowly grow and take on flesh and blood reality—and start telling me what we’re going to do! I started outlining when I began to publish as a business, but my characters can and still do take over the plot. What about you? Are you a pantser or a plotter?
I am somewhere in between! I have to have an idea of what’s happening and where it’s going, or I freeze up. I don’t always even go in that direction; some of my characters have given my plotting a big old nope and gone way out into left field. I just need the comfort of knowing that I have somewhere to go with it. Though I love that I got to write different styles of books across my series, I’d have picked one and stuck with it if I’d pre-plotted the entire thing.
Okay, maybe I’m lying just a little. I really do enjoy getting to play around with romance and erotica and horror and a little bit of adventure, and redirecting the focus based on the book and the characters. There are six – well, technically seven – POV characters across the six books, and each one likes to tell their story differently.
Now that I’m doing collaborations with Morgan Noel and Shaw Montgomery (M. A. Innes), I’m having to do more solid plotting so we can make sure we’re on target. It doesn’t always work, and sometimes we find ourselves having to pause and redirect the characters or even adjust the plot. For the most part, though, there’s a tentative idea of where it’s going and how it’s going to get there.
When Morgan and I were writing U3 (Untamed, Unhinged, and Unchanged), it was our first real collaboration with the intention of publishing. We’d written together before, but not like this. The plot ended up changing part of the way through, and we were dreading edits because it was such a large shift. It ended up not being that bad, but our incubus’ story didn’t go exactly how we thought it would at first. Some of the plans we had were thrown out because they’d require too much development, and the damn thing ended up being over 110k words as it was. I don’t have a final word count yet, but we’re almost done edits and it’s around 120k. It was daunting when it came time to start edits as it was, and when Morgan put a publication date of January 30th on it, I may have squeaked a little. But it’s almost done and on target!
Ironically, Spoiled, which we wrote after, was less than half the length and published at the end of December. No, I haven’t stalled. At all. And like a true pantser, I have gotten way off topic.
LOL. No worries! Off topic is fun. I love when my boys start making their own decisions in a story about how they feel and what they think. I love writing scenes I didn’t necessarily plan but are important to the character. There’s something so organic about a story when the character injects himself into it. I have a plan, of course, but I love when I’m not forcing anything anymore. Especially sex scenes! Anybody who writes sex knows the challenge of being true to reality but creative and romantic, or what have you, at the same time. If you write erotic/explicit scenes, what is the most difficult part of that process for you?
The most difficult part for me is keeping things fresh. I started out writing more explicit scenes, but as time has gone on, I’ve found it harder (*snerk* Yes, I’m a mature adult) to do. I admire erotica authors who can make sure that every scene is unique and interesting. When it comes down to it, there are only so many ways you can say “insert part A into slot B or C” without it getting repetitive. You have to think beyond that and come up with plausible situations without introducing too much realism. People will cringe if they see anal sex without lube, but at the same time, we don’t really need to hear about the wet spot on the bed, either. My co-author, Morgan Noel, and I have had that chat more than once because there’s that balance you have to strike.
THEN, after all of that, it has to survive editing. By the time you’ve done the third read-through to look for the word “slammed” (nope, not speaking from personal experience), you may not even think the scene is sexy anymore. Maybe it’s just me, but I have a hard time selling something as “hot” after I’ve edited the hell out of a sex scene. There’s just something mood-killing about making sure the characters actually took their shoes off and that you don’t mention scars where you had smooth skin in Chapter Three.
Actually, I find any kind of editing to be mood-killing, lol. Seriously, though, I like a lot of it. I enjoy being with my characters, but it can be a long process. I write plot heavy books and love action, peril, angst, hurt/comfort, all the things that keep a story moving, but after editing a couple times, I feel like I’ve memorized the damn thing. Which reminds me of Fahrenheit 451. If you’ve ever read the book or seen the movie, you probably remember the scene at the end of the story where everybody is memorizing a book to save for the future. I used to wonder what book I’d memorize. After practically doing that with my own, though, the bloom is definitely off that rose, let me tell you, but if it ever came down to it, and you had to memorize one book to save for posterity, which one would it be and why that one?
Yes, go ahead and groan; Raissa’s going to talk about that book again. Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson, which is the second book of the epic fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive. Never mind that it’d be hard to memorize, considering it’s 1,088 pages long – or to put that in perspective, has a 48-hour-long audiobook. But hey, let’s say alternate universe me had a better memory than real me.
This book was life-changing for me. It helped me get through one of the darkest times of my life, and I even have a tattoo of a quote from my favorite scene. The storytelling and characterization and world building are astoundingly good, and they’d serve as an example of what good writing can do. It affects me on such an emotional level that I get chills just thinking about it.
One of the main themes, “Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination,” is one I remind myself of often. Seeing the characters face ordeals that challenge them is inspiring for me. I’ve cried reading these books. I’ve laughed my ass off. I’ve had moments where I’ve just read and reread the same line or lines over and over as I tried to absorb them.
There’s this scene where two of the characters are stuck down in these chasms in a horrible situation, and there’s basically the equivalent of a peasant and a noble. The peasant is ruminating that the noble can never understand what true pain is, only to discover that she has – that she’d been broken. I want to share this snippet with you:
“He saw it in her eyes. The anguish, the frustration. The terrible nothing that clawed inside and sought to smother her. She knew. It was there, inside. She had been broken.
Then she smiled. Oh, storms. She smiled anyway.
It was the single most beautiful thing he’d seen in his entire life.”
My newest tattoo, the one I got to commemorate my one-year anniversary of life-changing events, is “she smiled anyway” in Gallifreyan. In nerd-speak, that’s the language of the Time Lords in Doctor Who. The language is written with circles and lines and dots, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Anyway, that’s why it’d be the one I’d memorize, because it reminds me that the struggles are worth every moment – and you can still go on and live your life even if you’ve been broken. Okay, I could ramble about this book forever. Ahem.
Okay, so you’re a fan. You’re five-starring that book all over the place, lol. Which brings me to my next question—I love to ask this because I think writers have a love/hate relationship with reviews. A good one can shoot you to the stars, but a bad one… Yikes. Not every writer reads their reviews, so my question for you—Are you a masochist? Ha, ha. In other words, do you read your reviews?
Ironically, I’m really only masochistic enough to visit the realm of the evilest demons – er, Goodreads, when I’m feeling… particularly masochistic already. I don’t want to wreck a perfectly good mood by going there. I’m more likely to see Amazon reviews, both because people link me to them or because I’m always tweaking things – or if I’m looking for quotes from reviews to use (and thank you so much to those who leave them).
You spend hours and hours of your life on this book, putting your heart and soul into it and entrusting it to others, and yeah, it can be hard to hear that someone hated it. It’s easy to get obsessed with the numbers and the content, but it really is true: you can’t please everyone. Just trying will drive you insane. (At least, that’s my excuse.) I struggled with my fifth book, Temper, because I was writing what I thought I had to write rather than the story in my head. I’ve since changed that; I went through and re-edited my entire series before sending them to Juno for the French translations (which have just started coming out as of January 18th, woo!).
There have been valid points in critical reviews, and I don’t automatically dismiss the ones that aren’t the most flattering. Sometimes, it’s hard to let go of those words, even if you don’t believe them or if the reader doesn’t get out of it what you meant them to – or they went in with certain expectations that weren’t met. For instance, some people have had problems with my book, Too Close, because it wasn’t singularly dark the whole way through. It involves domestic violence, but I felt it needed the levity of Skylar’s puns to balance it out.
One of the absolute hardest things about publishing is internalizing the fact that no, you cannot please everyone. If you’re feeling bad about reviews, go look at the negative reviews on your favorite books. How does someone even 1* Words of Radiance, okay? (Someone actually did it just to be the one who did – but the book has 0% 1 star reviews for a reason.)
Ahem. So tl;dr: I appreciate reviews, so much, and I’m grateful to everyone who leaves them. Sure, I’d love it if I only got 4* and 5* ratings, but that’s unrealistic. Not everyone likes the same content – or certain books wouldn’t have been turned into insanely popular movies, just saying. I do try to read them every once in a while, but I’ve learned I still have thin skin and I don’t want to have to read Sanderson’s few 1* reviews every day.
Thanks for reading!
-Raissa
Thank you, Raissa! It was a blast talking to you. And for everybody reading this, I hope you had a good time, too. Please keep scrolling, though, because I have a blurb and excerpt from Spoiled for you, as well as links so you can grab the book for yourselves and check out all the places Raissa likes to hang out. Thanks for stopping by!
Book: Spoiled
Authors: R. Phoenix & Morgan Noel.
Link: http://amzn.to/2Dci8iv
BLURB
The capture of an arms dealer’s spoiled lover should’ve been a win for the humans struggling to survive their harsh lives in the slums. Powerless and outnumbered, it seems like only a matter of time before Romulus betrays the Butcher. But when Kieran realizes their prisoner is none other than his stepbrother, he has to face the harsh truths he’s been avoiding for too long. Torn between loyalty for his new family of humans and the witch he has more than brotherly feelings for, Kieran must make a decision that could leave him with nothing.
*********************************
Spoiled is a completely standalone work in the Fate of the Fallen/Status Quo universe. These characters do not appear in the FotF/SQ books, and there are no spoilers for the series.
Note to Readers of the FotF Series: Though this book is dark romance, it does not have the same “feel” as Bought, the (dark erotica) first book of the Fate of the Fallen series. It most closely resembles Ravel in tone and content.
EXCERPT
“I don’t want to die,” Romulus said in a quiet, strained, and timid voice.
Kieran had meant it when he’d said he didn’t want his brother to die either, but before he could say or do anything, there was a rattle at the door of the bathroom — which he’d evidently locked behind him in a lapse of judgement. In retrospect, maybe it had been because he had good judgment.
His head snapped up regardless. A little panicked, he made a shushing gesture at Romulus.
“Kier? Everything all right?” Wren’s voice sounded through the door.
No. No, everything was not all right. It wasn’t even close. He wanted to scream — fuck, he wanted to break down right then and there — but he couldn’t do anything but what he’d done every single day for years.
Pretend. Lie.
Live.
“Yeah.” His voice cracked slightly, and he knew he needed to add something to explain the ruckus. But if he said Romulus had been doing something wrong, he’d get punished for it. If he didn’t… Kieran added, pulling open the door enough to let him meet her eyes as he said truthfully, “Just trying to get the witch to understand.”
Wren snorted. “Right.” She cast a disdainful glance in Romulus’s general direction, though Kieran knew she couldn’t get a good glimpse of his stepbrother.
Probably.
“You’re wasting your breath,” she informed him.
Kieran grunted. The less he said, the better.
“Well, keep it down,” Wren said, running her fingers through her hair. She turned, and for a moment, Kieran got his hopes up, only to have them dashed as she glanced back at him. “Oh, and Kier?”
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Someone had heard something. She knew.
He braced himself. “Yeah?”
“I told you to clean him up, not let him pretend he’s at a spa. Get him out of the fucking tub.”
Kieran’s heart raced wildly in his chest, but he nodded as stoically as he could manage. “On it.”
Wren stepped closer to him, laughing. It was strange, and the words that went with her laughter were even odder. “Yeah. I’m sure you’d like to be on it.” She leered at him, and he felt…
Sick.
Uncomfortably aroused at the sudden mental images blossoming in his mind, but sick.
“I’m not—” he protested.
“Mm,” she replied with a knowing smirk, patting his arm. “Hurry the fuck up. I need a shower.”
Kieran slowly closed the door behind her, leaning heavily against it for a moment before he could bring himself to look back at Romulus. His cheeks were red again, and he couldn’t believe he’d had thoughts like that when his little brother was crying.
Or had been crying. It seemed like he’d pulled himself together. He was even doing as he was told and cleaning his wrists. Or scrubbing at them, rather, and a little too hard for Kieran’s liking.
When he saw the water tinge pink with fresh blood, Kieran crossed over to him, grabbing Romulus’s arm and taking the washcloth from him. “Hey,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. He was still spooked, but at the same time, the sight of the discolored water was worse than Wren’s not-so-surprise appearance. “Here. Let me do that. Okay?”
Like they were kids again, and Romulus had just scraped his knee.
************************************
AUTHOR BIOS
R. Phoenix
R. Phoenix (code name: Raissa) has an unhealthy fascination with contrasts: light and dark, humor and pain, heroes and villains, order and chaos. She believes love can corrupt, power can redeem and that the best of intentions can cast shadows while the worst can create light. She agrees with those who say that the truth is best told through fiction — even though fiction has to make sense while reality can be utterly baffling.
She loves chatting with readers, though she often awkwardly rambles. No matter how much she tries to keep her bad and often perverted sense of humor in check, it seems to escape at the most inconvenient moments. (Thanks, universe.) Feel free to friend Raissa on Facebook and chat or send her an email!
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/r.phoenix
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/raissaphoenix/
Twitter: @RaissaPhoenix
Email: raissa(dot)phoenix(at)gmail(dot)com
Morgan Noel
Fluent in sarcasm and double entendre, devourer of cookies and champion pizza consumer. Pantser who doesn’t play by the rules. The Kraken has been released, so long and thanks for all the fish!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morgan.noel.71271
Email: authormorgannoel(at)gmail(dot)com
January 6, 2018
Into the Unknown with Elizabeth Noble!
Author interview time! Today, I’ll be talking to Elizabeth Noble and providing you with a peek at the blurb and buy links for Elizabeth’s book High Test. Keep reading because you won’t want to miss any of this.
Welcome, Elizabeth!
Hello, and thank you Kayleigh for having me here today!
It’s my pleasure. I’m so happy to be talking to you today. I love hosting these interviews because I get to meet so many new authors, which leads me to the realization that publication is a dream come true for many people that might not have had an audience a few short years ago. With the emergence of self-publishing and KU a source of seemingly endless reading choices, we’ve seen a huge influx of books on the market. Competition is huge. Do you take the market into account when you write your stories, or is it all from your heart?
I write for myself first. The stories I write are ones I’d like to read, in genres I do read. It’s probably bad to admit I don’t write to please the current trends or market. Heck, half the time I don’t even know what those trends are!
Now, that’s not to say I don’t take into account what readers will like. I often ask for opinions or read threads on Facebook and forums about what people like to read. In a way this has given me the courage to write plots I might not normally try. I’ve also taken reader requests and run the occasional contest asking reader opinions. More than one book of mine has something one of my betas has asked to see.
Sounds familiar, lol. I write the stories I love to read too. My thought has always been that none of us is such an outlier that there aren’t readers out there who will love, and perhaps need, what we write. When did you learn that stories have power, and how did that affect you?
The power of storytelling is something I think I’ve always known on some level. Even as a small child I remember making up stories and telling anyone who’d listen. I can’t pinpoint a time when I didn’t understand there is a need among humans to spin a tale. To me it’s a given in life, telling a story in some way is as required as breathing. If people didn’t buy another of my books, I’d still be writing.
Yes, the worlds in our heads are real, I tell you! I don’t know about you, but my characters take on life after I name them. I can’t get a good grip on them before I have names. Do you need to know your characters’ names before you start writing? Do character names come to you magically, from people you know, from baby name books or sites, or some other method?
I need to know a few things before I begin the actual writing of a new book or series. Setting the groundwork is the foundation a story is built upon. A huge part of that foundation is knowing whose story you’re telling. I decide on characters’ names pretty early in that planning. Sometimes I try to be clever and have their names mean something in connection to the story. Other times the names I decide upon are simply ones I like or have stuck in my head for some unknown reason.
I’ll look names up on websites to find ideas. Occasionally I’ll just wander through our database at work looking for given and surnames that appeal to me or simply Google ‘last names beginning the letter G’, or whatever letter I want to use.
Sounds like fun. I could go down a rabbit hole researching the origin of names. In fact… I think I have. What is the greatest joy your writing has brought you?
To write a story and have it bring others enjoyment.
Yes, I agree. It’s one of the best feelings to know you’ve affected someone on an emotional level. But that doesn’t happen all the time, unfortunately, so I have to ask: Are you a masochist? Ha, ha. Or, in other words, do you read reviews of your book?
Haha, I don’t know if that makes me a masochist, but yes, I read reviews. I put comments from many reviews and links to the different review sites on my website. I try to publicly offer a thank you on Facebook as well. I feel that giving the reviewer and the review site a shout out is important and helps drive traffic to their sites.
Reviewers do what they do and almost are never paid. Some sites use partnerships with places like Amazon to generate a little income to help support the site. Those websites aren’t free! It’s my way of trying to give back to them. I’m a little sad some authors feel people who review books are the enemy, they’re not.
Even if someone doesn’t give a glowing review I at least try to go to their site and post a comment thanking them for taking the time to read and write the review. Sites such as Goodreads and Amazon don’t really encourage authors to do that, so I’ve added general links to my website as a thanks to the people who took the time to offer their opinion. It’s a way for readers to find those reviews as well.
In order to do all that I have to read the reviews.
Well, you’re brave, that’s all I have to say. If it ever gets tough, I hope you have comfort of furry friends. Do you have a couple of cuddly writing companions to keep you company? Dogs or cats maybe?
After losing my dog, Rosie, when she was almost 13, I’ve two recently adopted rescue dogs, Rocky and Shay. Rocky is about two years old and Shay around nine. I have one cat, also a rescue, Murphy.
Aw. Good for you. My cats have all been rescues or strays, and they’ve brought me nothing but happiness. Thank you so much for stopping by, Elizabeth!
Keep reading for more about Elizabeth and her work.
High Test Blurb:
Hayden Owens is just your typical graduate student working his way through school as a barista for the Owens Coffee Company—no relation. But he keeps the “no relation” part to himself when he meets dashing, older Neal Kirchner, a successful architect from an old-money family. Hayden doesn’t exactly lie, but he figures it can’t hurt for Neal to believe he’s a rich kid. After all, Hayden doesn’t want Neal thinking he’s a gold digger.
The closer they become, the harder it gets for Hayden to come clean. Something always seems to get in the way. When a company bankruptcy and a jilted, vindictive woman threaten to expose his charade, Hayden thinks it’s all gone down the drain. Luckily Neal is ready with some innocent trickery of his own.
Buy Links:
Dreamspinner Press eBook: http://bit.ly/2yH5uWe
Dreamspinner Press Paperback: http://bit.ly/2xSyKKu
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2zG9CtA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2jvGmiN
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2zHW5ls
Elizabeth’s bio:
Mystery, action, chills, and thrills spiced with romance and desire. ELIZABETH NOBLE started telling stories before she actually knew how to write, and her family was very happy when she learned to put words on a page. Those words turned into books and fan fiction that turned into a genuine love of M/M romance fiction. Being able to share her works with others is really a dream come true. She has a real love for a good mystery complete with murder and twisty plots as well as all things sci-fi, futuristic, and supernatural and a bit of an unnatural interest in a super-volcano in Wyoming.
Elizabeth has three grown children, two grandchildren, and is now happily owned by two adorable mixed-breed canines and their sidekick tabby cat. Elizabeth lives in her native northeast Ohio, the perfect place for gardening and winter and summer sports (go Tribe and Cavs!) and stargazing all year long. When she’s not writing, she’s working as a veterinary nurse, so don’t be surprised to see her men with a pet or three who are a very big part of their lives.
Elizabeth has received a number of amateur writing awards. Since being published, several of her novels have received Honorable Mentions in the Rainbow Awards. Jewel Cave was a runner-up in the Gay Mystery/Thriller category in the 2015 Rainbow Awards. Ringed Love was a winner in the Gay Fantasy Romance category of the 2016 Rainbow Awards.
Twitter: @elizabethnoble1
Pinterest
December 30, 2017
Into the Unknown Interview with Phoenix Hell!
Hi guys!
I’m back with another interview. This time I’ll be talking to Phoenix Hell, who is going to share with us some of the ups and downs of the writing life. Putting yourself in the public’s eye can be a wonderful, exhilarating experience, but it has its downsides too, so one question I always have is this: Do you think writers need loads of confidence or a big ego to make it in this business?
Confidence, because reviews will tear you up.
Yeah… That. They will tear you up. I guess we keep at it because we have something important enough to say we’re willing to go through a lot of pain to get it out there. I think, as writers, we can agree that the written word is a powerful thing. Stories can change the world. Is there an author that you think has actually harmed people with their writing?
Yes. Not naming names but when you write about BDSM and then brag that you didn’t research, it makes that community look bad. Especially when someone wants to act out the scenes.
Absolutely. There are so many tropes within romance that there’s something for everybody to write and read about. No matter how popular a trope or particular plotline is, every writer can leave it alone and write a story they know about or have recourse to research. Obviously, women writers can’t experience man on man sex, so research really matters. And if you’re not comfortable writing it—don’t. Romance spans the gamut from fade-to-black to triple XXX. There is a reader for every book. And while we’re on the subject, tell me—if you write erotic/explicit scenes, what is the most difficult part of that process for you?
I hate writing them because usually it’s hard to get started.
For some people, explicit romance, especially in gay romance, can carry a certain amount of baggage with it in the real world, and for this reason, as well as others, some people use a pen name. I am one of those people, and I sometimes think of Kayleigh Sky—far more feminine than I am—as my alter ego, but I’m also open with my real life name. I use my logo, which is a heart, as my avatar. As a writer, what would you choose—avatar, famous person, cartoon character—to represent you?
Since my pen name is Phoenix, I use the bird itself.
The phoenix has many lives as it rises from the ashes again and again. If you could return as somebody else for a day, who would you like to be and why?
President, so that I could issue universal health care and bring about world peace.
I wish we had a president who thought along those lines. But lest I go off about the one we do have, let me move onto a less explosive subject. Do you need to know your characters’ names before you start writing?
Usually yes.
Do they come to you magically, from people you know, from baby name books or sites, or some other method?
After finding out what type of being they are, I usually look for names and their meanings.
Me too. Sometimes if I have trouble getting a story going, it’s because I’m not using the right names, and I like the names to mean something. I also like to know their occupations. Even if I don’t really use it, knowing what they do, informs who they are. There are so many things that go into writing a story that it can be really exhausting sometimes. If for some reason you didn’t or couldn’t write, what else would you do?
Actually, I’m a paralegal, so that; but physically I’m unable to.
Then you need to be doubly strong because to build a world and sustain it for months takes a lot of willpower, and when you’re done, you offer your hard-earned, finished product to the world, and that can be a painful process, but it’s inevitable. There isn’t a book out there that suits everybody. Do you read your reviews?
Yes.
What are your toughest scenes to write and is there a particular scene that was the hardest of all?
I abhor sex scenes. Otherwise the words usually just flow.
So, other than sex scenes, it sounds like you don’t hit too many roadblocks when you’re writing, which is wonderful. I don’t know if it’s ever applied to you, but do you believe in writer’s block?
Yes.
This is often a hot button topic on social media, so I’d love to know what your opinion of women writing in the M/M—gay romance genre is.
I have a lot of female friends that write it. Some are better than me.
What do you wish you knew about the M/M—gay romance genre before you published your first book?
How tough the reviews can be and not take them to heart.
Easier said than done, but that would be a great bit of advice for up and coming writers in the genre. What else would you like to tell a newbie writer?
Write what you know. If you love mythology incorporate it into your work. Same with vampires, and other creatures.
Do you write alone or in public?
At home either in my room or in the family room with music in my ears.
Who are your writing companions? Dogs or cats?
Usually Dogs.
Cats! I’m all about my cats, lol. It’s important to have friends with us.
Thank you, Phoenix Hell, for stopping by. I had a great time.
Keep reading, everybody, because I have more information for you about Phoenix and his book Hellagor’s Flame, with links to follow him, or better yet—to buy the book!
See you next time!
Hellagor’s Flame
Blurb
Meet Hellagor, he’s a Sprite-Witch hybrid plus he’s a Prince like his fathers’. His grandmother is Queen of the Sprites. He had told his friends that he was crushing on a porn star. They split the secret to all forms of social media.
Meet Flame Nature: Porn Star Extraordinaire. He learns about Hellagor’s crush. After being kidnapped by a group of rogue soldiers, found by an irritated Hellagor and then healed by a Goddess, the Sprite hybrid accidentally unleashes his powers and those of his friends that came to rescue Flame after unleashing his fury on the rogue soldiers.
Can the porn stars grasp what has happened to them? Will Flame accept Hellagor as a lover? Will they ever end up happily ever after?
Book one in the Supernatural Porn Stars series
Warning: Contains scenes of mild Gay Lovin, Magic Powers, M-Preg, Demi Gods and Angels
Genre: Alternative (M/M; F/F), Paranormal, Shape-shifter/Witch, Angels, Gods
Length: 53, 432
Buy Links
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y44LLSM
https://books2read.com/u/mKJVN5
About the author:
Who Am I?
Well I’m a son, grandson, best friend, brother, uncle; a gray witch, and Oracle.
One who fights invisible illnesses and mental ones.
I’m shy at first but when you get to know me I’m fun and loving.
I have always loved the paranormal and since reading the gay romance scene, I wanted to be the next Anne Rice or Sherrilyn Kenyon with a twist.
So I’m currently writing gay romance with either a Paranormal spin or a supernatural twist.
When I’m not writing, I am reading books by my favorite authors, drinking sweet tea and just trying to relax.
Also by Phoenix Hell
Work in the anthology authors off the shelf
The Dark side of Witch
A Demonic Christmas (Book 1 of the Zodiac Pack)
Where to find the author
https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixHell13/
http://www.twitter.com/PhoenixHell
http://thelifeandtimesofphoenixhell.blogspot.com/?m=1
http://www.goodreads.com/PhoenixHell
https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Hell/e/B01GAR2T6E
https://www.pinterest.com/phoenixhell0304
phoenixhell3.wixsite.com/phoenixhell http://patreon.com/PhoenixHell
http://www.redbubble.com/people/phoenixh13
https://payhip.com/PhoenixHell
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/PhoenixHell
https://www.instagram.com/phoenixhellauthor/?hl=en
Finding the book
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34749795-hellagor-s-flame
December 23, 2017
Into the Unknown – Author Interview with Hank Edwards
Hi everybody! It’s Into the Unknown time again. Today I have an interview with Hank Edwards, a blurb for his Critter Catcher series, and a blurb and a snippet from book four of the series, The Devil of Pinesville, so keep reading and let’s see what Hank has to say.
The first question I have centers on names. I spend considerable time on character names and usually use a variety of methods until I find the ones that resonate with me. For my book Doll Baby , the first initial of the couple’s names came to me right away, and then I had to go searching for names to match the initials, lol. Do character names come to you magically, from people you know, from baby name books or sites, or some other method?
I write using Scrivener, and the program has a really great Name Generator tool. It’s located under Edit in the top menu, you can click on Edit -> Writing Tools -> Name Generator. Click the little wheel cog icon to see the settings. You can look for male, female, or both, and include many different countries of origin. This tool has helped me come up with a number of fun names. For my Critter Catchers series, however, I came up with the main character names on my own for specific reasons. Demetrius Barnaby Singleton was decided on because I liked the name Demetrius and knew his best friend, Cody, would be the only one who shortened it to Demmy, everyone calls him Demetrius. Barnaby was a fun name I remember from a TV show I watched growing up: “Barnaby Jones” (yes, I am that old!). And Singleton is a nod to one of my favorite book characters, MaryAnn Singleton, from the Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin. Cody Duran Bower just sort of spilled out on the page. The name Cody makes me think of a high school football star, which is what Cody is, and Duran was given to him as a middle name because his mother loved Duran Duran (readers will learn the interesting middle names his four brothers have in another book).
OMG. Barnaby Jones! Starring the milk-drinking Buddy Ebsen. I hate milk. Not that I would hold that against Buddy Ebsen. I’m actually feeling nostalgic right now and think I’d like to see that show again because I remember liking it. Which brings me in a roundabout way to my next question. We all have different likes and dislikes, but one of the difficult parts of being an author is being on the wrong side of a reader’s opinion. So, how do you deal with that? Are you a masochist? Ha, ha. Or, in other words, do you read reviews of your book?
Ha! Great question. And, yes, I read most of the reviews. Some I read with one eye squeezed shut, but I try to look for the constructive criticism in any reviews. The good reviews are, of course, a nice boost. The critical ones give me things to consider. And the mean ones just make me shake my head and roll my eyes. When I leave a review I try to be kind and, if there are any negatives, be constructive and understanding about them.
Yes. Absolutely. Reviews are not always constructive, and I know that for some writers, reviews can have a detrimental effect on output. They really are for readers in my opinion, so moving forward with my work—my writing—is important, and for me, that means social downtime. Other than cats, I write in solitude. What about you? Do you write alone or in public?
I have developed a pattern over the last couple of years that has helped me put a lot of words together. At my Evil Day Job (EDJ), I use my lunch hour and take my personal laptop to a table in a hallway away from my desk and write. I have one hour, and the time limit helps me focus and get about 1,000 words done. When I’m at my desktop computer at home, I tend to check Facebook or Twitter or Tumblr or something, but at work I avoid those distractions and just write.
One of the difficulties of the EDJ is finding time to write, so good job on doing that. I always wrote in the evenings and weekends, and my output was always fairly consistent, but there is very real pressure to produce content. The last few years have seen a huge influx of books on the market and competition is huge. Do you take the market into account when you write your stories, or is it all from your heart?
The majority of my books are all stories I would like to read myself. I don’t make enough from my writing to support myself, but I do love when I connect with readers and find out they really enjoyed something I’d written. I’ve had a few ideas for more “marketable” stories, but I just haven’t been able to finish writing them; my heart just isn’t in it.
I understand that feeling when your heart isn’t in the more marketable ideas, but I can also say that writing for love definitely has its compensations. Nevertheless, it can be hard to persist when you aren’t writing those more popular stories because it’s more difficult to get your name and your books front and center. Considering that writing is a pretty tough gig on most levels, do you think writers need loads of confidence or a big ego to make it in this business?
This is a tough business. An author needs to have confidence in his/her stories published, but also a good sense of humility. An author needs to be able to withstand criticism and the occasional negative review without losing sight of why he/she started writing in the first place.
One of the “business” and artistic decisions a writer in romance needs to decide is whether to write sex or let those scenes fade to black. If you write erotic/explicit scenes, what is the most difficult part of that process for you?
Coming up with different ways to describe the scene. The emotion involved is, of course, integral to the scene, but the descriptions and positions all need to be unique and fresh. Sometimes it’s tough to think up a new or unique way to explain the coupling, but hopefully I manage that all right.
I’m sure you do, lol. Thank you so much for stopping by. I’ve really enjoyed our conversation.
And now, keep reading for information about Hank Edwards’ release The Devil of Pinesville: Critter Catchers Book Four and snippet from the book for you to enjoy, as well.
Book Blurb
It’s business as usual for Critter Catchers Demmy and Cody, with one pretty major change. Now, they’re not only juggling their animal control business and decades of friendship, but the beginnings of a romance as well. Cody’s always put a time limit on his past relationships, and he’s certain he’s going to mess things up with Demmy. For his part, Demmy is pretty sure Cody will, too. But trouble arrives in the form of one of Demmy’s ex-boyfriends who contacts them about a case they might be able to handle in Pinesville, New Jersey. Sensing not just physical but romantic danger, Cody makes certain to accompany Demmy on the trip.
In Pinesville, they meet up with a handful of residents just as colorful, if not more so, than those in Parson’s Hollow. And both are surprised to find they have some competition on this case, namely the Critter Ridders, a pair of very competitive women operating their own animal control business.
As the case intensifies, tempers flare and loyalties are tested, bringing Demmy and Cody to the point where they must decide if they’re willing to save the business, their friendship, or their romance.
Series Blurb
Even though Demetrius Singleton and Cody Bower are polar opposites, they have been best friends since kindergarten. Cody is tall, handsome, athletic, and straight, and Demetrius is gay, average height, more attractive than handsome, with a tendency to overthink things. Tired of being stuck in dead end jobs, they open Critter Catchers, an animal control business with heart. As they adjust to their new roles as business partners as well as best friends, they find themselves involved more and more often in jobs that stray into paranormal territory, both in their small town of Parson’s Hollow, and elsewhere. Spooky, sexy, and laugh out loud funny, get to know Demetrius and Cody as they stumble across monsters — and Cody’s extensive list of pissed off ex-girlfriends — all while trying to keep their friendship intact.
Excerpt (meeting Oliver’s Grandma)
The screen door on the back of the house banged open. A short, spry woman with her hair pulled back into a long silver braid stepped out onto the very small slab of concrete that acted as a back porch. She wore a man’s red and blue plaid quilted barn coat with the sleeves rolled up several times, a pair of faded and patched jeans, and bright yellow Wellington boots.
“Oh my…” Demmy whispered.
“She’s a colorful gal,” Cody whispered back.
“Which of you is which?” the woman hollered at them.
Cody raised his hand. “I’m Cody Bower, ma’am.”
She snorted. “Ma’am? You may as well have just called me a bitch to my face. I’m Eileen.” She looked at Demmy. “You’re Demetrius.”
“That’s right,” Demmy said, eyes wide and his tone just a little shy of being a question.
Eileen stomped down the two concrete steps and approached. The Wellingtons squished and squashed with each step. Her gaze was fixed on Demmy, and she marched right up to look into his face. She was a full head shorter than Demmy, which meant she was about two feet shorter than Cody himself. If she wasn’t such a force of nature and more assertive than his high school football coach, he might have laughed.
“You’re skinny.” It was a statement, almost as if she had simply said his eyes were blue.
“Oh, um…” Demmy threw a quick look at Cody, then focused again on Eileen. “Thanks?”
“It wasn’t a compliment.” Eileen moved to stand in front of Cody and craned her head back to look up at him. “You’re a tall one. You a gay, too?”
Cody’s eyes went wide and a sudden cold spot spread across his chest as his cheeks heated with a blush. “W-What? Why…why would you ask me that?”
“Grandma!” Ollie had rounded the front corner of the house. “I’ve been looking for you.”
Eileen waved at him over her shoulder without taking her gaze from Cody. She had brilliant green eyes that Cody figured got her a lot of attention in her younger days. Hell, they probably still did.
Before Cody could formulate an appropriate response to her blurted question, Ollie came up alongside her.
“I see you’ve all met,” Ollie said.
“Which one were you shacked up with?” Eileen asked.
She finally dropped her fierce gaze from Cody’s face, and he found it a little easier to breathe.
“We didn’t live together,” Ollie said with a heavy sigh. “I told you, we dated for a few months.” He gestured to Demmy. “Demetrius and I dated.” He waved toward Cody. “Cody is Demetrius’s best friend and business partner. They’ve known each other since elementary school.”
“Right,” Demmy said. “Over twenty years.”
Eileen blew a short raspberry. “I’ve got underwear older than that.” She looked between them again. “What makes you two think you can track down the Devil?”
“We’ve got experience with animals like this,” Demmy said.
“Yeah?” She squinted one eye and crossed her arms. “Like what?”
“I told you about the wolf man case,” Ollie said.
Eileen nodded, but didn’t look away from Demmy. “Right, okay. So you nabbed a wolf man. How’d you do it?”
“Silver bullets,” Demmy said, and gestured at Cody. “It was Cody’s idea.”
Eileen turned her intense gaze on Cody once again. “From what I hear, you thought my grandson might’ve been the wolf man.”
“Grandma…” Ollie said.
“We did suspect him, at first,” Demmy replied. “But then we realized the wolf man’s true identity and we took care of it.”
“You killed it,” Eileen said.
Demmy nodded. “We killed it.”
“Feel bad about it?”
“I didn’t feel good about it,” Demmy said, and Cody detected a slight hitch in his voice. “The wolf man was only part wolf, and I felt badly for killing the man who had been bitten. He hadn’t chosen that for himself, and it ended up killing him.”
“Sounds like he deserved it.” Eileen looked between them before taking a step closer to Demmy. “From what I understand, he killed several people.”
“That’s right,” Cody said, pulling her attention from Demmy and feeling that sharp, green-eyed gaze drill right into him. “And because of that, we did a good thing. But it came at a cost.”
“You two sound like some kind of liberal animal lovers.” She looked at Ollie. “I thought you said they were tough?”
Ollie rolled his eyes. “They are tough. I worked with them to track down the chupacabra.”
She made a face. “Kimmy Cabra? That another one of those damn Kardashians?”
A quick bark of a laugh slipped out before Cody could help it, and he tried to cover by pretending to cough.
“No,” Ollie said. “It’s like a scary kind of dog-like creature.”
Eileen looked back at Demmy. “Did you kill it, too?”
Demmy looked over at him, and Cody could see that he was quickly wearing down under Eileen’s scrutiny. He needed to step in and give Demmy a chance to catch his breath.
Buy Links
Amazon: myBook.to/PinesvilleDevil
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/756066
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36494049-the-devil-of-pinesville
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-devil-of-pinesville
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-devil-of-pinesville-hank-edwards/1127331524?ean=2940154605547
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-devil-of-pinesville/id1303855491?mt=11
Author Bio
Hank Edwards is a curious mix of practical realist and feral dreamer. He is a fan of absurd comedy, as evidenced in the sizzling and hilarious Charlie Heggensford Fluffers, Inc. series, as well as Plus Ones, his wacky rom-com. He also loves a good mystery and suspense story, which inspired his Up to Trouble series, featuring FBI Agent Aaron Pearce and his lover Mark Beecher who met during one case and have gone on to solve others. His love of chills and thrills prompted him to create the Venom Valley series, which combines vampires and zombies with Old West cowboys, and the humorous paranormal Critter Catcher series, with best friends Cody and Demetrius tracking down monsters. He has also written a number of standalone stories, such as the humorous murder mystery Repossession is 9/10ths of the Law, or the sexy crime thriller Buried Secrets, as well as the chillingly spooky Wicked Reflection, and medieval time travel romance, Destiny’s Bastard.
Social Links
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/hankedwards
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4590885.Hank_Edwards
Twitter: @hanksbooks
Hank Edwards Facebook page: www.facebook.com/hankedwardsbooks
Young Adult fantasy gay romance Facebook page: www.facebook.com/authorrgthomas
Venom Valley Series Facebook page: www.facebook.com/venomvalleyseries
December 16, 2017
An Interview with C F White!
Welcome to another Into the Unknown segment where an author who might be new to you reveals some interesting details and tidbits about their creative life. Today I’m so happy to introduce C F White. She has a wonderful series to tell you about, but first, let’s talk….
I always enjoy learning about the creative process of other authors, but most of what we do tends to be pretty standard from writer to writer, so here’s what I want to know—is there anything weird about your writing process?
I don’t plan anything. I literally guzzle a mug of scalding hot tea from my American Idiot Musical mug, blast on some 90s indie tunes, roll myself under my dining table and see where my fingers take the story. I work part time, and I’m a mother to two boys one of whom is disabled, so finding the time to write can be difficult. I have to write when I can. I have been known to write direct on my phone whilst out an about when an idea strikes me (there’s been many a sex scene written in precarious locations *insert embarrassed emoji*). I write late into the evenings and my only company is a glass of wine – those times, my editor has to work particularly hard after ha ha!
Yes, wine is notorious for its ability to get things rolling, lol. As we all know, we need to keep those stories coming and it’s not always easy. Over the past few years, there’s been an influx of books on the market. Competition is huge. Do you take market into account when you write your stories, or do you write from the heart?
When I first started writing, I had no idea the market was so huge! I had a story to tell and I needed to write it. I didn’t think about whether it was sellable or not, I just needed to let the world know about these characters. The series, Responsible Adult, is so completely from the heart that I couldn’t NOT write it. It was my opportunity to raise some awareness for a rare disability, whilst also having a moral message – never judge a person before you know the life they live. Every character in the series is flawed, much like we all are, and their journey through each stage of the story is important. I didn’t know if that was something the readers of the M/M genre were interested in, or even wanted to read. But it came from my heart and I am proud of the achievement that burst through the odds.
Thankfully, my publisher did think it was marketable and took a chance on a brand new author and for that I cannot thank my editor, Rebecca Baker Fairfax, enough.
A good editor is invaluable, especially since we all have our strengths and weaknesses. What are your toughest scenes to write and is there a particular scene that was the hardest of all?
My toughest scenes are the ones that are closest to me. As Responsible Adult featured a little boy with a rare condition called Williams Syndrome, which my son has, the scenes detailing his struggles and particularly the struggles that Micky, his brother and main carer, has to deal with really hit home. Micky, being 19, has taken on a huge responsibility in caring for his little brother. He’s become a parent to a special needs child when he himself is still a very much a kid. Having to show these struggles in Micky and how he feels the weight of responsibility and his fears for the future, yet also wouldn’t ever give it up, I definitely struggled to form the words without crying.
The hardest scene in the latest book is when Flynn was admitted to hospital for open heart surgery. This entire scene, including Micky’s reactions and withdrawal into himself, is almost a carbon copy of what happened to me when my son went through the same procedure. That was particularly hard to put out there for people to read.
Wow. I write from personal experience too, but I hide it pretty deep in my stories. To write about something so close to you, especially regarding a child, is amazingly brave. Not everybody can write from such a raw place and then put it out into the world. The reactions we get aren’t always easy to deal with, plus you need to treat something very personal as a commodity. You’re selling it in the marketplace, so tell me, what scares you about the writing business?
Absolutely everything! But, mostly, it’s the reviews. I had this benign sense of hope that everyone would respond well to my book. I’d put my heart and soul into it. It had been like therapy for me to write. It was my chance to raise awareness for a relatively unknown condition whilst also writing in a genre I loved to read myself. I had no idea that people wouldn’t respond well to it, that the things I had written with regards to my characters would be taken out of context and used to judge me, the author, as a person. The book is filled with flawed characters; it’s real, it’s raw, it’s gritty. It’s based in a place where I grew up. It was meant to make us think about how we treat people – from those with special needs, to those who have had a tough life, to those who pack your bag at the supermarket. Never did I think that people would consider that my character’s opinions would be my own.
But since the first book, I have learned. I have learned to be more sensitive to people’s perceptions of what I write. But I can’t deny that I now fear every reaction.
Personally, I find that writing in the romance genre can be a challenge. I write heavily thematic stories with complicated plots and complex characters. Many readers come to romance because they want a respite from their every day life and don’t want too many complications or anything too realistic. Nothing wrong with that; we all need it. But never doubt that your deeper, more raw and difficult stories are still reaching somebody. And sometimes your stories are exactly what that person needs. Everything isn’t always peaches and cream. I love that you write from your heart because I do too. So—while we’re on the topic of what readers like and don’t like—some people have strong opinions on women writing in the M/M genre. Can you share your thoughts about that?
I think it’s amazing! When I first discovered the genre and read my first book, I was hooked. I had no idea how many women write gay romance. I had been dabbling with my own story at the time. I write on the online community Wattpad and very much hid who I was because I feared that not only my writing wouldn’t be very good, but that I was a woman writing about two men. It was only when launching into the publishing world I discovered that there were so many women writers, and they do it so well. It’s empowering. It’s the beauty of fiction. It’s like any genre – J K Rowling doesn’t need to be a wizard to write Harry Potter, she just has to be a great writer of characters and do her research. Women write amazing gay romance books, it doesn’t matter the gender of the author, what matters is the story.
I can’t agree with you more on the importance of story. And character, of course. We have to have characters we love or love to hate, right? Do you have a favorite character? I mean, if you could be known as one of your characters, who would it be and why that one?
There’s a little bit of me in all of my characters. But if I had to choose just one, then I’d have to say Micky. He’s battled his demons, he’s made tremendous mistakes, but above all he’s got a heart of gold and would do anything to better his little brother’s life. Plus you’d most definitely want him by your side in a fight 
December 9, 2017
An Interview with Kasia Bacon
INTO THE UNKNOWN — AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Welcome to my first author interview! I have the really talented—and funny, as you’ll see—Kasia Bacon here to launch this new segment. And I’m not kidding when I say talented. Kasia’s book The Highlander has been nominated for Best Fantasy in the 2017 Goodreads M/M Romance Members’ Choice Awards! How cool is that? There are a lot of writers out there and a lot of really great books, so being nominated for this award when the competition is so stiff is amazing. Take the time to read my interview with Kasia, but don’t forget to check out the blurb for The Highlander below before you click on the link and go buy it, lol. And now, for the good part—my interview. I know you’re going to enjoy getting to know Kasia.
First up. As a writer myself, I’m always curious about how others work. Is there anything weird about your writing process? Amuse us with some interesting quirk.
I always start with the final scene and then I write the beginning. As for the middle, I kind of go backwards and forwards. So, as you can gather, it’s hardly a process, but rather, total chaos.
Ha, ha. Well, for what it’s worth, I’m a linear writer, and it’s still chaos. Next up—When did you learn that stories have power, and how did that affect you?
At nursery (or kindergarten, for dear Americans). I told a scary story to other children—they freaked out, cried and couldn’t sleep at nap time—and I loved every second. The teacher had words with my parents afterwards.
My focal ambition as an author is to invoke emotions and make my readers feel, and feel deeply. Being the sadist I am, it delights me to hear that my stories unglued my readers or caused them to cry (ugly) tears. That’s by far my favourite reaction, however, err, odd that may sound. It just means a great deal to me to know that I’ve impacted someone on such a raw emotional level.
I completely relate to that. One of my mantras is to touch hearts. That’s why I write, so I get it. But it makes it hard when you don’t reach everybody, even though that’s inevitable. Some people just won’t like our books. How do you react to that? Are you a masochist? Ha, ha. Or, in other words, do you read reviews of your book?
I do sporadically, yes. To some degree, I find reading reviews to be educational. They can be helpful in terms of feedback—what worked for readers and what proved a bust. Any artist, in my view, must be prepared for receiving critiques the moment they release their creation, whatever it is, into the world. So ultimately, developing a thicker skin and the ability to avoid taking things personally might be a good idea. However, it’s easier said than done. But at the end of the day, all opinions are subjective, and there is no accounting for taste. Not everyone will like my stuff (some will downright hate it, LOL) and that’s a fact I have made peace with.
I’m grateful to people who leave a comment or rating upon finishing my stories. Reviews mean a lot to independent authors.
They absolutely do. Moving on from readers to the characters they love—or hate, if you could only be known by one of your characters, who would it be and why that one?
No doubt Lochan Féyes—a half-breed Elf and the Order assassin. Lochan is a silent, complex type who thinks a lot, but speaks little. When he opens his mouth, snark comes out. His stoic demeanour, however, hides a warm, loving and loyal heart.
Lochan was the first character I dreamt up, and he will always remain special to me.
Yes, the crusty exterior but beautiful interior. I like it. Lochan’s an interesting name, too. Do you need to know your characters’ names before you start writing?
Yes!!! Every time. I wouldn’t even attempt to start writing a character before naming them. It simply wouldn’t work otherwise—it’s almost as if by giving them a name I bring them to life.
As I always say, names are of particular importance in my genre. Fantasy is governed by its own rules. I mean, I cannot see myself writing about an Elven warrior called Bob or Tom, no offence to Bobs (or Toms). It just wouldn’t invoke the right vibe.
Being a linguist, I love coming up with the names for my characters, as well as the geographical places where their adventures happen. That’s always been a super easy and fun task for me, and the starting point of my writing process; they just come to me. I admit to being influenced by words of Celtic, Scandinavian and Japanese origin.
Interesting! I need to know my characters’ names, too. In fact, if I don’t get it right, the story stalls. Okay, one more question before I let you go. Do you write alone or in public?
During the day, I mainly write at a rustic coffee shop near my house. Unless I can get my usual table, I’m oddly wordless. I’m a creature of habit with a mild OCD. What can I do? *laughs*. I also write at home in the evenings. Wherever I write though, I always use headphones. In silence, I can hardly force a word out. Edgy music blaring in my ears is a must.
I, Lochan of the famed Féyes clan, know all about fighting.
As a half-breed Elf, I have struggled against prejudice and feelings of inadequacy.
A recluse by nature, I have battled my aversion to touch and interaction with others.
To become an assassin of The Order, I have learnt to overcome the limitations of my mind and body.
But denying the power Ervyn Morryés holds over me might be the one fight I lose. The truth is—damn it all—the relentless Highlander brings me to my knees.
Note: This novelette is the second in the Order Series, and not a stand-alone installment. Reading THE MUTT is crucial for its full enjoyment.
The Highlander has been nominated for Best Fantasy in the 2017 Goodreads M/M Romance Members’ Choice Awards
Buy links for The Highlander:
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