Sophia Madison's Blog, page 2

Free Promotion: The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin

In honor of my original publishing date, February 29th, 2016, I have enrolled The Phoenix: Blue Ruin in a free book promotion from the 2/29 to 3/1, ending midnight pacific time on 3/1. There will be additional promotion days in the upcoming months, though, they have not been scheduled as of yet. 

My goal and hope is to get my novel out there. For me, publishing was never about the money. I want to share it, for people to read it and (hopefully) love it. 

Thank you for all of your help and support!

The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin Kindle Edition

I Did It: Published

This isn’t much of a blog post. It’s more of an announcement. 

I did it. It’s done. It’s over. I’ve published. 

As of today, The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin, has gone live on both platforms — e-book and paperback. 

E-book: Blue Ruin 

Paperback: Blue Ruin 

It’s exhilirating and bittersweet at the same time. Half of me is excited to have finally published — not thinking this day would have ever come. But another part of me is sad. I’ve worked on this story for two years, slaved over it, cried over it. Defeated by it. And I have to say, I’ll miss those moment, late at night, when I was working through a scene that hadn’t gone right or recreating a character who hadn’t fit into their role properly. Not to worry. New Dawn, the sequel to Blue Ruin, has taken its place with a vicious intensity. Here’s to the next two years. 

I also want to take this time to thank all of those who have helped me through this book. My beta-readers. Fellow authors. My lovely critters from Scribophile. Without you, this book would still be sitting in a locked drawer. You didn’t only give me the tools to create a book I never could’ve imagined calling my own, but you gave me the confidence and encouragement to publish. That is priceless. Thank you. 

  

Losing and Finding Faith in People

This blog post diverges from my norm. For once, it has nothing to do with writing, Blue Ruin, or being an author. It has to do with life, the everyday struggles and occurences. It has to do with being a person. A human being. 

In the real world, I am a Registered Nurse. My job is about people. I am the earth, my patients are the sun, and I revolve around them. Being a nurse means you come second. To everything. That’s the way it is and that’s the way it should be. My patients’ lives depend on me. And as a nurse, I have met more people than I can comprehend. Some I will never forget. Others I wish I could. I’ve seen the good in people and I’ve seen the evil. Rest-assured, there’s more good than evil out there. 

But…it just takes that one person to shatter that belief — to make you feel as though finding a decent human being is like finding a needle in a haystack. 

I’m young. Naive. I still live with the belief that people will treat you the way they would want to be treated. And in my personal life, it surprises me how many people would want to be treated like shit. I was raised to respect others. To be the bigger person, whether that meant admitting when I was wrong, apologizing when I didn’t want to, or being kind when I would rather spew a tangle of profanities and then punch someone in the face, walking away with a wide smile. And for some reason, I still think that everyone else thinks this way. I can’t say I’m surprised when someone proves to be the opposite. But, I can’t help but feel disappointed — that this person shattered the image of what I thought they were, to become something I’d hoped they weren’t. Another asshole. 

I’ve had my fair share of romances. Boyfriends here and there, most of them long-term. Though, at the age of 23, I feel as if I have lived one-hundred lifetimes because of them. No one ever tells you how a relationship will age you both mentally and emotionally. In relationship years, I’m about 500. I’ve dated every kind of person there is (expect for a nice one). Had it all. Done it all. Experienced it all. And with each new relationship, I feel myself losing a little more faith in people. 

Of course, they all started out fantastic. We would go out on dates. He’d smile. I’d laugh. Conversations would get deeper, personal stories shared. Attraction developed into love. I’d find myself head-over-heels. And then something changes. The wind shifts with an oncoming storm. The beginning of the relationship suddenly becomes an illusion. 

Fuck. Not again. 

How a relationship ends speaks louder than how the relationship went. Something about “the end” brings out a person’s true colors. Dark colors. Ugly colors. Which is why I’ve always tried to stay true to my personal belief, “treat others as you would want to be treated”. Look, no one wants to be dumped. But, it happens, and hopefully for the better. I’ve been on both ends of the break-up. The dumper. And the dumpee. I don’t envy or prefer one over the other. Regardless of which position I find myself in, I don’t want to walk away with the other person hating me or hating themselves because I said something I shouldn’t have said. Yet, the same courtesy is never extended to me, but I still foolishy expect it to be. I’ve left break-ups hating the other person, hating myself, to the point where I wouldn’t look in the mirror because all I saw was what that person told me I was. 

I can handle being called a bitch by strangers. But there’s something about a significant other saying it to you that digs the knife a little deeper, twists it a little harder. They never just say, “you’re a bitch.” They say it in a million different ways that brings a million different kinds of pain. “I wish I never met you”, “You never cared about me”, but my personal favorite is, “I don’t care what happens to you.” Ah, that line. It’s been thrown at me by every guy I’ve ever dated. And after so many times, it still cuts deep like a sharp knife. The words themselves don’t cause the pain, but the substance behind them — that a person could so quicky and willingly contradict everything they’d once said, that they really could mean what they say, that they will stop caring when I won’t. 

Ever since my first break-up when I was a young teenager, I’ve been trying to find the answer to my question, how could a person be so cruel to another human being? With each guy, with each relationship, with each break-up, I feel further away from the answer than when I began. I become more and more mystified, and it becomes a struggle to believe that there are good people out there. People like me, who believe in the same belief that I do. And my faith deteriorates more and more. 

But with time, those bad seeds fall to the back, covered with all of the good seeds I’ve come across as a nurse, a student, a writer. A human being. And the wild garden that is my life, flourishes beautifully, making it difficult to spot the bad that had been planted. Life is once again beautiful. 

And, of course, I take great comfort in karma. 

The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin (Chapter Fifteen: The Dealer)

Day fifteen! There are 43 chapters, but we are coming closer to my publishing date. After a final review, it looks like Blue Ruin will be published before the 29th of this month!

Today, we are going to look at Chapter Fifteen: The Dealer. After running into Adrian’s messanger, Maura gets an invitation to Adrian’s club, Viper. Maura realizes the danger in going and aims to prepare by purchasing an antidote from Henry, her dealer. An antidote will block the affects of a Vampire’s Allure, a spell that can seduce a victim into submission. 

***

“I need antidote,” Maura said.

“Antidote?” Henry’s fingers tightened around the lip of his bag.

The antidote would only shave a layer off the amount of effort she’d have to use tomorrow. Everything else came down to her ability to keep herself sane and collected. She’d have to be all coy smiles if she wanted to keep her head. Literally. She would need to play Adrian’s little game.

“Going after someone big, eh?” Henry said.

“It’s the other way around.”

***

Blue Ruin is the first novel in The Phoenix Series. The Phoenix Series is a dark fantasy with gothic, noire, paranormal, and supernatural elements.

“A hunter and the hunted, Maura Leroux is one of the last of her kind with a dark past that has haunted her. With black magical beings having been hunted for centuries, she’s come to learn a thing or two about survival. But Adrian Wilhelm, a notorious Vampire, threatens to destroy Maura’s newfound life as a detective in the magical world of Mystics. Adrian intends to use Maura as a means of resurrecting the fallen world of black magical beings, Abysm. Maura has made it her mission to stop Adrian while covering her tracks from those that have been seeking her out for centuries.”

Blue Ruin is now available. The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin.

  

Weekend Writing Warriors – Blue Ruin (Chapter Fourteen: The Mirror)

It’s that time of the week again! As part of Weekend Writing Warriors, I post a snippet of my soon-to-be-published dark fantasy novel, Blue Ruin, every Saturday/Sunday. Weekend Writing Warriors is the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Every weekend, share an 8 to 10 snippet sentence of your writing. 

Following with my latest trend of posting a snippet every day from another chapter, this weekend will be continuing with Chapter Fourteen: The Mirror. 

Liam and Maura return to her apartment to grab a few belongings before leaving the city. Maura has never liked her reflection, and with good reason. Liam has never understood why, and Maura takes this time to reveal to Liam what is really behind her reflection. Not only behind it, but what can cross over into their world if she isn’t careful. 

***

“That’s the real me,” Maura said.

A wispy figure materialized from spindles of black magic. Its gray complexion and wrinkly skin looked fragile and thin, like paper. Its bare body exposed each rib and every ripple in its lungs when it took a breath. Patches of coarse, gray hair fell around its bony, prominent shoulders. The hollow sockets of its eyes burned black. It clawed its long fingernails against the protective barrier. In a flash, it bore its jagged black fangs and scraped them along the glass, hissing.

The reflection sang to him. Liam, it begged.

***

Blue Ruin is the first novel in The Phoenix Series. The Phoenix Series is a dark fantasy with gothic, noire, paranormal, and supernatural elements.

“A hunter and the hunted, Maura Leroux is one of the last of her kind with a dark past that has haunted her. With black magical beings having been hunted for centuries, she’s come to learn a thing or two about survival. But Adrian Wilhelm, a notorious Vampire, threatens to destroy Maura’s newfound life as a detective in the magical world of Mystics. Adrian intends to use Maura as a means of resurrecting the fallen world of black magical beings, Abysm. Maura has made it her mission to stop Adrian while covering her tracks from those that have been seeking her out for centuries.”

Blue Ruin is now available. The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin.

  

The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin (Chapter Thirteen: Drinks and Death)

Day thirteen! 

Today, we look at Chapter Thirteen: Drinks and Death. Maura and Liam continue their date at a local bar, where Maura runs into Julian Wilhem. Sent by Heidi to watch Maura, he looks to will her into submission using his Allure — a spell that can swoon even the most resilient. 

***

Julian’s smile spread to show his fangs again. He leaned close. Chest to chest, his intoxicating breath threatened to override her control. His heart thumped to the beat of hers, vibrating their chests. The sensation sent pleasurable shivers down her spine. Her toes curled. His fingers glided over the curve of her waist. The Void writhed in ecstasy at his toxic touch. His lips hovered at the nape of her neck.

Julian dominated her empty mind with fantasies. Strewn clothes covered marble floors. Red silk sheets and a king-sized canopy bed housed their bodies. Legs tangled, mouths kissed, and sighs of ecstasy fogged windows. Blood streamed from two fang marks on her neck while Julian drew his tongue down her center.

***

Blue Ruin is the first novel in The Phoenix Series. The Phoenix Series is a dark fantasy with gothic, noire, paranormal, and supernatural elements.

“A hunter and the hunted, Maura Leroux is one of the last of her kind with a dark past that has haunted her. With black magical beings having been hunted for centuries, she’s come to learn a thing or two about survival. But Adrian Wilhelm, a notorious Vampire, threatens to destroy Maura’s newfound life as a detective in the magical world of Mystics. Adrian intends to use Maura as a means of resurrecting the fallen world of black magical beings, Abysm. Maura has made it her mission to stop Adrian while covering her tracks from those that have been seeking her out for centuries.”

Blue Ruin is now available. The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin.

  

The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin (Chapter Twelve: The Call)

Day twelve! 

Today, we take a look at Chapter Twelve: The Call. Here, Heidi — Maura’s old detective partner, and the double agent for Adrian Wilhelm (the antagonist) — calls Julian Wilhelm, Adrian’s younger brother who uses Adrian’s power for his own benefit. Prostitutes. Liquor. And drugs. While on one of his drunken binges with a Siren, Heidi calls to ask Julian to follow Beth (Maura Leroux) as a way of keeping track of her. 

***

“I don’t know. She never had a friend outside of work. Everyone here thinks she’s dead. Take care of whoever it is,” Heidi said.

“I’ll bring Flynn and Roy with me.”

“Those two are fucking morons.”

Julian leaned against the vestibule wall, twirled his keys, and stared down at the Siren. She didn’t move. Shit. Did he kill her? “They’re the only two I can call on short notice who’ll show up.” He crouched beside the Siren and peeled back her red hair. Two fangs marks, crusted with venom, rested on her pale neck. “Fuck.”

“What is it?”

“Is that all you had to tell me, Heidi?” He rose and checked his wallet for enough cash to drop the Siren at the Dumping Grounds. Two bodies in two weeks. The goblins would charge him double to take her. He snatched his twenties back from the body.

***

Blue Ruin is the first novel in The Phoenix Series. The Phoenix Series is a dark fantasy with gothic, noire, paranormal, and supernatural elements.

“A hunter and the hunted, Maura Leroux is one of the last of her kind with a dark past that has haunted her. With black magical beings having been hunted for centuries, she’s come to learn a thing or two about survival. But Adrian Wilhelm, a notorious Vampire, threatens to destroy Maura’s newfound life as a detective in the magical world of Mystics. Adrian intends to use Maura as a means of resurrecting the fallen world of black magical beings, Abysm. Maura has made it her mission to stop Adrian while covering her tracks from those that have been seeking her out for centuries.”

Blue Ruin is now available. The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin.

  

The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin (Chapter Eleven: Blue Ruin)

Day eleven! 

Today, we look at Chapter Eleven: Blue Ruin. After Maura meets Liam Winston, the last GateKeeper, he asks her out on a date to discuss matters Maura would rather ignore. Like who she is.

***

Maura paced around her dorm room, dagger in hand. She flipped it within her grasp, tossing it and catching it over and over again. With the flick of her wrist, she flung the dagger at the wall where it lodged into the growing hole she’d created from the last fifteen shots. Most women fiddled with their hair, applied and reapplied their make-up, spent time choosing which lingerie to wear and which shirt showed more cleavage. They aimed to get into bed. Maura aimed to make it out alive. Unable to know what to expect, she had no reason to trust Liam other than his family name. Winston. After others had discovered the family’s powers, they’d become as hunted as her.

She dislodged the blade from the wall and hooked it on her ankle. A twinge in her gut said he’d ask questions. Questions that would damn her if answered. The night could go two ways. She hoped he wasn’t stubborn, insistent that she answer to his curiosity. She didn’t want to polish her blades again so soon. 

***

Blue Ruin is the first novel in The Phoenix Series. The Phoenix Series is a dark fantasy with gothic, noire, paranormal, and supernatural elements.

“A hunter and the hunted, Maura Leroux is one of the last of her kind with a dark past that has haunted her. With black magical beings having been hunted for centuries, she’s come to learn a thing or two about survival. But Adrian Wilhelm, a notorious Vampire, threatens to destroy Maura’s newfound life as a detective in the magical world of Mystics. Adrian intends to use Maura as a means of resurrecting the fallen world of black magical beings, Abysm. Maura has made it her mission to stop Adrian while covering her tracks from those that have been seeking her out for centuries.”

Blue Ruin is now available. The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin.

  

The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin (Chapter Ten: Raincheck)

Day ten! 

Today, we explore Chapter Ten: Raincheck. Here, Maura Leroux and Kyle Hawthorne, a professor at Mystic Academy who has tested Maura’s strength and discovered her secret that she is the last remaining Leroux, have a little chat. 

***

“I know why you’re here–”

“I suggest keeping it to yourself,” she interrupted Kyle.

“Of course.” Kyle held up his hands in surrender. “We’re on the same side. I want what you want.”

“Which is?”

“I don’t wish for Adrian to open Abysm anymore than you do,” Kyle sighed. “The mess he would create…”

“He wouldn’t only create a mess. He’d destroy an entire world.” Maura leaned forward in her seat, fingers grappling with the arm rest. “Abysm is gone, and with good reason. A world like that cannot exist under a ruler like him.”

***

Blue Ruin is the first novel in The Phoenix Series. The Phoenix Series is a dark fantasy with gothic, noire, paranormal, and supernatural elements.

“A hunter and the hunted, Maura Leroux is one of the last of her kind with a dark past that has haunted her. With black magical beings having been hunted for centuries, she’s come to learn a thing or two about survival. But Adrian Wilhelm, a notorious Vampire, threatens to destroy Maura’s newfound life as a detective in the magical world of Mystics. Adrian intends to use Maura as a means of resurrecting the fallen world of black magical beings, Abysm. Maura has made it her mission to stop Adrian while covering her tracks from those that have been seeking her out for centuries.”

Blue Ruin is now available. The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin.

  

The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin (Chapter Nine: Crossing Paths)

Day nine!

Today’s snippet is from Chapter Nine: Crossing Paths. Here, we follow Heidi — Maura’s old detective partner, a double agent for The Keep (the government) and Adrian Wilhelm (the antagonist) — as she works. After being the only known survivor from Adrian’s attack, the attack that placed Maura in hiding, agents within the department begin to questions, why did she survive? Even more importantly, why isn’t Adrian hunting her?

This snippet is longer than my others, but there was no proper place to cut it. 

***

Matt tripped from the room, and minutes later John entered without knocking. He sat across from Heidi, reports in hand, and dropped them in front of her. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, adjusted his tie and pulled a pen from his pocket. 

Heidi dropped her legs from the desk and twisted in her chair. “I’m of no help.” 

“You’re our biggest help.” John slid the paperwork and pen across the desk. “You’re the last one standing.” 

“I wasn’t there.” 

“Doesn’t matter.” 

“I’d think it does.” 

“You were first on the scene. I need to know what you saw.” John sat back. “Fleeing cars, auras, remnant spells. Survivors.” 

“Like you said, I’m the last man standing.” 

“Phone records show you called Aegis ten minutes after the last distress call went out.” 

Heidi leaned forward. “You looked at my records?” 

“We’re investigating all possibilities in this case.” 

“All possibilities?” 

“An entire team – an elite team – was wiped out in a matter of minutes. It’s not uncommon for Adrian to–” 

“You aren’t looking for a witness report,” Heidi interrupted, stiffening. “You’re looking for a rat in the department.”

“A flat tire spared you. Your name is second on the case, and Adrian isn’t hunting you down?” He raised an eyebrow and looked around the room. “Nice upgrade.” John rose, a smug smile on his face.

“You can’t prove anything.”

“We can pay more. I expect the files on my desk by five.” 

***

Blue Ruin is the first novel in The Phoenix Series. The Phoenix Series is a dark fantasy with gothic, noire, paranormal, and supernatural elements.

“A hunter and the hunted, Maura Leroux is one of the last of her kind with a dark past that has haunted her. With black magical beings having been hunted for centuries, she’s come to learn a thing or two about survival. But Adrian Wilhelm, a notorious Vampire, threatens to destroy Maura’s newfound life as a detective in the magical world of Mystics. Adrian intends to use Maura as a means of resurrecting the fallen world of black magical beings, Abysm. Maura has made it her mission to stop Adrian while covering her tracks from those that have been seeking her out for centuries.”

Blue Ruin is now available. The Phoenix Series: Blue Ruin.