L.K. Latham's Blog, page 4

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! or Happy Shopping! (whichever you are celebrating this weekend)

I’m not working today, just popping in to wish everyone a lovely, long holiday weekend. For my friends not celebrating the American Thanksgiving, Happy Weekend! May you, too, enjoy the start of the holiday shopping season.

Hope you’re enjoying a bounteous and joyous celebration. For my friends who work in retail, please rest and relax today. You’ll be busy, busy, busy over the next few days. May you have no angry customers, and may all your sales be profitable.

An untried sorceress teams up with an immortal gargoyle to stop a goddess from enslaving Earth in this epic urban fantasy romance tale.

(Coupon!)

While so many I know are preparing to spend the weekend rushing and rushing to hit all the sales, I have a stack of books ready to read sitting next to me and a new puzzle on the table to complete. These are my favorite long weekend activities.

Whether you go, go, going this weekend, or stay warm and comfy at home, may you have a lovely holiday weekend.

Peace,

L.K. Latham

P.S. Enjoy your long weekend, but watch out for enjoying it too much. You don’t want to end up like these guys, sleepy and red from too much everything. 

Looking for your next read?

The Rising:

A tenacious Egyptologist. An ancient secret. A vampire with a mission…

Spellbreakers:

Even the most powerful spells can be broken…Six speculative short stories of magic and power

An Accidental Faerie Tale:

When the trium perfectum calls, surrender to its magic—or risk being destroyed.

Lost in Wonderland:

Bullied, Broken, and About to Discover Her True Power

Find my books at most online booksellers:

14 November

Back in July, I introduced you to Teaser, a Goblin with a penchant for all things glittery and gold, perhaps more so than the average Goblin. Teaser’s lived in our world for a long time. He won’t say how long. (A bit sensitive about his age.)

He first appeared at the end of Midnight Bites. In Midnight Wildes, he’s a primary player.

Picture of both Teasers.

Today, I’m sharing a scene with him I just cut from Midnight Wildes. He still goes to the Wildes, and he’s still there to protect the twins.

Teaser arrives in the Wildes:

Teaser hit the ground with both feet, yelling, “Ari! Arika!” He lifted his hand to his mouth to yell again, but stopped. Long green fingers extended from thin green hands. His shoulders slumped. “Home, again.”

“Teaser!” Ari’s voice flew on the wind. 

“Close.”

“Teaser!” Arika’s voice tinkled on the snowflakes. 

“Not close.”

Teaser lifted his long, green nose into the air, sniffing. 

“Arika! Teaser!” Ari’s voice, louder now, closer.

“Ari!” Arika’s voice faded.

Teaser pounded his feet, forcing the snow out from between his green toes. A boulder answered with a thump. Teaser jumped on top of it. Ahead of him, a wall of snow. Behind him, snow filled every voice and shadow. He sniffed again. He filled his lungs with snow and air. “Ari! I’m coming. Stay where you are.”

The whiff of Arie on the wind hinted at a fear Ari’s core along with determination and cold.

“Teaser! Where are you?” 

Teaser tilted his head, not resisting the smile breaking onto his face. “There’s strength in that voice. Afraid, but strong, searching.” 

“I’m coming, Ari.” Teaser jumped off the boulder at a run. Ari’s scent grew stronger on the wind, but so now was the scent of humans. He had to find Ari before the humans did.

Here’s Teaser in his favorite suit while in Vegas. He’s very proud of his ‘59 Cadillac.

“Get back inside, you old goat,” a woman’s voice called, her voice course with age and worry.

“Thought I heard-,” started the reply.

“Tell me about it when you get inside. I’m freezing my tits off in this wind.”

Teaser stopped. He twisted his ears, listening to all they could hear. “Not looking for the twins. Good.” He allowed himself only a moment to breathe before continuing his hunt.

Ari’s scent filled his brain. Closer, but with each step closer, Teaser could smell the cold and fear entering his young charge. He sped up, running as fast as he could in the howling wind and snow, over drifts taller than himself until he leaped over a drift and rolled down the embankment to a creek, flowing swift with ice damns forming in its eddies.

Two hands grabbed his shoulders, stopping him from rolling into the water. He twisted his neck smiling to see Ari’s face. At first it smiled back, and then it backed away, eyes wide.

Ari dropped Teaser and fell backwards. “What are you?”

Teaser raised his arms. “It’s alright, Ari-”

Ari turned to run up the embankment. 

Teaser reached up, grabbing the back of Ari’s shirt and pulling him down. “It’s me, Teaser. Come on, Ari. We don’t have time for this.”

Ari stopped struggling against the hands holding him. “Teaser?” he asked. “What – I mean. How?”

Teaser helped Ari stand. “Much for you to learn, and much for you to do. But let us domicile in warmth before we freeze to death.” Teaser turned, pulling Arie behind him.

Ari grabbed Teaser’s shoulder. “Wait! Where’s Arika? I can’t leave her out here.”

Teaser lifted his long nose into the air and sniffed. Near, but not close, wolves. “She’s safe for now. We must go.”

“Teaser?”

Teaser turned and snarled at Arie, his long, white teeth gleaming in the snow. “When you are safe. Come!”

Arie nodded and followed, his head downcast, but whether from cold or fear, Teaser wasn’t sure. He was sure that his bones clinked in the cold even as his teeth stopped chattering. It was move or die for both. The wolves would find Arika, and she would be safe. If the wolves found Ari, he would be dead.

Peace,

L.K. Latham

P.S. Almost forgot to include the picture of Teaser when he’s in the Wildes.

Looking for your next read?

Here’s a free book giveaway, a book fair and a couple of recommendations to help fill your season with fun and adventure.

A Selfless Sacrifice:

Will ancient magic save one being’s soul and, just maybe, the future?

Queen of Vengeance:

The werewolf, Jax, didn’t just steal my heart; he plundered my life.

Read the complete collection of the Elemental Dragons series, containing the following:
Blood and Water
Venom and Earth
Glass and Ice
Cinder and Fire

Find my books at most online booksellers:

It’s Halloween!

The most wonderful time of the year.

Today is all about peering through the Vail. Who will be looking at you?

Jasper’s not sure what to make about his latest reflection.

You may have met Jasper in the short story, Home and Dragons. He’s back and calling the shots in the novel, Home and Dragons.

Whether you’re spending today filling bags with candy to fend off wee goblins and ghouls, holding a seance, or relaxing and watching the moon (or your favorite horror classic), I hope your Halloween is peaceful.

Make sure you have plenty of treats on hand. You never know who’ll be knocking on your door tonight.

Peace,

L.K. Latham

Looking for your next read?

Here’s a free book giveaway, a book fair and a couple of recommendations to help fill your season with fun and adventure.

Druides, Dragons, & Demigods: 

Two Complete Supernatural Fantasy Series included in one set.

Pariah’s Lament: (free download)

So often it’s the forgotten who possess the power to change the world

Find my books at most online booksellers:

Dragonflies are Watching

Dragonflies are important creatures in Midnight Wildes and Home and Dragons. Thus, I’m spending a lot of time creating images of them.

These are not the dragonflies you’ll see buzzing in your backyard. (Well, you could, if you look hard enough.) I’ve been using AI to create what my mind’s eye sees. The images are getting close, but I think they’re too “cute.” What do you think? 

Coming to get you: This Dragonfly is getting close to correct, but it’s also kind of Fae looking. Or is it?

I like the expression on this Dragonfly and the five fingers/claws. Oh, and the ears. Maybe this one is close.

Too much Mantis? I like the expression. Dragonflies are naturally curious.

The Flower Lover: Love the expression here and even the flowers on the back. The AI added the flowers this all by itself, As Dragonflies are huge flower lovers, maybe it works. Or is this, once again, too close to Fae?

So. which of these Dragonflies do you want to see? Leave a comment below and let me know.

Peace,

L.K. Latham

Looking for your next read?

Nevie knows her path: join the elven council and change the corrupt system. But when a spell she casts turns deadly, the council uses the tragedy to banish her. Lost without a sense of purpose, will Nevie live her long exiled life in remorse or can she find peace? Someday even reclaim her path and change her world?

Find my books at most online booksellers:

Dragons, Dragons, Dragons

I wrote a short story back in 2022 titled Home & Dragons, not thinking about it as anything more than a simple short story. My email box soon filled with questions like, “Where’s the rest of the story?” “What was in the blue box?” and the one that tugged at my mind the longest, “When’s the next installment?”

I wrote a part two, and that led me to writing more. The series is just about done, and I’m experimenting with images of dragons to find the one that …. Nope, not going to say. That would spoil this little series. 

Each story takes place during particular meteorological events in 2024, so technically, the events are still happening, thus no sharing Home and Dragons with anyone until the year is over. The crew at Home and Dragons are very demanding. No telling what they’ll do between now and the end of the year. 

In the meantime, I’d like to find out what you think about these dragons. Which one do you think you’d find living in Austin, Texas, in 2024? 

Would you enjoy having tea with this young dragon?

Would you let this dragon guard your home while you’re at work?

Would you trust this dragon to stay in the yard?

Peace,

L.K. Latham

Looking for your next read?

Find my books at most online booksellers:

She’s not just any old Troll

Today, I’m introducing you to Ol’Sassie. She’s a troll who knows the secrets of the Seven Worlds. She’s one of my favorite characters I’ve met while writing Midnight Wildes, and one of the most commented on by beta readers. I think you’ll like her, too. 

However, that doesn’t mean that all she says makes it into Midnight Wildes. Here’s a cut scene in which she’s talking to Eugene and CC.

Cut scene from Midnight Wildes: Eugene relaxes

Ol’Sassie pulled potatoes out of earthen bowls behind her. She wrapped long knotted fingers around them and with long claws glistening in the firelight; she sliced each potato into perfectly sized bites before tossing them into the broth boiling in the pot in the center of the warming stones. She sniffed another potato before starting the process again.

Eugene watched the light dance in Ol’Sassie’s dark, black eyes as the old troll’s voice, like flames leaping high and turning to smoke, meandered through the air to her ears. “Wilderness was young when Mother molded me. Greens burst and danced in sunlight. Moon tickled springs to bubble and flow. Humans plowed the fields and danced and sang to make fruit grow. Goblins cobbled stones draping and sewing great cloths to celebrate Mother’s glory. Mountains grew. Rivers flowed. Trolls walked with sun and moon, leaf and branch, stone and earth. All was good. All was right. Mother offered. We took. We thanked. We lived.”

Ol’Sassie’s head shook, sighing as she lifted the ladle to her lips, blowing and sipping. Shrugging massive shoulders, she continued, “No time now to name us all.”

Eugene inched forward on her belly, her nose inches away from the heating stones. 

Ol’Sassie laughed. “Don’t be in such a hurry, mutt.”

Eugene’s ears fell back to her head. She stood, stretched her back, and circled the warm hearth until she found the perfect spot to curl up and wait for the rest of the story, even as sleep drifted over her.

Peace,

L.K. Latham

Looking for your next read?

Death follows me wherever I go…

Read now: Available in EPUB and MOBI formats. Read on your Kindle, phone, tablet, computer and more.

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It’s all in the details

As much fun as a story is to write, editing the story is a blast. At the same time, I’m pulling out hair (all mine) and doubling-timing the eating of chips and sweets to keep up with what all the characters are doing. New twists and turns in Midnight Wildes are keeping me on my toes.

I’m still adding more details and cutting scenes. Below is a scene I just cut involving Cesar and Isabella.

Isabella first showed up in Midnight Loyalties. She’s back in Midnight Wildes, keeping humans safe, dodging assassins, and looking for a good time. Cesar’s still calling the shots, but this time, he’s up against an enemy that might actually kill him.

Bur first: Let me show you this picture of Isabella. I finally got an image from AI that looks like the character in my head.

Isabella searching the Las Vegas Strip for Cesar. 

Cut scene from Midnight Wildes: Isabella wakes

Cesar leaned back in the chair as though he were comfortable, but he wasn’t. Outside the secure door, in the hallways, in the other secure rooms, in the Cave, and even in the upstairs Speakeasy, his plans turned into actions. For now, his job required him to sit with Isabella, who needed someone strong enough to hold her here when she woke, just in case.

He studied her face. Thin, pale skin once again covered the muscles and sinews. Eyelids once again fluttered over the smooth mounds of her eyes. Even a few eyelashes fluttered as though she dreamed. Tuffs of dark brown hair promised to fill out and once again caress her neck. Her hands, unmoving on the sheet covering her nakedness, once more held fingers with nails soft and buttery.

For the briefest of moments, he closed his eyes, picturing her before the attack. That was the image he wanted to see, but his meditation broke at the croaking of her voice. 

“Everything hurts.”

Cesar reached out his hand to hers but pulled it back, unsure if her new skin was ready for touch. “You awake?” he asked. “Or are you talking in your sleep?”

“Asshole,” she muttered from a mouth once again surrounded by lips that, like the rest of her, were much too white to be real. “Why does everything hurt?” 

Isabella opened her eyes, once so dark, so clear green they begged to be dived into. The now so pale green they could be white, scanned the room. She whispered, “I thought I’d walked into the sun.”

“You almost did,” Cesar said. 

“A light – It was so bright, it burned.” Isabella lifted her right hand to her face, barely touching it. Her face grimaced with effort. “Everything hurts.” She held her hand in front of her face, eyes staring at her too-white palms, then the too-white fingers. “Cesar? I – I-”

Isabella tried to sit, but only made it to one elbow when her face creased with pain and she lay back down.“Jinkies! Marcus? Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. A few bumps and bruises, but nothing that didn’t heal.”

“And I told Frank I’d keep him safe.” Her eyes fluttered as though she’d sleep.

Cesar ladled blood from the warmer on the nightstand and held it to Issy’s lips. “Drink. You’ve got a long way to go before you’re well enough to get out of bed.”

Before the cup reached her lips, she tried to sit up again. “Did I kill anyone?”

Peace,

L.K. Latham

Looking for your next read?

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Journey Through the Portal

The final beta reading of Midnight Wildes is complete.  My first venture into portal fantasy is proving fun and a whole lot of work. I was certain my readers would say cut, cut, cut, thus reducing the total word count. Nope! More needed here and more needed there, along with the occasional, “cut this.” 

Unfortunately, I rather like several of the characters leaving the novel, but they don’t belong in Midnight Wildes. Until they’re ready for their debut in a novel or short story, I’m sharing a few of them with you.

Today, meet Maura. She’s an older vampire who’ll give you the shirt off her back if you ask. In this scene, she’s just getting off a long shift. She’s tired, grumpy, and hungry, but she sees a new friend across the street. Her day does not get better.

Cut scene: A death

“Never walk alone in the morning sun.” Maura heard Wayne’s voice as though he were standing next to her, but she was tired, having worked her shift plus part of Marco’s, who was late again, and she was hungry. She stepped out the security entrance of the High Meadow Casino. In thirty minutes, she’d be in line at one of City Center’s buffets chatting up tourists and enjoying a refreshing meal before napping. Wayne wanted to see her this afternoon. His growing paranoia was getting on her nerves. All this “reporting in” took time away from her volunteer work at the university library. That was her passion project: research and order in perfect harmony. She smiled, thinking of the hours in the library’s basement she would have this evening – if Wayne didn’t keep her too long.

Tugging her security cap low until it touched the top of her dark glasses, she turned left toward the back of the casino, ignoring the long line of casino drivers.  As she neared the road turning into the employee garage, she stopped and looked back. One driver stood, not pretending to polish the sleek green limo, and stared at her, Liam. She opened her mouth to call to him, but that would break the rules: Security personnel didn’t fraternize with casino employees or guests, but he was supposed to work security. Why was he dressed as a chauffeur?

Something was different about him. He’d cleaned up well: shaved, hair cut, tattoos hidden, and even put away his earrings. His eyes, dark, dark brown, starred at her with such fierceness, she looked around her, scanning each space and obstacle for hidden enemies. She nodded her head toward the garage, hoping he’d follow her. 

Maura slowed, waiting for the soft flap of Liam’s shoes, but they didn’t come. She could still make out Liam’s form standing dead still next to the car. The sun glittered off the top of the car and off something on Liam’s neck – one of those odd collars so many of the local werewolves wore. Maura focused on it. Liam didn’t wear one the last time they talked.

She quickened her pace, and cursed the security cameras preventing her from moving as fast as she was could. The darkness of the stairwell and its promise of relief from the sun encouraged her. She walked up three steps when a growl echoed through the stairwell. She looked back as the gate to the stairwell closed with a bang. 

“Damn it!” she cursed and turned to leap to the next flight when the clanging of all the gates stopped her. 

Reaching the next floor, she put her hands on the gate but stopped. 

“Going nowhere, little vamp,” spat Ugly Upton. He crossed his hairy arms over his barrel chest. “Times up.”

Maura laughed. “You think a gate will keep me away from you?”

Upton pulled Liam from behind him. “I’m not afraid of you or your little gang.”

“Liam?” said Maura starring hard at him. “What’d they do to you?”

Liam’s eyes never wavered from Maura’s face. His face, so neat and clean, paled, and Maura watched as sweat dripped down the side of Liam’s face.

“What did you do to him?” she asked.

“You’ll wish I could do the same to you.” 

Upton snapped his fingers. Another dozen werewolves moved out of the shadows. All wore the same blank expression of Liam wore. All wore collars identical to Liam’s.

“What the hell did you to do them?” whispered Maura.

Upton laughed. “Nothing. I don’t have to do anything.”

Maura looked up as a bright light, too white to be natural, filled the stairwell. Pins and needles like electricity bit into her skin. She didn’t want to see, but she couldn’t resist looking up. The sound of a scream frightened her, even more when she realized it came from her.

Peace,

L.K. Latham

Looking for your next read?

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Have you ever met a Trowl?

I’m so close to being done with Midnight Wildes, it hurts. At the same time, there’s so much left to do!

But first, let me shout out a huge thanks to my beta readers. The notes they gave me have my mind exploding. There are so many little things I know about the places, the characters, and the magic of the Wildes that I totally missed putting onto the pages. Not sure how long it’s going to take to get it all together, but I will publish before the end of the year.

In the meantime, meet Jonesy. Being a Trowl, an ancient order of Trolls who’ve developed more Goblin features than Troll, he’s hard to define. This image, created by MidJourney, isn’t half bad. 

Unlike most Goblins, Trowls don’t like to dress with pomp or flair. At least MidJourney got that right.

Two things MidJourny hasn’t been able to get right: Jonesy’s smile, he’s a friendly guy, and his human form. I keep trying, but so far, all the images are so weird, they’re not worth sharing. I haven’t given up.

That’s it for this week, aside from the usual recommendations and book fairs. Hope you’re enjoying our last weeks of summer.

Peace,

L.K. Latham

Looking for your next read?

Zoe Calloway and The Temporal Tides: Unraveling the Secrets of Time Travel

What will it cost to keep her secret?

Lukie’s been murdered. And she needs answers.

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Where dreams may come from

There’s something about sitting in a spot wrapped in nature while overlooking the city skyline. I’ve been itching to go to one of my favorite spots, Mt. Bonnell, but looks like I’m in with rain all week. 

If you get the chance to visit Austin, make sure you plan an hour or two at Mt. Bonnell. I suggest going on a weekday to avoid the crowds. And not on a summer afternoon. Too hot to climb the stairs leading to the top. Can’t wait until I once again bath in those wonderful views.

Would love to say I took this photo, but I didn’t. Thank to Mitchell Kmetz on Unsplash for this great new.

For as long as Austin has been a city, Mt. Bonnell has been a place for family picnics, romantic rendezvous, and soul cleanings walks. A sometime broken but easy to follow trail leads you high above the river. (Well, it’s high for Central Texas.) The vistas allow you to immerse into a landscape that captured early pioneers and led them to what would become the capital of Texas.

Last time I walked the Mt Bonnell path, a paddler past me with this cutie. Maybe this was who I saw. Maybe not. Awesome picture.

Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

Of course: You need some imagination to see what was here for the early inhabitants of Texas. Pretend the grand homes bordering the river are not right below you. You’ll also need to squint to see the view sans the modern skyline of Austin. 

Isn’t using our imagination fun? I don’t know what some of my characters would do without these Mt. Bonnell.

Peace,

L.K. Latham

Looking for your next read?

So many free books! So little time to read them all.

Just my luck that I’d be turned into a vampire and that my sire wouldn’t stick around to show me the robes!

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