MeiLin Miranda's Blog, page 62

"Scryer's Gulch" episode 38 is live

Escort Service:

Tony straightened in icy outrage, but turned toward the stairs at the sound of footsteps. Hopewell was leading Miss Duniway into the lobby. "But I'm not expecting anyone," he heard her musical voice saying.

"Miss Duniway," he said, and stopped. She wore a simple black dress and coat with little in the way of furbelows: tasteful, appropriate to the occasion and her station, and entirely becoming; rather than drabbing down her fair complexion, the black played it up, making her skin even more like a peach and her eyes an almost impossible blue. Her golden hair wreathed her head in gentle curls beneath a black silk bonnet trimmed in gray. A jewel displayed against black satin. Charity will be beside herself.

"Mr Bonham, to what do I owe the pleasure?" she said, and he imagined he heard actual pleasure in her voice.

"This town is none too safe in the evenings. A lady like you should have an escort to my father's dinner," he smiled, just as the door jingled open.

"This town is safe as houses in the evenings for a lady like Miss Duniway, I assure you," came a familiar voice. Tony turned. Damn it: Runnels.

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"Like a Moonrise": On Sale 12/28/10

"Like a Moonrise: Erotic tales of Shapeshifters" goes on sale December 28th! It's a collection of erotica from Circlet Press, featuring my story "Fears Moon Woman":

Rabbit Runnels smelled her before he saw her.

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"Like a Moonrise" goes on sale 12/28!

"Like a Moonrise: Erotic tales of Shapeshifters" goes on sale December 28th. It's a collection of erotica from Circlet Press, featuring my story "Fears Moon Woman":

Rabbit Runnels smelled her before he saw her.

Her scent was somehow familiar, like the smell the canyons gave off in the evenings after a hot day: sage, warm dirt, fur, clover--and female. Something deep within him woke up and rose on its hind legs.

He hadn’t changed the once yet, but his ears and nose were almost unbearably acute now. He could track a man just by smell alone, even through the filth and stench of the mining camp. Useful for a deputy, but if he was lucky he’d never get the chance. If he was lucky, something would find him tonight and kill him. He couldn’t do it himself, but it was all right with him if some critter ate him when he wasn’t himself.

This wasn’t a critter, though. This was a woman, and her scent pulled at him so hard he wondered if he’d keep his footing.

I've read the other stories in the collection, and it's a doozy; if you get an e-reader for Christmas, here's a great read to warm you up! :)

When it goes live, I'll be putting up the sales link here. If you're a reviewer, ping me and I'll get you a review copy.

"Lovers and Beloveds" chapter 5.4 is live

Uncles and assassins:

When they returned to the Keep, much earlier than Ellika would have liked, Temmin found himself summoned to the King's study, despite the late hour. Teacher stood leaning against the mantelpiece, such a habitual position that Temmin wondered if the advisor weren't glued to it by the elbow.

"You're all right?" said Harsin. "A glass of wine? No? Very well. I've received a preliminary report from Brother Mardus. Needless to say, the Royal Guard will be under extreme scrutiny for this security breach. Mardus says in his note you acquitted yourself well."

Temmin shrugged, embarrassed. "I winged him with a rock. Nothing else for it. I'm just glad Alvo and I used to practice hitting old bottles."
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"You've had archery lessons, surely," said his father.

"Arrows aren't rocks. Listen, Papa, who are these brothers Mardus mentioned? The only uncle I know about is Uncle Pat."

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"Lovers and Beloveds" chapter 5.3 is live

In which crossbows are used and a dagger isn't:

A man he didn't recognize approached, still far down the path. Temmin took his hands from his pockets and straightened his shoulders. He was just reassuring himself that the stranger had been far enough away during his interlude under the tree, when the man drew a long dagger and ran at him.

Time slowed down, as it sometimes does in dangerous moments.

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Shipping books

I'm shipping books today. Don't know how many I'll get through today. LOTS to ship. You'll be getting email when your book ships. Velvet Ackbar and I are going to be packing books pretty frantically this week; we want them OUT OF THE HOUSE and I know you want what you paid for.

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"Scryer's Gulch" episode 37 is live

A Little Song:

She'd never killed an entire town before. During her long life pre-Bonham, killing humans was sometimes necessary, but rarely did she do it for the pure sport of it. Usually those were the ones who'd tried to trap her; she'd always caught them out before they'd even started their incantations. If they were young and stupid, she'd rip their throats out and be done with it, but the clever, dangerous, older ones she'd drive before her, sometimes for months, making them think they were escaping only to have her turn up just where they'd run to. One time, she'd killed everyone around the mage again and again wherever he'd run to, until he begged her to kill him and she'd obliged.
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That was fun. But this--this was pure bloodlust. They would all pay. No more would she be Mamzelle. She would once again be Mamzellarrainatta Daughter of Zelliniasipatiri, her wings, claws and teeth no longer hidden in this soft human body, and the cat demon would once again be Misiriplinapos Son of Misorianatus and a cat no more. Oh, we will be so happy, Misiriplinapos. A little song ran through her head: Soon, so soon, my friend...

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"Lovers and Beloveds" chapter 5.2 is live

In which Temmin spots a liar:

The lanky Heir raised several eyebrows as he hurried through the crowd to the cloak room. "Didn't take long for His Highness to sniff out Allis Obby," smirked the Duke of Corland.

"Jealousy is unbecoming, Borney," smiled Lord Litta. "Make an appointment."

"An appointment?" Corland barked with laughter, shaking his chins. "I don't think so. Too complicated, those Lovers. Fennows tells me the Prince is a virgin."
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Litta frowned, puckering the saber slash through his left brow. "A virgin, at his age? Is he a lover of men?"

"Damned if I know. Only been here a few days. He'll find his fancy, or have one thrust upon him. Thrust! Ha!"

"I'm not sure it's a joking matter, Corland," said Litta, eyes following Temmin through the ballroom.

"Eh, I'm not much for prophecies. Encouraging Fennows to get the boy laid as quickly as possible, all the same.

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Come listen to me on Blog Talk Radio today

I'll be on Kat's Writing Pen today at 3 pm PST / 6 pm EST / 11 pm GMT. I think, but am not 100% positive, that it's a call-in show.

"Lovers and Beloveds" chapter 5.1 is live

The chapter begins with a ball:

The Duke of Litta's townhouse stood in one of the most fashionable yet conservative districts in the City. During the day, its white-painted brick and polished brass gave off a formal, rather stuffy air. Tonight, light and gaiety poured from every window, and the reception hall glittered.

As did Ellika. Amethysts circled her neck and wrists, and winked from her ears. Her dress was almost subdued, for her. Not a scrap of lace, sashed, simple, full-skirted, purple and white shot silk that shimmered in the gaslight: a fairy princess.

"Tem, look around," she whispered as he offered her a proud arm and they proceeded through the genuflecting crowd. "Notice anything?"

"What am I supposed to be noticing?" he whispered back.

"The young men! Look at them. They're all trimming their beards to look like you--moustaches and sideburns and no chin whiskers!"

Temmin looked around. Every third man under the age of 30 had trimmed his beard to look like his, unintentional though it was. "Isn't it hilarious?" giggled Ellika. "They're calling the style 'The Heir.'"

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