Jami Gray's Blog, page 38

Defenders of Creativity

Here in the swamp there is one day every month that I look forward to with baited breath and giddy excitement–the first Saturday, that joyous day when I make the trek through our stomping grounds over to Smokey's place where delicious and enticing aromas waft like catnip through the air.  This time I left not only the Prankster Duo and the hellhound behind, but even my knight-in-slightly-muddy armor stayed at home.  He was muttering something about playoff tournaments and had pulled out his old high school jousting thingy. The Evil 7 were meeting for our monthly eat-n-gab and I was anxious to fling a few ideas off of them.

As I made my way through the swamp even the Zombies had a small pep to their normal shuffle-drag so it was more along the lines of shuffle-drag-hop.  Mischievous was tormenting our newest arrival-Mr. C. Rock Adail.  There were bets circulating on how long before Mr. C. Rock-AnAss lasted before someone decided Mrs. Swamp Thing needed a new pair of boots. I was down for a month, but we'll see…

As I basked in the inspiring atmosphere of the other dwarves, it hit me why these other six individuals are so important to me as a writer.  I thought I'd share these pearls with you all…

1.  They are the only ones I know who can understand that the voices in my head do not equate to a psychotic break, but are in actuality–character development.

2.  Just because I think I have developed a perfectly awesome plot outline for book 3 and should be lauded for my brilliance, they will be the ones to shake their heads with varying degrees of pity and indulgence as they slash my ego down to size with, "Awww sweetie, this is great.. but it's not book three, this is book four."  Only they could walk away unscathed from pointing out my mistakes.

3.   They push me to stretch my limits to a breaking point and sometimes even get me to reset those limits somewhere completely new.  Who else could would understand my fear of writing a character who's not tempered into a lethal weapon by a torturous past?  I'm sure Freud would have a field day with me, but only the other Evil 6 get why the thought of writing a character with a happy past makes my skin clammy and cold while my stomach twists into a Gordian knot.

4.  They're safe.  Strange concept for a motley group like us, but oh so true.  With them, it doesn't matter how twisted, dark, wildly inappropriate, weirdly humorous, or silly the concepts are, I can share them and know they aren't wondering when I'll hit their house in the middle of the night in a white mask or show up in a white jacket with buckles in the back.  Every writer needs somewhere to bounce all sorts of things around, just to see where they'll hit or what ideas they'll spark.  With my group, I have the freedom to do that without worrying if they'll think differently of me because of it.  They already know I'm warped, so no use in hiding it.

5.  Without them I wouldn't be working on a book 3, book 4 or even considering 5-8.  We may  have all moved into the Swamp at different times, from different spots in our meandering journeys, but they become my cheering squad, my cattle-prods, my stinging whip of determination and my life saving rope of sanity in the very perilous world of writing.  They're the ones who can make sure your characters are being true to themselves and their world, your plots may twist and turn but smooth out in the end, and you don't ever stop writing.

6.  They understand the importance of taking time to dream.  Each of us have had to learn how to snatch our precious dreaming time from the clutches of the real world.  Every writer needs those precious minutes every day.  Time to flesh out those voices in our head, add topography to those worlds we're creating, and finagle a few twists and turns in those pesky plot lines.  Others may snark at taking time to dream when reality is an oppressive monster, but we understand just how vital and necessary the skill is to our artists souls.  And we guard it zealously with no apologies.

The first Saturday of the month may provide me with lots of adult conversations that seem to be lacking in every day life, but it's also my time outside of time. It's a chance to share laughter, ideas, and insights with individuals who are my friends and defenders.  I take huge comfort in the fact that together we become formidable defenders who protect the tiny pieces of our souls that we set into story and lay on paper and place before the intimidating eye of the world.

New Year, New Story…

Okay so the New Year has arrived and it's time to get back to writing.  Shadow's Soul is out being eviscerated, I mean critiqued, by the other Evil Six so I decided to start the year off write…I began to plot out Raine and Gavin's next adventure. 

But to get to this point took time.  Here's a little insight into the schizophrenic maze known as a writer's mind. 

I've spent the last few weeks prepping the Prankster Duo, the knight in slightly muddy armor, and the hellhound for the holidays.  We had to hunt down holiday gifts, bind them and then deliver them out to the other Swamp residents.  The Swamp Thing family has had a rough time this season so we had to sneak in late one night to leave their gift on the doorstep in an effort not to be dragged into their "martial discussions". The Prankster Duo managed to get in and get out without any major setbacks (fires, explosions, dismemberment, etc.) while delivering Smokey, Quirky and Jedi's gifts.  The knight and I took on the tougher residents. Evading Snarky's newest whip was perilous and dropping off Eerie and Mischievous' gifts, well I won't go into detail. Suffice to say the hellhound was in need of some bone therapy afterwards, and knight's armor had a few more dents to add to his collection.  Don't tell Eerie, but I think I lost a blade to one of the shambling hordes. 

Regardless, we made it through the season.  The Prankster Duo has increased their weaponry supply with some new additions and they've been tormenting the zombies scuffling through the Swamp.  The hellhound was quite pleased with his decapitated duck and unidentified leg bone.  Overall it was a lovely Holiday! 

While hunting down and setting sneaky traps for our holiday gifts, I decided to pare down the towering pile of nightstand books and got caught up with some of my favorite stories.  When I finished with that, it was time to face the ominous quest looming on my horizon… the creation of my next book.

For those not familiar with a writer, let me explain why your writer friends seem to morph into bi-polar maniacs with multiple personalities in-between their Works in Progress (aka WIPs).  We all fear the blank page or screen that mocks us with its whiteness. 

Typing the last word on your last story is a relief, until you realize you have to start all over again.  Regardless if you're doing a stand-alone or a series, beginning a story is terrifying.  Let's follow along with my neurosis as I begin a new WIP.

First question that hits—can I do it?  Can I really get another three to four hundred pages that will keep a reader on the edge of their seat? Am I all tapped out? Was writing that last book, was that it?

A few deep breaths and a handful of chocolate later I've managed to smash that stupid voice into silence.  Yes, I'm a writer, damn it, I can do this.  I've done it before.

Next question—so do I continue with Raine and Gavin or do I let other characters have their own story? Should I go back to that other story line and take a break from Raine? If I continue with Raine, I'll have to pitch to my editor for book three, if I don't I'll have to go back out to the vicious world of pitches and throw myself on the mercy of another editor.  What to do? 

I re-read the 125 pages I have of the other WIP and it hits me…this isn't going to work without some major re-writing.  Where do I start? Should I throw it away and just start from scratch? I mean, I really like some of it, but other parts are going to have me sporting a Sinead O'Connor look real quick.  Oh man, maybe it's not so smart to go back to that one just yet….okay let's think about Raine. 

What do I need to do next? Where is the overall story arc going? Every book has to accomplish something or why write their story? Fine, let's torment the newly established couple, throw in some twists and turns and then…miracle of miracles, words are spitting across the page.  A plot emerges.  This is good, I haven't lost the ability yet.

Okay so I have a plot, but I'm still thinking this year I'd like to get two books done, so where do I focus?  How do I choose which gets to be done first? The massive re-write or begin Raine's latest adventure?

Dear God I think the voices in my head are going to stomp my brain into mush and it will leak out of my ears and then neither story will get written.  ARRRGHHH!!!

I manage to piece together Raine's story and I'm turning over how to re-write the other story, but in the meantime those around me are giving me a wide berth.  Maybe it's the fact I'm continuously mumbling under my breath while wildly gesturing to get the voices to lower to a dull roar, or maybe it's the fact that while eating a lovely dinner with family, I blurt out, "She's being hunted by a psychic psychopath!"

 Chairs scrape a few more inches away from me, the Prankster Duo just shake their heads, and knight simply responds in a gently voice, "Do you want some more chocolate, babe?"

And the year has barely begun….

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 Since the holidays are now fully upon us, I just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas season and a fantastic New Year.  May it be filled with laughter, love and joy!

I'll be back in January with new posts.  I may even explore the whole guest blogging idea!

Until then….be good and have fun!

Holiday Merriment with the 7 Evil Dwarves

Once again the 7 Evil Dwarves gathered around the Swamp Gas Fire and exchanged annual gifts of merriment.  Not only is it the one time of the year we cut Smokey a break and bring in our own nourishment, but we also drag along significant others.  Since the Prankster Duo was busy gutting bits of wire and plastic with other miniature humans, my knight in slightly muddy armor and I loaded up with essentials and headed out to trek on over to Smokey's place.

Me-"Did you get the pies?"

Him-"Yeah. You didn't have to make them did you?"

Me *snort*- "Please, if the other six wanted to experience a near death experience they'd go taunt Eerie's Zombies.  I picked those up from Knaves' End."

Him *looking very relieved*–"Great."

We added a couple of new cold steel blades to our outfits, grab the gaily wrapped gifts, leave the hellhound half a boar and some water, set the perimeter defenses and headed down the road. We passed Sunny's place where a veil of mist swirled in a thick mass.  Poor Sunny, we've been trying to get supplies through, but the black hole of chaos is holding her under siege.  We're going to have to send in a search and rescue team soon and drag her back out.

The cackling of Mischievous' laughter rings out from above while the moans and shrieks of the Swamp Thing trail behind him.  I can't quite make out what he has clutched in his talons, but it's shiny.  One day, the Swamp Thing is going to use him as her Thanksgiving centerpiece.

We pass by the Filet Your Own Deli where my Muse is enjoying her time off and playing a game with the white haired guy sporting a tool belt.  I can see the flash of blades in-between the smack of cards being slapped upside foreheads.  There's a hungry, evil smile gracing her pale face that sends shivers down my spine, but the old guy just bares his teeth, takes a swig from the old flask at his side and flicks another battered card on the scarred table.  I shake my head as we continue on.

The snap of leather snaking through the air sends me into an instinctive crouch.  Belatedly, I realize that Snarky is just testing out her new bullwhip.  Grumbling softly, I straighten and get a good look at her newest accessory.  Purple…niiiicceee.  I might have to find out where she got that one.

Snarky *checking out the pies in knight in slightly muddy armor arms*–"That better be chocolate."

Me-"As if there's any other kind."

Snarky *narrowing eyes*- "You have two?"

Me – "Nah, offering second option for those of us who OD on sugar today. Sugar Free Apple."

Snarky *waving a dismissive hand*–"I'll stick with chocolate."  A sharp squeal comes from inside her house, and the smile that appears is the same one I've seen right before she hands me back my drafts dripping in red. "I need to go check on the ham. See you soon!"

A little further down the road, we pull up short as we watch Eerie fighting over a bottle of Werewolf Hunter's Moon red with a fairly persistent pair of Zombie twins.

Eerie–"Let go you brainless lump of flesh! Even if your brain was working you couldn't appreciate this vintage."

It's entertaining watching the on-going struggle between my short friend and the Brainless Wonder Duo.  The scuff of boots against gravel announce the arrival of Quirky, Jedi and her other half.

Quirky–"Who's winning?"

Me-"Not sure yet."

Jedi-"I'll put ten on the twins."

Quirky-"You're on."

Me *thinking about the last time Eerie got cornered by the horde*–"I think I'll just watch."

Eerie–"A little help here!"

Knight in slightly muddy armor–"I don't know, this is kind of fun to watch."

Before anyone else can move, a black feather dive bomber manages to distract Twin 1 by introducing talons to eyeballs.  I grimace.  Those stains are never going to come out.

Me-"Have you considered enrolling your horde in Zombie training courses, Eerie?"

Eerie-"What are they going to teach them? They already know drop dead, gnaw and claw."

I take the pies from my knight–"We're going to be late.  Go help."

He takes out his shiny new sword and cuts the legs out from under Twin 2. Literally.

Eerie stumbles back and cradles his bottle carefully. Smoothing down one of many flyway strands of hair, he's all dignity.  "Thank you."

We make it to Smokey's door without further incidents and his lovely Italian counterpart welcomes us into their home.  The next few hours pass in a blissful haze of food, friends and laughter.  Gifts are exchanged, stories are shared and barbs are traded.

Remember during this busy season–this is what makes the holidays–laughter, love and friendship.

Treasure yours as I do mine!

Merry Holidays everyone!

 

Orginiality

I enjoy following other blogs and I ran across one that had me alternating between laughter and indignation.  It belongs to KT Grant and can be found at  kbgbabbles.blogspot.com.  Her latest post WTFckery or Not? You Decide was awesome.  Point number 3 is where my blog comes into being.

I'm going to apologize ahead of time on this particular post and preface with "THIS IS JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION".  It is not to be taken as if the voice of something higher (or lower) made a proclamation.  I'm a writer, I'm a human and strangely enough I have opinions on things.  Some opinions are a bit louder than others.

For those who know me, they understand my deep ick level for the Sparkly Vamp series.

It's not fair to get into my irritation of the major inconsistencies of some of the supernatural mythos that abounds because even I have to admit that every writer has the right to change whatever they want in their own worlds.  Doesn't mean every reader has to like it.

However, I do have to take exception of comments made by the personification of the premier Sparkly Vamp when he tried to say his storyline was being copied by other such stories as True Blood and other titles.

I was shocked.  Seriously, how much does he really know of the whole vamp story history because it doesn't take much to realize that Charlaine Harris' books were out WAY BEFORE Stephanie Meyer.  Such ignorant comments are infuriating. Especially because I've tried so hard not to publicly shred this series.

Here's my take on originality.

At some point I heard the following comment, "Every story that will be told, has already been told previously."  When I first heard that I thought, "Nah…they're wrong!"  Yet, as the years have gone by and I gained deeper insight into the craft of bring words to life, I realized–they are absolutely right.

There are basic story themes to every story, the top three being:

Good overcomes evil.

Boy gets girl.

Underdog saves world.

What sets a story apart from another isn't the basic story, it's the characters, the world they live in and the voice they tell it in.

I love Urban Fantasy and if I really look at it, most of my favorite books revolve around the same plot line.  There's a big bad out to dominate the world, but the flawed hero/heroine has to save the day despite messing up big time.   So if the plots are the same, why read so many different authors? Because their characters, their worlds, their voices enthrall me.  Each takes a different perspective on the same problem.  Each approaches the solution a bit differently and their characters stand alone.

So Sparkle Boy–instead of trying to say your story line sets the bar, why don't you try being an original character that stands apart from the crowd? Have a little more depth and little less angst, be a a little more human. You might get lucky and finally lose your sparkles.

Holiday giveaways!

Time is running out….

On two very cool opportunities.

Need a Kindle Fire for you or, if you're really good, someone else? Then click over on the Kindle Giveaway icon on the left and enter for a chance to win! Think of what an awesome gift it would be if it became yours!

Need something to read?

The head over to The Book Faery Review and comment on my guest post discussing critique groups for your chance to win a free e-copy of Shadow's Edge!

If that isn't enough for you…my publisher, Black Opal Books is having a holiday sale and you can pick up Shadow's Edge for $2.99 in e-format (Kindle, PDF, Nook) or $9.99 for the paperback version!

See? It's going to be a great week!

Book Faery Blog and Kindle Fire Giveaway!

Thanksgiving was a blast, but now that I'm full and lazy, it's time for a really short post!  Next week we'll go back to the craziness that is this blog, until then…

You have to go check out the last guest blog post I did for this year.  Yeah, yeah, I know, there've been lots, but this one is really cool and you have to go see it.  Plus you may even get a free copy of Shadow's Edge.  See? It's a wonderful thing right before the holidays!

Now here's the link to the Book Faery Reviews:  http://tbfreviews.net.  So go have a fun week and check it out!

Plus, if you're itching for a new Kindle Fire, go over to the left and click on the Kindle giveaway.  Go on, it won't bite.  Click on it, fill out the info and we'll all cross our fingers!  It ends soon so hurry up! Entries are only excepted until December 15th and trust me, that's right around the corner.

Until next week folks…

Happy Thanksgiving…7ED Style!

It's the time of year when everyone does the Why I am Thankful blogs, so I thought I'd join along in my own unique way.

Here in the Swamp there are many things to be thankful for this year.  Let's begin, shall we?

I am thankful for…

…the Prankster Duo.  Who else in my life would make me consider the deep, dark mysteries of the world  with  such scintillating conversation gambits such as:

                "Mom, can I borrow Siri for a second?"

"Umm..sure…why?"

"I need to look up a word."

"What word?"

"Fart."

Startled silence… "Why?"

"My friend said he did and it was 'an explosive sensation from between his legs'."

I try really hard not to hit my brakes and cause a five car pile-up as I try to find air to drag into my lungs.  My precious 9 year old…oh dear…. "Um, honey, perhaps you should think of another definition."

"Why?"

Right, how to answer this one without him thinking his mother is a pervert…oh wait…. "Okay, because that definition could be interpreted in a way you would find really gross.  How about  'explosive flatulence'?

"Hmm…okay…should I ask why it would gross me out?"

"It has to do with boys and girls…"

"Okay enough said, I'll stick with 'explosive flatulence'."

 

…my knight-in-slightly-muddy-armor who has stayed beside me while Eerie's Zombie's have trashed our yard and the hellhound has seeded the same yard with many landmines.  Not only has he braved that terror, but he has successfully save many an electronic devices from being tested for aerodynamic properties when they refuse to cooperate with me.  Considering how often that temptation occurs, he's my hero, because recovering drafts from broken pieces of plastic and wires is really hard!

…my hellhound, without whom my floors would not hold themselves down, but float away into oblivion.  Only he could figure out the strategic points that will keep them grounded and still manage to be where ever I have to walk.

…Starbucks and the lovely baristas, because they have saved many an unsuspecting person from violent death while supplying me with my needed caffeine fix that makes sure all my edged accessories stay sheathed!

…Snarky and her bloody whip.  Let's be honest, without the combo of the two there's no way I would have dredged up enough courage and armor to brave the pit of submission hell and finally, FINALLY got a contract!

…Eerie, Mischievous Raven and the herd of corpses that tend to trample my lawn.  Not only has he obtained some seriously good wine from the Werewolf monks, but he shines forth humor in the darkest moments and that is truly priceless.

…Quirky for reminding me why cynicism is not always the best thing to use for protection.  His ability to strip down situations to bare bones makes him invaluable to the Evil 7.  Beside it's fun to watch him squirm!

…Smokey and his fabulous recipes.  However, I'm still not to sure about the octopus and whatever that was that one time in the Swamp where he and Eerie got together.  Strange, but if you don't tell me what it is, I won't think about it! It's nice to know that even if you can't pronounce character names, you can cook!

…Jedi and her bravery.  I mean, really, think about it.  How brave would you be to walk into a steamy Swamp filled with gods-only-know-who, talk to the short. stumpy guy with the beady eyed raven trying to pry a zombie arm from the Swamp Thing while the Prankster Duo goes screaming by with some weird contraption spitting flame, while Snarky tries to hold back the horde parked outside her porch with a 12 foot whip?  Really, our neighborhood doesn't need a watch, more like napalm.  We're glad you survived the welcoming committee and decided to stay!

…BFF, Ang, because who else would dare take me to a move about a sparkling vampire who hatches kids from eggs and an alpha wolf that doesn't kill for leadership and can't pronounce his someday mate's name, and then let me go Science Mystery Theater on it for two hours.  She even held back the prepubescent horde armed with lip-gloss and sparkle and their mothers from trampling me under their keds.  Only a BFF like that can be trusted at your back.

…to all of you for taking the time to follow along, even when the insanity that lives inside me spews outward!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

To Nano or Not to Nano…

It's November and once again I face the dreaded question, "To Nano or Not to Nano?"

For those not tormented each year by the looming challenge of Nano, let me explain.  Nano is National Novel Writing Month and if you write or have friends who do, it is the one month each year that is greeted with tears, mad laughter, nerves and for those into pain, joy!  Sometimes the entire plethora of emotions will ride you like a demented roller coaster ride.  The goal—write 50,000 words of a novel by the last day of November.  You read that right—FIFTY THOUSAND WORDS.

To give you an idea of what that means, my second book is at 405 pages and 114,000 words.

It's a lot of words people.  Here's the kicker—YOU CAN'T EDIT.  Yep, no editing allowed. You sit, you write and you don't let your inner editor say a damn word.  Sound easy?  Have you ever tried to get that annoying friend who can't resist giving you advice on everything to shut up?  How successful were you?  Multiply that by ten and your inner editor is cackling madly at your impotence.

So as  November loomed on the horizon, I had to make my yearly choice-do or not do.  I ran through my list of upcoming commitments:

Shadow's Edge, my very first book, was coming out at the beginning of November

I had 15 guest blog posts to put together, send out, and then remember who and where I was for the next few weeks of November.

There was the book signing for the non-fiction anthology to go to.

There was the pesky little thing known as the job that pays the bills.

I needed to finish and begin editing the 405 page monstrosity of my second book so I could offer it to the other Evil 6 for evisceration.

The Prankster Duo have pretty much threaten to up their rebellion if I don't acknowledge them at some point and help with the looming education projects coming down the road before Christmas break.

My knight-in-slightly-muddy-armor was requesting face time.

I could not miss my BFF's graduation—that wasn't even an option.

Sprinkle in the normal monthly requirements—meeting by the light of the moon with the other Evil 6, visits to local witch doctors before my knight's lungs decided to created their own mucus nightmares, the hellhound required claw trimming and defurminating, etc.

Oh yeah, and there's this holiday in here somewhere.

So call me wimpy but I decided to bow out of Nano this year.  Doesn't mean I haven't suffered unmitigated guilt ever since though.  Somehow I should have found a way to squeeze in 1500 words per day.  I'm a writer, damn it, it shouldn't be so hard.

On the positive side, my guilt has encouraged some great ideas for the third book and maybe a whole other story line…hmmm…..

I wonder if I could suggest picking a different month next year?

So for all those brave souls trudging through the mire of words this year, I salute you! Go forth, write and be the hero I couldn't be this month!

Go Nanomites! Conquer the paper and make it bleed ink!

Guest Appearence by Michelle Miles

Pay attention, everyone! Today I am having my very first guest blog appearence. You must be nice to her or I may not be able to convince anyone else to ever stop by again.  The talented Michelle Miles is going to share with us the exclusive behind the book peek at what went into creating her One Knight Only.  Who can resist snarky faery princesses and heroes and heroines who double as card sharks?

 

 

Living in Medieval Times

By Michelle Miles

When I first started writing One Knight Only (now available from Ellora's Cave), it was around 2005. I know six years is a long time to work on a book, isn't it? But it actually started out as a straight historical and then morphed into a historical with paranormal elements. My heroine was Grace, she had brother named Lars, Elyne was nothing more than a handmaiden, and the hero was Sir Drake.

 But as I wrote, I realized my heroine was too wimpy, so I changed her name from Grace to Maggie and she became a modern woman with modern sensibilities. My hero wasn't very interesting either, so I changed his name from Sir Drake to Finian and he became a Scottish knight with a gambling problem. For good measure, I threw in a snarky faery princess who befriends Maggie.

The main story stayed much the same. I still had the book set during a jousting tournament in the mid-1300s. I've long had a fascination with the Middle Ages and specifically jousting. I was that girl at Scarborough Faire (our annual ren faire here in the area) hanging off the fencing watching the make-believe jousts. The one who wanted to go to Medieval Times and sit in the front row to ogle the knights. I was the girl who wanted to sleep in castle. (The closest I've gotten is Excalibur in Las Vegas. But as God is my witness, I will do that before I die.)

I started researching the book about the time I started writing it. I bought books on jousting and spent a lot of time searching specific information about jousting, tournament banquets, the Tree of Shields, where they lived during tournament, etc. I picked the mid-1300s because of some research I found that King Edward III held a tournament in England after one of his victories in France in the early years of the Hundred Years' War. I also searched for information on speech. I found a great resource for speech of the time where I learned great phrases like, "God's Teeth!" and the insult, "a plague-sore boil upon humanity." I feel sure I can use that in everyday conversation today, don't you? I also enjoyed using words like mayhap, anon and huzzah.

One of the things I wanted to write into the book was actual jousting. So I did a lot of research on how to do it, what they wore, how they rode, etc. Then I knew I wanted my heroine to do the actual jousting. How did I pull that off? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Another thing I researched was card games and dice games in the Middle Ages since I had a heroine with a gambling problem. The dice game, Hazzard, was the predecessor of today's Craps. Playing cards were actually introduced to the Western Anglo world in the mid-1300s. The suit system that we know today (hearts, clubs, spades, diamonds) was adapted by the French in the fifteenth century and referred to as a French deck. Other regions had their own suits (e.g. Germany, Italy, Spain) which included cups, swords, coins, and batons (or sticks); others had animals, flowers, etc. For my story, I went with the familiar and used the French deck during the gambling scenes.

 Did I mention my faery princess likes to gamble, too?

 This story was a lot of fun to write and has a lot of great characters. I'd spent so much time with them during edits that I actually missed them when I turned in the book. My head had been in the Middle Ages for so long, it was hard to pull myself out of it and back into our everyday world.

 I hope you enjoy reading One Knight Only as much as I enjoyed writing it. Book two has been planned and is underway. Elyne, my snarky faery princess, was insistent that she get her Happily Ever After. Who am I to deny her that?

 

 

 

Michelle Miles writes contemporary, fantasy and paranormal romance.

She believes in knights in shining armor and HEAs. For more information about her and her books, visit her website at http://www.michellemiles.net .

You can also follow her on Twitter @MichelleMiles and Like her Facebook page at Facebook.com/MichelleMilesRomance.