N.R. Walker's Blog, page 25

Good Morning Monday, and a Cronin’s Key Outtake!

Something a bit special today instead of a normal weekly update. An outtake!

Just how did Cronin know to leap into the police station the night he and Alec first met?

I was talking on Facebook with some readers and was reminded that this was a scene I’d promised but never delivered. I had always intended to write it after Book 1 came out but forgot all about it. So I wrote it yesterday! It’s amazing how easy it is to write a quick outtake when it’s been in your head for three years. It hasn’t been edited, all mistakes are mine. And there will be some, so just nod and smile and ignore the eleventy billion commas, k? lol

In Cronin’s Key, we see Alec and Cronin’s first meeting from Alec’s point of view. This is Cronin’s.

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CRONIN’S KEY OUTTTAKE
FINDING HEART 

How did Cronin know to leap into the police station the night he and Alec first met?

Cronin stood at the huge glass wall overlooking New York City. He’d stood there for hours, not moving, barely breathing.

Something was wrong.

He’d leapt to London, Budapest, Amsterdam, Glasgow, all in the last few hours just to escape the unease he felt, but something kept drawing him back to New York.

He couldn’t explain it. He felt wrong in his own skin. Nervous, anxious, excited, dread, longing. Like his soul ached for something he could not define.

Through the protective glass of his penthouse apartment, he’d watched the sun draw a close to another lonely day as the insignificant humans scurried on the streets below like ants. His reflection stared back at him; wary, black eyes, his short ginger hair a perpetual mess, his dark coat with the collar upturned suited his mood.

Tonight, when darkness shrouded his city, he didn’t feel the liberation like he normally did. Unlike most other vampires, Cronin could leap to anywhere in the world at any time he chose. He was rarely impeded by sunlight because he could simply chase night around the globe. Still, he lived by moonlight and normally he reveled in it.

But not tonight.

Something was wrong. There had been rumors of an unsettling of the Egyptian covens, and that was indeed cause for concern. But this was different. The agitation he felt in his bones was personal.

He didn’t need to feed. He taken care of that in Budapest, and Amsterdam. Overfed, probably. But it didn’t quell the discomfort. It didn’t feel like anything would. In all his days, over a thousand years, he’d never felt like this before.

Cronin took a deep breath through his nose and tried to center himself. Focus eluded him, the ability to find calm and patience was born from a long life, but tonight restlessness settled over him like a cold blanket.

He stretched his neck to each side and let out a frustrated sigh. He thought of Eiji and Jodis, his two closest friends, and for a brief moment he considered leaping to where they were. Their presence alone was always a source of comfort. But what could he say? How could he explain how he felt when he himself did not know? He could roar and pull at his hair to relieve some of the pent up rage. Jodis would be concerned, and Eiji would probably laugh. But what would it accomplish?

No, he would not concern them with this. He’d spent long enough alone to know that all things come to pass. Though something in the back of his mind told him this would not go away until he found the source.

Annoyed with himself, he took out his phone and sent Eiji a quick text. Everything okay where you are?

His reply was immediate. Yes of course, brother. Why do you ask?

Cronin didn’t reply, and a minute later another text arrived with a more urgent tone. Cronin?

He shook his head at himself and regretted texting at all. Letting out an angry snarl, he roared at the empty apartment. Then with no more than a thought, he was gone.

* * *

The nightclub Cronin found himself at was in the meatpacking district, owned and regularly frequented by vampires. The humans who stumbled in didn’t know that of course, and they never could. Vampires didn’t drink alcohol but the atmosphere and the music was a sense of normalcy to otherwise endless days. Mingling with an unsuspecting human menu didn’t hurt either.

Cronin wasn’t in the mood. He leapt to the alley behind the building and stalked around to the front. It was after two in the morning and the place was thumping. The front doors were opened for him, both doormen bowed their heads. The other vampires in the nightclub all noticed him immediately and parted in an almost imperceptible path. The humans were blissfully ignorant to his presence, but with his vampire hearing Cronin heard his name in hushed whispers. He was, after all, a coven leader. He was their leader.

Fury rolled off him in waves.

Unexplainable, all-encompassing. This feeling was consuming him.

The owner of the nightclub was quickly in front of him, head slightly bowed. Gregory was a century-old vampire from Belfast. “Cronin, may I be of assistance?”

Cronin almost laughed. Instead, he shook his head. “Has there been any developments to the rumors with the Egyptians?”

Gregory flinched and gave a small nod. “Just tonight, there were rumors of rogue seekers.”

Cronin’s nostrils flared. “And no one thought to notify us?”

Gregory looked apologetic, and for all intents and purposes, innocent. “They are but rumors, Cronin. If I thought for one moment―”

“What was said?”

Gregory looked around the crowd and nodded toward the end of the bar. Not that it mattered because all vampires in the room could hear their conversation, even over the music and noise of the crowd.

“All I heard was someone thought they saw seekers. Not of this coven. Not American. That’s all I know.”

“Don’t know what they’re after?”

Gregory shook his head. “No.”

The ache in Cronin’s chest squeezed tighter, the agitation made his hands shake.

Gregory frowned but eyed Cronin warily. “It’s not the first time we’ve had foreign seekers in New York. What’s wrong, Cronin?”

I don’t know. But something was very, very wrong. No, not wrong… misaligned.

Before Cronin could question what warranted his word choice, two vampires walked into the bar unaware of Cronin’s presence. One was excitedly telling a story, “… no, it was a cop! Can you believe that? A cop chased down a fucking seeker!”

Both Cronin and Gregory turned to face them and a hush fell over the vampires in the room. Something snapped in Cronin. Something else he couldn’t explain, but something in his blood was making him crazy. He was getting close to the source, he knew he was. He could feel it.

He crossed the room in a flash and took the vampire by the throat and pinned him to the wall. The vampire tried to resist, until he saw who had hold of him.

Cronin’s voice was fire and wrath. “What did you just say?”

If it were possible for vampires to piss themselves, this one surely would have. He was young, experience curtailed by arrogance. His eyes were wide and everyone in the room was watching. “Word is a cop chased down a seeker.”

“Where?”

“Dunno. But the cop’s from the thirty-third. A detective. His name was Alec something. That’s all I know.”

Alec something.

Alec.

And suddenly everything slotted into place. The pieces of the puzzle made sense.

Cronin let the vampire slide down the wall. He scrambled to his feet and put some distance between himself and Cronin, but never turned his back on his leader. Out of fear or respect, Cronin didn’t care. He took out his phone and hit Eiji’s number.

“Cronin?”

“I need you.”

“We’re already on our way. Your text concerned us, brother. Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’ll explain everything. Right now, I have to go.” Cronin ended the call and took a breath to calm his nerves. He had a name, and a location. And he knew, like he knew his own name, that he had to find this Alec.

Like the earth orbited the sun. Like a river ran to the sea. It was unchangeable.

Fate.

Cronin put his hand to his chest. My heart. His heart ached with longing, and he knew. He just knew.

Like he was carving the directions into stone, Cronin thought of the police department’s thirty-third precinct. With a sigh that sounded like coming home, he closed his eyes and leapt.

* * *

Apparently police didn’t like an uninvited man appearing in their offices. But the moment Cronin landed, he saw him and he did not care for anything else in that moment but Alec. He was making his way out of an office at the far end of the long room. A dozen men stood and yelled. Yet all Cronin could see was him.

He’d waited a thousand years for this. His fated one. His mate, stood staring right back at him. Something clicked into place in his soul, something incomplete was now whole. An eternal flame sparked in his chest, setting his heart afire. My heart, he thought over and over. Cronin could not believe his eyes. This beautiful man, this very human man, was here at last. “It is you. Finally.”

Oblivious to the policemen who aimed their guns at him – they were insignificant, soundless, and the world moved in slow motion – Cronin could only stare at Alec and smile as they moved toward each other. “Will you come with me?”

Alec’s answer was immediate. Perfect. “Yes.”

“Put your arms around me and hold on.”

Alec did as he was told, and his touch almost brought Cronin to his knees. It was a quickening: a visceral connecting of two souls. He was forever changed from this moment forth. Against all odds, he had found the missing piece of himself.

M’cridhe.

❤

You can find the Cronin’s Key Series on Kindle Unlimited at Amazon

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Normal posts/scheduling next week. Thank you everyone for the well-wishes and get well soon messages. Much, much love.  Until next week…

Good Morning Monday! Writing schedule and an apology

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Yes, it’s May already! Crazy, right? Last week saw the release of Red Dirt Heart Imago, a surprise short story, that everyone has just LOVED!  Thanks to everyone who has bought, read and reviewed!  I really do appreciate you all ❤

I’ve been away for the last three days – three days of early mornings, late nights, and every minute in between spent running around – and I’m exhausted. This is the very last thing the doctor told me to do, but when it’s for your kids, you just do it. So now I need some time to recover and recuperate.

For those who don’t know, I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and I can tell ya, it’s like being hit by a bus. It’s a weariness that I can feel in my bones, and it’s funny because I’ve written that line in stories many times and it’s only now that I can truly appreciate it. I know what tired is. I’ve worked 80 hour weeks, had two babies, worked 60 hour weeks with two babies, I’ve been so tired the patterns in carpets move. Believe me, I know what tired is.

But this is different. There are some days, by mid-afternoon, I can’t lift my arms. I just want to fall in a heap and not move. And let me tell ya, adding insomnia to CFS and it really is double the fun. Being in an exhausted heap and still not being able to sleep is the very worst. *sigh* I’m trying new things with my diet and other stuff, so it’s not all doom and gloom. But enough of the whinging LOL

Needless to say writing has been nil. I have the rights to some books coming back to me in July and September and to be honest, these will be the next things released by me. I’m really behind on my schedule and the book I was supposed to have finished by now isn’t even a quarter done.

So a very sincere apology to my readers who are used to my regular release schedule. It’s just not going to happen for a while.

Red Dirt Heart Imago… Say What????

Yes, you read that correctly.  A SURPRISE RELEASE!!!

Red Dirt Heart Imago is a thing! It’s an 18K word short story of when red dirt hearts and butterflies collide ❤

And look at this gorgeous cover!!!

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BLURB:

When Charlie Sutton’s neighbour Greg is notified by the Queensland government that they intend to run a pipeline through his property, Charlie vows to help him fight it. Then Travis remembers seeing butterflies at the creek near their joining fence line – the same butterflies they couldn’t find in any Australian butterfly book. Hopeful this might be their only chance to stop the development, they seek the help of a specialist.

Lawson Brighton-Gale receives an email request to identify a butterfly in the Outback, only to discover it’s not an Australian butterfly at all. But that’s not all he discovers. The name on the request is familiar to Jack. An old friend from his university days, who also happened to be his old friend with benefits, Charlie Sutton.

Years ago, two out-of-towners met at the University of Sydney. Both studying environmental sciences, both hundreds of miles from home, and both finding their worlds open to new experiences, they fell into bed together. Meeting again after all this time, in front of Lawson and Travis, won’t be awkward at all, right?

Lawson and Jack’s trip to Sutton Station certainly doesn’t go to plan, and what they take back to Tasmania isn’t just butterflies, but a cocoon of possibilities.

A Red Dirt Heart and Imago crossover ~ The story of when red dirt and butterflies collide.

BUYLINKS:

Amazon

Smashwords

Payhip

B&N, iBooks, Kobo to follow asap!

Good Morning Monday ~ And what a week it was

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These Mondays are just coming too damn fast! This year is just flying, and some days I feel as if I’m barely keeping my head above water (while the words ‘just keep swimming’ pay on loop in my head).

So this was an interesting week… Imagines came out! And because I have the most incredible readers on the planet, it went straight to Number One in Gay Romance!!  In the first 24 hours, Imagines was #1 in 6 countries!  I’ll never not be amazed, and truly humbled. If you’ve bought, read, reviewed, whatever, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You can find Imagines at Amazon.

As you may or may not know, an ARC of Imagines was put on a pirate site before release day. That means someone who was trusted with an Advanced Reader Copy shared the file with someone else.

The investigations are still ongoing, so I can’t say too much, but it’s made me rethink my sending-of-ARCs process. There is a long version response, but the short version is I probably won’t be sending out any more ARCs.

Good Morning Monday! Imagines is OUT NOW!

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Imagines, the sequel to Imago, is out now!  Exclusive to Amazon and available to KU subscribers, you can find it HERE!

BLURB:

Jack Brighton and Lawson Gale have been together for six months and are very much in love. Lawson’s work ensuring the survival of the Tillman Copper is as demanding as ever, and Jack’s work with the regeneration of the bushfire-ravaged national park is just as hectic.

When Jack suggests they take a short trip, Lawson agrees. But then he is offered a two-week research position in tropical Queensland to help determine why the Ulysses butterfly is on the decline. Figuring they could combine work and pleasure, Jack and Lawson go on their first vacation together.

Working alongside renowned professor Piers Bonfils isn’t easy. But personal and professional differences aside, Lawson is offered a more permanent role in Queensland. Torn between his new life in Tasmania with Jack and a dying species of butterfly he feels compelled to save, Lawson has to decide where his fate lies.

But fate changes the rules. On a research expedition into the depths of the rainforest, suddenly it’s not only the butterflies’ existence that hangs in the balance.

A butterfly’s life cycle never changes. From larvae to imago, their course is plotted by design. Jack and Lawson need to determine where they stand, if they live through it. Because the only thing more incredible than one imago is two.

I’ve also had an ARC pirated this week, which I will post about later. That’s right. An Advanced Reader Copy of Imagines was put online for free-to-download BEFORE release day. I’ll go into more detail on that later

Good Morning Monday! April, ahoy!

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It’s just a short one from me today. I can’t believe it’s April already – but the days are getting shorter, colder. It’s dark when I get up now, and the sun sets sooner, which means winter is on its way. I love the colder weather though. There’s something about wearing woolly jumpers and fluffy socks that’s comforting to me. Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be complaining about it when I’m standing court side at tennis in the freezing cold at the butt crack of dawn, wishing it was summer. LOL

Imagines update: Everything is on track for release on the 10th April. ARCs should go out in the next day or so. I can’t wait for everyone to read it!!

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WIP update: I have started Yanni’s Story. I’m barely into it though, but I can tell already there will be angst, but also personal growth and the realisation of self-worth. There is an age-gap. I’m not sure if you remember from Spencer Cohen Book Two, but Yanni is 21 years old, and Peter is 43. (Reminiscent of Tom and Cooper, no? LOL) But there will be daddy-kink as well, which is something Tom and Cooper never really delved into.

I’m away at the end of the week for a few days, so I’m doubtful there will be a post next week. I won’t have much to report on anyway, because there will be very little writing done this week. *sigh* Such is real life.

Until then…  ❤

Buy Links for Blood & Milk and Gay Sex Club Stories

Earlier this week, I mentioned how the cogs were slow-turning, getting some books distributed to all retailers. Well, it’s finally happened!!

Blood & Milk is now available at:

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Payhip

Smashwords

Amazon

Kobo

B&N

iBooks

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Payhip:  Book 1   Book 2

Smashwords:  Book 1   Book 2

Amazon:  Book 1   Book 2

Kobo: Book 1   Book 2

B&N:  Book 1  Book 2

iBooks: Book 1  Book 2

I don’t know how long they’ll be available at these sites before they go back to Amazon only, so be quick!!

❤

Good Morning Monday! News, updates and Imagines

 

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It’s almost April, and boy is it going to be a busy month for me. I have a release, a blog tour, a bookbub featured deal, and some other secret squirrel stuff happening, AND I’m also away for 20 days of it. I highly doubt I’ll be online much over the next month and would urge anyone who needs to reach me to email (not PM or tagging on FB because I just won’t see them).  It also means I won’t get much writing done, so it will be a while before my next books come out. As frustrating as it is, these things can’t be helped, I guess.

My next book, which I hope to start this week, is Yanni’s Story. You might remember Yanni from the Spencer Cohen Series. I’m really looking forward to letting his story unfold. I imagine there will be some angst, but it will mostly be a story of healing, age-gap/daddy-kink

Good Morning Monday ~ Interview with Julie Bozza and me!

An interview that turned into a conversation between N.R. Walker, author of Imago, and Julie Bozza, author of Butterfly Hunter, in which we talk about butterflies, Australia, and other transformative matters.

Julie: Congratulations on your new novel Imago ! What was it that inspired you to write this story?

N.R.: I was scouting pre-made cover sites about a year beforehand (it’s my go-to procrastination hobby LOL) and found the striking cover with the butterfly. I had to have it, even though I didn’t have a story, or even an idea for one, at that point.

Twelve months later, when I was travelling around the US, I had a scene come to me of a guy at an airport who was going to miss an important meeting because there was a car-rental error, so another guy offers him a lift, and thus, the two characters meet.

I let that play around in my head for a bit, had descriptions, character names, all I needed was occupations… then I remembered the butterfly cover I’d bought, and presto!! Lawson was a lepidopterist! Then the whole story fell into place. It was perfect! But the idea of him being a butterfly expert was never paramount to my planning. It was the cover I found that set the whole thing into motion.

N.R.: How about you? What was the inspiration behind Butterfly Hunter?

Julie: I was going to say that I also had an odd source of inspiration for my story, but then I thought that maybe inspiration by its very nature is always somewhat unexpected.

My source was a throwaway remark by a kind person on Goodreads, who said she liked my writing so much that she’d read anything by me, even a story about two men chasing butterflies. She meant it as the most unlikely scenario possible from someone who’d written The Definitive Albert J. Sterne, and I took it as such and chuckled. But then of course a moment later I began thinking, well, how would that be…? I soon realised the idea would be a good match with a pair of characters who were already developing in my head, and it was perhaps a chance to write about an Australian setting – and from there it was as if the Muse was dictating the story to me. I love it when that happens!

Julie: What is the significance of butterflies to your characters or the story? Why butterflies and not … whales?

N.R.: LOL I know!! Truly it was the cover. But it suited Lawson’s quiet nature. I knew Jack was big and outdoorsy, the opposite of Lawson, but perfect for him in every way. As I decided on his career as a lepidopterist, his character growth arc became more prevalent to me. As Jack describes in Imago, Lawson started out like a caterpillar – head down, working hard, then tests himself until he’s finally able to let his wings show. That sounds really corny, but in my mind’s eye, that’s how I see Lawson.

But a book about whales is a great idea… *ponders the possibilities*

Good Morning Monday ~ Imagines Cover and News!

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Well, it’s been another super busy week!  Despite being under the weather for most of the week, I finished the first draft of Imagines, did a read through, fixed some stuff, and it’s now in the hands of my editor. For those who missed it, the title of the sequel to Imago, is Imagines.

Finding the right title to follow on from Imago wasn’t easy, when it was so very specific to its meaning. So, going back to its origins, I found the the only thing better than one imago, was the plural… And so Imagines was so named.

The Latin plural of imago is imagines, and this is the term generally used by entomologists.

Now for the cover!!

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In keeping with the original and how the Imago cover had the Tillman Copper on the cover, the cover of Imagines now represents the kind of butterfly Lawson is focused on in Imagines, which is the striking blue Ulysses.  Harper By Design has done another outstanding job.

I’m hoping to have Imagines out April 10th, but this is subject to change.

I’ll have the blurb to share with you soon as well