Kate Baray's Blog, page 4

Spirelli News

There’s Spirelli news! No, no new stories – not yet. But if you’re an audiobook fan, you might be pleased to discover the last few episodes of Spirelli Paranormal Investigations, Season One are being produced. Episodes 1-3 are already available individually and as a collection, and Episode 4 (Something Nasty in the Attic) just released.

Also, Spirelli Paranormal Investigations has gotten a new look. As much as I loved the former covers, the new covers are a little more in keeping with their content and genre. I adore them, and I hope you do, too. There are a few stragglers as the various retailers and formats get switched. If you don’t see the new look now you should soon.

Since I was recovering them – Bonus! – I went ahead and gave them their own titles. Enjoy!

1 – The Disappearing Client

2 – The Forgotten Memories

3 – The Fleeing Witch

4 – Something Nasty in the Attic

5 – The Geolocating Book

6 – The Heartbeat in the House

Finally, my narrator has just agreed to take on Entombed, so you should be seeing it in audio before the end of the year. So exciting = )

Let me know what you think about the new look and the audiobooks!

Reflecting on 2015

At the end of the year, there’s always that feeling of: where did the time go? And, did I get anything done? So, here’s the answer! I’ve compiled a 2015-Accomplished list =)

Published 2 Lost Library books: Defensive Magic and Witch’s Diary. Started the 5th Lost Library book, Witch’s Dilemma.
Released two holiday-themed anthologies, Mirror, Mirror and Demon’s Delight, which included my own submissions “The Covered Mirror,” and “Krampus Gone Wild.”
Started a new series, Spirelli Paranormal Investigations, and released 4 episodes.
Published an early draft version of Mistaken, a thriller short, on this blog as I wrote each chapter–my first “live” story online! Started a second “live” project, Timely Love.
Released 2 audio books, Lost Library and Witch’s Diary, and 3 audio shorts, Rage, Forgiveness, and Revealed.

What’s planned for 2016? My schedule can change based on a variety of factors, but this is what’s in the works!

The release of Witch’s Dilemma and Witch’s Curse, which will conclude Kenna’s trilogy and are books 5 and 6 in the Lost Library series.
The release of Necromancy, a Lost Library story featuring Lizzie.
SPI Episodes 5 & 6 of Season One, as well as the beginning of Season Two. While sales haven’t been fabulous and the episodes are more time consuming to complete than anticipated, the response I’ve received is quite positive. So if you’re a SPI fan, look for a Season Two with three episodes =)
Publication of the edited versions of Mistaken, Timely Love, and Ghostly Love, my “live” blog pub projects, to major retailers.
Audio book release of Lost Library books 2, 3, and 5 (Spirited Legacy, Defensive Magic, and Witch’s Dilemma,) as well as the remainder of Logan and Clara’s stories (Love and Moving.) I’ll also be looking at releasing the SPI episodes in audio but no firm plans.
Finally, I’m planning a Cursed Curio short work for 2016.

Thank you for your support in 2015! It’s been a pretty thrilling year for me. I moved from writing half-time to three-quarter time. Here’s hoping 2016 is the full-time year! And for those who are wondering what full-time means for readers – that means more novel length works!

What’s next for Mistaken?

Merry Christmas, Dad! The print version is coming in January – promise

The Full Moon Myth, or How to Make a Lycan Cranky

Werewolf, Lycan: same thing, right? Bite your tongue.

Worldbuilding is one of those nuggets of authorial awesomeness that makes writing such a fun and rewarding venture. It means I can create a world with my very own rules. Twelve year old me says, “Sweet!” Grown up me finds the puzzle intriguing but the logistics occasionally overwhelming. But boiled down to the barest bits, worldbuilding is fun!

What does worldbuilding mean in practical terms? As applied to my Lost Library world?

Magic is real.
Vampires don’t necessarily suck blood.
A minor burial mistake, and you might just create a ghost.
And Lycan aren’t werewolves.

Because it’s my world, and I say so. In fact, my Lycan get a little huffy when you mention werewolves. A change that’s tied to the lunar cycle, a grotesque half-man and half-wolf form, and no control of one’s second form? My Lycan peeps say, “No, thanks.”

The following is an excerpt from Lost Library, the first book in the series of the same name. The main character, John, is cruising the neighborhood in wolf form, using his excellent sniffer to suss out any signs of danger when he’s spotted in a moment of distraction by the heroine.

John caught just a hint of…something. He wasn’t sure exactly what. Not Lycan, but also not quite human. It had intrigued him enough to delay him past the point of discretion. With an almost full moon, there had been enough light for her to catch him investigating her car. John had been reluctant t o leave the car without a more thorough investigati on, since he susp ected it was the source of the odd smell. But the faint scent was gone, as if it was never there.

The timing was terrible. She could hardly think his intense interest in her car was normal behavior for…for w hatever she thought he was. Then he’d seen her expressive face light up with surprise, turn up to the nearly full moon, and settle into confusion. Really? A bloated moon, a moment of distracting scent, and he was outed? The especially ridiculous part was that her conclusion was r ight, but the basis couldn’t be more flawed. Where the myth arose that werewolves were affec ted or even controlled by the moon, he didn’t know. But the fat, cheery moon, shining brightly down on him as he slipped away, seemed to be mocking him.

Interested in reading more? Check out Lost Library as either a single book or part of a 3-book boxed set. Or one of my other series: Spirelli Paranormal Investigations or Cursed Curios.

Now for the treasure!!! Best of luck! (Winners drawn Nov 10th)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is part of a blog tour promoting the sheer awesomeness and creativity of Broad Universe, an international organization dedicated to promoting fantasy, science fiction, and horror written by women. (Guys: Come on; join us!) I hope you’ll take a moment to scope out this great group! Want more BU blog-hopping goodness? Check out the participants below!

Beyond the Pages: SPI Ep 1, The Ghost

There’s always quite a bit of a story that doesn’t make it onto published pages. Sometimes I share pieces of that backstory in short stories. Sometimes the only pieces you get are the hints dropped in the work itself. And not infrequently, my assistant (who keeps my series bible current) and I are the only people who know. So I thought it might be fun to write a blog post every once in a while that goes Beyond the Pages = )

What follows is a small piece of backstory for Spirelli Paranormal Investigations: Episode 1, available for free at most major e-book retailers.

**********That means SPOILERS follow.**********

Over a hundred years before the events of SPI: Ep 1 in rural Louisiana

She was so tired. So weary that her very bones ached with it. Some days she couldn’t rise. She’d curl up in bed, hide under the cotton coverlet, and hope that she’d die from exhaustion. Or despair. Or loneliness. She had come to believe that a woman could die from want of love.

Two days would pass. Then three. Eventually, an anxious knot of hunger would drive her from bed, the buttered toast and weak tea the cleaning woman left for her no longer enough. Preparing and cooking a meal, a proper meal, was all she could manage, and then she’d collapse in a heap on her bed. Tears followed every time, and as the salt touched her lips Mary prayed her love would fade. A husband who refused to return home deserved no less.

The woman stopped coming every day to clean. She started coming every few days. Then once a week to drop off food and supplies. Then not at all. Near the end, Mary could see the fear in the woman’s eyes: fear of Mary and her strangeness. As if it–Mary’s madness–might be catching. Mary laughed. Her beloved, the man she pined for, had given her one last gift before he’d gone: the French disease. Catching? Yes. But she wouldn’t pass the poisonous gift to another. She would die alone–unless her love came home to her.

She crawled from bed one last time. No strength to wash. No will to cook. The small desire for life seeping from her with each step. She stumbled to the kitchen, searching…it must be here. A knife. Still sharp. She would purge her love. Drain it from her body. She couldn’t wait any longer. Couldn’t stand another breath alone. She sank to the floor, slipping in the wetness pooling there.

But as mind, soul, and magic began to separate from body, Mary couldn’t help but cling–to love, to hate–for a few seconds more. She cast one last ward. He would come. And he would never leave her again.

 

SPI Episode 1 Free! Episodes 3 & 4, Preorder Links

Spirelli Paranormal Investigations, Episodes 3 & 4, are now available for preorder! Woohoo – finally! Links…

Episode 3: Available for Pre-Order Now. Releases 10/23/2015

Amazon US / Amazon AU / Amazon CA / Amazon UK /

B&N / Kobo / i-Bookstore /

Episode 4: Available for Pre-Order Now. Releases 11/20/2015

Amazon US / Amazon AU / Amazon CA / Amazon UK /

B&N / Kobo / i-Bookstore /

In celebration, Episode 1 is now available for FREE on the following retailers. So if you haven’t picked up the first episode of the series, now’s a lovely time to do it = )

Episode 1:

Amazon US / Amazon AU / Amazon CA / Amazon UK /

B&N / Kobo / i-Bookstore / Page Foundry / Oyster / Scribd

GR epub (most e-readers) / GR mobi (kindle) / GR pdf

I hope you enjoy Jack and Marin’s adventures as they take on new cases!

Myth Punk? Music Rec, Sharing Some Indie Love

S.J. Tucker – maybe she’s your bud? I don’t know her. Never met her (that I know of – if I have, sorry! I’m really bad with people out of context). And I’m writing this post without her knowledge.

S.J. followed me on Twitter the other day. No clue why. Maybe she likes my books? Maybe she thought, “Fantasy, that’s cool. Never heard of this Kate chick, but why not?” Maybe I’m a part of her marketing plan, because there’s some subject matter crossover. Who knows?

My response:

*1st, “Cool – someone followed me!” And, yes, I get that excited. I know, I’m a total dork, but I can’t help it. I don’t however automatically follow in return because Twitter isn’t really my world.

**2nd, “Cool – free music!” website>

***Then, “Ooh, ahh,” as I’m impressed by cool pictures, costumes, and graphics. “Mythpunk? Really? That’s a thing and I don’t know about it – how can that be???

****And, “Oooh. I can listen to this.” “Oh, I like this!.”

*****Finally,

I don’t buy a lot of music. I have a tiny budget for stuff, even cool stuff like books and music. I live mostly off of a writer’s income, remember? = ) So I figured I’d spend a few minutes and share my experience in the hopes that maybe those of you with a slightly bigger budget might consider checking S.J. out. Her stuff is cool enough that I stopped what I was doing just to write this post

The Year is 2017…Introducing Cursed Curios

Wait, it’s only 2015! But you can still sneak a peek into the year 2017 with my new short story, “The Covered Mirror.” Mirror, Mirror: A Collection of Halloween Shorts is now available at major retailers and contains “The Covered Mirror” as well as four other fantasy shorts.

What’s the 2017 connection? “The Covered Mirror” is the first story in a new series: Cursed Curios. Whenever time allows, I’ll add to the series with a short story or novelette, but the first full-length mystery novel isn’t planned until 2017.

So check out the first Cursed Curios story in Mirror, Mirror for a glimpse into the not-so-distant future! If you’re a Lost Library fan, you’ll be glad to hear there’s even a brief glimpse of Kenna and Gwen. =)

Introducing My Newest Partners in Crime, Um, Writing

I have a new project! The little girl in me is twirling around saying, “Weeeeeeee!” But the grown up me decided that writing a blog post might be another (safer) way to celebrate.

Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge: Fallen Ashes

In reviewing Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge topics, I decided that one of the titles fit very nicely into my Witch’s Dilemma story (Lost Library #5, scheduled publication 1st quarter 2016.) So here’s a little foreshadowing of Witch’s Dilemma for Lost Library fans. Note: You might recognize the narrator of the story if you’ve read book 3, Defensive Magic =)

Randomly Generated Title: FALLEN ASHES

Little bits of him, floating on the wind. He thought. But he couldn’t be sure, because he had no eyes. With no eyes, no sight. With no body, no touch. Was he really here? He thought, therefore he existed? He’d never been one for philosophy or religion. Money, power, influence. These things had driven him throughout his life. For once, he contemplated what it meant to exist. He came to one simple conclusion: he existed.

Time passed. Flesh had turned to ash so long ago. Now the ash settled and crumbled into ever smaller pieces. Those pieces baked in the sun. But his bodiless self felt no heat, and he felt no cold when the sun set. The bits and pieces that had been his physical self, those pieces spread further apart. Ashes blended with Nevada sand. Was he sand, or ash, or nothing? As the ashes spread further apart, whatever was left of him began to thin. The further the ashes spread, the thinner he became. And one day he was so thin, he feared he simply…wasn’t.

With only the barest of threads tying his conscience to the earth, he thought: No. He would not fade away. A life of struggle, deprivation overcome, poverty conquered, it would not end now. That he could simply cease to be, that he could fade out of existence? No. He wouldn’t be weak. He would exist.

And a ghost was born.