A.E. Jones's Blog, page 3
August 23, 2021
New Ideas Mean New Stories?
I’ve been trying to come up with a new idea for a book for quite some time now. I forgot how hard it is to start off a new series from scratch, but since I finished my demon series this year, it’s time for something new.
Actually, let me rephrase that – coming up with ideas isn’t hard, it’s taking those ideas and translating them to an actual fleshed-out story that can be the real challenge.
I just started a new story this weekend and am working on the first chapter. I hope it will turn into a full book, but I still need to figure out the characters and plot to entice me to keep writing and you as a reader to keep reading.
We’ll see if this idea takes root and grows into a story I want to tell.
August 9, 2021
Celebrate Book Lover’s Day
I was trying to think of a blog subject to write about, and I saw that today is Book Lover’s Day. How can an author not point that out?
My mother was a book lover and she passed on the love of story to me right from the beginning. Book love turned into writing love and my stories were born. I can remember when I first started writing. I thought since I read so much, writing would be easy. And then I wrote my first story that will forever stay under my bed! Obviously writing isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.
It was probably a good thing that I didn’t realize it back then or I wouldn’t have started down the writing path at all.
So celebrate Book Lover’s Day by curling up with a book tonight and the next day and the day after that. And if you don’t have a book to read, you can download one of mine… (shameless plug, I know, but several of my books are free or on sale right now, so check them out on your favorite retailer!)
Have a good book night!
July 26, 2021
Writers Keeping in Touch
Over the past year, I’ve missed going to writer conferences and seeing my fellow authors. There’s something energizing about being with a group of writers and spending time together. It helps to recharge the creative juices.
But we’ve found a way to persevere by scheduling monthly on line calls. I’m actually ‘seeing’ my writer friends more now than I did in the past. I’m not sure why we weren’t reaching out to each other this way in the past. We can brainstorm or just talk about the world and business of writing one-on-one or in small groups.
Last night was our monthly meeting and it was great to spend time with my writer friends. I never thought that comfort would come through a Zoom session for me, but it does. And it will again next month when we gather together online to check on each other and how our writing is going.
Even though most of us write alone, we still need other writers as part of our team. And I’ve found a great group to stay in touch with.
July 19, 2021
Time To Clean House – Literally
Twice a year I have this urge to clean house. I always do a purging of unnecessary items in December since it is the end of the year and I feel a need to prepare for a new beginning. But the other time strikes me at the strangest time and usually doesn’t stop until I have gone through all of my closets, drawers, basement, and garage to get rid of items.
And I am in the cleaning mode as I write this. I released my second book last Monday and I think after that, I had a need to not worry about writing for a little while and so my brain became preoccupied with cleaning. Not sure that this is a good trade off, but it is what it is 
I spent time tonight in my basement sorting through storage shelves and reorganizing. The funny thing is that I don’t have a lot of ‘stuff’ but yet twice a year I find things to get rid of.
Once I finish cleaning the house, it will be time to clean the cobwebs out of my brain and start figuring out what I want to write next. I have a lot of ideas, but they need to be sorted and placed in a keep or discard pile.
Maybe cleaning the house will unlock the idea of my next story (and dare I say, series?).
Stay tuned!
July 12, 2021
Release Day aka Tiara Time!
Today DEMONS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN releases. So it’s time to don my kickbutt writer princess tiara and celebrate!
I love this story, especially giving Boris a second chance at love. And I really love writing a story where the hero and heroine have actually lived for a bit. Love isn’t just for the young – and what does the word ‘young’ really mean anyway? My grandmother was young at heart her whole life and she lived until she was ninety-eight and a half!
Even if you don’t have a sparkly tiara, you can still celebrate with me and Boris today. I know you’re looking for a reason to party, am I right? Who doesn’t want to party on a Monday…
July 5, 2021
Excerpt Time!
In one week, DEMONS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN will release. I’m so excited to share Boris’s story with you. So I thought I would tease you with an excerpt of the book to see what you think.
Here goes…
Buy: Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo
Chapter 1
Boris Chesnokov was a demon with a clan to run. And as much as he loved his clan and his family, sometimes he wished…well, he didn’t dare truly voice his wish, because he’d already been blessed with a loving mate once.
But that wasn’t his reality anymore. Instead, he would remain vigilant while caring for his clan. Every last one of them.
Take his mother, for instance. She was up to something. And while it was a weekly, and sometimes daily, occurrence, this time Boris was nervous.
Why?
Because she’d agreed with him, which rarely happened. After months of refusing to talk to him about hiring a companion for her, she just did a complete turnaround. She was suddenly willing to talk about it.
Which had the hairs on the back of his neck tingling.
He was the leader of one of the strongest demon clans on earth and he still couldn’t control his own mother.
He didn’t think it was too much to ask to have someone help his mother with all the tasks she took on for the clan. She was over a thousand years old, for Fates’ sake. A spry one thousand and thirteen years old to be sure, but she still could use some help.
When his Anna died, Irina immediately stepped forward to help with raising his sons as well as all the tasks Anna had taken on as the clan leader’s wife. And with the recent birth of his youngest son Sergei and his mate Lela’s baby boy, his mother had been helping them out as well. He could never truly repay her for everything she had done for him, his sons, and their clan, but if he could help relieve some of her burdens, then it would be a small price to pay.
Now he sat at his mother’s kitchen table with his mouth hanging open.
“Boris, dear, close your mouth or you’ll attract flies,” Irina said with a twinkle in her eye. And his mother had a perpetual twinkle, which was normally followed by a witty comment.
“I’m glad you’re finally willing to entertain the idea of a companion, Mother. I’m sure there is someone in the clan who would be a good fit for the job.”
Irina held up a hand. “I have some conditions.”
Of course she did.
“I will be the one to decide who my companion is.”
“I would expect you to be part of the selection process. I have some suggestions.”
She held up her hand again. “I already put together a list of potential companions.”
Of course she had.
He took a deep breath. “And where did you come up with this list?”
“I listed the position on the demon job site.”
This was not good. His mother was posting jobs on the Internet? “We need to interview the candidates.”
Irina waved her hand. “I’ve already interviewed several. I did online sessions.”
He blinked at her. “Online sessions?”
“Yes. You really need to get with the times, dear. Everything is done online now.”
His thousand-year-old mother just told him to get with the times.
“And how did the interviews go?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t find anyone who is a good fit.”
Maybe he could get control of the situation again. “So we look at potential candidates in the clan.”
Irina shrugged. “There is really no need. I had a brilliant idea, and I’ve narrowed it down to one candidate.”
His neck hairs started tingling again, especially at the words brilliant idea. “And who in the clan have you chosen?”
“She isn’t part of the clan.”
Forget tingling, his neck hairs were now standing at attention. “Mother, who is she?”
“Gwen.”
He blinked. He couldn’t have heard her correctly. “Gwen? As in Sam’s mother, Gwen?”
“Yes.”
“She’s agreed to this?”
“Not yet. But she will. She’s returning today from her visit with Sam and Marrick in the realm.”
He had officiated at Sam and Marrick’s wedding last week, where Gwen walked her daughter down the aisle.
“I thought she was traveling the world now the Pavel dropped the murder charges.”
Irina pushed a plate of cookies in his direction. “She has been traveling for months now, but it must be getting old. She needs a place to rest her head for a while.”
“I’m not sure if Gwen would be a good fit for this job.”
The twinkle in Irina’s eyes disappeared and was quickly replaced with determination. He had seen this very same look too many times before.
“Boris Alexander Chesnokov, how long have you known me?”
Was that a trick question?
Thankfully she continued speaking. “Am I not an excellent judge of character?”
When he didn’t respond, she glared at him. Apparently she expected a response to this one.
“Yes.”
“Exactly. If I feel Gwendolyn will be a good companion for me, then you need to trust my judgment.”
He looked at the stubborn tilt of her jaw and knew he might be taking his life in his hands, but he spoke up anyway. “I don’t know if she’d want to do this. To settle down here.”
His mother stared at him for a drawn-out moment before nodding. Wait…was she agreeing with him?
“Which is why I am going to tell her she can do it on a trial basis. I’m going to ask her to stay for a couple of months to help me. Lela is just settling into motherhood, and she can’t do as much on her job with the immigration bureau. Between Gwen and I, we can help.”
Boris really didn’t have any other arguments to counter with.
“I think Gwen needs a clan to call her own.” She gave him a pointed look.
“Of course she’s welcome here.”
Irina patted his hand. She pushed her chair back from the table. “I made sharlotka this morning. The apples I bought were perfect for it. Would you like a piece?”
His favorite dessert too? Before he could respond, she went to the counter and cut a generous piece, humming to herself while she sprinkled on powdered sugar before setting it in front of him. “It’s still warm.”
There went his alarm bells again. His mother was up to something. What, he wasn’t sure, but he would get it out of her.
Eventually.
What he didn’t tell his mother was, his alarm bells also rang whenever he was around Gwen. There was something about her that knocked him off-kilter, and he was rarely off-kilter.
He couldn’t afford to be, because he had a clan to run.
June 28, 2021
Cover Reveal – DEMONS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN
It’s hard to believe it has only been a week since DEMONS IN THE ROUGH released! I’m so proud of that book and I really enjoyed writing both main characters. Marrick is different than a lot of the heroes I write. He is so very honorable and serious, but yet he had some of the best lines in the book. His misinterpreting earth sayings was a fun portion of the book and was even better when you realized he wasn’t as ‘clueless’ as he first appeared.
And Samantha (Sam) is a great character as well. Spending her life on the run and trying to protect her mother, she is a wonderful foil for Marrick.
Now that the release is done, I’ve put away my tiara, but only for a short time since in two weeks, the final book in the series, DEMONS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN will release as well.
When I am writing my books, I love each and every one of them, but there is something special about the final book in the series. Maybe it’s because I’m giving Boris his happy-ever-after. Boris appeared in Mind Sweeper, my very first book. I never thought he would become such an integral part of that series as well as the Realm series. So it only makes sense that Boris got his own book. And he needed a feisty mate to balance him out!
And of course that means I need to share Boris’ cover as well! What do you think? I LOVE IT. Seriously. And the blurb is below for you as well – check it out!
Preorder: Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo
A second chance at love – demon style…
Boris Chesnokov is one responsible demon. Leader of one of the most powerful demon clans on earth, he puts his family and clan above his own happiness. After losing the love of his life centuries ago, Boris doesn’t believe he will find love again.
Love, no. Frustration, yes—in the form of a demon female who invades his compound and puts him in his place. Gwen Taylor might be small in stature, but she is big in attitude, and for once in his very long life, Boris doesn’t know how to handle that. Especially when his mother hires Gwen to help with clan business.
Now he’s spending every day with this exasperating female, and he can’t get her out of his mind. Even worse, he’s beginning to feel again. But when enemies from both their pasts resurface, can Boris and Gwen work together to protect their clan and family? And in the process open their hearts to a second chance at love?
June 21, 2021
DEMONS IN THE ROUGH Release Day!
It’s time to celebrate summer with a new book! And I plan to deliver! DEMONS IN THE ROUGH released today. This is the fourth book in the Realm series but it can be read as a standalone.
As usual, I am wearing my kickbutt writer princess tiara to celebrate the day. Since I wasn’t planning on writing a book four or five in the Realm series, this book is a special treat. I just couldn’t seem to let the characters go from this series and I found myself writing another story and then one more after that! I’ve included a excerpt below of the book so that you can fall in love with Marrick like I did. (Yes, authors can fall in love with their own characters).
Celebrate the day with me!
Buy: Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo
Excerpt:
Chapter 1
Marrick was a demon without a heart. Not a full one, anyway.
Sure, the actual muscle beat in his chest to feed his body with blood and air, but not with what he really needed—love and belonging.
And since he was the leader of the demon portal guard, it was not something he would be voicing out loud.
Plus as an empath, he was constantly bombarded by the emotions of others, which was why he kept his thoughts and feelings locked away. He couldn’t possibly deal with his own needs when he was battered by the overwhelming emotions of others.
Until recently he hadn’t thought he could have more in his life. Then his best friend and fellow guard, Naya, found her mate and moved to earth. Now she had a beautiful daughter named Kara.
And when he sensed how happy she was, he dared to wonder…what if?
But that was a dangerous, dangerous thought. He had a job to do.
He’d decided to follow in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents before him and volunteered to guard the five demon factions who were banned from earth. Now, more than a millennium later, the descendants of those factions were getting a second chance.
Fates, they were all getting a second chance. Everything was changing, and yet Marrick still stood guard over this valley that never changed.
Although the same couldn’t be said of its inhabitants. The realm demons had spent centuries living in despair and hopelessness. Even the portal guards were trapped.
And being seen as the enemy, the jailer, takes a toll on anyone—especially someone who could sense others’ emotions. Marrick hadn’t realized how much until he began to help the realm demons.
Now those very demons could choose to migrate to earth. But since there were literally thousands of demons, it was not an easy task.
He would continue to guard—no, watch over—this world until all the demons who wanted to go to earth had left. And then he would finally leave as well.
The thought set the heart in question to pounding under his uniform’s armor plating. What would it be like to live on earth? He traveled back and forth to help with the daunting process of relocating demons, but he still hadn’t truly experienced what earth had to offer.
Even though Naya had left the guard, she still played a part in bringing the demons to earth, and helping her mate, Aleksei, with the leadership of the immigration bureau.
As if she sensed his thoughts—and since Naya was telepathic, maybe she did—the crystal he wore around his neck heated up, signaling that Naya was reaching out to him.
Yes, Naya?
How are you today, my friend?
Good. How is Kara?
She’s wonderful. Naya huffed. I’m good, too. Thanks for asking.
Marrick smiled. I was getting to you next.
Get that wicked grin off your face.
She was telepathic, but even this was a stretch for her. How?
I don’t need to see your face to know what you’re doing. We’ve known each other our whole lives. Aleksei wants to know if you’re coming to the immigration meeting later.
Yes, ma’am, he thought, with just the hint of sarcasm. Tell your bossy mate I’ll be there.
Naya chuckled in his mind. Smart-ass. See you soon.
Marrick laughed to himself as he walked back toward the forest. Who would ever have thought he would find himself attending meetings and planning sessions?
He hadn’t even known what a planning session was until Aleksei came to the realm and convinced the demons to work with the earthers and not against them. Not an easy feat, given the demons’ animosity after centuries of being locked away. Most of the realm demons hadn’t even been born when their clans were exiled.
Now they weren’t prisoners any longer. If they wanted—and that was the important word, if they wanted—they could go to earth.
Maybe that was the biggest gift of all. After a millennium, the realm demons were allowed to choose their future. Which meant eventually so would he.
And could he dare hope someday it would lead to his heart being nourished by much more than blood and air?
June 18, 2021
Cover Reveal – Sergei Wants in on the Fun
Now that I’ve shared the new covers for both Misha and Aleksei’s books, baby-brother Sergei wants in on the act. So check it out he brand new cover!
In DEMONS ARE FOREVER Sergei is a talented photographer who travels the world. And he’s also the brother who has alienated himself from his family. The last thing he is looking for is a mate. When a family emergency brings him home again, he has to face a lot of things he ran from in the past. And he meets a female who challenges him.
So there you go – my cover for my brooding photographer. I think it’s a winner!
If you’re keeping track, this is book 3 in the series. DEMONS IN THE ROUGH – Book 4 – releases on Monday, June 21st.
And no worries – these can all be read as standalones, but if you like to read in order, by all means, start with Misha’s book DEMONS WILL BE DEMONS that is FREE right now.
June 16, 2021
Cover Reveal: Aleksei’s Turn
On Monday I revealed the new cover for the first book in my Realm series, DEMONS WILL BE DEMONS. Book one is about Misha finally finding his happy-ever-after with some twists and turns along the way. And don’t forget that for a limited time only, Misha’s book is FREE at the retailers so check it out!
Today, I’m going to reveal Aleksei’s new cover for DEMONS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND. Unlike Misha, Aleskei wasn’t looking for a mate. He’s much too busy with running the demon immigration and eventually the clan. But when you least expect it… And that’s what makes things interesting.
Like Misha, Aleksei insisted on a new cover for his book to match DEMONS IN THE ROUGH that is releasing on Monday, June 21st.
So what do you think about the new cover? His smirk gets me EVERY STINKIN’ TIME!
