Serenity Snow's Blog, page 40
March 9, 2020
Reviews Wanted
Looking for reviews for my latest The Madam’s Criminal Intent. If you’re interested message me here: serenitysnow23@gmail.com.
Sensation
Sienna’s
spiky arms pulled tight around the head of the man who’d invaded her home. How
dare the dumbasses not even think to bring heavy mortal artillery instead of
Glocks and Bowie knives? Were they the stupidest hunters in the pack?
“Bitch!” he
snarled. Only a second later, she used the tough spikes of her spider arm to
puncture his throat. She drove the spikes through as his eyes widened. He was
gasping for air with fear leaking from him. His stinger waved uselessly, and he
shifted into his human scorpion form. She released him and did a half turn as
he quickly evaded her with green blood staining the floor.
Her arm
curled around his scorpion neck and snapped it with vicious force. The tail
thrashed about and another one of her spider arms curved around it as it waved
toward Kami’s back. She broke it with a loud crunch. He shifted back into human
form, and she let him drop lifeless to the floor.
“Sting
that,” she muttered and turned with a determined and purposeful stride toward
the garage. The elders had said the protections on the house had been
successfully released, giving the intruders full access to the house. Tas and
Peta, along with the rest of her dominant coven sisters were defending the
original section of house from attack there.
The sheriff
had been given a heads up, but she wasn’t counting on him getting here before
the party was over.
Springtime Affairs
In honor of spring, I’ll be sharing excerpts from two of my series–Winswept and Sensation, Louisiana over the next two weeks. Both are about elements seen in spring and summer–winds and weather phenomenon and the return of butterflies and ladybugs.
The Windswept series is one of my favorites of my works because it combines two interests of mine–well three. Magic. Psychic skills and abit of mythology. These stories are shifter and romantic romances with kisses of suspense.
The common themes of these stories include the age old dance between good and evil. Can love defeat darkness as the past and present unite. These are themes that are prevalent in a lot of stories today, making for a good conflict.
Enjoy these excerpts as you start thinking about your spring preparedness rituals if you live in areas that are tornado prone.
“I’ll be starting with book one of Sensation, Louisiana, Training an Unruly Submissive tomorrow.
Photo by Johannes Plenio from Pexels
March 4, 2020
WIP
I’m working on edits this week. I still haven’t decided on a title for Cozy Bend 4 and as I edit I’ve already added another 1000 words and made some vital changes.
Here’s a little sample.
That was Sarina?
What. The. Fuck.
She had always been a knock-out with her mama’s
thick curly black hair and her father’s whiskey brown eyes. Sarina caramel skin
had haunted her and those lips—god those lips. Remi had fantasized about them
more than once as she lay in bed alone in the dark.
Smith’s daughter had sparked something in Remi
that she couldn’t define. Still couldn’t.
Sweet Sarina had been off limits and not
because she’d been the chubby geek girl, and she’d been the bad girl from the
wrong side of the tracks. Their color difference had had a little too do with
it, but Smith would have killed Remi if she’d have so much as looked too long
in Sarina’s direction because they’d both been girls.
Sarina been Smith’s pride and joy. She’d
had the good grades, the sweet disposition and kind heart to go along with
them. She’d always been nothing but nice to Remi and her siblings despite the
storm going on around them.
Course I’m working on Assassins Core 4. When I finish my edits on Cozy Bend I’ll start working on the next Coyote Bound book. I’m still stuck on the beginning, but I’ve got a few ideas how to change that. I just hope one of them appeals. Otherwise, I’ll write on and look at the beginning again later in the story.
A writer’s life.
February 27, 2020
WIP
I’m on the verge of finishing up my current WIP which is a Cozy Bend Romance. No, I haven’t submitted the next Assassins Core book yet. That happens this weekend.
Cozy Bend. This book was only supposed to be 20,000 words. Alas, it’s knocking on 60,000 words. It still contains the main premise of conservatism in a small town to an extent. This is the story of a conspiracy that spans decades and destroys two families while two others rise to wealth.
The story starts out with the conspiracy’s initial fallout and picks up years later. Our main characters are brought back home by two different reasons that bring the conspiracy full circle and those behind out to protect their freedom.
I don’t have a name yet so I suspect once I finish with the editing next week I’ll come up something. Any ideas?
February 25, 2020
Thanks!
Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I greatly appreciate it. The Madam’s Lover won best lesbian romance.
February 20, 2020
On Sale for .99 cents for a limited time. Grab this sci-fi menage romance...
On Sale for .99 cents for a limited time. Grab this sci-fi menage romance now!
February 19, 2020
WIP Wed.
I’ve finished Assassins Core 3. It’s a long one. I haven’t sent it off to the publishers yet because I’m still grappling with one issue. However, I’ve cleaned up the manuscript and noticed it’s pretty action-packed and includes lots of scenes with Alexi and Tatiana too.
In this one Alexi’s hard edge really shows and I’m debating whether to tone it down by taking out one scene that might be a bit objectionable. I think the scene is warranted in some ways. It ties up a few loose ends and leads into the next story subtly.
Also, as I start the fourth book I contemplate not making Alexi the star. The new character I’m bringing in will take some attention from Alexi and Tatiana as it includes a love story between this new character and Cattail. I will be working on this story for at least the next four weeks.
I have started–and am almost done with the fourth Cozy Bend Romance story. It’s longer and leads into a different story arc with new characters. A few of the old ones come into play, but this one still remains contemporary though I’d like to add some supernatural elements in in the future.
That’s my thing. I like the paranormal and the supernatural. Can’t escape it, but I admit that comes from living in a house where odd things happen. I wouldn’t call them supernatural, but well, what do you call seeing a ghost and things that move at will on occasion.
Well, here is one more excerpt from Assassin’s Core 3.
“I was trying to protect my daughter,” she
screamed.
“That’s the reason I wouldn’t have killed
you,” Alexi said. “I love Tia, but I’m not in a very generous mood today. If I
hadn’t spent the night in jail thanks in part to what you did, I’d be willing
to negotiate, but all bets are off.”
“I’ll start screaming and Tatiana will
hear me.”
“Slate get Tia on the phone,” Alexi said.
“I want her to say goodbye to her mother. I think April might even like to say
her goodbyes as well.”
“What?” Melissa whispered, eyes wide.
“April is vey much alive,” Alexi said.
“I—you’re lying. You failed to save her
and that’s part of the reason I did this.”
“What’s the other reason?” Alexi asked.
“I want you away from my daughter. She’s
not safe with you.”
Alexi studied her, wishing she could
believe that. She’d heard enough in that call to convince her Melissa’s motives
were only a fourth altruistic.
Slate walked into view from the kitchen
holding her sleek smartphone out.
“Tia,” Alexi said, still holding her gun
on Melissa.
“Alexi? Is that really you?”
“Yes, Melissa can attest to that,” she
said. “I’m with her now. I thought you’d like to say goodbye to her. She’s
going on a trip.”
“Goodbye Mother,” Tatiana said. “Have a
nice trip.”
“April?” Melissa called, desperation in
her voice. “Alexi is going to kill me.”
“She’d never do that Mother,” Tatiana said
coldly. “Now, who’s being dramatic.”
“Tatiana,
listen to me, Alexi is going to kill me,” Melissa said. “She thinks I betrayed
her.”
“You did, and more importantly, you
betrayed me. I wish you’d just realize how happy Alexi makes me.”
“Mom,” April said. “I’ll see you—”
“I’ll arrange for a hotel,” Alexi
said quietly. “You won’t be able to get back into Gwen and Charles’s just yet.
It’s still a crime scene.”
“Thanks,” April said. “I’ll see you
in a few minutes, Mom.”
Alexi nodded to Slate who ended the
call. “Slate, leave us alone.”
February 17, 2020
Dogs of Myth
The
coyote appears often in the tales and traditions of Native Americans—usually as
a very savvy and clever beast. That is why I’ve frequently linked my coyote
shifters to Indians. Coyotes are smaller than wolves but are formidable
opponents and can run up to forty miles an hour.
Coyotes
tend to form strong family groups and both parents care for the young. Coyotes
are a member of the canine family and can be mistaken for one. There are gray
and red wolves it seems. With there being many species of the canine genus,
I’ve done research on legends of mythical dogs and wolves to create my own
mythical shifters.
One
of my favorites myths for canines is the cadejo which I used in Coyote Bound. I
took the parts I liked and created two different wolf forms, both deadly, but
one even more so. That character was Kamari from Getting Nawty With the Coyote.
The canine is a dog of crossroads that kills unsuspecting people at night.
I
liked this idea because of the character I created with Kamari. She’s a hunter,
and FBI agent who’s suffered but kills willingly. She’s almost hard to break
even by the woman who would be her mate.
Other
mythical canines I find fascinating, the hellhound which I used In Submitting
to the Hellhound. I like the idea of this dog in fiction because despite how
vicious it is, it does have a penchant for loyalty to its master or mistress
like a lot of dogs. I made a subtle distinction between the red-eyed hellhound
and the yellow-eyed one. I like the idea of having some contrast when it comes
to fantasy and the dark world it can be.
The
last one is cynogryphon. The cynogryphon is used in Hearts of Fire. This
mythical creature is part wolf and part eagle. I was fascinated by this
combination, and I’m going to dive into that world in the future with some
self-published books. I don’t know if I’ll bring Cyanna back as the main
character, but the focus will include her store in the city.
There
is an entire world of mythical creatures out there to be explored for fantasy
world creation. I’ll definitely be looking back as I work on the sequels to
some of my books including Submitting to the Hellhound. The hounds will be of
focus but so will the healers because they are the story in a way. I mean the
series is called Succubus Heat not Hellhound Heat.
Photo by Ilargian Faus from Pexels
February 14, 2020
Forever Love
Caroline
and Lucky are the last characters up this time. Caroline is still struggling to
find her feet and Lucky is a lawyer who knows what she wants, but she’s not
looking to be hurt by Caroline again. These two are working on a second chance
that could crumble.
Love is sometimes a delicate flower that can bloom with a fragrance that lasts a lifetime or wilt after a time. There is no certainty but these two are giving it a go.
Lucky was still
sifting through the notebook with its notes when her bell chimed announcing
guests. She put the items back into their packet and left it on the table while
she went to the door.
“Hey,” Abrielle
said. “How’s it going?” She held out the bag. “Did you get my message?”
“Thanks. I’ll talk
to you tomorrow.”
“Right,” Abrielle
said, gaze darting to Caroline. “Later, Caroline.”
“Thanks,
Abrielle,” she said giving her a look before moving into Lucky’s apartment.
Lucky closed the door behind her, and Caroline faced her.
“Guestroom?” Lucky
asked.
“It’s probably
best.”
Lucky led her to
the guestroom which was the only room on that side of the condo from what she
could tell.
“Who was it?” Lucky
asked. “That attacked you?”
“He didn’t really
attack me,” Caroline replied and then pushed out a rough sigh. “He was a jerk.”
Lucky faced her after setting her bag down, and Caroline told her what
happened.
“And your parents
think a guy who treats you like that is best for you?” Lucky asked with raised
brows.
She’d love to kick
the guy’s ass and if given the chance she would. No one assaulted her woman and
got away with it.
“I don’t think he
shows them that side of him,” she murmured and ran her hand up Lucky’s side.
Lucky fought the
shudder that rippled through her. Caroline’s touch satisfied her need to touch,
to comfort. Caroline cupped Lucky’s cheek.
“Cari, I hate the
way we left things.”
She nodded. “Me,
too.” Relief flooded Caroline’s face, and Lucky lowered her head to rest her
forehead against Caroline’s.
“Normally, I’d
just suggest we call it good and move on,” Lucky said.
Caroline backed
away from Lucky then. “Aiden said he saw you with someone at lunch.”
“My client. She
was upset, and did he tell you we weren’t alone? My co-counsel was there.”
“He didn’t. He
said you were holding her hand.”
“I was comforting
her,” Lucky said. “She was paying for my services. The least I could do was
assure her I was doing my job.”
“And if she’d
wanted you to do that naked?” Caroline demanded, her storm gray eyes were
filled with fear and anguish, and Lucky didn’t know how to soothe her.
She didn’t do
overemotional. She didn’t like clinging women, and she liked overly aggressive
and possessive ones even less.
But she was in
love with Caroline, so she was willing to tread into this new territory.
“This is always
going to be a point of contention between us, isn’t it?” Lucky asked with a
hint of amusement.
Caroline blinked.
“You think I’m funny?”
“I think you’re
insane,” she retorted. “I admit I’m all about the quick bang at times, but I’m
looking for more than that with you. Why can’t you trust what you see and let
that be enough for now?”
Caroline walked
away from her, putting her bag on the ottoman. “I’m not sure if you’re an
addiction or something real,” she said after a while. “I crave you with every
breath I take, and I wonder if the feeling is mutual.”
“If it wasn’t, I
wouldn’t give a damn about what you thought about me right now,” Lucky told
her. “I’d help you, but I wouldn’t get tangled up in your mess.”
“My mess?”
“Your stalker,”
she said. “I wouldn’t even have you here because you’d just be a needy
distraction, but there is nowhere else I want you to be.”
Caroline faced
her, the look in her eyes one of surprise. “I might learn to trust you, but it
might not stop me from being jealous.”
“I think there’s a
future for us with each other,” Lucky replied.
“Me, too.”
Lucky nodded,
deciding that meant they’d both try. She backed out of the room. “If you need
me, I’ll be in the den.”
Caroline nodded.
“Have you eaten?”
“Yeah. Aiden
ordered Chinese. I think I’ll just take a bath and try to get some sleep.”
“Hey, Cari, did
Graves tell you anything about this message his sister got?”
“No.” She shook
her head. “Do you think it could be the same guy?”
“I’m not sure, but
Jax is already on it. He doesn’t have anything yet.”
“Thanks for
looking out for me,” she said. “You’re a good person and a good girlfriend.”
“One who’d never
cheat on you.” Lucky left her alone, eager to go over some of those papers
tonight.
