Category Archives: Betwixt and Between

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ The Day I Die

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Greetings and welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors! The rains came this week, washing away the smoke and bringing back the soggy, gray Pacific Northwest that I love. Fires are still raging, but what a relief it’s been to get a good dousing, which conveniently leads to my new snippet from Death By Starlight, in which Alistair and Zeke near the end of their successful but possibly deadly mermaid hunt.

***

Alistair put both hands on his heart. Summoning an impressive amount of magic, the shaman stood and appeared to grow younger and taller. “I want to be with you in the sea. I want to explore the wonders of your world. I want to be your devoted companion and love you until the day I die.”

“That last bit can be arranged!” Mellosa laughed, a guttural, soppy noise. Rising again, she tipped the boat, and when she released it, sent it rocking wildly side to side. Zeke grabbed at Alistair to stop him from going headfirst into the drink. Mellosa dove under the waves, and her massive tail lifted out of the water, then crashed down beside them, sending a huge wave curling over them. Drenched, Zeke was glad he’d thought to protect them from the frigid chill of the water but realized he’d made no plan on how to return to land if Mellosa swamped the boat.

***

Edge of Night 2: Death by Starlight

In Betwixt and Between, Ian and Zeke fought a battle against the queen of the dark realm in order to be together. Now, when they think they might settle into as normal a life as elves living among humans might be able to expect, a new enemy threatens to tear them apart. While Zeke helps the shaman Alistair in his hunt for an elusive mermaid, Ian is called to confront a wicked nymph preying on tourists along Seattle’s waterfront. Zeke and Ian soon discover that the defeated Queen Ysolde has spread her evil into the sea realms, and danger lurks beneath every wave, but it is too late to stop an escalating series of confrontations that lead to disappearances, death and the possible end of light in this world.

As Ysolde plots revenge and a mysterious prince seeks to win Ian for himself, the ancient war between light and dark sweeps Ian and Zeke into its maelstrom of hate, testing their trust of each other to the utmost.

***

“I love this author’s imagination and skill, from the magical, emotional, and erotic nuances of the romantic pair, the details of the underground world of the svarta, the remote and glacial world of the liosa, and the characters that support or thwart them. Highly recommended!” ~ Velvet Panic

Amazon

Currently on sale for $3.74 at  Loose ID

Books2Read (nifty link that will show you all the places you can purchase the ebook)

Betwixt and Between: Edge of Night Book 1 is available at these retailers:  Amazon   Kobo   Barnes & Noble  Books2Read

***

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com

 

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Who’s the Elf?

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Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors.  I’ve been sharing from my latest release Death by Starlight, an m/m urban fantasy.  I’ve got a few more scenes to go until I reach the end of the current chapter, then it’s on to the new shiny thing! Which is very, very shiny. But I promise I won’t leave you hanging, at least not too much. Dark elf Zeke and Alistair the shaman have succeeded in luring Mellosa, a rather large and intimidating mermaid, to Alistair’s boat.

***

Mellosa pulled herself higher out of the water, exposing small, flat breasts much better for streaking aerodynamically through the water than the romanticized versions of myth. The boat rocked, dipping at an alarming angle. If she wanted to, she could have them both in the water in a flash. Mindful of this, Zeke cast a warming cloak around himself and Alistair.

“Who’s the elf?” Mellosa demanded. “He made this?” She lofted the blue agate accusingly.

“Just a friend of a friend who owed me a favor. I needed to talk to you and didn’t know how else to go about it. Mellosa, I’ve loved you for half a century.”

***

Edge of Night 2: Death by Starlight

In Betwixt and Between, Ian and Zeke fought a battle against the queen of the dark realm in order to be together. Now, when they think they might settle into as normal a life as elves living among humans might be able to expect, a new enemy threatens to tear them apart. While Zeke helps the shaman Alistair in his hunt for an elusive mermaid, Ian is called to confront a wicked nymph preying on tourists along Seattle’s waterfront. Zeke and Ian soon discover that the defeated Queen Ysolde has spread her evil into the sea realms, and danger lurks beneath every wave, but it is too late to stop an escalating series of confrontations that lead to disappearances, death and the possible end of light in this world.

As Ysolde plots revenge and a mysterious prince seeks to win Ian for himself, the ancient war between light and dark sweeps Ian and Zeke into its maelstrom of hate, testing their trust of each other to the utmost.

***

“I love this author’s imagination and skill, from the magical, emotional, and erotic nuances of the romantic pair, the details of the underground world of the svarta, the remote and glacial world of the liosa, and the characters that support or thwart them. Highly recommended!” ~ Velvet Panic

Amazon

Currently on sale for $3.74 at  Loose ID

Books2Read (nifty link that will show you all the places you can purchase the ebook)

Betwixt and Between: Edge of Night Book 1 is available at these retailers:  Amazon   Kobo   Barnes & Noble  Books2Read

***

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Mermaid Psychology

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14

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!  Well, it’s two days to the release of Death by Starlight and I’m super excited. I had so much fun writing  this novel and as I read through it searching for excerpts to share, I can’t help giggling and dreaming up new magical encounters for Ian, Zeke and their pals to endure.  Book 3, here I come!

In this snippet, Zeke and Alistair are out in the Salish Sea around the San Juan Islands. Zeke is helping Alistair fish for the love of his life, Mellosa the Possibly Murderous Mermaid. Zeke has crafted a mermaid lure from a blue agate, which he just tossed over the side of their boat. (Ysolde is the evil queen of the svarta, recently deposed)

***

“How is it you know so much about mermaid psychology?” Alistair asked, eyes narrowing.

“When Ysolde first sent me into the other realms in search of light energy, I encountered a rather interesting merman and made all the same stupid mistakes human males usually make when it comes to creatures of the sea. Barely escaped with my life.” Zeke smiled at the memory. That had been an affair to remember.

“We need to get drunk together some day and have a nice long chat,” Alistair said.

“Assuming you survive your current folly.”

Alistair cackled and fumbled for another of his wretched cigarettes. Zeke leaned over the side of the boat, elbows on the wet gunwale, and watched the glowing blue stone sink into the depths. It left a faint silvery trail, illuminating the surrounding water.

***

Edge of Night 2: Death by Starlight  Release date July 18, 2017

Ian and Zeke fought a battle against the queen of the dark realm in order to be together, but just when they think they might settle into as normal a life as elves living among humans might be able to expect, a new enemy threatens to tear them apart. While Zeke helps the shaman Alistair in his hunt for an elusive mermaid, Ian is called to confront a wicked nymph preying on tourists along Seattle’s waterfront. Zeke and Ian soon discover that the defeated Queen Ysolde has spread her evil into the sea realms, and danger lurks beneath every wave, but it is too late to stop an escalating series of confrontations that lead to disappearances, death and the possible end of light in this world.

As Ysolde plots revenge and a mysterious prince seeks to win Ian for himself, the ancient war between light and dark sweeps Ian and Zeke into its maelstrom of hate, testing their trust of each other to the utmost.

AD_EON1_BetwixtandBetween_cover large

Edge of Night: Book 1

Betwixt and Between: Book 1 is available at these retailers:  Amazon   Kobo   Barnes & Noble  Books2Read

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Love Magic

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12

Greetings fellow writers and readers.  It’s time for another round of Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop where a bunch of really awesome writers share excerpts from their published works or works-in-progress.  I’m very excited this week because Death by Starlight, the sequel to Betwixt and Between, will launch on July 18, just ten days away!

I missed a few weeks of WWW, but the good news is I was able to visit the area where Zeke and Alistair go mermaid hunting. Didn’t actually get to the right patch of water, but I was on San Juan Island, which is just north of where the adventure takes place.  Here’s a nice shot to get us in the mood.

***

Alistair turned off the motor, and instead of rising and falling the boat began to rock side to side, riding the waves, the tide pushing them none too gently toward land.

Mermaids loved lighthouses—the lonelier the better.

Zeke dug into his coat pocket and removed a large blue agate. Any shiny bit of mineral would do, but a stone that had tumbled around in the ocean for millennia had added appeal. Zeke had spent an hour weaving the mermaid lure and anchoring it to the porous structure of the rock. He suspected his recent proposal to Ian had strengthened his love magic, something he’d never excelled at in the past. Seduction, yes, he was a master at that, but true devotion eluded him, until now. He observed the powerful glowing stone in his palm and wondered if he was doing Alistair any favors.

Mermaids were very romantic by nature. They often killed their loved ones in a jealous rage and then pined for centuries.

***

Edge of Night 2: Death by Starlight    Release date July 18!

Ian and Zeke fought a battle against the queen of the dark realm in order to be together, but just when they think they might settle into as normal a life as elves living among humans might be able to expect, a new enemy threatens to tear them apart. While Zeke helps the shaman Alistair in his hunt for an elusive mermaid, Ian is called to confront a wicked nymph preying on tourists along Seattle’s waterfront. Zeke and Ian soon discover that the defeated Queen Ysolde has spread her evil into the sea realms, and danger lurks beneath every wave, but it is too late to stop an escalating series of confrontations that lead to disappearances, death and the possible end of light in this world.

As Ysolde plots revenge and a mysterious prince seeks to win Ian for himself, the ancient war between light and dark sweeps Ian and Zeke into its maelstrom of hate, testing their trust of each other to the utmost.

AD_EON1_BetwixtandBetween_cover large

Edge of Night: Book 1

Betwixt and Between: Book 1 is available at these retailers:  Amazon   Kobo   Barnes & Noble  Books2Read

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Nymph Hunting

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16

Welcome to another round of Weekend Writing Warriors.  It’s June, so in Oregon that means beautiful sunny days interrupted by freakish monster hail storms accompanied by terrifying computer wonk-outs followed by rainbows and plague toads.  Okay, might be exaggerating slightly but it was one of those classic weird days.  And yet here I am getting my post up anyway. Yeah for me.  I’m continuing to share from my upcoming release, Death by Starlight, Book 2 in the Edge of Night series.  Last time our intrepid hero Ian walked into a garbage can, drawing the attention of unsavory types lurking beneath the viaduct on Seattle’s waterfront.

***

Thankfully Ian and Dijeree reached the car before the gang decided they were worth messing with. They threw their stuff in the cramped back seat and climbed in. The lurkers faded away.

“Let’s get you home. You won’t be good for anything until you hook up with Zeke.” Dijeree fired up the engine, and the headlights beamed across the mostly empty parking area. A green woman wrapped in a gauzy shift stood in front of them. The nymph they’d been hunting had come out to play. She lifted a graceful arm and flipped them off. Then she vanished in a swirl of green and silver mist.

***

Edge of Night 2: Death by Starlight    Release date July 18!

Ian and Zeke fought a battle against the queen of the dark realm in order to be together, but just when they think they might settle into as normal a life as elves living among humans might be able to expect, a new enemy threatens to tear them apart. While Zeke helps the shaman Alistair in his hunt for an elusive mermaid, Ian is called to confront a wicked nymph preying on tourists along Seattle’s waterfront. Zeke and Ian soon discover that the defeated Queen Ysolde has spread her evil into the sea realms, and danger lurks beneath every wave, but it is too late to stop an escalating series of confrontations that lead to disappearances, death and the possible end of light in this world.

As Ysolde plots revenge and a mysterious prince seeks to win Ian for himself, the ancient war between light and dark sweeps Ian and Zeke into its maelstrom of hate, testing their trust of each other to the utmost.

AD_EON1_BetwixtandBetween_cover large

Edge of Night: Book 1

Betwixt and Between: Book 1 is available at these retailers:  Amazon   Kobo   Barnes & Noble  Books2Read

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Nefarious

by

14

Hello and Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors.  So, it’s June already, the weather is lovely, the flowers are going crazy and it’s only six weeks until the release of my new m/m fantasy, Death by Starlight.  I’ve had a long dry stretch between releases, and I’m hoping this marks a turning point in what has been a…challenging…year.  The snippet I’m sharing this week picks up right after last week, when Dijeree suggested that Ian could use a sort of opposite mood light to beam dark energy at him while his dark elf lover Zeke is away.

***

“That’s not an entirely bad idea.” Already, with Zeke’s energy coursing into him, Ian felt less uptight. The crippling worry that had been building ever since Zeke left lightened ever so slightly, like mist burning away at the first hint of dawn. As fear retreated, anger crept into its place. Damn inconsiderate svarta.

Ian tried to form a more substantial link, to find out what was happening, but still, Zeke wouldn’t respond. The tiny piece of Zeke that resided in Ian’s heart and never truly went away, like a speck of smoldering ember, flared and warmed Ian from the inside out. Not seeing what was before him, he walked straight into a garbage can. The resulting clang and clatter echoed off the cement bridge above them and drew the attention of some nefarious types lurking between buildings, the tips of their cigarettes glowing in the murky shadows. There were more creatures than nymphs and fairies on the waterfront to be concerned with… humans were every bit as dangerous.

***

Edge of Night 2: Death by Starlight    Release date July 18!

Ian and Zeke fought a battle against the queen of the dark realm in order to be together, but just when they think they might settle into as normal a life as elves living among humans might be able to expect, a new enemy threatens to tear them apart. While Zeke helps the shaman Alistair in his hunt for an elusive mermaid, Ian is called to confront a wicked nymph preying on tourists along Seattle’s waterfront. Zeke and Ian soon discover that the defeated Queen Ysolde has spread her evil into the sea realms, and danger lurks beneath every wave, but it is too late to stop an escalating series of confrontations that lead to disappearances, death and the possible end of light in this world.

As Ysolde plots revenge and a mysterious prince seeks to win Ian for himself, the ancient war between light and dark sweeps Ian and Zeke into its maelstrom of hate, testing their trust of each other to the utmost.

AD_EON1_BetwixtandBetween_cover large

Edge of Night: Book 1

Betwixt and Between: Book 1 is available at these retailers:  Amazon   Kobo   Barnes & Noble  Books2Read

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com