Updates Are In Fashion...

What with one thing and another, I've been neglecting my blog for a while, and that needs to be rectified. Some of my friends have been posting updates, so I decided I needed to do that as well - I have a lot on my writing plate at the moment.

Two stories are being written at the same time, which is testing my brain cell to its limit.

Caravaggio's Angel, a romance set in Malta. Paul Calleja inherits an old painting and a series of artworks from his beloved Great-uncle Larry, an accomplished artist in his own right. He flies to Valletta and meets the man who featured in many of those paintings. Mystery surrounds Angelo and his connection with Larry Calleja, but before Paul can fully explore that mystery and his burgeoning relationship with Angelo, Paul's older brother shows up to stir up trouble.

Then there's my new Melusine's Cats series, which I'll be self-publishing. These were initially inspired by a couple of photos I'd taken a few years ago, and recently a plot bunny sank its fangs into me. So there will be at least seven stories in the series. Greymalkin has already been started, and will be followed in no particular order by Tabitha, Pyewacket, Fancy, Magpie, Darcy and Selene.

 

Neither pets nor familiars, Melusine's cats are her agents among the humans who live along her river. From its source on Exmoor to where it runs into the sea, the river Lynn is hers, and the lives of the people dwelling nearby are her playground - for good or ill. The covers are the work of the Very Talented Meredith Russell.

 

I'm also involved in another writing project with Terri Beckett, with whom I wrote Sunfire, and its not-yet- released sequel Sunfire And Shadow (once Tribute Trail and its sequel War Trail), and  Nettleflower. Both Sunfire And Shadow, and Nettleflower will be rereleased some when this year or the next.

Later in the year I'll be writing the third part of the Triskellion trilogy with RJ Scott and Meredith Russell.

In a few months the copyrights to the short story Never Too Late revert to me, and I'll be editing it for self-publishing soon after.

Then I'll be working on Undercover Blues, a mystery romance set in London during the 1930s, commissioned by Manifold Press.

 

And last but not least, my story, Carlyle's Crossing, will be ready for pre-order from Total-E-Bound on August 2nd 2013.

Carlyle's Crossing - The Cover Art!

I've just received the cover for Carlyle's Crossing, my m/m paranormal. I know the release date is a long way off, but I just had to share.


Carlyle's Crossing

To be released by Total-E-Bound

Preorder: 2nd August 2012
Prerelease: 16th August 2013
General Release: 13th September 2013 

Jubal is the last Carlyle, and lives near Seattle, far away from his Abenaki ancestors. A letter from a lawyer draws him and his best friend, Sal, to Vermont and the town of Whitewater. Soon they are right in the middle of the old conflict that drove Jubal's parents away just before his birth. 

Whitewater is suffering and not just from the economic downturn. Unleashed by one man's obsession to call back the spirit of his dead wife, and by the well-meaning but flawed actions of another, dark forces are bringing depression and hopelessness. 

Jubal's father had neither the talent nor the wish to attempt the task of driving back the incursion, but Jubal knows he has to try. He must find a way to reverse the process before the malaise spreads. But he has no knowledge, no training, just instinct - and Sal. Always Sal, who is rapidly becoming far more than a friend with benefits. The dangers they face are insidious, and more than their lives and sanity are at risk.

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SUNFIRE - A ReRelease

 Many moons ago, I co-wrote a two-part [so far] blockbuster of high fantasy with my  friend, Terri Beckett. Its original incarnation was titled Tribute Trail, and it was published first by Speculation Press, then by Cerridwen Press. Now the copyrights have reverted to us, we've changed the title to SUNFIRE, and self-published it.

Buy at All Romance eBooks HERE

Buy at Amazon HERE 

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Trained all his life to serve the will of the Great Goddess, Kherin is her Chosen, her warrior, mage and priest. The prophecy at his birth told of great things. Betrayed by one he trusted and taken far from his homeland, he is given as part of an annual tribute to a barbarian chief in payment for border protection

With enemies on the borders of his land threatening invasion and enemies within the tribe working against him, Rythian has no time for the whims of deities. He fights his god’s intent every step of the way. But Kherin is at his side, training him in his new god-given powers.

Two very different men, united to be forged in the fires of betrayal and conflict to be living weapons in a greater conflict. They learn trust, friendship and love so they can become weapons for their gods to wield.

Excerpt

Chapter One

The Goddess weaves a tapestry, and in it are all the colors and all the threads that have ever been and will ever be. Here and there in the design shine brighter strands outlining Her will, while more such filaments wait in Her lap to be incorporated. She winds one onto Her shuttle and it glistens, moon-silver and bright…

From the rise where he waited, his bay mare shifting nervously under him, Kherin could see the remains of the village. An acrid smoke from the burned out buildings drifted on the warm wind, biting at the back of his throat. The raiders had done their worst with it and its inhabitants two days ago, which was when word had come to him that the so-called Free People had not turned from their outlaw path. They were now threatening the borders of the Khassan Empire. As Khassan's Warlord and Commander, Kherin had summoned his Khori, his elite guard and the pick of the nation's army. They had ridden hard to the desert fringes, but by the time they arrived, there was nothing to be done for the people of the village save avenge them.

The rules of warfare temporarily leashed the Khori's wild desire for blood. The enemy must be warned, must be given the chance to leave in peace and go back to their arid homeland, to keep that peace and trouble Khassan no more. Kherin had sent a messenger with the terms at dawn.

Automatically Kherin soothed his horse as she tossed her head and snatched at the bit. It came to him suddenly, as such a Seeing always did, that something was about to happen—something that shadowed the sun and chilled the sweat that trickled down his spine. More fatalities? Defeat? The Khori did not acknowledge defeat. While he had led them, they had known only victories. He was the Chosen and Consort of the Goddess, ever under the shelter of Her wings. He reminded himself of this, yet still the eerie feeling persisted. Whatever was coming, it smelled as rank as the drifting smoke, forerunner of death and betrayal.

The banners above his head rippled lazily in the warm wind. He could hear the chink and creak of mail and leather behind him. His two captains, Tarvik at his left and Jeztin at his right, glanced at him, perhaps sensing his unease. Jeztin, friend of his boyhood, brother in all but blood, would know what was in his mind, as he always had. It was a shared thing that had saved both their lives over the years. Silently he sent a prayer to the Goddess. Let me be mistaken. Let this not be a true Seeing. 

It was a prayer he already knew was fruitless. Two riders were approaching—no, two horses. One with a rider, and one a led horse, wild with terror of what it carried. Just out of bowshot, the rider pulled up, and the other horse galloped crazily up the hill. Kherin found the horse's spooked mind with his own, calmed it enough to let Jeztin ride to where it stood, head down and trembling, its burden a shapeless mass strapped to the saddle, leaking blood. 

Kherin and Rythian's story continues in the sequel, Sunfire and Shadows.

Please note - this book has non-explicit m/f, m/m, f/f. Its Heat Rating is low.

I'm Prejudiced And Proud Of It

Link to RJ Scott's Master Blog HERE

If you'd like to be in a draw to win all three of my Fool vampire stories in Mobi or PDF, leave a comment on my blog along with your contact email, and I'll make the draw on May 1st.

When I first started working as a civilian support staffer at my local Police Divisional Headquarters way back in the 80s, for the first time prejudice was aimed at me. I was a woman, and I was a civilian. I wasn't entirely sure which was lowest on the scale in the eyes of the predominantly testosterone-fueled police force back then. If I'd been a policewoman and unmarried, it would have been automatically assumed I was a lesbian. Anyone who saw the British TV shows Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes will know what I'm talking about.

But times change, and surprisingly quickly. Ten years later, those particular attitudes had disappeared, and at least two lesbians - one a sergeant, the other a Chief Inspector - had gained justified promotions and the respect of their peers. Skin colour was no longer a problem - as long as they were part of the police community. But eventually that changed for the better as well.

There were still isolated incidents, of course, and when some of us met them, we challenged them head-on and would not give ground. By the time I retired from my job, the up and coming generation of police officers were a hell of a lot more accepting of differences. BUT there is still a long way to go.

The next time I had prejudice aimed at me personally was at a small fannish convention centred on a handful of TV shows. Now, I'm no spring chicken - as old as dirt, as a friend says about herself - but I'd been writing in a couple of [now more or less defunct] fandoms for a long time, and I'd won awards. I was the oldest person there by many a year. The youngest ones gave me the cold shoulder, the questioning stares, the sniggers - why was this old bat here? - until they were told my then pen-name. They visibly struggled to relate my stories to the old bat in the room with them.

I still encounter prejudice here at home. My family Do Not Approve of my choice of writing genre.

If you've read this far, you'll know my experiences are laughably mild compared to the hatred and vitriol aimed at others. It is wrong. It is cruel, blind and destructive, and rooted in fear. In this 21st century the human race should have grown out of its petty tribalism that condemns anything other than the perceived norm, be it colour, creed, gender, physical or mental differences. It hasn't, and prejudice should no longer be tolerated.

So I am standing up to announce I'm prejudiced against prejudice. And I'm prejudiced against bigotry. And you know what? I am proud of it.

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Now for the advertising section!

On March 19th 2013 Starfall reached the end of its two year contract with Silver Publishing, and all rights have reverted to me - so I have self-published it under the auspices of my Kouros Books label, along with a brand new cover from the talented Meredith Russell!

Starfall is available from Amazon, All Romance e-Books and Smashwords, and because it is a re-release, I'm offering it for a couple of bucks LESS than the 1st edition's selling price.

Buy from All Romance e-Books HERE

Buy from Amazon HERE

~ * ~

Ash is looking for his sister. He refuses to accept she's dead and he's come halfway across the galaxy to the lakes of Vermont in search of her.

Faye and Conn are on the trail of an underage runaway who has no intention of going back to Florida with them.

They all meet up in Amassol, Vermont. When Ash and Conn encounter each other, the attraction is immediate and almost overwhelming.  It's also impossible. Ash's mission and Conn's assignment, as well as rival street gangs, make sure of that.

STARFALL - Re-Released!

On March 19th 2013 Starfall reached the end of its two year contract with Silver Publishing, and all rights have reverted to me - so I have self-published it under the auspices of my Kouros Books label, along with a brand new cover from the talented Meredith Russell!

Starfall is available from Amazon, All Romance e-Books and Smashwords, and because it is a re-release, I'm offering it for a couple of bucks LESS than the 1st edition's selling price.

Buy from All Romance e-Books HERE

Buy from Amazon HERE

~ * ~

Ash is looking for his sister. He refuses to accept she's dead and he's come halfway across the galaxy to the lakes of Vermont in search of her.

Faye and Conn are on the trail of an underage runaway who has no intention of going back to Florida with them.

They all meet up in Amassol, Vermont. When Ash and Conn encounter each other, the attraction is immediate and almost overwhelming.  It's also impossible. Ash's mission and Conn's assignment, as well as rival street gangs, make sure of that.

Excerpt 

"What's suddenly bitten your ass?" Rose demanded, thumping another beer in front of him.

Ash shrugged. "Just remembered something I was supposed to do," he lied. He could feel the man's presence scratching at the edges of his awareness, and indisputably there. No, that was impossible. He was imagining it. For a moment Ash lost track of what Rose was saying. Of course it was his imagination. This wasn't a Fourth Consortium planet. It was a Class One Prohibited World, poised on the edge of space-flight and with no knowledge at all of the species and politics that lay beyond their solar system. There was no way he would be drawn in—not for casual sex and never by the deep-in-the-gut awareness of a true connection. Rose's knuckles tapping none too lightly on his forehead brought him back with a jolt.

"Earth to Ash," she drawled, amused. "For the second time I'm asking, Angi isn't here yet. Is she going to be late tonight?"

 "Uh, probably. She's gone to the discount warehouse in Montpelier with Emma. The Lodge was running out of basics ahead of schedule, she said. I told your dad at lunchtime," he added.

 Rose scowled. "Oh, great. So of course the drunken bum forgot to tell me. Fuck!" She made an obvious attempt to sweeten her expression. "Hey, want to earn a few extra bucks? I booked the Raiders for tonight and it's gonna be busy. They're a popular band around here."

 "Behind the bar or bouncing?"

 "How about both? Not that I'm expecting trouble, but you never know these days."

 "Okay." Ash glanced at his watch. He wouldn't be able to search another segment of the lake that night, but he could do with the extra cash. "I have to finish up at the Lodge first. Nine o'clock?"

"Great. The band should be setting up then. Be here by eight-thirty and I'll throw in a burger on the house before you start. Dad's promised to be sober this evening."

 "Deal." He smiled and drained his beer in long swallows. Being a carbon-based life form on a planet that shared the same fundamental chemistry as his own species had its advantages. There wasn't much in the way of food and drink he had to avoid.

 Ash took another quick look at the couple in the corner on his way to the door. The woman was watching him with unhidden interest. He knew most of the people he'd met here thought of him as handsome—and that had taken some getting used to, after years of his family and friends teasing him about his height, his heavy-set body, and coarse features. Then her companion looked up and for the first time since he'd landed on this planet, Ash's shades provided no barrier. The man locked eyes with him and Ash swore under his breath. A slow fire began in his blood. Yes, there was no possibility he was imagining it. He had never experienced the sensation before but it was hard-wired into his psyche. Every Vyan knew what to expect when they met their true-bond. The connection was real and unless he was very careful, it would only strengthen from now on. At least, it would as far as he, Ash, was concerned. What the Douryan felt—if anything—was another matter entirely. Either way, it meant he was effectively shafted.

 Ash found he'd come to a halt, transfixed. The smolder abruptly flared toward a conflagration and his flesh was stirring, hardening. No. With another curse he strode for the door, letting it slam shut behind him.
  

~~~ * ~~~

FOOL'S ERRAND - NOW ON AMAZON!

Fool's Errand, the first in my vampire trilogy, Fool's Odyssey, is now available on Amazon.

Buy Link HERE

2011 Rainbow Awards

Xavi is a sometime hooker, sometime gigolo, working the rich pickings of wealthy tourists and bored socialites of Barcelona in 2042. His current meal ticket is Sophia Matas, the wife of a prominent politician. Then Sophia is assassinated and he’s the only witness. Within hours, Xavi finds himself in protective custody and in a safe house. His guardian is Andreas, a vampire liaising with the Barcelona police.

Andreas needs to exert control - of himself, his abilities, and his relationships. Now he must keep Xavi safe. If he can keep Xavi in one place long enough. They embark on an affair that will define who and what they are, played out in an deadly dance of kill-or-be-killed danger.

Also up on Amazon are: 

Ghost Station by Adam Fitzroy, received an Honorable Mention in the 2012 Rainbow Awards - Buy Link HERE  

It’s 1976, the Cold War is still at its coldest, and retired agent John Dashwood is persuaded to return to supervise one last mission. However nothing at Ghost Station is quite the way he remembers it and everybody seems to have something to hide – including his two valued colleagues, Rick Wentworth and Harry Tilney, and his enigmatic boss Sir Charles Grandison. When operational necessity requires Dashwood to send Rick and Harry into a dangerous situation, the boundaries between friend and enemy begin to blur and he’s left isolated and wondering which of his so-called allies he can really trust.

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Solemn Contract by Morgan Cheshire, placed in two categories in the prestigious Rainbow Awards in 2011 - Buy Link HERE

Connecticut, 1720: In an attempt to give his family financial security, school master Jem Bradley hires himself out as an indentured servant – and thus begins an odyssey which will take him to the small settlement of Kennet and a burgeoning friendship with enigmatic blacksmith Will Middleton. Trouble is never far away, however, and when Jem is accused of committing a bloody murder his future begins to look very bleak indeed… 

~ * ~ 

SEA CHANGE - NOW ON AMAZON!

Are you fed up with the Winter Blues? All that snow and ice and rain? Would you like to check out a story of growing romance in a tropical paradise? Then  SEA CHANGE is the book for you!

from Manifold Press - now available on Amazon HERE


Injured on duty and no longer fit for active service, soon-to-be-ex-Coast Guard Bran Kaulana is drifting, filling his days helping out at the Wai Ola Rescue Center, one of Honolulu's wildlife charities. He's working with the new veterinary, Steve Lucas, a man drawn to O'ahu by his fascination with dolphins.


As their friendship slowly deepens, the two men are caught up in the mystery of injured seals and dolphins, a ruthless gang of smugglers and a not so dormant undersea lava vent.


Excerpt

Chapter One

The hoist whined, swinging the canvas-wrapped body out over the catamaran's stern. Luckily the sea-swell was slight, and Bran braced his feet against the rear of the diving shelf, flattened his hands on the wet fabric and locked his muscles. The background ache in his thigh and hip became a hotter pain, but he ignored it. Right now he couldn't afford the distraction. The last thing they needed was for this to go wrong, and with fading light and unfamiliar equipment that was just what could happen. The loaded sling swayed with the sea's motion and he gritted his teeth as the inert weight threatened to shove him back.

"Keep her headed into the waves!" he yelled over his shoulder.

"I'm trying!" Anna shouted back, and the catamaran wallowed for a few moments while the girl juggled the controls. Wave crests glowed phosphorescent in the dusk, shimmering away from the twin prows as the cat turned once more into the wind.

A convulsion rippled through the powerful form trapped in the canvas. Tension thrummed under Bran's hands and he swore. "Shit, he's coming out of it!" Matt was suddenly at his side, helping to keep the sling from swinging in over the deck. "Lower away!" It dropped a couple of feet, nearly dragging the two men off their feet. "More!" Bran ordered, and then gave a final call. "Release!" The hook snapped open, the sling unfolded and dumped its now wide awake cargo into the water. Vin grabbed their belts to stop them falling after it.

Vin's yodeling whoop would have stampeded cattle in his native Texas. "One down," he said. "Two to go. Then we party. God, I can taste that kalua pig now!"

Bran didn't answer. Out here, half an hour off O'ahu's shore, learning the foibles of the catamaran he'd collected only a few hours ago, he felt alive. Ashore, it was as if he was living a half-life. But he didn't give himself a chance to brood on it. There were two more Monk seals to return to the sea, and the tranquilizer clock was counting down.

The rest of the operation went smoothly. The last seal disappeared under the waves and Bran took over the wheel, leaving the rest of his team to relax in the stern. He turned the Sun Dancer towards the island, only half-listening to the jubilant conversation going on behind him. Ahead were the sparkling lights of Honolulu and Waikiki, and Bran was sure he could smell the tropical perfume from the gardens and hillsides. It threaded through the ozone, and he drew it in through nose and mouth--it tasted green, vibrant, and the pleasant buzz of a successful mission was intensified.

"I'm calling first shower," Anna announced. "Vin can wash my back."

"Fine," Bran said over his shoulder. "You want to go next, Matt?" Facilities at the Wai Ola Rescue Center were pretty basic, and he was in no hurry.

"Sure. I'll give you a hand putting the slings out to dry while the lovebirds go and play."

"As long as they don't play too long, or there won't be any food left for Vin." Bran smiled.

"No sweat." Matt chuckled. "I'll just flush the head. A blast of cold water will do the trick."

There was a brief scuffle and a shriek from Anna as she tried unsuccessfully to tip Matt into the water. Since he was a foot taller than her five-three, she failed. Nor would Vin help. He just pointed out that throwing a Lieutenant Commander overboard was not the way a Junior Lieutenant got ahead in the US Coast Guard. Matt's promotion was new enough to still be the cause of ragging among his friends.

Bran let the banter wash over him, concentrating on the sea and the steady beat of the powerful engines driving them toward the shore. In another instance of sheer irony, his own promotion to the same rank had come through while he was still in the hospital, and it was a bittersweet achievement. The Coast Guard wasn't going to be his life for much longer.

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