Well, here it is, the last chapter of the Blood Moon blog series!
The final siege against Quentin Troy and his army of Omegas has come. Quentin is prepared for it, knowing that holding the new leader of the Council will draw his enemies to their deaths.
But Alec, Skylar, and Helena will not give in without a fight. Each of them has a score to settle with Quentin, and are willing to pay the price for it...
Since this series has been so long running, I wanted to go out with a bang, and include everyone in the final story. A five person POV story was hard, but luckily I was mostly just concerned with writing the end of the character arcs in a big battle. It was a lot of fun, and I think this was a good ending to what has been an interesting challenge to maintain for the last few months.
I don't know what will happen with this series, if I'll ever come back and modify it to sell widely. Maybe, though it would take a lot of work and downtime, which is something I'm currently in zero supply of.
There were huge benefits to writing the Blood Moon series. Not only did I get to play with new characters and write fun action scenes, I got to practice writing serial fiction, which will help immensely when I get back to writing more serial fiction.
I admit there were times when I struggled with this series and the pieces of it, working on so many projects in between and sorting my priorities, but I'm glad it's reached the end. It was a lot of fun, and I hope other readers enjoyed Quentin, Alec, Skylar, Helena, and Damon's adventures as much as I did.
Cheers!
Amy
Showing posts with label short story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label short story. Show all posts
Monday, 8 February 2016
Thursday, 7 January 2016
Blood Moon: Broken Dynasty
I know, I know, it's late again, but being swamped with deadlines at the end of the year and preparing for a while new year of projects kind of messes with the routine. Nonetheless, I got it done! So here you are, the latest chapter in the Blood Moon series!
The mission to rescue the civilians of Black Hawk, Colorado and eliminate Quentin Troy from his brutal siege, has gone horribly wrong. Separated from his father and his strike team, an exhausted Damon Ironwood must struggle forward to locate them and construct a new plan to defeat the sadistic Alpha.
But Damon isn't the only wolf with a plot to dismantle. Quentin Troy knows exactly how to goad his enemies, and use their weaknesses against them. Damon will soon find himself at an inescapable crossroads, with one path that could lead to his death, and another leading to the death of someone he loves...
I've been thinking about this story for a while. It didn't take a lot of time to plan, though I did have to do a fair bit of planning to make sure I had my setting right. Originally, I was going to go with the plan of Damon staying human throughout the full fight, but after the shocking event at the end, I decided that I couldn't just leave him like that. I wanted him to fight Quentin as a wolf, despite the amount of pain and exhaustion he was enduring.
Another change I made was to the amount of energy Damon had. At first, I wanted him to be at full strength so he could fight head-on with Quentin. I would be lying if I said I didn't want Quentin to take more than a hit or two. But then I was realistic (as much as that term can apply to a story about werewolves), and I knew that with the timeline I used in the previous two stories, I couldn't have Damon running around at full speed. He would be exhausted, hunted, too tired to sleep. So that's what I made him. I know that previous stories have ended with him incapacitated, but he hasn't been this exerted before. It was fun to push Damon this far, and it will be even more fun to see what he does when he goes over the edge.
Speaking of, this is going to be the second last Blood Moon story I'll write. I can't see anywhere for the story to go after the next one, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to wrap it up so I could move onto my larger projects. Four full length books and two novellas will certainly eat up a lot of my time, not to mention the series I want to finish and the next one I want to plan, and as fun as it is to write werewolf fights, I need to focus on what will really help my writing career.
So next month will be the longer, but final installment of the Blood Moon series. I hope you enjoyed this one, and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Amy
The mission to rescue the civilians of Black Hawk, Colorado and eliminate Quentin Troy from his brutal siege, has gone horribly wrong. Separated from his father and his strike team, an exhausted Damon Ironwood must struggle forward to locate them and construct a new plan to defeat the sadistic Alpha.
But Damon isn't the only wolf with a plot to dismantle. Quentin Troy knows exactly how to goad his enemies, and use their weaknesses against them. Damon will soon find himself at an inescapable crossroads, with one path that could lead to his death, and another leading to the death of someone he loves...
I've been thinking about this story for a while. It didn't take a lot of time to plan, though I did have to do a fair bit of planning to make sure I had my setting right. Originally, I was going to go with the plan of Damon staying human throughout the full fight, but after the shocking event at the end, I decided that I couldn't just leave him like that. I wanted him to fight Quentin as a wolf, despite the amount of pain and exhaustion he was enduring.
Another change I made was to the amount of energy Damon had. At first, I wanted him to be at full strength so he could fight head-on with Quentin. I would be lying if I said I didn't want Quentin to take more than a hit or two. But then I was realistic (as much as that term can apply to a story about werewolves), and I knew that with the timeline I used in the previous two stories, I couldn't have Damon running around at full speed. He would be exhausted, hunted, too tired to sleep. So that's what I made him. I know that previous stories have ended with him incapacitated, but he hasn't been this exerted before. It was fun to push Damon this far, and it will be even more fun to see what he does when he goes over the edge.
Speaking of, this is going to be the second last Blood Moon story I'll write. I can't see anywhere for the story to go after the next one, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to wrap it up so I could move onto my larger projects. Four full length books and two novellas will certainly eat up a lot of my time, not to mention the series I want to finish and the next one I want to plan, and as fun as it is to write werewolf fights, I need to focus on what will really help my writing career.
So next month will be the longer, but final installment of the Blood Moon series. I hope you enjoyed this one, and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Amy
Thursday, 10 December 2015
Blood Moon: Moonlit Run
Over a week late, but I finally got the next chapter in the Blood Moon series done!
With a shaky alliance formed between the Council and the Vigilias, Helena, Alec, Nate, and Skylar lead a strike force to eliminate Quentin Troy's secondary base of operations, an effort to cut off any attempted retreat he might take.
But the Vigilias and their new allies aren't the only ones taking precautions, and a sudden, unexpected attack will put the truce to the test...
Being sick had me struggling with this one, but I think I came up with some fun action scenes and added a lot to Helena's character. She's definitely grown through the series and is going to be one of the ones I miss the most when the Blood Moon series is over. I think there will only be two more stories after this one, so enjoy them while you can!
Cheers!
Amy
With a shaky alliance formed between the Council and the Vigilias, Helena, Alec, Nate, and Skylar lead a strike force to eliminate Quentin Troy's secondary base of operations, an effort to cut off any attempted retreat he might take.
But the Vigilias and their new allies aren't the only ones taking precautions, and a sudden, unexpected attack will put the truce to the test...
Being sick had me struggling with this one, but I think I came up with some fun action scenes and added a lot to Helena's character. She's definitely grown through the series and is going to be one of the ones I miss the most when the Blood Moon series is over. I think there will only be two more stories after this one, so enjoy them while you can!
Cheers!
Amy
Monday, 2 November 2015
Blood Moon: Heartsick Howl
First of all, I do realize that I missed my review post this week, and that the monthly Blood Moon post is behind schedule. Long story short, it's been a crazy week in my writing life, but I'm getting back into my writing groove, I think. So, without further adieu, here's the next chapter in the Blood Moon series!
After months of being separated and facing their own trials and dangers, Skylar has finally reunited with Damon. Since his duty to the Council requires him to leave to finally stop Quentin Troy, Skylar knows her time with Damon is short again, and is determined to make the most of it before he goes on a mission that will threaten his life.
As the days go by without word of the Council's progress, Skylar begins to fear the worst– that Quentin has discovered the ambush and captured Damon. Or worse. Determined not to lose him again, she turns to her allies to persuade them to begin a rescue mission. But the help of Skylar's friends won't be enough. They're going to need an army to face Quentin Troy, which will force them to make a deal with their enemies...
Compared to the rest of the Blood Moon short stories, there's not a lot of action to this one. I tried to think of a fight scene to come up with, but every excuse I had seemed a little forced. I thought it might make sense to take a break from the fistfights and work on different challenges– such as bringing Skylar and Damon together for the first time in a loooooong time, and to work toward the end of the series.
Which brings me to this point: I don't have a lot more in the Blood Moon series to do. I have around three more shorts to write and then the series will be completely finished. It'll be nice to have it wrapped up after so long, but at the same time, I'll miss it a little, I think. Whether or not I take the series to be independently published is up for debate, but anything could happen.
For now, I hope you enjoyed the story and the breather I finally allowed. I know I certainly did, and even though there weren't any epic throw downs, I had a lot of fun with this story. Leave some comments if you liked what you read!
Amy
After months of being separated and facing their own trials and dangers, Skylar has finally reunited with Damon. Since his duty to the Council requires him to leave to finally stop Quentin Troy, Skylar knows her time with Damon is short again, and is determined to make the most of it before he goes on a mission that will threaten his life.
As the days go by without word of the Council's progress, Skylar begins to fear the worst– that Quentin has discovered the ambush and captured Damon. Or worse. Determined not to lose him again, she turns to her allies to persuade them to begin a rescue mission. But the help of Skylar's friends won't be enough. They're going to need an army to face Quentin Troy, which will force them to make a deal with their enemies...
Compared to the rest of the Blood Moon short stories, there's not a lot of action to this one. I tried to think of a fight scene to come up with, but every excuse I had seemed a little forced. I thought it might make sense to take a break from the fistfights and work on different challenges– such as bringing Skylar and Damon together for the first time in a loooooong time, and to work toward the end of the series.
Which brings me to this point: I don't have a lot more in the Blood Moon series to do. I have around three more shorts to write and then the series will be completely finished. It'll be nice to have it wrapped up after so long, but at the same time, I'll miss it a little, I think. Whether or not I take the series to be independently published is up for debate, but anything could happen.
For now, I hope you enjoyed the story and the breather I finally allowed. I know I certainly did, and even though there weren't any epic throw downs, I had a lot of fun with this story. Leave some comments if you liked what you read!
Amy
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Blood Moon: Divided Loyalties
Time for some more Blood Moon! Because of the sudden alliance between three characters, this story runs a little longer than the others. I really enjoyed writing it, and hope you do to!
Helena Ardelian never thought she would side with the enemy– twice. Not only is she now working with Skylar Evanson, the runaway Omega from Quentin Troy's ruthless pack, Helena is forced to work with Alec Vermont, one of the wolves who attacked her family over a decade ago and did nothing to stop her suffering at Quentin's hands.
But Helena doesn't expect to be followed by her former employers, the Vigilias. When she's confronted and given an ultimatum– give up the wolves or share their fate as a traitor– Helena must make a decision about what's really worth fighting for...
I didn't intend this episode to run as long as it did. But I couldn't stop writing it. I was having too much fun putting Helena's volatile personality against Skylar's shyness and Alec's smart-ass behavior. I didn't run into as many hiccups as I thought I would, and it was fun to put Helena in a really tense situation.
I'll be focusing on big projects for the rest of the year, but I'll still take breaks to write the Blood Moon series. The end is in sight, but it's still a long ways away. Plenty of action to come before the grand finale!
Cheers!
Amy
Helena Ardelian never thought she would side with the enemy– twice. Not only is she now working with Skylar Evanson, the runaway Omega from Quentin Troy's ruthless pack, Helena is forced to work with Alec Vermont, one of the wolves who attacked her family over a decade ago and did nothing to stop her suffering at Quentin's hands.
But Helena doesn't expect to be followed by her former employers, the Vigilias. When she's confronted and given an ultimatum– give up the wolves or share their fate as a traitor– Helena must make a decision about what's really worth fighting for...
I didn't intend this episode to run as long as it did. But I couldn't stop writing it. I was having too much fun putting Helena's volatile personality against Skylar's shyness and Alec's smart-ass behavior. I didn't run into as many hiccups as I thought I would, and it was fun to put Helena in a really tense situation.
I'll be focusing on big projects for the rest of the year, but I'll still take breaks to write the Blood Moon series. The end is in sight, but it's still a long ways away. Plenty of action to come before the grand finale!
Cheers!
Amy
Sunday, 31 May 2015
Blood Moon: Treacherous Howl
Did the last episode of Blood Moon leave you craving more? I hope so. Don't worry, your wish is about to be granted. And if you think this short will ease up and slow down... then you haven't been reading the series very long.
Being heartbroken at leaving the man she loves, Skylar's concentration has been difficult to find. She needs it more than ever now that she's spying on the Council's greatest threat– Quentin Troy. When she goes with him and his Omega army to gain more followers, Skylar begins to realize that Quentin and his most loyal followers are onto her actions. And when the meet becomes a deadly trap involving dangerous Vigilias hunters, Skylar must make a choice to either fight with her enemy and hold her cover, or escape with her life...
For the longest time, I had no idea what I was going to do with Skylar's story. The more I started writing though, the stronger my choice of idea became. I love how she continues to grow into a tough wolf, even for an Omega. I wasn't going to leave the story without a wild action scene, though even I have to admit that I wasn't expecting the final battle to be as intense or as vicious as it was. Not that I'm complaining– I thought Skylar kicked some serious ass.
With so much on my mind for projects, I'll leave the Blood Moon series alone for a little while. In the meantime, remember that you can read more episodes of the series and other free reads on my blog, as well as snippets on 8Sunday, and Teaser Tuesdays on Facebook. Enjoy!
Amy
Being heartbroken at leaving the man she loves, Skylar's concentration has been difficult to find. She needs it more than ever now that she's spying on the Council's greatest threat– Quentin Troy. When she goes with him and his Omega army to gain more followers, Skylar begins to realize that Quentin and his most loyal followers are onto her actions. And when the meet becomes a deadly trap involving dangerous Vigilias hunters, Skylar must make a choice to either fight with her enemy and hold her cover, or escape with her life...
For the longest time, I had no idea what I was going to do with Skylar's story. The more I started writing though, the stronger my choice of idea became. I love how she continues to grow into a tough wolf, even for an Omega. I wasn't going to leave the story without a wild action scene, though even I have to admit that I wasn't expecting the final battle to be as intense or as vicious as it was. Not that I'm complaining– I thought Skylar kicked some serious ass.
With so much on my mind for projects, I'll leave the Blood Moon series alone for a little while. In the meantime, remember that you can read more episodes of the series and other free reads on my blog, as well as snippets on 8Sunday, and Teaser Tuesdays on Facebook. Enjoy!
Amy
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Blood Moon: Vengeful Bite
Here we go again! The next chapter in the Blood Moon
saga is ready to read! I'm so glad I had a stellar writing week last week, since I wasn't sure I would get this installment done. Thankfully, Quentin is the main character in this one, and I tend to write him quickly since he spends a lot of his time breaking things. Or people.
Speaking of, I'll post a warning for this chapter: It's a lot more violent than usual. None of my stories are without battles, but this one is pretty ruthless. I hope this doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the story, but I thought the warning should be posted. Now...
Quentin Troy's plans continue to unfold. He's building an army, captured two Council memebers, and has his sights set on the Omega wolf that his enemy loves. But after one of his soldiers return from a simple battle, Quentin is forced to accelrate his plans to eliminate another Council member. But he isn't going to complain about that. No matter how much innocent blood is spilled, Quentin will make his enemies pay...
- - -
- - -
This is one of the few stories I've written where I've actually cringed at some points. I knew I was setting Quentin up to be a monster, that I wanted him to be vicious and uncontrollable, but I might have done too good of a job. I have a lot of plans for Quentin and his future in the series, especially now that I've hinted that he might be letting the monsters out from the shadows. It's always fun to write the villain, to let them take the reigns and enjoy the bloody ride.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the other ones, and would love some feedback on the series as it stands right now!
Thanks for stopping by!
Amy
Speaking of, I'll post a warning for this chapter: It's a lot more violent than usual. None of my stories are without battles, but this one is pretty ruthless. I hope this doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the story, but I thought the warning should be posted. Now...
Quentin Troy's plans continue to unfold. He's building an army, captured two Council memebers, and has his sights set on the Omega wolf that his enemy loves. But after one of his soldiers return from a simple battle, Quentin is forced to accelrate his plans to eliminate another Council member. But he isn't going to complain about that. No matter how much innocent blood is spilled, Quentin will make his enemies pay...
- - -
- - -
This is one of the few stories I've written where I've actually cringed at some points. I knew I was setting Quentin up to be a monster, that I wanted him to be vicious and uncontrollable, but I might have done too good of a job. I have a lot of plans for Quentin and his future in the series, especially now that I've hinted that he might be letting the monsters out from the shadows. It's always fun to write the villain, to let them take the reigns and enjoy the bloody ride.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the other ones, and would love some feedback on the series as it stands right now!
Thanks for stopping by!
Amy
Saturday, 28 February 2015
Blood Moon: Wild Hearts
It's the end of the month, and that means that it's time to read about werewolves! Kind of. This installment of Blood Moon doesn't have many actual wolves in it, but that doesn't mean the action isn't intense, or that the characters don't act like their other selves. Enjoy!
Ever since the woman he loved disappeared with his most ruthless enemy, Damon Ironwood has been struggling to sustain his duties as the leader of the Council. To prove his obedience– and to make matters worse– Damon is tasked with finding and capturing his best friend, Alec Vermont. But during a visit with Alec's family, Damon is attacked by dangerous men looking to kidnap the very people he wants to protect...
- - -
- - -
Now, I'm not what you would call a political minded girl. Personally, I hate them. Lots of talk with nothing to really say. Having said that, monster politics? Those I can get into. Talk about turmoil. If you don't succeed in your mission, your so-called allies will tear a strip from your hide– literally. That's why I like writing Damon as much as I like writing all the other characters in the series. Being the only son of the Council's leader, he's burdened with choices he doesn't want to make, head and heart pulled in opposite directions. But being political minded doesn't make him fragile. As you can see if you read the short story, it's quite the opposite. As Damon said himself, " Our pack hadn’t maintained its legacy on the Council by being weak."
So that's this month's installment! As you can probably tell, I have a lot of fun writing these shorts. It's good practice for continuity, and what horror author doesn't love writing about rampaging monsters fighting in and out of the full moon? Can't wait to get to the next story. Leave some comments and share your thoughts!
Cheers!
Amy
Ever since the woman he loved disappeared with his most ruthless enemy, Damon Ironwood has been struggling to sustain his duties as the leader of the Council. To prove his obedience– and to make matters worse– Damon is tasked with finding and capturing his best friend, Alec Vermont. But during a visit with Alec's family, Damon is attacked by dangerous men looking to kidnap the very people he wants to protect...
- - -
- - -
Now, I'm not what you would call a political minded girl. Personally, I hate them. Lots of talk with nothing to really say. Having said that, monster politics? Those I can get into. Talk about turmoil. If you don't succeed in your mission, your so-called allies will tear a strip from your hide– literally. That's why I like writing Damon as much as I like writing all the other characters in the series. Being the only son of the Council's leader, he's burdened with choices he doesn't want to make, head and heart pulled in opposite directions. But being political minded doesn't make him fragile. As you can see if you read the short story, it's quite the opposite. As Damon said himself, " Our pack hadn’t maintained its legacy on the Council by being weak."
So that's this month's installment! As you can probably tell, I have a lot of fun writing these shorts. It's good practice for continuity, and what horror author doesn't love writing about rampaging monsters fighting in and out of the full moon? Can't wait to get to the next story. Leave some comments and share your thoughts!
Cheers!
Amy
Saturday, 31 January 2015
Blood Moon: Honor Code
It's the end of the month, and that means it's time for the next Blood Moon installment! If you've been following my 8Sunday posts, you may have read the opening teasers here or here. Well, I'm pleased to report that the final product is now ready to read!
Helena Ardelian is the best hunter in the Vigilias, a secret society determined to protect humanity from the deadly lyncanthrope threat. But hunts aren't the only thing Helena is doing with her time. Looking to avenge her family's ruthless murder, Helena's path crosses the widow of two recently murdered Council members. Blind with grief, the widow is looking for someone to pay, and Helena is right in her sights...
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- - -
I love writing Helena. She's a strong female lead that refuses to be held down or considered incapable. That obviously makes her stubborn and as seen in the short, foolish at some times. But in many ways she's like a lone wolf herself– fierce and wild and utterly dangerous. However, she's beginning to understand that not all those she hunts are evil. Creating the parallel between her and the twin girls was one of my favorite scenes, and I think that Helena will become stronger for it later in the series.
Hope you enjoyed the post, and more are on the way! Remember that comments are love! Have a great weekend, everyone!
Amy
Helena Ardelian is the best hunter in the Vigilias, a secret society determined to protect humanity from the deadly lyncanthrope threat. But hunts aren't the only thing Helena is doing with her time. Looking to avenge her family's ruthless murder, Helena's path crosses the widow of two recently murdered Council members. Blind with grief, the widow is looking for someone to pay, and Helena is right in her sights...
- - -
- - -
I love writing Helena. She's a strong female lead that refuses to be held down or considered incapable. That obviously makes her stubborn and as seen in the short, foolish at some times. But in many ways she's like a lone wolf herself– fierce and wild and utterly dangerous. However, she's beginning to understand that not all those she hunts are evil. Creating the parallel between her and the twin girls was one of my favorite scenes, and I think that Helena will become stronger for it later in the series.
Hope you enjoyed the post, and more are on the way! Remember that comments are love! Have a great weekend, everyone!
Amy
Thursday, 1 January 2015
Blood Moon: Cornered Hound
Now that NaNoWriMo and Path of the Horseman is going through the editing phase, it's time to get back to my monthly blog series: Blood Moon. You'll be able to catch up with the series on my blog, but if you've been patiently waiting and are eager for the next story, here's Skylar's...
Becoming a monster hasn't been easy for Skylar. The Council sees her as a risk, she can't control her deadly impulses, and the man she's falling for is keeping secrets for her. Forced into house arrest under the full moon, Skylar fully expects her night to pass by without incident. But other monsters are walking the streets, and they're closer than Skylar realizes. If she's going to save her friends and the man she loves, Skylar will have to embrace her new nature...
Becoming a monster hasn't been easy for Skylar. The Council sees her as a risk, she can't control her deadly impulses, and the man she's falling for is keeping secrets for her. Forced into house arrest under the full moon, Skylar fully expects her night to pass by without incident. But other monsters are walking the streets, and they're closer than Skylar realizes. If she's going to save her friends and the man she loves, Skylar will have to embrace her new nature...
- - -
- - -
Now that I've virtually mapped out the rest of the series, I can honestly say that I'm excited for Skylar's progress. It's fun to make her grow and test her new limits, to have her surprise herself when she's fighting for her life. Putting Skylar with Quentin, the monster who helped make her what she is, will be a wild adventure that I can't wait to write.
Hope you enjoy the story! I love feedback, so feel free to leave a comment below!
Amy
Friday, 31 October 2014
Blood Moon: Liar's Trail
Alec is back! And as you might expect, he's in big trouble...
Alec Vermont has been framed for a mass murder by his mortal enemy. To continue on his hunt for revenge, Alec knows he has to run from the Council's trackers. But he doesn't get as far as he would like, and is soon taken prisoner by a pack whose leader whose intentions for Alec are more dangerous than he imagined...
Alec Vermont has been framed for a mass murder by his mortal enemy. To continue on his hunt for revenge, Alec knows he has to run from the Council's trackers. But he doesn't get as far as he would like, and is soon taken prisoner by a pack whose leader whose intentions for Alec are more dangerous than he imagined...
- - -
- - -
I played with a lot of ideas about what Alec's predicament would be in regards to his enemies. I was going to go with revenge, but that just seemed a little too typical. Alec getting betrayed is pretty common fare. He's fighting against a common enemy, but no one will see him as an ally. He's the definition of a loner, which makes him one of my favorite characters to write in the Blood Moon series.
Creating the side effects of the wolfsbane was interesting, though the research was uncomfortable. Who knew that such a harmless looking plant could do so much damage? After seeing what it could do, I'm definitely going to use it in the future stories.
That being said, the next Blood Moon short won't be out until at least December. With NaNo starting tomorrow, I haven't been focusing on the blog series as much as I have my full length novel. I love writing this series, but priorities, right?
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this short story, and that you double-check the werewolves you see tonight. Some of them might not be wearing costumes.
Cheers!
Amy
Tuesday, 30 September 2014
Blood Moon: Wolf's Den
I admit it– I've been wanting to bring Quentin back for a while now. He's a monster, but he's so much fun to write! He takes the bloody center stage in the newest episode of my Blood Moon series...
Quentin Troy's revenge has begun. He's tracked down his prey and is ready to strike. But Quentin isn't just looking for the blood of his enemies. He's looking for a secret, one that could destroy the Council in exactly the way Quentin wants...
Quentin Troy's revenge has begun. He's tracked down his prey and is ready to strike. But Quentin isn't just looking for the blood of his enemies. He's looking for a secret, one that could destroy the Council in exactly the way Quentin wants...
- - -
- - -
The idea of the River was something I read online. It wasn't the most conventional thing I'd ever read, but I thought it would be a unique twist. After all, werewolves are mystical creatures, and if everyone could become one after being bitten, they wouldn't be so rare, would they? It was something different, and I can't wait to see where this story line goes.
As I said before, I love writing Quentin. His past is a mystery even to me, and I'm always finding out new pieces of it to entice readers with. He becomes more interesting and complicated as the series goes on, and I can't wait to start his next story. Hope you enjoyed reading!
Amy
Sunday, 31 August 2014
Blood Moon: False Chase
Blood Moon 5 is now completed and ready to read! This was yet another story in the series that started off rocky until I made some tweaks and gave it a new angle. I hope you enjoy it!
Damon's new pupil, Skylar, is driving him crazy. He isn't surprised when she wanders off, but Skylar has gotten herself into more trouble than Damon realizes. To rescue her, he'll have to reveal his other side. But doing so will create consequences, and Damon isn't the only one with a nasty surprise planned...
Damon's new pupil, Skylar, is driving him crazy. He isn't surprised when she wanders off, but Skylar has gotten herself into more trouble than Damon realizes. To rescue her, he'll have to reveal his other side. But doing so will create consequences, and Damon isn't the only one with a nasty surprise planned...
- - -
- - -
Originally, I planned to open the story with Damon showing Skylar how to hunt. Then it occurred to me that Skylar is now a powerful predator. She doesn't need to be shown how to hunt. She knows. What I want her to lack is control, and I think that by the end it was pretty clear how little control she has.
Damon is the epitome of a calm wolf. More or less. Yes, he gets angry, but he maintains the control that Skylar obscenely lacks, and he knows that trying to teach her is going to be difficult. For me, Omega wolves are at the bottom of the chain and therefore nearly as wild as a natural wolf. I have a lot of plans for Damon and Skylar, and think their story is going to be really unique and complicated.
Hope you enjoyed the story!
Amy
Thursday, 31 July 2014
Blood Moon: Hunter's Prey
The next installment in my blog series. I struggled with an idea for this one, and finally came up with something that I truly enjoyed. I hope you like it too!
Officer Helena Barnes can't sit back and do nothing when she hears a man crying for help in the middle of the woods, though she didn't expect the trap lying in wait for her. But her captors don't know who she is, and they could be in for a brutal surprise, if Helena can survive long enough to turn the tables...
Officer Helena Barnes can't sit back and do nothing when she hears a man crying for help in the middle of the woods, though she didn't expect the trap lying in wait for her. But her captors don't know who she is, and they could be in for a brutal surprise, if Helena can survive long enough to turn the tables...
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Like I said, I struggled with this one at first. The original idea was going to be someone stealing a body from the morgue, but that idea and the way I was writing just didn't do anything for me. The more I wrote, the less I liked. I wanted to surprise people and leave an air of mystery for Helena's next adventure.
I'm so glad I rewrote it, because this might be my favorite Blood Moon story to date. It was so much fun writing Helena, easing her into more suspicious territory for other readers, and coming up with a twist that I hoped shocked everyone at least a little bit.
The next story in the Blood Moon series is completed and might need a few more edits, but for now, I hope you enjoy, share, and leave comments about Hunters Prey. Motivate me to do more!
Amy
Thursday, 17 July 2014
Toil, Temptation And Trouble Blog Hop, And Contests Galore!
Now that Mocha Memoirs Press has released four new urban fantasy shorts, including my very own Call From The Grave, fellow author Carole Ann Moleti
and I decided on a blog hop to talk about our recent work and how much it means to us. You can find my half of the tour here on Carole's blog, and anyone who leaves a comment on both blogs will receive a prize! More details on that are below, but first I'll welcome and introduce Carole.
Welcome, Carole! Tell us a little about yourself.
I live and work as a nurse-midwife in New York City, thus explaining my fascination with all things paranormal, urban fantasy, and space opera. My nonfiction focuses on health care, politics, and women's issues. But my first love is writing science fiction and fantasy because walking through walls is less painful than running into them.
My work has appeared in a variety of literary and speculative fiction venues. Short stories set in the world of my novels are featured in several of the Ten Tales anthologies. The Widow's Walk, a Cape Cod paranormal romance, will be published by Soulmate Press in September 2014.
Excerpts of my memoir, Someday I'm Going to Write a Book: Diary of an Urban Missionary range from the sweet and inspirational in A Quilt of Holidays to the edgy and irreverent in Not Your Mother's Book: On Being a Woman.
What do you write?
Much of my day involves academic non fiction, which is not much fun to write or read. Creative non fiction, my memoirs, and essays are ways to explore important themes for me—women's health, politics, and environmental and ecological issues--without footnotes, in a way readers can grasp the universal elements in the situation. Writing fantasy is a way to explore themes in a new way, and urban fantasy is perfectly suited to what I observe during my everyday life on the streets and in the subways of New York City.
What inspires you?
Most of my fiction has a basis in real life—and I certainly have seen my share of real life horror riding ambulances and working in the ERs of hospitals in The Bronx, Harlem, and Washington Heights. I've been out on the streets and in the botánicas both working and doing ethnographic research, immersing myself in normal, everyday activities and places to absorb the essence of the experience. I'll leave you to figure out what's real in my stories and what's not.
Can you give us some background on The Ultimate Test?
The Ultimate Test was the first horror story I've ever written. I recall having a long discussion about it with my long term critique partner supernatural horror writer Andrew Richardson, who gave me a tremendous amount of support and encouragement. I scared myself by embracing all those dark thoughts. Since then, I've dabbled on the dark side with The Dhampir's Kiss in Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires. And my novel in progress Boulevard of Bad Spells and Broken Dreams is a very dark urban fantasy heavily based on Santeria. Mishmash Magick in Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft and Dance With the Devil in Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance are short excerpts of Boulevard adapted to a short story format.
How about an excerpt from The Ultimate Test?
Caution: This excerpt is mild but the story might be disturbing to sensitive readers.
The sweet, floral essence of magic swirled through the botánica. Candles flickered in front of a riot of statuary.
"Muy buenas, mi amor." A shriveled woman hoisted herself from a chair in the corner and hobbled over.
"Hola, Señora." Aramis handed over a list of the herbs she needed.
"¿Tu eres santera?" The woman's gnarled finger traced down the list. Her eyes narrowed to read the tight English script.
"No. I study herbology. Las plantas."
"One who use these do more than study, mi amor." The lines in the crone's face deepened with a broad smile. "Una bruja, tu estas."
"Not only witches use herbs." If she associated with anyone who practiced The Craft, they would all be subject to discipline. Memories of wise women being brutalized and dragged from their homes tickled her brain.
"No ten miedo, mi amor. I no tell. Las santeras help las brujas. Somos hermanas. Sisters." She gestured Aramis into a chair and lowered herself into a seat.
Her attention focused on a bowl of cloudy water beneath the icons. She picked up Aramis' hands rubbed the palms. "Vengeance. You seek vengeance."
"Yes." Aramis followed as the woman wandered around the shop collecting several packets and tiny brown bottles.
A pencil scratched as the santera totaled the order on a scrap of paper. "To aid you, burn this candle until it's done, then return to me so I can finish it and give you further instructions. $75.00."
Aramis took the black jar. The wax pillar inside swam in murky liquid that bubbled at her touch. She left a $100.00 bill on the counter.
Talk about mysterious! I'm eager to get a copy right now!
Onto the goodies: You can enter the MMP contest for tons of great swag, but Carole has been gracious enough to offer even more. If you leave a comment both here and on Carole's blog, you have the chance to win a free download of Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft (featuring her urban fantasy Mishmash Magick) or Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance (featuring Dance with the Devil). We'll announce the winners at the end of this week. You can find Carole on her Facebook, Twitter, Blog, and Author Page.
Thanks for joining us, Carole!
Amy
Welcome, Carole! Tell us a little about yourself.
I live and work as a nurse-midwife in New York City, thus explaining my fascination with all things paranormal, urban fantasy, and space opera. My nonfiction focuses on health care, politics, and women's issues. But my first love is writing science fiction and fantasy because walking through walls is less painful than running into them.
My work has appeared in a variety of literary and speculative fiction venues. Short stories set in the world of my novels are featured in several of the Ten Tales anthologies. The Widow's Walk, a Cape Cod paranormal romance, will be published by Soulmate Press in September 2014.
Excerpts of my memoir, Someday I'm Going to Write a Book: Diary of an Urban Missionary range from the sweet and inspirational in A Quilt of Holidays to the edgy and irreverent in Not Your Mother's Book: On Being a Woman.
What do you write?
Much of my day involves academic non fiction, which is not much fun to write or read. Creative non fiction, my memoirs, and essays are ways to explore important themes for me—women's health, politics, and environmental and ecological issues--without footnotes, in a way readers can grasp the universal elements in the situation. Writing fantasy is a way to explore themes in a new way, and urban fantasy is perfectly suited to what I observe during my everyday life on the streets and in the subways of New York City.
What inspires you?
Most of my fiction has a basis in real life—and I certainly have seen my share of real life horror riding ambulances and working in the ERs of hospitals in The Bronx, Harlem, and Washington Heights. I've been out on the streets and in the botánicas both working and doing ethnographic research, immersing myself in normal, everyday activities and places to absorb the essence of the experience. I'll leave you to figure out what's real in my stories and what's not.
Can you give us some background on The Ultimate Test?
The Ultimate Test was the first horror story I've ever written. I recall having a long discussion about it with my long term critique partner supernatural horror writer Andrew Richardson, who gave me a tremendous amount of support and encouragement. I scared myself by embracing all those dark thoughts. Since then, I've dabbled on the dark side with The Dhampir's Kiss in Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires. And my novel in progress Boulevard of Bad Spells and Broken Dreams is a very dark urban fantasy heavily based on Santeria. Mishmash Magick in Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft and Dance With the Devil in Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance are short excerpts of Boulevard adapted to a short story format.
How about an excerpt from The Ultimate Test?
Caution: This excerpt is mild but the story might be disturbing to sensitive readers.
The sweet, floral essence of magic swirled through the botánica. Candles flickered in front of a riot of statuary.
"Muy buenas, mi amor." A shriveled woman hoisted herself from a chair in the corner and hobbled over.
"Hola, Señora." Aramis handed over a list of the herbs she needed.
"¿Tu eres santera?" The woman's gnarled finger traced down the list. Her eyes narrowed to read the tight English script.
"No. I study herbology. Las plantas."
"One who use these do more than study, mi amor." The lines in the crone's face deepened with a broad smile. "Una bruja, tu estas."
"Not only witches use herbs." If she associated with anyone who practiced The Craft, they would all be subject to discipline. Memories of wise women being brutalized and dragged from their homes tickled her brain.
"No ten miedo, mi amor. I no tell. Las santeras help las brujas. Somos hermanas. Sisters." She gestured Aramis into a chair and lowered herself into a seat.
Her attention focused on a bowl of cloudy water beneath the icons. She picked up Aramis' hands rubbed the palms. "Vengeance. You seek vengeance."
"Yes." Aramis followed as the woman wandered around the shop collecting several packets and tiny brown bottles.
A pencil scratched as the santera totaled the order on a scrap of paper. "To aid you, burn this candle until it's done, then return to me so I can finish it and give you further instructions. $75.00."
Aramis took the black jar. The wax pillar inside swam in murky liquid that bubbled at her touch. She left a $100.00 bill on the counter.
Talk about mysterious! I'm eager to get a copy right now!
Onto the goodies: You can enter the MMP contest for tons of great swag, but Carole has been gracious enough to offer even more. If you leave a comment both here and on Carole's blog, you have the chance to win a free download of Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft (featuring her urban fantasy Mishmash Magick) or Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance (featuring Dance with the Devil). We'll announce the winners at the end of this week. You can find Carole on her Facebook, Twitter, Blog, and Author Page.
Thanks for joining us, Carole!
Amy
Friday, 4 July 2014
Available Now: Call From The Grave
Here it is! My very first short story is now available to purchase! I'm super proud to present Call From The Grave!
You may purchase a copy from the Mocha Memoir site or from Amazon. It will be in digital format only, but those of you like me with a Kobo, all you need to do is buy the Kindle version and convert it to an epub or use the Kindle reading app. I would love feedback, so please feel free to leave comments and reviews on the blog, the Amazon site, or my Facebook page. Good reviews help writers more than you know, so please spread the word! I hope you enjoy Call From The Grave!
Amy
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| Gotta say that I love this cover! |
Amy
Monday, 30 June 2014
Blood Moon: New Moon
Don't worry– it has nothing to do with Twilight...
Skylar longs for longs for adventure, excitement, and possibly a date with her co-worker Damon. But after a car accident that leads her to meeting a dangerous looking stranger, Skylar notices a change in Damon's behavior. She's determined to find out what is bothering him, but she isn't prepared for the consequences, and soon her adventure becomes a nightmare.
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- - -
At first, I struggled with this story. I didn't have a clear concept of what I was going to do, how I was going to make it matter in the end. But I worked through it, edited and thought, and eventually came up with a story that surprised me. I had a lot of fun writing Skylar's adventure, especially her big change at the end. It will be a lot of fun to continue making her grow as a character, and put her in confusing situations regarding the Council and the werewolf society. Particularly since like me, Skylar hates politics. Hope you enjoyed reading this!
Amy
Skylar longs for longs for adventure, excitement, and possibly a date with her co-worker Damon. But after a car accident that leads her to meeting a dangerous looking stranger, Skylar notices a change in Damon's behavior. She's determined to find out what is bothering him, but she isn't prepared for the consequences, and soon her adventure becomes a nightmare.
- - -
- - -
At first, I struggled with this story. I didn't have a clear concept of what I was going to do, how I was going to make it matter in the end. But I worked through it, edited and thought, and eventually came up with a story that surprised me. I had a lot of fun writing Skylar's adventure, especially her big change at the end. It will be a lot of fun to continue making her grow as a character, and put her in confusing situations regarding the Council and the werewolf society. Particularly since like me, Skylar hates politics. Hope you enjoyed reading this!
Amy
Saturday, 31 May 2014
Blood Moon: Lone Wolf
Here's the second story in my blog series, Blood Moon.
After the events of Gut Instinct, a stranger comes to town to understand what happened. The stranger has a connection to the murderer, and decides to stick around to see if he can find him, if he isn't hunted first...
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- - -
One of the cool challenges about writing this series is that I'm trying to keep each story readable alone, but interconnecting it to other stories. So when I say Quentin Troy is back, I'm hoping that old readers will wonder by Alec is looking for him, and newer readers will simply consider him a bad man who should be avoided at all costs. Alec is one of my favorite anti-heroes, so twisted between good and evil since he can't deny that he wanted to be like Quentin when he was younger. Alec isn't as horrible as Quentin, but he's no saint. I really look forward to crossing him with other characters, especially since none of them hold him in high regard.
I hope you enjoyed this new chapter in Blood Moon as much as I did writing it. Following up Quentin's story was a little tricky at first, and I think this one will be a challenge to follow up on as well, but what's writing without a challenge?
Amy
After the events of Gut Instinct, a stranger comes to town to understand what happened. The stranger has a connection to the murderer, and decides to stick around to see if he can find him, if he isn't hunted first...
- - -
- - -
One of the cool challenges about writing this series is that I'm trying to keep each story readable alone, but interconnecting it to other stories. So when I say Quentin Troy is back, I'm hoping that old readers will wonder by Alec is looking for him, and newer readers will simply consider him a bad man who should be avoided at all costs. Alec is one of my favorite anti-heroes, so twisted between good and evil since he can't deny that he wanted to be like Quentin when he was younger. Alec isn't as horrible as Quentin, but he's no saint. I really look forward to crossing him with other characters, especially since none of them hold him in high regard.
I hope you enjoyed this new chapter in Blood Moon as much as I did writing it. Following up Quentin's story was a little tricky at first, and I think this one will be a challenge to follow up on as well, but what's writing without a challenge?
Amy
Thursday, 1 May 2014
Bloon Moon: Gut Instinct
Here it is, as promised, the first short story in my brand new blog series, Blood Moon.
Quentin Troy is a dangerous man walking away from his past by looking for three things: Some drinks, a beautiful woman, and a good fight. He has no problem taking what he wants how he wants, but when the woman he has his eye on brings up a man from his past, Quentin might have gotten more than he bargained for...
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- - -
I've always wanted to a short story from this kind of perspective. I can't even begin to tell you how much fun it was to write as the bad guy, and Quentin is one of my favorite bad guys. As soon as I started his story, I couldn't stop. It was a blast!
So, I hoped you enjoyed the first in the Blood Moon series. There will be a lot more on the way, so check back soon!
Cheers!
Amy
Quentin Troy is a dangerous man walking away from his past by looking for three things: Some drinks, a beautiful woman, and a good fight. He has no problem taking what he wants how he wants, but when the woman he has his eye on brings up a man from his past, Quentin might have gotten more than he bargained for...
- - -
- - -
I've always wanted to a short story from this kind of perspective. I can't even begin to tell you how much fun it was to write as the bad guy, and Quentin is one of my favorite bad guys. As soon as I started his story, I couldn't stop. It was a blast!
So, I hoped you enjoyed the first in the Blood Moon series. There will be a lot more on the way, so check back soon!
Cheers!
Amy
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Dark Wings and Black Hearts
Unpredictability is something I love and hate. I love that it keeps me going with a book, but I hate it because it usually means if one of my favorite characters is dead, they aren't coming back. Sigh... But the death of one of my favorite characters has never stopped me from reading a series, and I enjoy the Black Wings series by Christina Henry too much to mope about it.
The series revolves around Madeline Black, a former agent of Death, who was once responsible for transporting dead souls to the afterlife. If anyone's been following my Agents of Limbo short stories, let me clear two things up: I came up with Agents of Limbo waaaay before I even found this series, and the escorting souls to the afterlife is where the comparisons between Maddy and Jace and Leon end.
Because poor Maddy literally deals with the Devil. Yup, she's Lucifer's granddaughter. If you think you have family drama, you have nothing on that poor gal. Not only does Maddy still have her Agent powers despite leaving the company, but she's becoming increasingly aware of the powers from her lineage to Lucifer. And the more Maddy uses her powers for 'good', the darker her actions become. And when the Agency sends the ruthless Retrievers to kill her, Maddy is unwillingly transported to another realm by her "it's complicated" partner Nathaniel. But as with all things Maddy Black, the realm she is sent to is nowhere near as safe as she wants it to be.
One of the things I love about Maddy Black, Black Heart, and the series in general is that you watch Maddy's descent into Lucifer's shadow. Try as she might to avoid his influence, the more she convinces herself what she's doing is right, the less right it becomes to outside eyes. She's a very interesting, complicated character and while she is a hero, she definitely has a dark side.
Another thing I love is the introduction of the remainder of Lucifer's brothers. They're unconventional and creative, and the universe than Christina Henry has built is a terrific, creative, and in depth one that peaks your curiosity. There are great surprises, some heartfelt twists, and really, really cool magic.
For those who haven't been following the series, it might be a hard to jump into this book. I mean, you can begin at Black Heartbut why would you do that but not all the events will have as much gravity as they would if you'd read from the beginning.
I always have fun reading this series, and it's clear that Christina Henry is a creative mind who loves exploring the possibilities with the supernatural. Definitely a recommended read for anyone who loves urban fantasy, badass heroines who take crap from no one, and intense superpowers. If that doesn't sound like a fun read, I don't know what does.
Amy
The series revolves around Madeline Black, a former agent of Death, who was once responsible for transporting dead souls to the afterlife. If anyone's been following my Agents of Limbo short stories, let me clear two things up: I came up with Agents of Limbo waaaay before I even found this series, and the escorting souls to the afterlife is where the comparisons between Maddy and Jace and Leon end.
Because poor Maddy literally deals with the Devil. Yup, she's Lucifer's granddaughter. If you think you have family drama, you have nothing on that poor gal. Not only does Maddy still have her Agent powers despite leaving the company, but she's becoming increasingly aware of the powers from her lineage to Lucifer. And the more Maddy uses her powers for 'good', the darker her actions become. And when the Agency sends the ruthless Retrievers to kill her, Maddy is unwillingly transported to another realm by her "it's complicated" partner Nathaniel. But as with all things Maddy Black, the realm she is sent to is nowhere near as safe as she wants it to be.
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| Gotta love action packed covers like this! |
One of the things I love about Maddy Black, Black Heart, and the series in general is that you watch Maddy's descent into Lucifer's shadow. Try as she might to avoid his influence, the more she convinces herself what she's doing is right, the less right it becomes to outside eyes. She's a very interesting, complicated character and while she is a hero, she definitely has a dark side.
Another thing I love is the introduction of the remainder of Lucifer's brothers. They're unconventional and creative, and the universe than Christina Henry has built is a terrific, creative, and in depth one that peaks your curiosity. There are great surprises, some heartfelt twists, and really, really cool magic.
For those who haven't been following the series, it might be a hard to jump into this book. I mean, you can begin at Black Heart
I always have fun reading this series, and it's clear that Christina Henry is a creative mind who loves exploring the possibilities with the supernatural. Definitely a recommended read for anyone who loves urban fantasy, badass heroines who take crap from no one, and intense superpowers. If that doesn't sound like a fun read, I don't know what does.
Amy
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