I have some advice for you:
Don’t try to edit a novel, attend RT Booklovers Convention, and do your taxes all in the same week.
If you do, make sure to maintain your sense of humor and relax.
We are tickled pink to report that we have sold Emerald Fire to Torquere Press. Even though we’re neck deep in editing, as well as finishing the sequel to Burning Bright, we thought we’d share a blurb with you. We hope you’re as excited to see Emerald Fire come out as we are!
Pampered companion or tough adventurer? The harsh desert world of Persis developed its own customs in the years without galactic contact. The Keeps developed complex methods of dealing with the environment and now, Keepers are cherished as caregivers and helpmeets. Emerald Keeper Teeka is no exception. Graduating at the top of his year, Teeka is prepared to take his first Contract with Senior Hunter Brant.
When Brant is killed while out on Stake, Teeka is stranded, surrounded by strangers. When it comes to light that Brant may have been murdered, Teeka wonders who he can trust. A dark and moody Hunter steps forward with an offer of partnership and protection. Teeka wonders what motivates the scarred and solitary Senior Hunter Quill. When Quill admits that he is Brant’s heir, Teeka worries that his attraction for the quiet Hunter is misplaced.
Both have hidden motives for agreeing, and both are suspicious of each other. But the Great Valley will force them to work together and build a trust born out of necessity and survival. Will Teeka be proven wrong and put himself in harm’s way, miles from any help? Or will Quill help him discover the real killer before he can strike again?
Between the dangers of the harsh desert and the malice of a hidden enemy, Teeka and Quill relationship seems doomed before it can grow and flourish. Only by believing in each other, will they be able to find the truth.
Emerald Fire will be out at the end of May, so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, Happy Spring!
Please join us at Sweet ‘N Sexy Divas for our first-ever interview! (It was lots of fun to participate in their blog, and to be interviewed!)
BURNING BRIGHT is out this Tuesday! Launch partay in da howse!!
It’s two days to go until Release Day (technically only one, since it’s so late on Sunday…). I have so many mixed feelings! I feel excited, a little scared, and don’t know what to expect. Excited because it’s our first book, scared that I won’t do ‘it’ right (not sure what ‘it’ is, but the worry is still there), and I don’t know what to expect for Tuesday. Will I feel different once the book is out and available?
It feels strange to have a book published. It doesn’t feel like something is done, and over; it feels like the work has only just begun. We are hard at work finishing the sequel, as well as working on a couple other projects and researching publishers for them. We’ve learned so much over the past year and a half and aren’t the same writers we were when we started. We are closer as friends, inside each others’ heads a lot more than we were even when writing BURNING BRIGHT. I’ve met some amazing folks in the business, launched a non-profit, and really think of myself as an author now instead of only a writer.
It’s been an amazing journey and we are now waiting to watch our little baby make its first steps into the world. Cigar and champagne, anyone?
I’m blogging over at the Samhain Publishing blog, “When In Doubt, Knit.” I’m super excited; it’s my first post for our publisher’s blog. I hope you enjoy!
Greetings, readers! We are grateful to report that Rachel and I are featured on the Nine Naughty Novelists blog, where they kindly allowed us to write a guest post. We decided to talk about writing m/m romance as women, and hope that you enjoy! Visit their blog, here.
The Taurus Twins are visiting July 19 through July 27, and going through the Author Review Copy (ARC) of BURNING BRIGHT. While that delays the next chapter of NEW WORLD ORDER, we are so excited to report that…
WE HAVE A PUBLICATION DATE!
BURNING BRIGHT is available for pre-order now, and will be out Tuesday, 09/13/2011. We’ve made it through the editing process and can see the finish line. Once the author review copy is turned in, it’s a matter of biting off all our nails in a show of calm anticipation.
Riight.
~squee~
Wow. We have great news! The amazing Delilah Devlin has graciously given us space on her blog for a guest post, WHEN BETA RELATIONSHIPS BECOME SERIOUS; or “How To Use a Catcher’s Mitt”. Please stop by and let her know you’re visiting.
While you’re there, check out her new releases and her awesome backlist (over 80 titles and counting); and if you’re a writer, notice that she has two open anthology calls.
Thanks for the support, Delilah! We really appreciate it!
Their guide, Sandeep Singh, met them in the hallway of the hospital. “Did you find what you needed?” His voice had a faint British-Indian accent.
“Yes,” Belinda told him. “I released the spell keeping him in a coma.”
Sandeep’s dark brown eyes, so dark as to be indistinguishable from black onyx, bored into hers. “You have power.”
“Yes.” She held his gaze, but waited. He seemed to expect her to do something, so she obliged by doing nothing.
His eyes narrowed. “You aren’t what I expected.”
“What, ten feet tall and fire-breathing?” Jon snapped from next to them. “The dancing’s getting old, Sergeant.”
Sandeep transferred his gaze to her partner. Jon outstripped him by several inches of height and at least fifty pounds of solid muscle, but Sandeep looked as though he wanted to test him in a boxing ring or something.
“Gentlemen,” Belinda soothed. “Let’s not fight. We’re on the same side.”
“Are we?” Sandeep asked.
“Yes!” Belinda frowned. “What would make you ask that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. The first time in living memory that a Gary comes out of Madison, she’s after a dangerous artifact. The only victim in Milwaukee is taken by a sorcerer and left in a magically-induced coma that you just happen to remove when you get what you need from the victim.”
Jon stepped closer, menacing suddenly. “I don’t like your tone, or the implication.”
Sandeep swallowed but resisted stepping back. “I don’t like your partner in my city, Mr. Taylor.”
“It’s Detective, Sergeant, and she can go anywhere she damn well pleases. You’ve got something to accuse her of, then do it. Otherwise, back the fuck down before you and I have a problem.”
Belinda eyed her partner in shock. He defended her with no self-consciousness, radiating sincere outrage. She had to admit, it felt good.
Of course, if they got into a real fight this far from Madison…
“Please. Let’s not fight. Let’s share tea, and have no lies between us.” Belinda stepped closer. “Please.”
Sandeep flicked his gaze to hers and back and then nodded. “Fine.”
Of course, finding tea in this hospital wasn’t exactly what one would call a simple matter. They ended up in the cafeteria, which did have a large selection of tea packets. She grimaced and picked out a Blackberry leaf tea and went to pay.
“Allow me,” Sandeep put in, handing the cashier a twenty. “You are in my town.”
She hoped she only imagined the slight emphasis on ‘my,’ but Jon’s glower let her know she probably wasn’t the only one to do so.
Sandeep led the way to a table. Even here, the odor of disinfectant permeated the place. She lifted the cup of tea and let the steam wreath around her face, trying to ignore the depressed feeling the room evoked. Hospitals weren’t places where healthy people went.
They all sat down, and Sandeep jumped right in. “Why don’t you explain to me, Detective, why you’ve come to my town and interrogate a sick man?”
Okay, this time she knew she didn’t imagine the superior tone. Jon shifted in his chair and drew breath to speak, but she shook her head slightly. The big man subsided, but the glare on his face endeared him to her.
“We are following a string of burglaries turned homicides. When we heard one of the daggers was here, we came to check it out.”
Sandeep sat back, playing with his paper cup with long fingers. The water’s surface trembled slightly with the vibrations of his hand, and she wondered if he’d knock it over.
“Does Ashara know you’re here?” The Sergeant’s black eyes snared hers and he gazed at her with such intensity, it sent chills down her spine.
“What does the High Priestess of the Temple of Bast have to do with this?” Belinda frowned. Part of the Protective Circles of Madison, Ashara Kendrick wasn’t a Gary herself but Belinda knew her from childhood. “I’m not here on her behalf, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“It’s well known the Garys do not travel beyond their borders. Yet here you are, Miss Gary.”
“Detective,” Jon snarled.
Sandeep bared his teeth and waved his palm in Jon’s direction, but didn’t look away from Belinda. “I think that Ashara would have much to say if she knew you came here without Mathilda Gary’s permission.”
Belinda blinked. Hearing Gran called by her first name, and by someone with such an urbane accent, made her want to laugh.
Yeah, that would be appropriate…
Instead, she allowed herself a small, sardonic, smile. “You want me to believe that you know her so well personally? Then you know that anything that annoys my grandmother she would support, as long as it does not bring danger.”
Sandeep snorted. “Perhaps.”
“Look, Sandeep. I’m not trying to do anything wrong. I’m trying to solve a murder. Please, help me.”
Jon cleared his throat. “All of this is wasting time. Why are we indulging this man’s crap?”
Belinda winced. Subtle, Jon. Subtle. She turned to him. “Jon, we need his help. His and the unit’s.”
“How?”
“When I leave, the victim needs police protection.”
“Why?” Jon demanded at the same moment that Sandeep rumbled, “How?”
“Police protection as well as magical.”
Jon and Sandeep gazed at each other as though trying to decide how to best take each other apart. Oh, dear. This was not going well, dammit!
“Gentleman, please. Let’s start over.”
Sandeep glared at her, but she sensed a slight softening of his manner. She wished she dared go deeper into his thoughts, but knew he’d sense it.
“You think the killer will come back.” Sandeep eyed her and then Jon, and it wasn’t a question. “Why?”
“To finish their work,” Jon responded. “But we disagree on that.”
Sandeep studied the big man. “Oh?”
Jon shrugged. “Belinda thinks it’s two perps. I think it’s one.”
“Explain.”
A flush crawled up Jon’s throat at the order, but he answered readily enough. “They’re devolving. Started out organized but getting steadily more desperate.”
“If that is the case,” Sandeep mused, “then they know what they are after.”
Belinda felt a chill walk up her back on cats’ feet. “What do you mean?”
“If the legends are even halfway true, it is an artifact of rare and frightening power.”
“You say ‘it.’ There is more than one dagger.” Jon studied Sandeep like the man had finally done something interesting. “Why?”
“The Year Sword can be reformed from the daggers.”
Belinda felt like the air went out of the room. “You can’t be serious!”
Jon looked back and forth between them, his nostrils flared. “Will one of you please explain what you’re talking about?”
“You can’t be serious!” Belinda leaned forward, fear growing in her belly. “They’re daggers! How can they make the sword? I thought the legends told of the daggers being formed from the sword!”
“The daggers are the sword.” Sandeep sat back. “And now, I think I believe you when you tell me that you are here for nothing more than to find a dagger.” He paused. “You are a fool to leave your protections like this.”
“You go too far!” Jon shouted.
Several people nearby glanced over, startled.
“Jon, keep your voice down!” Belinda hissed.
Sandeep chuckled. “If you have collected all the information from the victim that you need, I suggest you come back to the station with me and then leave Milwaukee with all possible speed.”
Belinda gaped at him, the fear that started in her belly now out to her arms and chilled even her fingers. “You’re scaring me.”
“Good. You should be scared. Forewarned is forearmed, and you have been treating this like a teenager sneaking out of her room at night.” He leaned forward so suddenly it stopped her breath. “And the monsters out at night really can hurt you, Miss Gary.”
“Detective,” Jon growled.
They stared at each other for another couple moments and then Sandeep stood. He finished his tea in one swift swig and crumbled the cup. “Come.”
Jon rose. “Are we done with the victim?” He asked it of Belinda, ignoring Sandeep entirely.
“I guess so.” She frowned, trying to think. She finished the rest of her tea and stood. “I think so.”
Jon narrowed his eyes and glared up at Sandeep, still seated. “You really want a pissing contest? To act like her self -appointed curfew officer? Have her running home scared like she’s ‘all alone’ out here in scary Milwaukee?”
Sandeep smirked. “And how can you protect her here? You are so out of your depth you only understand half of the discussion.”
“I don’t have to.” Jon flipped open his phone and punched a number. “Somebody is trying to push Belinda around here.”
Jon snapped it shut and sat back with a smug expression.
Belinda glared at him even as she took a deep breath and relaxed. She could feel it, familiar and unwelcomed. Her twin connected with her, not mentally but magically. Her aura deepened and expanded as Brock’s energy flooded into her.
And though she might have distanced herself from the Gary Covens, the energy of them pulsed from him straight to her. A part deep inside her stirred and began to sing. She wanted to crush it and push it away even as her soul soaked in like parched earth waiting for the rain.
Sandeep’s eyes narrowed. “What just happened?”
Jon laughed outright. “Not so smug now, eh?”
Belinda looked across the table at Sandeep, who still stood by his chair. She might not want this power, but she certainly wasn’t going to waste it. She just held his gaze without speaking.
“I sincerely hope, Miss Gary, that you do not need to use that power for anything more than your shields.” Sandeep bowed from the neck and then strode to the door without looking back.
“Arrogant son of a bitch,” Jon snarled half under his breath. “And it’s Detective!” Jon called out after the retreating cop.
Laughing, Belinda turned to follow. “Come on. We don’t want him to leave us behind.” She winked and let the grumbling detective stomp after her.
Brock parked behind Uncle Matt’s Jeep. Parker and Nelly, two of the huge Irish Wolfhounds that lived at the Gary farm but didn’t really belong to anyone specific, raced up to his SUV. Parker let out a deep bark, his tail wagging so hard Brock feared he might dislocate it. Nelly jumped up, her paws muddy.
He sidestepped so she wouldn’t plant those messy feet on his pants. “Down, Nel.”
She made a disappointed sound, not quite a bark, and lowered her front like a bow.
He laughed and scratched her ears. Parker shoved his face in his hand, pushing Nelly out of the way.
“Parker…”
“Hey, boy!” Uncle Matt called from the porch. “You’re just in time for lunch!”
Brock smirked. “All part of my plan!”
Matthias grinned, a flash of white teeth, and sipped his beer. “Where’s your sister?”
“Working, I assume.”
Matthias grunted. “She still hasn’t come out.”
“She said she’d come to dinner Thursday.”
“That’s tomorrow.”
“Yes, I know. Let it be, Uncle.”
He cocked an eyebrow at Brock. “You giving me cheek?”
“Yes sir!”
“Getcher ass in this house, boy,” Matthias growled, eyes twinkling. He turned and retreated inside, leaving Brock to follow.
Brock started up the stairs but stumbled. A different room intruded on his awareness like an overlay.
~Brock~
~Bee? Jesus, you have shitty timing!~
~Why?~
~I’m gonna kill myself on these stairs, is why. What’s up?~
~You near Dr. Z?~
He felt a spurt of fear in his stomach. ~Why?~
~It’s not what you think. I need you to ‘look’ at a victim with me and tell her what you see. He’s in a coma, but I think it’s magical and not physical~
~All right. Give me a minute to get in the house, will you?~
~Sorry~
Now she’s sorry. He rolled his eyes and walked into the organized chaos of the kitchen in full swing. He saw Dr. Z. in the dining room, arguing with Ginger. As usual.
He greeted everyone on his way by, not really seeing who he talked to, and made it into the dining room. “Dr. Z?”
“Brock! About time you got here!”
“You got a minute?”
Her head swiveled around and she stared up at him. “Is everything all right?”
He pecked Ginger on the cheek and turned back. “Everything’s fine, but Belinda wants a favor.”
“Oh?” Her eyes sharpened. “Let’s go in the library.” She rose and led the way.
~Bee?~
~I’m here~
~Show me~
He sat down across from Dr. Z. on one of the white wicker chairs by the window and Dr. Z took the one across from him.
He sat back against the cushions with a sigh. He loved these chairs. “Belinda’s with a victim. She says they’re in a coma, but she thinks it’s magical.”
Dr. Z. cocked her head. “And you can see this?”
Brock nodded. “He’s male. Early thirties. Blond. They have him on an oxygen feed of some kind. His pulse is normal, regular beat.”
“Take my hand,” Dr. Z. ordered.
Brock did as she asked and felt a jolt.
~Brock?~
~Hush, children, I’m working~ Dr. Z’s mental voice sounded tart, much like her in-person voice. ~It’s not physical, you’re right about that. Look there~
Brock had the sensation of his awareness being directed by something outside his own control. Dr. Z. pointed out a faint tracery of light blue lines just over the skin of the victim, like a net.
~Disrupt those, and he should wake up~
~Thanks, Dr. Z~ Belinda sounded tired but grateful.
Dr. Z. let go of Brock and stood. “I’m going to go talk to Tilly,” she told Brock quietly. “Finish up before she finds out what you’re doing.” With that enigmatic advice, she slipped out of the library.
He got a feeling. ~Bee? Where are you?~ Brock asked.
~The hospital, I told you~
~Don’t lie to me~
He felt her spurt of anger like it was his own. ~It’s none of your business!~
~Where’s Jon?~
~He’s here with me~
~And if I called and asked him, where would he say you are?~
~I’m in Milwaukee. Are you happy now?~
Shit. No wonder Dr. Z. didn’t want to let Gran know what happened. ~Are you out of your mind?~
~I’m hunting a murderer, Brock. I had to go where the witnesses are~
~So if I go tell Gran it won’t be a big deal?~
The door opened suddenly, making him jump. “Tell me what?” Gran walked in, her hair arranged in a braided crown around her head. She wore a soft gray pantsuit that Brock’s mom designed for her; it fit her perfectly.
His heart sank. “Hey, Gran.”
“Don’t ‘Hey Gran’ me, young man. Where is your sister?”
“Working on a case.”
“Give me your phone.”
“Gran, I –”
“Now!” she snapped.
Brock sighed and pulled the phone out. Gran hit the ‘call’ button and waited. He could tell Bee picked up by the way her mind seemed to get distracted and dropped their mental connection.
“Where are you, young lady?” Gran demanded.
He didn’t hear Bee’s side of it, but he could imagine. ‘Gee, Gran, I’m out of town without permission, but you don’t care, do you, because it’s not like I’m actually in the coven anymore…’ He’d slap his sister silly if he thought it would do any good. She insisted on mourning Monica all by herself, that damned tough-cop routine she tried to hide behind…
As he predicted, Gran started shouting after less than thirty seconds on the phone. Uncle Matthias appeared in the doorway, blocking the view of anyone else who might be in the hallway, but it effectively trapped Brock. Which, come to think of it, probably played out exactly as his Uncle intended it.
Gran snapped the phone shut and glared at Brock. “How long have you known about this?”
“I didn’t, Gran! I just found out when she called me today!”
“She’s in Milwaukee!” Her fury hit him like a steam train, but under that came real fear.
His stomach dropped and a bolt of cold went through him. Her fear added to his own. “I didn’t know, Gran!”
She narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at him. “If I find out differently, young man, you are in big trouble!” She whirled and then stopped in her tracks, staring at her brother. “Do you mind?”
“Belinda isn’t a child, Tilly.”
Oh shit. Brock wondered if he could jump out the window.
“Don’t you start with me, Matt. She’s in Milwaukee, without so much as a by-your-leave –”
“Yeah, and Marjorie Bells is going to keep an eye on her. I just talked to her before you started your screaming match.”
Gran fell silent, glaring at her brother. “Madge is in Milwaukee.”
“Which you’d know, if you stopped seeing Belinda as if she’s twelve.”
“I don’t see her that way, Matt! She isn’t acting rationally. Not since Monica died. She needs to let it go, move on, and stop being such a sourpuss!”
“She’s not –” Brock started.
“No, Brock,” Matthias snapped, flicking a glance in his direction.
A glance was enough. Brock snapped his teeth closed.
The fight went on from there, modulating from a low-voiced argument to a full-on shouting match. Brock sank lower in his chair, miserable. No one else came to intervene. In fact, the whole house felt still, like everyone froze in their tracks. Then Brock heard angry footfalls approach.
“Mom, why are you fighting about this?” Heather demanded.
“You stay out of this, honey!” Gran shouted. “If you weren’t so indulgent, you’d see that!”
“Tilly!” Matt shouted.
“Mom, you don’t understand, you never have. It would be like me losing Morgan! Or when Uncle Matt’s Jocelynn died!”
Brock saw Gran pale and actually sit down. He felt shocked as well, no one ever discussed the fiancé of Uncle Matt, killed the last time they sealed the gate.
“I…” Gran trailed off.
“Why do you think she stayed away?” Heather demanded. “You keep hounding her to do the Samhain ritual, to let go of Monica, and you risk pushing her away for good!”
Gran drew breath to argue and Matt stepped forward. “Enough!”
“Uncle Matt –”
“I said enough, Heather! Let it go.”
“Matt, this is ridiculous. You can’t just –”
“I can’t just what, Tilly?” Matt snarled, rounding on his sister. “She’s coming to dinner tomorrow, and you can bully her then. But now, this conversation is over!”
“Fine, Matt. We’ll talk about it with her tomorrow. When she comes to dinner.”
Matthias studied his sister, clearly not convinced, and then stepped back into the hall. She followed and then disappeared toward the kitchen. Heather stormed out and Brock heard her run upstairs.
Eddie stuck her head in and smirked at Brock. “You’re dumb enough to get in between the two o’ them fightin’, you’re lucky you still have your head.”
He rolled his eyes. “Shut up.”
She cackled and disappeared toward the living room.
Old busybody. He decided to go out and see if the dogs needed food or water. Or a trip to Mexico. He rubbed his neck, a headache starting.