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Interpersonal Relationships

In between working on promotion stuff for Out of Orbit (watch out for cool stuff in August!), I’m slowly but surely plugging away on Seductive Suspect. It’s still too early for a really good estimate, but if I had to guess, said estimate would be I’m somewhere between a quarter and a third done. Probably closer to a third, but who’s counting?

As I’ve mentioned previously, this book has the largest cast of anything I’ve ever written. Something I noticed when writing The Fall of the Midnight Scorpions, which also had a lot of major characters, is how it’s interesting to see how the relationships between some of the characters develop. I mean, I primarily write romance, so obviously there’s going to be a capital R Relationship between the two leads. But it would be unrealistic if the other characters never interacted with each other, and it’s worth spending some time developing that.

Aside from the main Relationship, I didn’t really plan for those other interactions. As I started writing and the characters came to life, it sort of just happened naturally. Which isn’t a bad thing at all; we always want our writing to be natural! At this point, Laura despises Dylan, who is completely oblivious to her feelings. He, in turn, doesn’t like Paul. Paul knows, but doesn’t care. And lest you think everyone hates each other, Ruth is very protective of Brittany and tries to help her out when she can. Need a flow chart yet?

Doesn’t matter, because EVERYONE’S GOING TO DIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEE!

Okay, not *everyone*.

Out of Orbit – Release Day!

It’s officially here! Though it’s been available for pre-order since July 1st, now you can get Out of Orbit right now without having to wait! Also, stay tuned for some exciting OoO-themed events!

Blurb:

Following an
explosive space battle, Captain Jasmine Hale’s escape pod crash lands on an
unknown planet. She communicates with some of the world’s natives, but grows
frustrated when she learns signaling to her crew for help is impossible. Though
she acknowledges she is stranded on Ryk indefinitely, she dreams of the day
when she can return to piloting a ship through the stars.
Aras, leader
of the Rykians, hasn’t had contact with a human in five hundred years. Due to
his lengthy life span, little excites him in his day-to-day life, until he
meets Jasmine. Captivated by the woman who was suddenly thrust into his world,
he desires to ease her anguish while showing her the wonders of his kingdom.
Caught
between two worlds, Jasmine struggles with a difficult dilemma–continue
searching for a way home or accept her new life on Ryk. Choosing one means
leaving the other behind forever. How will she decide?

Excerpt:

Jasmine let
out the scream she’d been holding back and swept the pages to the floor with
her arm. Pitching forward, she collapsed on the desk and buried her face in her
elbow. Tears spilled forth as despair finally overtook her.

Lieutenant Moore
was dead, his remains forever enmeshed with the wrecked pod he’d worked so hard
to save. The whereabouts of Commander Garrison and the rest of her crew were
unknown. The ship she’d believed to be indestructible had exploded as she
watched, helpless. Reading the anguished writings of Dr. Coates and learning of
her potential fate proved too much to bear. Her loud sobs echoed in the room as
she mourned all she’d lost.

A heavy arm
draped across her back, and someone stroked her shoulder. She slid off the desk
toward Aras and allowed him to scoop her into a sturdy embrace. Balling her
fists in his shirt, she wept against him, crying for her crew, her ship, and
her doomed career. His skin felt smooth and warm beneath her cheek, and his
body was solid and firm as he held her tight. Her grip loosened, her fingertips
grazing the uncovered expanse of his chest. She let them linger, desperate to
not feel alone and abandoned in the universe.

He stiffened at her
touch. The slight movement was enough to make Jasmine regain her composure. She
wrenched away from him, wiping her face with the backs of her hands. “I’m
sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—” Her spine straightened and her chin
lifted, yet she avoided making eye contact. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d prefer some
time to myself right now.” Before he could answer, she turned and fled toward
her room.

Buy Links: 

Barnes &
Noble (they’re being sluggish, stay tuned, Nook people)

 

Promo – Hunger Moon, by Merryn Dexter

We’re busy little book bees over at Decadent lately! Today I’m shining the spotlight on fellow author Merryn Dexter, whose steamy new book, Hunger Moon, released yesterday. Enjoy the delicious cover, and check out the blurb and excerpt!

Blurb:
A Charming Mask
Troy Lansing, envoy to the Brighton Pack has one mission – to find out everything he can about the new wolf pack living near his father’s territory. He offers the hand of friendship to the Moonlight pack, there’s just one problem. His father isn’t in the business of making friends.

A Stranger with Secrets
Belinda Thomas, omega to the Moonlight Pack is tasked by her alpha to find out the truth behind Troy’s façade. Her omega abilities give her a unique insight into the hearts of other wolves. When she comes face to face with the enigmatic Troy, she doesn’t know what to make of him. Her wolf knows though.

A Forbidden Passion
Bound by secrets, duty and honor, Troy and Bel are drawn to each other, moths to the destructive flames of their passion. They will risk it all for the hunger driving them both.

A Desperate Fight
Can Troy and Bel find a way to save the Moonlight pack from the evil clutches of the Brighton alpha? The final fight for freedom might cost them more than their love; they might have to pay the ultimate price.

Excerpt:
Wood creaked to his left, and Troy stilled, lowering his feet down from the porch railing. The heavy shadow of the overhang would conceal his presence. Rand had made a point of telling him he shared the home to the right with his mate but hadn’t mentioned the occupant of the cottage on the opposite side. A pale reflection caught his eye, moonlight shining on light hair. The slender figure moving toward the woods paused and glanced in his direction. Bel.

He was out of his chair before realizing he’d moved; the thick railing around the porch was all that prevented him from striding across the open space toward her. Rain pattered against his skin, mixing with the sheen of sweat coating his chest. If she had turned away, kept moving without acknowledging him, he might not have acted. But he’d never know. Instead, she raised a hand to her throat, drawing his eye to the delicate line of her arm, the expanse of bare skin above the low neckline of her simple dress.

Bending his knees, Troy leaped onto the railing, balancing on his toes in a crouch. She turned her head, glanced toward the woods then back in his direction. The last vestiges of the mask of civility he wore slipped away, and he bared his teeth in a feral grin. Do it, he urged silently.

As though she heard his voiceless plea, Bel spun on her heel and made a break for the trees. Growling low in his throat, he sprang from the railing, hitting the ground at full speed. The clouds overhead burst open, turning the gentle patter of rain into a raging torrent, soaking him to the skin in moments. His feet slipped and slid in the long grass underfoot, but he didn’t slow his pace. Diving between a pair of thick trunks, he ducked beneath long curtains of Spanish moss and passed instantly into full darkness. The tangled canopy overhead masked the worst of the rain. Twigs snapped, warning her of his approach, marking her own desperate flight through the woods. Her scent hung thick in the humid air, a blanket of sunshine and sweetbriar.

A twisted root caught his ankle, sending him sprawling forward. Tucking his shoulder, he rolled with the motion, gaining his footing moments later at the base of a small incline. He stood in the bottom of a natural hollow, a clearing in the trees. Bel was less than twenty feet away, clutching the skirt of her dress high as she scrambled up the other side of the hollow.

“Stop,” he growled, forcing every ounce of command he possessed into the word.

She froze, one foot on the crest of the slope. He stalked across the clearing, watching her shoulders heave as she tried to catch her breath. He knew how she felt. Between the thick summer air and the lust coursing through his veins, he might never breathe normally again. The muscles in her calf twitched where her toes braced for purchase on the incline. He’d never spent much time considering the graceful shape of the back of a woman’s leg before. The curve of muscle narrowing to taper into the rigidity of an Achilles tendon, the pregnant swell of a smooth heel, the arch of her elegant instep.

Pausing at the base of the slight hill, he reached for her leg, traced the lean muscle of her calf. He slid his hand higher, watching it disappear beneath the damp hem of her dress. A soft gasp escaped her lips. Bending his head, he nibbled along the defined edge of her calf muscle, burying his lips into the dimple at the back of her knee.

“Troy!” His name on her lips sounded both a blessing and a curse.

Buy Links:

 
About the Author:
Merryn Dexter is a military spouse who, after a varied employment career (from selling sandals to old ladies with bunions to being a health and safety coordinator for a construction company), is thrilled to be pursuing her dream career as a romance writer. She likes The Winchesters, Spike, Hotch, Loki and watching complicated European Noir. Her hobbies include crying at books, crying at movies, crying at tv serials (there’s a theme!) and believes all stories should have a Happy Ending.

Promo – Rocking the CEO, by Catherine Peace

I love the 1Night Stand series, both reading and writing for it! Catherine Peace’s latest installment, Rocking the CEO, is out today – be sure to check out her amazing cover, blurb, and excerpt!

Blurb:



This last year of Joss Richards’ life has changed for the better—or so she thinks. A new band, a new city, a new life, and, now, a shot at a contract with the hottest rock label around, ICE Records. If she and her bandmates can impress the label, her life will be set. Too bad her best friend thinks something is missing. When Joss receives details of the 1Night Stand date set up for her, she bolts—straight into the arms of a sexy stranger.

When August Bragg glimpses a red-haired goddess in the hotel lobby he can’t get out of his thoughts—or his fantasies. Unable to resist her lure, he indulges in a steamy encounter. Then learns her name, and he realizes his fantasies has left his heart in an ethical dilemma.

Will they give everything up for their careers, or can the man who holds Joss’ future in his hands also convince her to give him her heart?

Excerpt:
She stopped at the entrance and leaned against the wall. With her spiked hair, tight black Tshirt, the swell of her ass in those black skinny jeans, and spike-heeled boots, she personified his fantasy. How could he focus on his date Sunday night when this woman stood in front of him, the picture of everything he’d wanted for months?

He stopped next to her and tried not to stare, but her beauty captivated him. Bright-green eyes, a narrow nose, and a gorgeous mouth he wanted to taste so badly he barely withstood being next to her. Keep your composure. She’s a woman. A beautiful woman…. “Hello there.”

When she glanced at him, her eyes widened just a bit. “Hi.” Then she curled her lips into a seductive smile.

“You look a little lost.”

She shrugged. “Hard to be lost when you don’t have a destination.”

Gods, her voice…. Pure, raw, Southern sex appeal. “Where are you from?”

“South Carolina. You?”

“Iceland.” He appreciated the interest in her eyes and the way she pursed her lips. “Your accent’s sexy.”

“So is yours.”

At the compliment, she actually blushed. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Shouting over the music started to get old. “Would you like to go somewhere?”

From the way her green eyes darkened, he knew her answer before she said a word.

No way they’d make it back to his room, not with the way he ached. Time for an alternative plan.

About the Author:

Catherine Peace has been telling stories for as
long as she could remember. She often blames two things for her forays into
speculative fiction—
Syfy (when
it was
 SciFi)
channel Sundays with her dad and
 The
Island of Dr. Moreau
 by HG Wells. She graduated in 2008 from Northern
Kentucky University with a degree in English and is still chasing the dream of
being super rich and famous, mostly so she can sit around in her PJs all day
and write stories. When not being a slave to the people in her head, she’s a
slave to two adorable dogs.
 

 

Vacations and Links and Whatnot

Happy 4th of July! I’m on vacation this week and might actually be getting the chance to relax for a bit. (Turns out traveling and vacationing with two toddlers is more fun and less demanding than doing so with two infants, which is what we did last year.) I’ve been reading and knitting, and there’s even a possibility of some writing on the horizon. YAY!

In the meantime, Out of Orbit is available for preorder, so go ogle that awesome cover again!

Out of Orbit Update

Mark your calendars! As of now, Out of Orbit is set to release on July 15th, though it’ll be available for pre-order on July 1st. (Meaning I need to get my butt in gear for scheduling promotions and stuff.) Also, one of my editors and I reworked the blurb to tighten it up and not give away so many plot details, so ignore the other one I posted and focus on this one!

Following an explosive space battle, Captain Jasmine Hale’s escape pod crash lands on an unknown planet. She communicates with some of the world’s natives, but grows frustrated when she learns signaling to her crew for help is impossible. Though she acknowledges she is stranded on Ryk indefinitely, she dreams of the day when she can return to piloting a ship through the stars.

Aras, leader of the Rykians, hasn’t had contact with a human in five hundred years. Due to his lengthy life span, little excites him in his day-to-day life, until he meets Jasmine. Captivated by the woman who was suddenly thrust into his world, he desires to ease her anguish while showing her the wonders of his kingdom.

Caught between two worlds, Jasmine struggles with a difficult dilemma–continue searching for a way home or accept her new life on Ryk. Choosing one means leaving the other behind forever. How will she decide?

Cover Reveal – Out of Orbit

How awesome is this? Like, seriously?

I love this cover sooooo much. I didn’t really have any sort of mental image of what the cover could look like going in, and this is so much better than anything I could have come up with. It’s the perfect blend of “space adventure!” and “people are gonna do naughty sexy things in this book!”. Right now, it’s tied with Elysium for my all-time favorite cover. LOVE.

Ahem.

I might be a little too excited here, but I DON’T CARE.

No word on a release date yet, but stay tuned!

Outside the Comfort Zone (or, Revealing the Mystery)

So I’ve been hinting at my new project in the past couple posts, and it’s time to come clean. I’ve been dodgy because this is something new for me, and I’m determined to make it work. I’m about 5K words in (and I have a great outline, for reasons I’ll talk about below), and so far, so good. I think. I hope.

Throughout the years, I’ve been half-joking about writing an old-fashioned mystery, but with a steamy romance component, since romance is how I roll. Lest you think I’m completely off my rocker, there is some precedence for this. Most stage and screen adaptations of And Then There Were None (my favorite book) capitalize on the tension/attraction between Vera and Lombard and change the ending so the two of them can ride off into the sunset together. (I believe Agatha Christie herself even wrote some of these adaptations.) Truth be told, I do prefer the original ending, because the whole book is just plain brilliant, but hey, the romantic in me doesn’t mind the changes *too* much.

Throughout the years, I’ve also half-joked about how I would never write a mystery because I’m not smart enough to write a good one. This is still probably correct, but I’m going for it. There’s a bit of a twist at the end, a deus ex machina, if you will, but I’ll admit the plot isn’t anything earth-shattering. That said, it’s *my* plot, and I’m going to make it the best I can.

As is often the case, after thinking about the idea here and there for a long time, most of the details came to me as I was lying in bed, trying to sleep. Usually I start writing if I just have a basic framework, but this time, due to the genre and plot, I wanted a really solid outline before I even wrote the first sentence. For those of you who often make great outlines, mine still probably looks like a mess in comparison. For me, though, it’s the most comprehensive outline I’ve had. (Whether or not it makes the writing process go any faster remains to be seen.)

So there it is. It’ll either be amazing or flop spectacularly, but I’m doing this. And to save us all a future post on title woes, I think I have one for this project. I wanted something that indicated both romance and mystery, so for right now, my folders and documents are titled Seductive Suspect. (As I always say, when in doubt, go for alliteration!) And now I can make the tag for the blog! 😀

The Name Game, Part 4

Here we are at the final installment (for now!) of this name-related discussion. It was delayed slightly by a nasty eye infection I’ve been battling for two weeks (boo!) and the first round of edits for Out of Orbit (yay!), but I’m back and in blogging action. But I will blame any typos on my gradually-recovering eye.

One issue I sometimes encounter when writing: when do you name a character? The major and minor ones are obvious. Most of the time, main characters need names. (And yes, I know there are plenty of books with an unnamed narrator, which is why I said “most of the time”.) On the flip side, not every single person the main characters meet needs to have a name, especially if their role isn’t all that significant. It’s the ones in the middle I sometimes struggle with.

Too much extraneous detail can confuse or distract a reader, and we certainly don’t want that. That said, the vast majority of real-life people have names (duh) and it’s nice to acknowledge that. But do we really need to know the name of every single person we come across? We can probably even argue that you can have a significant interaction with a person without ever knowing his/her name.

Over the years, I’ve come up with an incredibly basic rule of thumb for myself: for minor characters, only name them when it would be awkward not to. There have been times when either a character winds up playing a larger role than initially expected, or someone takes up enough room on a page that not seeing a name attached to them just looks weird. The biggest example of this in my books is Captain Sampson in Flight of the Dragon Queen. For the longest time, he had no name, and was just referred to as “the captain”. But after a while, that wasn’t working out for me, and I needed to do better.

There are plenty of people mentioned in Out of Orbit who never got a name. But there was one instance where Jasmine had a long enough conversation with someone that I had to name him. He only shows up in that one part, but the flow just seemed off when he didn’t have a name.

Come to think of it, “avoid being awkward” is a great rule of thumb for a LOT of writing-related things.

Next up: I’ll finally start talking about my latest WIP (the first chapter of which is complete)!

The Name Game, Part 3

Next up in this series – the meaning of characters’ names.

Right off the bat, I’ll start by saying that though I’m a bit of a name nerd, I don’t make myself nuts when it comes to the origin and meaning of names. I didn’t even really care about that when it came to naming my own children. Some people do, and that’s fine. In fact, for one of my daughter’s names, I was even told “Oh, I love that name, but I could never get past the meaning!” (No, it’s not Cecilia or Claudia, which, for someone who doesn’t pay much attention to meanings, I always remember as originally meaning “blind” and “lame”, respectively.) I’m sure there are plenty of writers out there who give symbolic names to their characters based on their meaning, but it’s just not my thing.

However, that doesn’t mean that I’ll go around slapping names on characters all willy-nilly. A lot of times, my characters names do have some significance, even if it’s only for me. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but a large number of my friends wound up in the Disintegration series in some way, shape, or form. Some were straightforward: Vlad is, well, named after my friend Vlad. Dr. Zedek, however, is named after another friend’s role-playing alter-ego. While the two Vlads share some similarities, the two Zedeks are nothing alike. But hey, I needed a name!

I’ll use this opportunity to admit that there have been times where I’ve TOTALLY named antagonistic characters after people I don’t like. Don’t get on my bad side.

Sometimes if I’m not directly naming after someone, I’ll go for a similar name, or use the same initials as an existing person/character. Like I said, the chosen name may only be meaningful to me and a couple other people, but I like knowing the symbolism is there, however minor. The main character of my new WIP is named Veronica Campbell. Some astute readers might eventually pick up on some allusions with her name (once the book is complete), but for now, I’m not telling. 😉