Waiting for Summer to Turn and Fall

Welcome to September! I’m sorry for my absence in updating properly. I don’t know what happened to August, but I have a few updates to share. 

• Polyester Prince was accepted by Dreamspinner Press! If you’re read Paid Leave (and you really should) you might remember Kyle. This is his story immediately following the events in Paid Leave. Kyle falls for a bicycle cop named Isaac he meets during the Pride parade in Albuquerque. The expected release date is January or February 2014. I’ll update with a specific date at a later time.  More information about Polyester Prince can be found in the coming soon section.
• I have a new silhouette image to use in my logo created for me by the wonderful Charlie Cochet! It’s in the header above under my name. I adore it. She’s so talented.
• I’ve officially began writing the sequel to Undercover Sins, tentatively titled Undercover Desires. It takes place a few years after Undercover Sins and in a new city. The two main characters return, but this time around they’re part of the supporting cast. I’ll post more about it in the upcoming months.
• I am 100% ready for summer to be over. I want cooler weather! 
• If you want quicker updates, please friend me on Facebook (I won't bite) or like my author page. I tend to update my Facebook profile more than the page, but I update both with relevant information more often than Twitter or tumblr...which are both just silly fun times all the time.

That's all I have for today. I know I've made this promise before, but I'll update more regularly. (I hope)

The Fun behind Character Names

My mom is reading Water Waltz and is having a hard time with many of the names. She's asked me where I got the names from so I figured I’d write it down for my readers as well. (Charlie Cochet blog has a post about naming her characters and I suggest reading that as well. Just don’t compare mine to hers—she’s got the blogging thing down to a smashing success.)

Varun is a water demon so I wanted a water name. I admit I wasn’t too unique with the names of my element demons. I went to my favorite site when looking up names by meanings or words in the description: thinkbabynames. The name Varun is Hindi in origin and means “water god” so I felt it appropriate. Varun has a bit of a god complex...a small one but it’s there. Varun is pronounced vah-run.  (Va-rune is acceptable too, mom.)

Triste is the leading angel in the story. For angels I decided to use French words as names even though it’s a bit odd for them to name their kids French words since some of the angel class also speak French. (It’s equivalent to naming your child Apple, I suppose.) Triste means sad in French. He’s a bit sad in Water Waltz so his name fits the mood.

Side note: Varun has a driver named Amer. In French, Amer means "bitter" and his mate is Sucre which means "sweet." See what I did there? Oh, I try to be clever.

Varun’s rival is a wind element demon named Zephyr, and yes, his name means wind. It’s also a name I particularly like to say. Zeph-fur. It’s just fun. The Greek god of the west wind is Zephyrus and in western tradition, zephyr is a favorable wind from the west. (I think it brings summer...don't hold me to that.) Varun would disagree that this demon is favorable, but Zephyr doesn’t see Varun as a god so they’re even.

Fremont is everyone’s favorite devil in Water Waltz. (Okay, the only devil in Water Waltz) His name has no special meaning to the character and I didn’t pick it based on the name’s meaning. I picked the name from Fremont Street in Las Vegas. The history of Vegas fascinates me and I like the word Fremont. Is the character special to Vegas? No. I think he could fit in and make it big in the glamorous days of old Las Vegas but that's unrelated to the Water Waltz world.

Side note: Fremont’s close friend, Fitzgerald, in Fire Tango is named after a favorite author of mine, but on a 2011 trip to Las Vegas I found the Fitzgerald’s Casino (recently renamed to "The D") on Fremont Street across from the Fremont Casino. Coincidence or my mind connecting knowledge subconsciously...there’s no way to tell. 

Varun’s student’s name, Nolyn, means “champion”—which is what I wanted Nolyn to strive for since he’s a bit of a butt-head. He gets better before the end of Water Waltz and is still heading in the right direction in Fire Tango (book 2).

Leandre is a fire demon but yet his name has nothing to do with fire. (what!) It’s Greek and means “lion man” which is perfect for his lion-heart. He shows little concern when facing down possible death—that’s just not his style. He’s also exceptionally brave in Fire Tango despite the possibility of losing his lover.

--- 

Well, that’s the boys from Water Waltz. Next week I’ll post something about those damn country and city names. (I couldn’t have picked harder names, now could I?) The use of capital cities and countries had most readers confused so I’ll explain what city goes to what country and how I keep it straight in my pea-brain (other than with notes). 

Thanks for reading! 

You can purchase Water Waltz from all the usual sites: Dreamspinner Press store, Amazon, Barnes and Noble...etc

Water Waltz: not your typical angels & demons

This is a part of the Hot Angels and Cool Demons blog tour.

I love the concept of angels and demons. Regardless of any biblical ties, the idea of such beings is fascinating. To me angels and demons are in the same circle as elves and faeries: magical or supernatural beings that some believe to exist without having proof.

Is there a different between a man with wings and an angel? Probably. However, there’s no difference in my mind. In my writing I’ve taken the concept of an angel and removed the link to religion. In Water Waltz, I’ve created my own version of an angel with the ability to conceal his wings within his body.

Demons are usually considered malevolent supernatural beings from hell or the underworld. If angels symbolize the good, then demons are the evil. I’ve used the idea of demons to create my own version of such a creature. In Water Waltz, my demons carry power over elements, and I separated demons and devils—giving the sensual nature to the devils. 

Water Waltz is a tale with a political nature and a romance twisted deeply into the plot. The angel and demon races share a volatile relationship with humans. Devils and faeries are added to the mix but are not touched on too deeply in the first book.

Varun is a demon with control over water working with an organization to protect humans that are brought across the border for illicit purposes. His angel butler—Triste—is his ex-lover whom he still loves. Varun had only accepted Triste’s decision to end their life together to be his servant in hopes his angel would return to him. Varun rescues a human and discovers a plot to stir up war. While Varun races to uncover the one responsible, Triste goes behind his back to do just the same. But Triste reveals a dangerous secret which jeopardizes his life. It’s up to Varun to save him and rekindle their lost romance.

--

Fremont removed his hat and placed it on his knee. The red hair, freed of the confines of fabric, fell into place. Longer locks around Fremont’s face framed his high cheek bones and gave view to temples without horns.

“Why?” he asked.

“Why have I not returned calls?” Varun sought clarity.

Fremont smiled, shifted in his seat, freeing his tail from beneath him. “I don’t really care when I’m ignored by you. I ignore you as well. I want to know why you’re here and why now.”

“Would you believe I’m lonely?”

“No.” Fremont laughed, placing his arm behind Varun on the seat. “I heard about Barish. I assume it was you.”

“Is there anyone who hasn’t heard about Barish?”

“Since the lounge opened this morning, the whispers have all been about him. Some say he was murdered, and others say he choked on his favorite wine.” Fremont’s lips curved into a smirk. “But the odd thing is, no one cares. It’s just another death, and I can’t say most even cared about him.”

Varun nodded slowly, watching as Fremont’s tail snaked across his thigh. He’d allow the intrusion “Are humans still in the brothel?”

“Yes. When there’s a demand, there’s a supply. Sally wished to relieve the two strays she already employed, so she accepted three more. You know she treats them fair.”

“Male?”

“Yes. The desire to seek a female human for sexual gratification doesn’t exist.”

“Which are seen more with the humans?”

“It’s about even.” Fremont scooted closer. “The angels like humans because they’re tough like demons without being demons. The demons like humans because they’re soft like angels without being angels.” He tilted his head before adding, “And devils like everything.”

“Devils are insatiable creatures.” Varun chuckled. “And they have wicked tails.” His hand closed around Fremont’s tail, removing it from his lap. “Mind your manners, Fremont.”

“My tail has an entirely different set of rules to live by.” Fremont winked.

Water Waltz is now available from Dreamspinner Press!!

Don’t forget that each comment is added to a drawing to win a free ebook from each author on the blog tour!

November 14: Jay Di Meo
November 15: Ellis Carrington
November 16: Daniel Christian Juris
November 17: JK Coi
November 18: Kiki Howell
November 19: Michael Mandrake
November 20: Angel Martinez
November 21: Marie Dees
November 22: Sara York
November 23: Barbara Elsborg
November 24: Hayley B. James
November 25: Ryssa Edwards
November 26: Andi Anderson
November 27: Arlene Webb
November 28: Diane Hartsock
November 29: Kiernan Kelly
November 30: Tour Wrap Up: Jay Di Meo, Misty Malone, & Marie Dees

Sales! Glorious Sales!

I have a few coupon codes for Dreamspinner Press to anyone with a desire to buy some romance this weekend!

At the Dreamspinner Press store right now until November 30th, there's a We Are Thankful Sale: 20% off everything on the web site! Great time to grab some books you've been eyeing.

Also, they reached 1500 fans again on the Facebook page after the first page mysteriously disappeared. To say thank you, there's a code on the page for 15% off one order of any size over the next year. Visit the Facebook page for the code.

Happy shopping!!

Hot Angels and Cool Demons Blog Tour

Who doesn't love a good story about angels or demons? It's just the right amount of fantasy to make me a happy reader. (or writer) For the next two weeks there's a blog tour for authors of angel and demon stories.

Not only is the topic a fantastic one, but each commenter gets put into a drawing to win one free ebook from each of the authors!

Read the introduction on Jay Di Meo's blog. And the schedule for the tour is below. Have a wonderful time and the best of luck to you!

November 14: Jay Di Meo
November 15: Ellis Carrington
November 16: Daniel Christian Juris
November 17: JK Coi
November 18: Kiki Howell
November 19: Michael Mandrake
November 20: Angel Martinez
November 21: Marie Dees
November 22: Sara York
November 23: Barbara Elsborg
November 24: Hayley B. James
November 25: Ryssa Edwards
November 26: Andi Anderson
November 27: Arlene Webb
November 28: Diane Hartsock
November 29: Kiernan Kelly
November 30: Tour Wrap Up: Jay Di Meo, Misty Malone, & Marie Dees

Vacation is over...back to work

I've returned home from San Francisco, but I think I left all my free-time there. Luckily I caught up to my deadlines as far as writing is concerned, but everything else has fallen off my map. My bags are still packed, and my house is a disaster. How it got so dirty is beyond me. I wasn't there to mess it up...

The day job is going well. We're moving so I've been packing while working. I discovered I like to pack and get rid of things. (trash or donations--doesn't matter! Just get it out of my life) And then today I gave myself a gnarly cardboard cut under my nail and across the fingertip. I won't be typing normally for a few days. Ouch.

Today, October 28th, is my birthday. I'm a year older and, so I've been told, wiser. I agree to the first but not the second. Hello? Cardboard cut is not something a wise person would do...I'm sure of it. Last night I went out with my parents for a birthday dinner and enjoyed a steak. Today my coworker is buying my sushi for lunch. If anything, 2011 is the year I'm spoiled for my birthday. I usually ignore this day by being out of town so maybe this is how birthdays are supposed to be. I have no complaints so far. I have amazing family, work colleagues, and friends.

Earlier this week I received an email to let me know World on Fire has started the editing process! This morning I received another email asking for cover specification. I can edit all day, but I am dreading the cover. I went to school for graphic design and one class included making commercial product logos and labels. I am terrible with it. I might have passed, but no company would've bought my designs. I hope to sit down this weekend and really give it a good think. I want this cover to be great!

Fire for Pride!

Arizona Wallow fire has been burning up the dry brush since May 29^th. New Mexico has been basking in the ashes and smoky haze since June 2^nd. (Maybe June 1^st...I can’t remember when it reached us)



from krqe

The conditions in the middle of the state are only getting worse. I’ll take the ash and smoke over a fire destroying everything I’ve ever known. I don’t know if the Wallow fire went through communities already, but I know it took out vacation homes and is encroaching on small towns now.

awesome sunset (pic from krqe)

So let’s see. The east has tornadoes, the middle section has floods, and the southwest is on fire. Is there volcanic activity in the west yet? That would round out the disasters. Or a tsunami or something. (I certainly hope this does NOT happen, but I can’t always be optimistic. I think I’ll start asking friends to move out of the west coast now...)

from krqe

It isn’t all bad. I can’t be outside, my house is a warm 98F degrees without the swamp cooler on, I can’t use the swamp cooler because it blows the outside air into my house, I can’t have the windows open to get that cool evening breeze, and my house remains a stifling 90+ hell, but my allergies have yet to react to the smoke! See? Silver lining. There’s always a lining of silver somewhere.

Writing:

I’ve also managed to write at least ten sentences in that final scene that has been blocking me for over a month! It took two nights to write those, but it offers me some hope it might be finished by July. I wish I understood why my mind shuts down when I try to finish that WIP. Do I not want it done? Do I hate that scene this much? Maybe I know it’ll go off to be a submission and I fear rejection? Ah. I need a shrink in the house!

Citizen Police:

Tonight I’m attending my first citizen police academy alumni meeting. I have no idea what tonight’s class is but the classroom offers air conditioning so I am so there! The police have been involved in a lot of shootings lately, and I’m hoping they discuss it tonight. The news stations are all over the stories and I don’t trust the reports. From experience, the news warps the details to make the police a bad guy. (Sometimes the police are in the wrong, but not as often as the news would make you believe.)

Pride:

If I remember on Saturday (Pride day! Whoo!) I’ll post a six-sentence-Sunday from the WIP I’m finishing soon. And next week (or Sunday) I’ll post photos from Pride! My gay-bf asked me for fashion advice. (The irony was not lost on me) My advice was a banana hammock and a sign for deposits and withdraws. He informed me that on Pride weekend, signs are unnecessary. I promised him a box of condoms for his Price present. I won’t forget the lube.

Lost with my Muses

I've been neglecting my online homes lately. I've been mad busy with a lot of things. One is a WIP that my muses have just taken off with! I think I'll finish it shortly. The other is revision of a submission. I have one final scene to revise and edit before I can submit. I also want to clear out some finer details since it gets a little complicated.

I just read the Adrien English mysteries by Josh Lanyon. I do love an ending that isn't fairy tail but still satisfying. I'm moving on with Lanyon books to read Mexican Heat. It comes up a lot in fan discussions and reviews for Undercover Sins. I'm curious to see how closely the two are related. I've read a lot of free fiction on forums, but I've only recently started in on the published romance. I'm a late bloomer. I like Josh Lanyon for the lack of lengthy sex scenes. I feel comfortable reading his novels at work. No glancing around, worrying who might have super vision and can read a Nook from 15 yards away. (Note: no one I work with can.)

I've finally convinced my day-job boss that the world is moving into the digital age. After a year of making fun of my Nook, he wanted my opinion on which e-reader he should buy. (he listed iPad in the lot...I'm not a fan.) I still don't think he'll make the jump, but he's thinking about it. I wasn't sure I'd like the e-reader, but I truly do. I can sleep with it and not bend pages.

The end of CPA

My Citizen Police Academy is ending on Thursday. It's been a long 13 week course and I have loved 90% of it. I had respect for officers before, but this course has tripled that respect. I won't get on my soap box about police and the public, but I will say that too many don't see police as human...I didn't even realize how I disconnected them from Average Joe until after this course.

Anyway. I think getting some free time will help me get my writing flow back. I'm already writing again but I need to get some sex scenes down! I'll get on that soon. Soon. I have one in the works that is a rewrite of an unpublished work that I hold close to my heart and want to finish it with the love it deserves. I would love to see it published. We'll see.

What's in a name?

I’m picky about what I name characters. I’ll search names for the right meaning and/or sound. For Undercover Sins, I chose some of my names carefully.

Demetrius has a Greek heritage that is often referred to, so I needed a Greek name for him. I’ve always been a fan of the name Demetrius, so I used it with a smile. I chose this name for the heritage and sound, not for the meaning.

Tynin was used for Ty simply because it could be shortened and Ty seemed plausible for a prostitute. His actual name, Gabriel, was chosen for the meaning. Gabriel is a hero name and the character certainly tries to be one.

Ty’s Lieutenant was simply named Lesley because I liked the sound of the name with his rank. Lieutenant Lesley just rolls off of the tongue.

Demetrius’s bodyguard was named Lee for no reason other than it was short, and flowed well with the nickname he often uses for Demetrius: Dem. It has no special meaning behind it.

In other stories, I’m far more obsessive with names, but it always comes down to how each name sounds with the other names I’ve chosen. This is all a matter of personal opinion though. How one name pairs with another could be drastically different for each reader and/or writer. I often fall back on favorites to name characters as well.

Last March I needed a new book series to read while traveling. I went to the mystery section in a bookstore and picked a book based entirely on the main character’s name. I’m not even joking. His full name had three parts and each name was a favorite of mine so I knew I’d love the series. Luckily, it turned out that I did enjoy the series, but I’m sure if the character had been bestowed with less favorable names, I would have moved down the shelf and chose a series set in modern day since I rarely pick up 1800s settings. His name just couldn't be ignored in that instance.

Does anyone else have a name they love so much that they’ll pick up a book based on just that?