New Series Excerpts

I have handed in the short story to my editor and agent after making one last revision/edit.  I think it actually turned out better than I had initially thought, which is good.  I love the characters for this new series and I love the new world.  But most of all, I LOVE my new narrator.  I didn't think I would like writing from a guy's point of view as much as I do.  After writing Mira for several years, I discovered with my new character that there's a lot of comments that I've held back on.  If it can be believed, Gage is even more sarcastic and strange than Mira could ever be.

Could this be love?  Yes, I think it is.

Next step: start plotting out the second book.  I've got some vague ideas, but all of tomorrow will be white boards, post-it notes, and legal pads for notes and stray thoughts, as I organize the mass chaos into something that will make sense ... eventually.

For now, I think I will post a few excerpts from the short stories that I've been working on.  The short stories are actually prequels to the first book, but you won't have to read them to understand what it happening in the book or series. (Also, the short stories are in the rough draft stage.  What you read here might not actually make it into the book)

Bronx's Story  -- The problem with Parker

Parker’s problem wasn’t me.  The problem with Parker was that he was an incubus trying to survive in a monogamous relationship.  And me waking up drugged in a women’s bathroom only proved that it wasn’t working.

Trixie's Story -- A visit to see Chang

At just after ten in the evening, business was starting to pick up at Diamond Dolls.  I paid the five-dollar cover and slid through the club, trying to refrain from touching anything while not looking at anyone directly.  This wasn’t the type of place that you wanted to see anyone, let alone be seen.  The club was worn and dingy from its scarred and battered tables to its scarred and battered dancers. 

But Diamond Dolls made the perfect entrance into Chang’s black market operation.  If you had the stomach to make it through the strip club and the balls to get past his dogs, then you had a shot at seeing Chang.  Even with an introduction from my tattooing mentor, it had taken me the better part of four years to get in to see Chang.  The man made you jump through ridiculous hoops, but it was so worth it.  He could get his bony hands on anything you could imagine – it just cost you.  I had a feeling that if I wasn’t careful, he was going to end up with a part of my soul one day.

Trixie's Story  -- A visit to some other friends

            In this world, it’s usually pretty hard to get a strange look while in the grocery store, even if it was nearly midnight.  You can walk in wearing feetie pajamas covered in little yellow ducks and pick up a quart of blood, a container of ram hearts, and crackers, and no one will bat an eye at it.  However, if you walk in and pick up more than a dozen boxes of cereal and nothing else, apparently the cashier is going to look at you like you’re the local pedophile throwing a slumber party.  I just smiled at the nosy bitch as I paid.  To hell with them.  I had a meeting and I wasn’t about to walk in empty handed.

I hope you enjoyed those tidbits.  Gage has been a lot of fun and I can't wait for you to meet him.