After yesterday’s all day and all night rain, today is beautiful outside. Makes me wish I didn’t have so much to do inside, but the Lugnut and I can take a walk in a little while.
Still working away on Tiger’s Tempest in the Gambler’s Folly series. I have nearly 18,000 words down so far and, at the moment, a pretty good idea of where we’re going. Of course, with my characters, the route could change drastically. They are a headstrong bunch. But that’s what I get for writing about alpha male shifters I suppose.
If you could be a shifter, what would you be?
I always thought I would love to be a black leopard. They look so elegant, even if they do seem to have only two attitudes–calm, cool, and collected, or totally pissed off.
So far in my books, including those published and unpublished, I have leopards, panthers, wolves, bears, and now tigers.
What else would you like to see?
From Esperance, the next one in line is Ben of Blackstone’s Forge. As you might have guessed, Ben is a blacksmith. What makes him different is his family’s Talent for shaping iron.
No… That’s enough of a hint. You’ll have to read the book for the rest. But how about a tiny excerpt?
****
Excerpt:
If anyplace could be consider as hot as hell, it was a blacksmith’s forge in midsummer, Ben thought, as he strode to the well. Icy water filled his mug with a cheerful splash, after a couple quick strokes on the pump handle.
The first mugful went down in three healthy gulps. Pulling the folded kerchief from around his head, he rinsed the salt-encrusted cloth in another cold stream of water from the well.
The second mug of water brought a quick gasp as he poured it over his head, but it was refreshing after several hours of heating and hammering steel in the forge, where he worked with his father. Water flew in a circle of droplets as he shook the excess from his wavy brown hair, leaving it spiked in all directions.
Once more he filled the mug. Leaning his tall frame against the pump, he slowly sipped the cool liquid as his dreamy blue eyes scanned the street around the forge.
“Good morning, Ben,” he heard from a familiar voice.
Turning toward the voice, he raised his mug and gave a brief nod to the pretty young woman walking toward him. With her light brown, nearly blond hair, and warm brown eyes, she was a sight to give a man dreams.
“Don’t I rate more than a nod, Ben Blackstone?” she demanded. “You could at least smile.”
“Hardly seems worth the effort, Deborah, when all it will gain me is a snide remark or a new chastisement for some imagined affront.”
“You are the most irritating man I know,” she told him as he took another pull from the mug.
He had no response for her accusation and continued to enjoy the water before he had to go back into the hell known as Blackstone’s Forge. He loved the work, but summers could be downright miserable.
Deborah was still glaring at him, hands on her hips, head tipped to the side, and eyes flashing in anger.
“Did you need something, Deb, or are you just here to annoy me?”
“My name is Deborah, not Deb, and absolutely not Debbie. And yes, I do need something. I’ve got better things to do than make a special trip to annoy you.”
*****
Need something to fill the time until Ben of Blackstone’s Forge is published?
I’m headed to Gambler’s Follyfor a while. It’s been a while since I visited with Dam and Kari.
What? You aren’t acquainted with the Leone family? We need to fix that right away!
Come with me to Gambler’s Folly. Meet Damiano and Karianna in Book 1 and follow their romance. You’ll also meet Dante, Marco, Paulo, and Nagi, who will pop in every now and again in other stories along the way.
After that, in Book 2, Dante’s Angel, we can go to Italy with the whole bunch for Dam and Kari’s church wedding. And you can share in the joy, frustration, and chaos when Dante finds his soulmate, who happens to be one of Damiano’s cousins.
Book 3, The Russian, introduces a new character–Dmitri Ivanovich Volkov, known as The Russian. He is an anomaly, even for a shifter. Over 500 years old, he found his soulmate over 200 years ago, and held her in his arms as she died. He doesn’t want another mate. The heartache is too great. But Mother Nature has other plans for The Russian.
Where can you meet all these characters?
Go over to the Gambler’s Folly page on Smashwords. For this weekend each book is priced at only $0.99 in the series! And once you have, you can vacation with me!
Yeah, I’m not a happy camper this week. About a week ago, I tripped in a parking lot and fractured my right patella. After an after noon in ER, they decided I just needed to wear a brace until I could see an orthopedic specialist. So a few days later, I got in to see the doctor,, who told me much the same thing. Keep a brace on when I’m up and walking around. Take pain killers as needed. See me in two weeks for more x-rays.
It’ll be about 8–10 weeks healing time.
In the meantime, it is taking me forever to get things done. My daily walks are not a thing until I can walk properly again. And sitting at my desk is somewhat less than comfortable. Go figure, right?
So I haven’t done much writing this past week, though I have been reading through the next book for Gambler’s Folly to mark it up for editing. I do this on my Kindle Fire, so I can read without sitting at my desk. I’ve found I can highlight areas I want to work with and then take the Fire in to my desk and go through it there.
Much easier on the knee that way.
So what will be the next book for Gambler’s Folly?
Old Flame, which will be Book 4.
What’s it about?
They met at university thirty years ago. Though they were friends, they never really dated each other. Since then, Kort has had two failed marriages and become a multibillionair, considered the most eligible bachelor on several worlds. Elizabeth married and has recently become widowed.
Her kids bought her a ticket to visit them out west, and then surprised her with a vacation package to Gambler’s Folly. At the hotel her first night, waiting to fly to the spaceport for the shuttle flight, she runs into her old friend from university, also going to Gambler’s Folly.
And then the fun begins.
Still in editing, this will be a little while yet before it’s ready to publish, but I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, how about an excerpt?
EXCERPT
It was only a short drive to the hotel from the spaceport. Word must have gone ahead that Kort would be in town, so as soon as he stepped out of the limo cameras were flashing.
When she stepped out of the limo, there were questions from all sides.
“No, Liz is an old friend I met before I got on the shuttle. Since we were both staying here at the Stella d’Oro, I offered her a lift. I may convince her to have dinner with me later, but that’s all. We’re simply friends from our university days.”
“Is Liz short for Elizabeth?” someone called.
“Yes,” he answered.
“What about it, Liz? Any designs on Mr. Behrens?” someone else asked.
Feeling in a mood, she answered, “Who says I’d have him?”
She had expected a laugh or two, but got stunned silence before the questions began again.
“Now, you’ve heard it from the lady in question. Like I said, we’re simply friends who met again recently after several years. We’re catching up on old times. Don’t imply anything else, please.”
When they’d finally made it in the door and out of sight of the reporters, Kort turned to her with a laugh and gave her a big hug.
“Who says I’d have him? That was brilliant, Liz. It’ll keep them going for days.”
“I have no idea why I said that. It just slipped out. Are we likely to have a following everywhere we go?” she asked.
“For a day or two, until they get the idea I’m telling the truth. Unless you change you mind and decide you’ll have me instead?”
“Don’t press your luck.”
Wish me luck with the knee, and I’ll try to keep you posted on what I’m up to down here in the Southeast.
Of course, it’s raining here in Georgia, so I think the barbecue is off for the afternoon. But at least my guy made it home for the weekend. We can cook indoors and watch a movie with the cats. They are, of course, pointedly ignoring him for being gone.
Hope you’re all having a wonderful Father’s Day. Give that guy a hug while you have him here. You never know when his time on earth will be over.
After the last bit of chill, Mother Nature has chosen to go straight into summer. We’re supposed to have temperatures up in the 90’s this weekends, with night time lows warmer than our daytime highs were just over a week ago.
But the tomatoes are looking good and enjoying the sunshine, even if I’m uncomfortable with all the temperature shifts. All in all, a good time to stay indoors and get with the writing!
What have you been working on lately?
I’ve finished the first draft and read through of Lady Calloway and gone back to Scotch and Soulmates and Old Flame to make the corrections I made on the Kindle.
I don’t know about you, but I cannot read a manuscript properly on my computer monitor. But what I’ve found works a lot better is to save it out as a mobi file –I use Calibre to help with that–and upload it to my Kindle Fire. That way it’s more like reading a book without going through reams of paper and cartons of toner.
I haven’t figured out a way to make the changes to it on the Kindle, so I highlight the sections where I’ve found problems or bits I want to rewrite. Once I’ve finished the read through, I take the Kindle to my desk, open the book and the manuscript on the computer, and work my way through.
Yes, it is a little cumbersome, but whatever works. Right?
With the three of those moved out of the way for a bit, I’ve revisited the unfinished WIP for the Esperance series. The next one to publish will be Too Many Talents, Book 4, followed by Ben of Blackstone’s Forge, Book 5. The one I’ve pulled back out of the “to be finished” folder is Gregor Thayne–Heir of Rowan.
Way back in Viviane, First Lady, we meet Gregor’s father, Lord Kinsey of Clan Rowan. His was the deciding vote in the trial in Clan Belfort. In this book we meet his son and heir, who is a bit of a rogue. Earlier in life, Gregor decided he’d had enough and refused to be the clan heir. Taking off for the far side of the clan, he took his mother’s surname and became a city guard.
Eventually, he and his father came to an agreement and he returned to his duties as heir. But he retained the last name Thayne as a final show of rebellion.
But he was not a happy man when his father announced the marriage arrangement he’d made with another first Lord, pledging him to a woman he’d never met.
How will this all turn out? Your guess is as good as mine at this point. My characters tend to have minds of their own and go off on tangents I’d never imagined.
Watch for Too Many Talents later this year. And who knows? There may be something else from Sultonna Nadine as well.
Haven’t read the Esperance Series? You can find in on Amazon or at Smashwords!
Happy Mothers Day tag close up among a bouquet of flowers over a white wood background
I know. Mother’s Day isn’t until Sunday. However, I normally write on Friday before the weekend gets too hectic.
What are your plans for Mother’s Day?
When I was growing up, we normally had a bunch of friends over–families from church with all the mothers, fathers, and kids. My dad would do a big chicken BBQ and each family brought a side or dessert. Mom and I usually made a big batch of potato salad.
Come on. We ALWAYS made a big batch of potato salad. What’s the point of potato salad unless there is some left over to sneak out of the fridge later? And the few times we tried, we still wound up with the big yellow bowl full, plus about two servings which wouldn’t fit…
It was a beautiful time up around the Great Lakes. While winter has finally paased, and the weather has warmed, the summer swelter hasn’t yet arrived, Hay fields are growing toward mowing season, spring flowers are popping up everywhere. It is truly a beautiful place. And the spring flowers didn’t bother my mother as much when we picked bouquets. The golden rod and wild flowers in the fall about did her in, so they had to sit outside on the cistern lid, in front of the kitchen window.
How do you celebrate Mother’s Day?
And perhaps your mother likes to read…
I’m getting into a book our daughter bought for me–the complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I know. I’m weird.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend and a Happy Mother’s Day!
It’s the first day of May today. I believe spring may be here to stay this time, even though it did get down into the high 40’s last night. I think they’re predicting a high today of around 85.
So what’s happening in your world today? I’m thinking about taking my walk early to avoid the heat this afternoon. I’ve never gotten along well with heat, so I try to do all my outside work early in the morning before the sun gets too high in the sky.
I’ve nearly wrapped up Lady Calloway. Yes, I know, but life has a way of getting complicated. And after this one is wrapped, I really need to get finished with a half-finished book in the Esperance series. This one will come after Ben of Blackstone’s Forge, which will be Book 5 in the series and is in a second round of edits.
Gregor is the heir of Clan Rowan. In his younger days, angry with his father, he left the family home and went to the other side of the clan to join the guard. To further distance himself, he took his mother’s maiden name. When he and his father finally reconciled, he agreed to come back and take up his place once again, but chose to keep his mother’s family name. Gregor Thayne–Heir of Rowan brings in a new cast of characters to join those already in the series.
And Ben of Blackstone’s Forge? This is another story inset into the story, a vignette of Ben Blackstone, son of the local blacksmith. Now a journeyman smith, working on becoming a master, Ben inherited his father’s Talent with iron. Though his father keeps hinting it’s time for him to marry, the one girl he’d always thought would be his seems out of reach. Tired of waiting for him to come around, his father arranges a marriage for him. Can he and his new wife find a happily ever after?
Watch for Too Many Talents later this year. And wish me luck on wrapping Lady Calloway and finishing Gregor Thayne.
We’ve talked about Esperance and Lady Calloway, but what’s up next for Gambler’s Folly?
Old Flame
They were friends in university thirty years ago, though they never dated. They were simply friends with no strings, no desires beyond that. His family had money to burn while she struggled to make ends meet.
Who would guess that thirty years down the road, with him single and her a widow, they would meet on their way to Gambler’s Folly?
And who would have guessed an attraction, which had been absent in their university days, would suddenly blossom?
Meet Kort Behrens, multi-millionaire tycoon. His family made it big in electronics with the development of a new drive for interstellar shuttles, along with other inventions and developments along the way. After two failed marriages, he’s decided not to risk any more entanglements. Women only wanted to be with him for the money and prestige.
Elizabeth’s husband died four years ago and she has secluded herself in her little mountain home seeing only her Reiki clients and any neighbors who stop by. She has her cat, Puzzle, for company and hasn’t even considered dating, let alone remarrying.
During an altercation in the hotel the night before her flight to Houston to catch the shuttle, a voice from her past intercedes on her behalf. Warm strong hands on her shoulders comfort her as he deals with the situation. But she was not prepared to see her old friend, Kort, alive and in person. And since she rarely listened to the news or paid much attention to the society rags, she didn’t realize that the young man she’d known at uni was the powerful bachelor billionaire in today’s world.
Neither was Kort prepared for their meeting, or for the feelings he developed during their flight to Gambler’s Folly. But he is determined to show her a good time on one of his favorite worlds. If nothing else, he could help her come back out and learn to live again.
Old Flame hasn’t made it to the editor yet, but how about a brief excerpt?
OLD FLAME
Gambler’s Folly Book 4
Checking her reflection in the mirror, she decided she didn’t look bad for a woman of her age. Her hair was beginning to gray a little, but it didn’t show too much in her blond hair. With a final tug at the skirt of her black dress, she slipped on pumps and took the lift to the third floor dining room. She preferred a table which wasn’t out in the open, so it took her a minute to get situated. Once seated, she took a deep breath and began to peruse the menu.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Murphy?”
Staring up at the stranger, she said, “I’m Elizabeth Murphy, yes.”
“It’s about time we met,” the man sneered.
“I don’t know you,” she answered. “What do you want?”
“You may not know me, but you have received several letters from my boss concerning a debt of $10,000. We haven’t received your payment yet.”
“You’re with them? I’ve written back and explained everything to your boss. I don’t know what the debt is for, and I can’t get the money to pay it.”
“May I remind you of a trust your late husband set up for you that you can borrow money against?” the man asked.
“How do you know about that? There is nothing I can do. Go and talk to the attorney who administers the trust. If your claim is legitimate, I’m sure he’ll do what’s right.”
“Mrs. Murphy, it isn’t wise to anger the people I work for. I suggest you find a way to get the money and pay us what you owe.”
“Look,” she said, beginning to panic. “I don’t know who you are, or who your boss is, but I’ve never owed anyone that kind of money in my life. And I can’t imagine Joe did either.”
“Mrs. Murphy,” he began again.
“No! Go away. Go talk to the attorney, but leave me alone.”
Her whole attention had been on the man across the table, but she suddenly felt warm, strong hands on her shoulders.
“Listen, friend,” a deep and vaguely familiar voice said. “You have the lady’s answer. Anything more from you is harassment. Call it a night.”
“This is none of your business. It’s a private affair. Go away.”
“Your private affair became my business when you shouted it across the dining room. You are bullying this poor woman, who I understand has lost her husband. Say good night.”
“Listen, buddy, I don’t know who you think you are, but I can make big trouble for you,” the man threatened.
One of the hands lifted from her shoulder and she heard the man behind her speak into his com.
“Security? Behrens here. I need to have someone escorted off the property from the third floor dining room. I’ve sent a photo.”
“You can’t do that!” the man across the table shouted.
“I think you’ll find I can,” he answered as his hand returned to her shoulder. Liz felt so much safer with him here.
Almost immediately, two security guards from the hotel came down and took the man into custody.
“Anything else, sir?” one of them asked.
“No, thank you. He was making a nuisance of himself and upsetting this lady. We were going to have dinner.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
As they took the man away, Liz felt drained and slumped into her chair. The hands left her shoulders, and the man came around to kneel in front of her.
“I’m sorry your stay here has been marred,” he said and then stopped abruptly, looking startled. “Liz? I mean, are you Elizabeth Stockton?”
Looking up into dazzling blue eyes that could belong to nobody else, she asked, “Kort? Is that you?”
“Yes. Liz, what are you doing in my neck of the woods?”
For some unknown reason, she sprang out of her chair and threw her arms around him. Tears she’d held back began to trickle down her face.
“Hey, it’s all right. I’ve got you. You’re going to mess up your makeup,” he told her softly.
Forcing herself to give him some space, she dabbed at the tears with the handkerchief he offered.
“I’m Elizabeth Murphy now. Our kids sent me tickets for my birthday, so I could come visit them.”
“How many kids do you have?” he asked.
“Two, a son and a daughter. Our daughter has two sons, who are eight and ten. What about you?”
“No. I married right after university, but it didn’t work out. A few years later, I tried again, and it lasted less than a year. I’ve been a bachelor most of the time since we last saw each other.”
“That’s a shame,” Liz said. “You were always such a sweet guy.”
With a hearty laugh, which was as delightful and sincere as she remembered, he said, “I know quite a few people who would disagree with you. Would you join me for dinner? We could catch up on old times.”
Seated comfortably at his table, she picked up the menu and began to look for something relatively inexpensive. She knew it was included in her holiday package, but she hated to waste money, even if it wasn’t coming out of her wallet..
“Liz, get whatever you like. It’s on me tonight,” Kort told her.
“Oh, no. I couldn’t,” she insisted. “Anyway, I’m sure you’ve got better things to do with your money.”
“Not really. I have loads of the stuff. Why not enjoy it?”
“Seriously? What do you do for a living?”
The look he gave her was part amusement and part surprise before he asked, “Do you watch the news?”
“Yes. Well, not watch. I listen to the news while I putter. Why?”
And then her mind put the facts together and she began to sputter.
“Oh! You’re that Kort Behrens–the billionaire who is always on TV?”
“Right in one,” he said with a smile. “How many Kort Behrens do you know?”
“Oh, Kort, or Mr. Behrens, you must have better things to do than entertain me. I’ll go order something from room service. Thank you for your help and everything,” she said as she began to push her chair away from the table.
“Liz, sit down. Please,” he insisted firmly. “I may be wealthy, but I love to visit with old friends. People who knew me before the media splashed my life all over the world.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. “I don’t even know how to talk to you. I can’t believe the Kort Behrens I knew became one of the wealthiest people on Earth.”
“Sit down. Forget the money. I’m Kort, Liz, the guy who almost lost you over a balcony one night.”
“Oh my gosh! I’d almost forgotten that dance.”
“It wasn’t one of my better moments,” he said.
“Nice save, though,” she added.
“Thank you.”
They talked over dinner and wine before he suggested a walk around the gardens. She had forgotten how big the man was. He towered over her. If he was anything like he’d been at university, there was no fat concealed under his three piece suit. It was all washboard muscle. It was a good thing he had such a mild mannered way.
“Are you headed back east tomorrow?” he asked her.
“It’s sort of funny, considering I don’t travel much, but I’m not. I’m headed to Houston.”
“What’s in Houston?”
“The kids bought me a vacation package—transportation and four weeks of vacation on Gambler’s Folly.”
“Five o’clock shuttle?” he asked with a curious look.
“Yes, as a matter of fact. Why?”
“This is quite a coincidence. I’m booked on the same shuttle.”
“To Gambler’s Folly? You’re kidding,” she said in amazement.
“What flight are you on tomorrow morning?” he asked.
“I’m on the ten o’clock Delta flight. Why?”
“I can call and have your money refunded if you’d rather fly with me. There are fewer lines and hassles when you fly corporate.”
“Seriously? Won’t I be in your way?”
“Not at all. Once I get to Gambler’s Folly I’ll have a couple things to check on for business, but for the rest of the time, I’m on vacation. Just plain old rest and relaxation.”
“I don’t know, Kort,” she said, hesitantly.
“Say yes, Liz. It’ll be fun.”
“If you’re sure,” she told him, not sure why she was agreeing.
“Perfect! I’ll have my driver get your luggage in the morning. We need to leave by nine-thirty, which will get us into Houston early enough to have a late lunch before we go on to the Spaceport. Do you have all your paperwork ready?”
“Yes, Kate and I made sure of that before she left the hotel.”
They chatted all the way back to the hotel, where they were besieged by people with cameras.
“Is this a new girlfriend, Mr. Behrens?” one of the reporters asked.
“No, Liz is an old flame from my university days. Say hello, Liz,” he said with a smile.
“Hello,” she managed as Kort turned away from the reporters and entered the hotel.
“Sorry about that. I hadn’t expected them so soon. I’m glad we’ll be off planet tomorrow night. By the time we get back, they’ll have something else to talk about, hopefully.”
“I hope so. I never thought about reporters,” she said, still a little shaken. “Old flame?”
He grinned widely at her expression, winked at her, and put his arm around her shoulders. When they got to her room, he looked deeply into her eyes for a moment.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said before he pressed a warm, gentle kiss to her cheek. “Sweet dreams, Liz.”
It may be just a little while before this is ready to be published, but it is in the process.
I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t expecting below freezing temperatures this time of year down here in the American Southeast. Last week we had highs around 80 degrees outside with night time temperatures in the 50’s. So yesterday’s high in the low 50’s followed by below freezing temperatures was a shock to my system.
And then there were the tomato plants we set out, thinking warm weather had arrived. I managed to get them dug back out of the garden, put into pots, and back in the greenhouse before the chill hit. With any luck they’ll survive all the disruption.
So what am I doing as far as writing?
LADY CALLOWAY
I’ve finally figured out how to wrap it up, which has been my hold up on this particular project. The lady is being quite obstinate about cooperating with me.
Not that her husband is any better.
However, with a little luck, Lady Calloway should be finished by the end of next week. Unless she decides to pull another stunt I’m not expecting.
In the meantime, my editor is looking over the next book in the Esperance series–Too Many Talents. This story picks up right after Viviane, First Lady, continuing Viviane’s story and bringing in the new heir of Clan Belfort–a little boy of almost 11, who is not necessarily happy about it.
While it seems having paranormal Talents would be fun, getting a handle on them can be quite a pain. Just ask Viviane and Connell.
Want a bit of a peek?
TOO MANY TALENTS–
Viviane–First Lady of Clan Brannach
“Viviane, Duncan is worried about you and has me worried, too.”
“Worried? Whatever for?” she asked.
“I know how you feel about your Talents, but hiding from them isn’t the answer. And neither is running away and pretending they don’t exist. Duncan and I feel the loss of control you are experiencing is coming from something besides the porting aspect of your Talents.”
“I don’t know what you mean, Jareth,” she answered sharply.
“Yes, you do, Viviane. Since we’ve been home you’ve been resisting your Talents, and fighting them, especially during training. They will win in the end. In the meantime your control will get worse and worse, until it is manifesting more unpredictably, even when you’re not working with it. With the strengths you have, you will hurt someone, while trying to deny your heritage.”
“But Jareth…”
“Your Talents have to be trained,” he stated emphatically. “There is no escape from it. You have to let go of your fears and put your entire will into your training. It’s the only way to gain control before you do irreparable harm.”
“I don’t want these Talents, Jareth! I never have! Why won’t they go away and leave me alone?”
“We may never know the answer as to why they developed, but since they have, you must treat them responsibly. You wouldn’t hand a child a live blade and expect him to use it properly, would you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Your Talents are exponentially more dangerous than the deadliest blade ever forged. Just as it would be irresponsible to hand a child a sword and let him run through the house with it, chasing the staff, and playing guard, it is ever so much more dangerous to have you, with so much untrained Talent, manifesting uncontrolled.”
Connell, Heir of Belfort
“But Mom, why do I have to go live with Grandpa? I want to stay here with you,” Connell complained for the hundredth time.
“You know why, young man,” his mother scolded. “And as soon as your father and I can take care of everything here, we’ll join you.”
“But how long will that be?” he asked, rolling his blue eyes at her. “I don’t know why we have to go anyway. I don’t want to be First Lord.”
“Now that is enough. We don’t have time for this. You’re ten years old and you know better.”
“I’m almost eleven,” he countered.
“Then start acting like it,” his mother snapped, exasperation beginning to show.
“But what about all my friends? I won’t have any friends there,” he continued.
“I’m sure you’ll make new friends.”
“But I like my old ones.”
“Connell, find something to do besides complain, or I’ll find something for you to do.”
“Fine!”
The little boy of almost eleven spun on his heel and ran out the door. Arriving at his favorite spot by the stream, he dropped down onto a large gray boulder and fought back the tears. No, he would not cry. Selecting a flat stone from the bank, he skipped it expertly across the water.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been there before he heard someone behind him.
“Connell? Can I sit with you?”
Great! The voice could only be little Nell. She was all right for a girl, but, well, she was a girl. And she was always trying to help him with whatever he was doing. Two years younger than he was, they’d grown up together in the village, and he’d always liked her, even though she could be annoying.
“I guess. Sure,” he answered with a sigh.
He turned to give the little blonde, blue-eyed girl a hand so she wouldn’t slip on the bank. Once seated on the rock bench, she smoothed her flowered frock down over her knees.
“What are you doing down here? I thought you guys were moving.”
“Mom’s mad and told me to find something to do. So I came down to skip stones.”
“I could never do that. Can you show me?”
Even if she was a girl, Nell took his mind away from his problems. They skipped stones until the light began to fade.
“We should probably go back, Nell,” he told the little girl. “Mom was mad before I came down here. If I’m too late getting back, it won’t help anything.”
“Will I see you before you go, Connell?” she asked.
“I guess. We’ll be here a few days yet, and anyway, I’ll come back sometimes.”
“Can I still be your friend when you’re First Lord?”
Settled by pioneers from Earth, the planet was far from being self-sufficient when they lost contact with Earth, and with the supplies they needed to continue building their world. Without the medicines from Earth, the population was devastated when a pandemic hit, leaving less than half the people of the original settlements.
With society now in total chaos and anarchy, it was every man for himself until a few people with unusual psychic abilities were able to force their will on the population and bring law and order back to their world. These men became the original First Lords.
Dividing the remaining population into clans, the First Lords gave their names to the clans, gradually rebuilding a successful society on their world. While it was far from what they’d had when Earth was subsidizing them, this frontier world, they had food, shelter, and a sense of direction.
As the population grew, so did these unusual Talents. Only the First Lords had the multiple Talents needed to rule their clans, but others developed abilities related to their work, or for healing and nurturing.
The first book in the series, Jareth, First Lord, is about one of these Talented men and the woman he hopes to win. Set a couple centuries after the Age of Confusion, his clan is well established and prosperous. Two years previously, he had lost his wife in childbirth, losing the baby as well. He knew he had to remarry, but was surprised when he found the woman of his dreams in another clan with which he had a dispute.
Book two,Viviane, First Lady, continues their story and tells of Viviane’s struggle to learn how to control Talents she has suddenly developed before they cause any more trouble. While having psychic abilities seems like it would be a great deal of fun, learning to control them, instead of having them control you, can be a trick.
Book 3, Morgan, tells of a young woman who came to Brannach during the Choosing. She had determined to live her life alone, after being abused by nearly every man she’s known in her life. When James begins to show her attention, she isn’t sure what to think. As for James, his family has a couple Talents which can make people nervous. As his attraction grows for Morgan, so does his anxiety about sharing his secret with her.
Watch for new books in the future!
Esperance. A world full of mischief, magic, and romance.
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