An Interview: Lexi

 “Thank you for coming in for the interview today.”

“Author didn’t really give me a choice, did she?” Lexi said, leaning back in the chair and crossing her arms.

“It shouldn’t take up too much of your time. What do you like about your job?”

“It pays, and I’m good at it.”

“Ok, what got you started in it?”

“I’m good with numbers, and it sort of fell in my lap at a time when I needed something. It’s as good a job as any.”

“Some would say you should find a job you have a passion for.”

“I have a passion for not going hungry and having a house to live in,” she said with a snort.

“Would you ever consider changing jobs, and if so, what would you want to do?”

“Accounting is easy enough for me, and it pays well. I don’t see a change ever coming. Unless, of course, things don’t work out in our favor in Aleiant.” Lexi crossed her legs, arms still locked over her chest. She had a knack for being intimidating. Her face did nothing to hide any emotion she was feeling.

“What’s a hobby you have?”

“Books and flowers.”

“How did those come to be hobbies of yours?”

She pursed her lips and jiggled her legs. For the first time since she sat down here, she didn’t look angry or intimidating. She drummed her fingers against her elbow.

“Books are an escape for anything and everything. They let you live as someone else, even if only for a fleeting moment. They don’t change, they don’t argue, they just are. As they have always been.”

She dropped her leg back to the ground, and her arms loosened their grip on each other. She wasn’t relaxed per se but close. She bit her lip and glanced up toward the ceiling.

“Flowers, on the other hand. They shift, but incrementally. If they are cared for and loved, they reciprocate. They speak in hushed tones to offer support and change the intensity of their scent to suit you. I can always go sit in the garden and leave feeling relaxed and centered. On the best days and on the worst.”

“That’s an interesting perspective. Not many experience flowers like that.”

“Then they aren’t paying attention. Fairies are more attuned to it, but anyone can experience the emotions flowers can bring you.”

“What skill do you have that might be surprising?”

“I don’t know how to answer that. I’m not all that secretive.”

“That’s fair. How about a skill you’re most proud of?”

She scrunched her face up but didn’t say anything. Her fingers resumed drumming on her arm as she thought about it, and the silence was stretching into almost uncomfortable territory. The question needed an answer, though.

“I’m proud of all of them. I honed them. I practiced. I put in the time to make them worthwhile. It’s not like someone else chose most of my abilities while I sat on the sidelines.”

The silence stretched on while waiting for an actual answer. Lexi didn’t like to give them up easily, but she would have to give up something. That is what interviews are for, after all.

“Finding and maintaining accurate history,” she finally said with a scowl. “Happy?”

“You could say that. Why is that the skill you are most proud of?”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds. You can’t always count on first-hand retellings, even less than second or third-hand ones. Everyone has their own narrative. Everyone sees events through their own lens. Your experiences and choices impact what you see and how you see it.” She leaned forward slightly, hands resting on her knees as she thought of how to continue.

“If you had a person in your life that was always yelling at you and criticizing you, and I never did. The only yelling I experienced was when something horrible happened. Then you and I witness a couple arguing in a coffee shop. You might feel sympathy for the one on the receiving end while feeling like the giver was a horrible person. I might see it as the receiver has done something terrible, and these are the consequences. That is a terrible example, but it’s all I can think of at the moment.”

“I see what you are saying. So if that’s the case, how can any account be taken as real and valid?”

“A lot of thought and investigation. The more accounts you have, the more accurate a picture might be. Going back to the argument in the coffee shop. We each have our account, but then you ask someone closer. They heard the conversation, and they were both mad at someone else. Not arguing at all, but mutually angry at a third party. It’s not always perfect, but that’s what happens when you pour through history and history in the making.”

“How much time do you spend on this?”

“Obviously, I’m not chronicling every person’s life in detail. It’s major events or anything that seems like it will be. It’s paying attention to the world around you. I can’t say I sit and do this for a set amount of time. It happens as history happens, but sometimes I like to look back and gain more perspective.”

“Fair enough. Ok, next question: what does the perfect vacation look like to you?”

Lexi snorted and leaned back again. Her enthusiasm and willingness to talk visibly deflated. Talks of vacations did not stir the same passion in her as thinking about history.

“Everyone leaving me to read in the garden. There is no danger of that, though. There is always something to be done. Vacations are a dream afforded to those who don’t need to work in this city. Or those who are lawful and good and work for lawful and good people. Go ask Vanessa when the last time she took a vacation was. Take off around here, and you’ll be replaced and rendered obsolete.”

“So you’ve never taken a vacation?”

“No. Next question.”

“What about a perfect date?”

“I don’t date.”

She tipped her head to the side slightly as if studying something. Her arms weren’t any more tightly crossed than they had been before. She was completely indifferent to the question and its answer.

“Ever?”

“Too complicated. I like living alone. I like not being connected to another person in such a way. If I want someone to share my bed… it’s not too hard to find someone and have them out before the sun rises. It’s exactly how I like it.”

“That sounds lonely.”

“That’s such a bullshit response,” she snorted. “It’s exactly how I want it, and I have people around me. I just don’t have a partner. I’m not lonely; I’m happy.”

“My apologies. And that was the last question. Thank you for…”

“Yep, yep, thanks, you’re welcome, bye,” she said as she stood and stalked toward the portal to take her back.

Rage Excerpt 12: Open Attack

 I couldn’t get the door open fast enough. Ty and Tray tried to stop me, but after one fierce glare they let me be.

The room was filling with smoke. Nic was already rushing around to bring everyone into the main rom. I looked around, but I couldn’t tell where the smoke was coming from. It just seemed to be everywhere.

“What happened?” I asked Nic.

“I have no idea. The window shattered and smoke started pouring it.”

“Have you seen any flames?”

“None.”

“They want to flush us out. For some reason they don’t want to launch an outright attack on a Committee building,” I said as I brought my sleeve up to cover my face. The smoke was getting thicker.

“Vanessa… we can’t stay in here, we’ll suffocate,” he said amidst a fit of coughing.

“We can’t go outside either. The room next to us, is it empty?” I asked.

When Ty nodded, we all started moving at once. It didn’t take me long to get the lock open with a bit of magic. They really should ward against that. I jerked my head toward the window, and James and I crept up to it. Slowly and carefully I pulled the curtain back just enough to peer through.

There were two witches in the courtyard behind the building. One of them was coaxing a small fire to increase in intensity, while the other was directing the smoke through our broken window.

“Thomas still has his bow and we’ve got your magic,” James murmured to me as we watched. 

“I’ve got a better idea. I was able to catch the signature of one of the Committee member’s magic,” I said with a grin. “That means I can send him a fire message.”

“What will that get us?” Nic asked.

“We can get the Guard to surround them. So far we’ve had to play defense. I’m more than a little ready for some offence.”

James kept an eye on the witches in the courtyard while I slipped away to send the message. I didn’t want to be too close to them, but they would feel my magic either way. At least this would only be a little burst.

It wasn’t long before my phone rang.

“Parker,” I answered.

“I have contacted the Guard. I also warned them you might send something out from the second floor. I wouldn’t want them storming up to get you too.”

“I appreciate that. Do you have any witches on staff?” I asked.

“None that will be close enough to help. What do you have in mind, Ms. Parker?”

“Just little containment.”

“Very well. I shall meet with you in your room soon. We don’t have time to wait.”

“We helped ourselves to the room next door,” I said.

“Very well.”

We both hung up, and I turned to Cassidy.

“You up for a bit of containment?” I said with a grin.

“I would love to be of assistance,” she replied.

“I will aid as well. I would like to see firsthand what we are up against,” Randle added.

The three of us went to the window and watched as the witch’s frustration grew. They hadn’t expected it to take us this long to leave.

I focused on the fire for a minute, trying to gauge the amount of power being used to keep it alive. It didn’t seem like he was worried about it getting snuffed out.

“As soon as that fire goes out get ready to freeze them where they stand,” I murmured.

I took a deep breath, shattered the window with a brief touch, and flung a solid chunk of magic at the flame. It went out immediately, much to the surprise of the witch fanning it. Before they could react, their bodies froze mid movement. I summoned more of my magic and did my best to mimic the bubble they had used against me more than once. I wasn’t as strong as they were, but I hoped it would hold.

“I don’t think we can hold them for long,” Randle said through gritted teeth. “Their magic is fighting hard against ours. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“The Guard needs to hurry then.”

I felt a surge of magic join mine. It surprised me enough that I almost lost my grip on mine.

“I can help you keep their magic in check,” Gus said as he stepped up next to me.

Dex also squeezed in and added his magic to Cassidy and Randle’s. Still, they were focused and strong. I didn’t know what was taking the Guard so long.

“In Vale they train fairies with witches in combat. They learn how to fight each other. It isn’t so much that they are strong, it’s that they are skilled at exploiting weakness in other’s magic,” Gus said. “While their governance is brutal, their unity among races is unmatched.”

“Perfect. That should make this easier,” I snarked. 

This excerpt is taken from a lightly edited first draft. All content here may be changed or removed from the final book.

The Proposal; The other Side

 A glimpse into what happened at the safe house to get ready for the proposal. 

A frenzy of activity started as soon as Vanessa left with James and Ellie. While Vanessa and James had set off to get coffee, Ellie showed Cassidy where her mother’s decorations were kept. Everyone wanted to get moving after we ate. Some of the decorations were too formal, and some were too holiday-centric, but others were just about perfect.

Cassidy sent Gus off to procure some seeds for her stash at their house after Thomas told them what he was thinking, and he was going to stop and grab Thomas one of his suits. While he was gone, Thomas, Cassidy, and Ms. Claudette got to cleaning. The place was well taken care of; Vanessa and Gus reckoned it was some sort of stasis spell that kept dust from accumulating while it was unoccupied.

“The couch will need to be shifted out of the way,” Thomas said. “I want to be able to walk straight through here.”

“We can turn it and slide it up against the wall instead of having it out in the middle. The table behind it can be moved in front of it for the time being,” Cassidy answered.

“I think we should extend the path into the entryway,” Ms. Claudette said. “He will see the flowers everywhere but won’t have the full effect of this room immediately. It would build up the anticipation as he walked around the corner.”

“I love that!” Thomas said excitedly. “Will you have enough seeds to do that?”

“I can generate more,” Cassidy said with a wink.

When Gus got back with pots, vases, and seeds, Cassidy set to work on the flowers while Gus took her place in cleaning. While he didn’t like using his magic for mundane things, they had a lot to do and not much time to do it. He slid the furniture around with ease while Thomas decided precisely where it needed to go. Watching Thomas scrutinize every detail and want it to be perfect for James caused some tears to well up in Gus’s eyes. Thomas was thinking through everything he knew James loved. Everything from furniture angles, lighting quality, flower fragrance, and unique relations and meanings behind it all.

“This is as much for you as for him,” Cassidy said.

“None of those details matter to me. I don’t care about the lighting strength and how it might change the feel of a room. James does. He is meticulous, thorough, and on top of everything all the time. It would make him happy to have all of these things right, even if he would never mention it if I didn’t do it. I want him to be happy.”

Cassidy burst into tears and threw herself into Thomas’s arms. Her tears brought some to Thomas’s eyes too. Ms. Claudette turned away, trying to stop tears from spilling down her cheeks.

“We still have a lot to do,” she said in a carefully controlled voice. “And Thomas still needs to change and grab the stone he picked out.”

“You’re right,” Cassidy said, sniffling as she released Thomas. “There will be time for all of this later. I’m just so happy for them!”

Cassidy went back to the flowers. They were coming along nicely as she coaxed them to keep growing. She caressed their leaves softly and cooed at them as they bloomed. She carefully potted some of them and asked others to release flowers for her so she could put them in various vases.

When Ellie came through the portal, it startled everyone. They weren’t expecting anyone until Vanessa gave them a warning.

“It’s me,” Ellie said quickly. “Oh my Gods, it’s so beautiful! And it’s not even done yet!”

“It’s getting there,” Cassidy said, still sniffling. “The plants should be ready soon, but I’m not sure what else we need to get done. How come you’re back?”

“I have to drop this off. James really wanted to come back to talk to you, Thomas, but Vanessa told him we didn’t have time.”

“He’ll be weirded out by that,” Thomas said, a little worried.

“I know, but he will understand soon enough,” Ellie said. “How much longer do you need?”

“Maybe… like, an hour?”

“Ok, I have to go now, but I’ll make sure we aren’t ready to head back before then!”

Ellie popped back into the portal, and it closed. She was only here about a minute, two tops. Thomas pointed out some of the metallic decorations and, after a discussion with Ms. Claudette, decided the best way to put them up to reflect the lighting the way he wanted. Candles and lanterns were lit and placed around the room to give an intimate feel. He had decided the overhead lights were too bright and harsh for the moment.

Thomas gave a few last-minute instructions before he slipped off to put his suit on. Gus didn’t go by James and Thomas’s house for a suit like he said he was. He bought him a brand new one in charcoal gray. As he slowed pulled it on, he realized Gus had done the alterations himself. The suit fit perfectly. Thomas stood in front of the mirror and turned slowly, looking at it from all angles. He had no idea how Gus managed something like this so quickly, but it was perfect. He could feel his eyes welling up again and tipped his head back to hold them in.

Gus sent vases and pots gliding through the air as he took instruction from Cassidy and Ms. Claudette. He threw in an opinion on occasion, but he thought the flowers looked beautiful wherever they were placed.

“The sweetpeas shouldn’t be in the entryway,” Gus said. “They are his favorite, so he should be surrounded by them when he is asked.”

“Oh, that’s lovely!” Cassidy said. “I think if they are all in there, the peonies should be too. I think that would have the best feel to it.”

Since that was settled. Gus guided several pots into place simultaneously while Ms. Claudette and Cassidy swept away all the unused decorations and the seed packets, empty pots, and cuttings.

As Thomas came down the stairs, they turned to look at him. He looked fantastic. His sandy hair was ruffled and unruly since he kept running his hands through it, but it was charming. An outward sign of nervousness and excitement.

“I’ll be in there,” Thomas said, gesturing to the door leading into the kitchen. “When he comes in, can you guys open the door so I know it’s time for me to come out?”

“Of course,” Gus said as Cassidy sniffled, fresh tears running down her face. “Fire message. Are we ready?”

“Tell her to give us a few more minutes,” Thomas said as he ran his hand through his hair again.

“Everything is perfect, dear,” Ms. Claudette said as she smoothed his lapels. “You look fetching, and you can feel the love you have for him in each and every aspect of this room. Take a deep breath, and go wait behind that door.”

“Thank you,” he said as he pulled her into a hug.

Gus and Cassidy each got a hug before he strode through the door. Ms. Claudette settled herself on a chair in the corner. Gus pulled on a suit coat. His pants were a little dusty, but he wasn’t worried about that. Cassidy straightened her sweater and picked off invisible lint while she waited.

They heard the portal open, and both held their breath. They heard Vanessa mumble something just before James stepped into view. His eyes were wide, and his hands were shaking slightly. You could see the warmth sweep over him as he took in the scene before him. A tear spilled down his cheek as he turned to hug Vanessa. Gus pushed the door open, revealing Thomas. The pure love and admiration that swept over James’s face as he saw Thomas sent more tears cascading down Cassidy’s cheeks. But James didn’t notice quite yet; he only had eyes for Thomas.

Just Kidding... Updated Release Info

 After doing some thinking and planning and looking at the logistics, I’ve decided to make some changes to the Harnessing the Flame series. The series is being renamed Spirit of the Flame, and the first book will be renamed Into the Flames (I just added an S there). I feel it will make it less confusing in the long run to give it just a little bit of space from the original releases. I don’t think I’m changing the name of Firebombed, but I will know for sure relatively soon.

 As of now, I am modifying the publishing schedule I was considering. Once Rage has undergone its overhaul, I’m shifting focus to Spirit of the Flame. I need to get the rereleases ready and scheduled. By the time that is completed, I should have Rage back from my betas. Changes will be made, concerns addressed, and then it’ll be sent off to my editors. While my editors are tearing into all the possible (read likely) mistakes I’ve made, I will dive into the second book of the Spirit of Fire series. Releases will alternate between the two series. This will allow me to write for one while the other is undergoing edits.

When Thomas met James

 A glimpse into the day Thomas met James for the first time. This is only the very beginning of their story, but I hope you enjoy it!

It had been one of those days. The hours at the bank were increasingly more erratic as his boss wanted to make sure to land a deal with one of the most influential financial powers in Aleiant. To have Raffe come over to handle all his dealings would be a significant gain for the bank.

It just meant more work, more stress, and longer hours to Thomas. His staff was incompetent, in his opinion. Nothing was ever done the way he wanted it to be, and it was his call godsdamnit. He was in charge, and they needed to get in line. He had to yell at two of them before lunch. The fact that one of them cried just showed how weak they were.

“Coffee. Black,” he said to the pretty blonde girl behind the counter when it was his turn.

“Sure thing, sugar!” she replied brightly.

He scowled.

“Do not call me that,” he said sharply.

He didn’t like this place. The owner, Kylie, Cara, something like that, was just too happy. She owned a coffee joint; what did she have to be so happy about anyway? The fact she couldn’t tell he was important and busy and didn’t have time to be bothered by the likes of her was just another strike against her.

“Your coffee, your excellence,” she said with a toothy grin as she set the coffee in front of him with such force it sloshed onto his sleeve.

“Godsdamnit!” he yelled. “Your only job in life is to serve coffee, and you can’t even manage that properly!”

“My apologies, good sir,” she replied silkily. “My apparent lowborn background didn’t prepare me for things such as grace or poise, but I see you were never taught manners or decency. So, I think we can call it even.”

She leveled her gaze at him and didn’t flinch as he returned her stare. Several tables around them had gotten quiet. He was fuming such a person would speak to him in that manner.

“Do you know who I am?” he snarled.

“No, but I suppose you’re going to tell me.”

“I am a top-level manager of Casey’s Vault and Trust,” he said, straitening his spine. “I could have any number of people come into this hellhole and shut you down permanently. Mind your tone.”

“Ah, very impressive indeed,” she said, tipping her head to one side. “I’ll just have to give Daddy a call to help me out. I’ll make sure to give him your name. He and Ralph Casey take the horses on a run together every Saturday night.”

“You know Mr. Casey?” he asked incredulously, taking a step back.

“Ralph is my godfather. I grew up playing in his gardens with his daughter, Amy. It would be in your best interest to remember kindness in all aspects of your life, sir.” She leaned across the counter and spoke in a low whisper. “I have enough gold sitting in a vault at Casey’s Vault and Trust to hire a staff to attend my every need for the rest of my life. I like this coffee shop and what it means to the people that come in here, and I like getting to know everyone from every path in life.” She leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest. Thomas was stunned into silence. “Working for a living, no matter the position, is a noble endeavor, and it would serve you well to remember that.”

Thomas grabbed his coffee and turned to stalk out of the place. He wanted to yell. To scream. To knock someone over. He did not like being spoken to like that. He couldn’t say anything else to that wretched woman, though. If she talked to Mr. Casey she could cause real and lasting trouble for him.

He was halfway to the door when a woman started to stand. He was waking too quickly to stop and collided with her. His coffee splashed all over his shirt and over the woman’s shoulder, running down to her skirt.

“Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” the woman snarled as she whipped around. “This was new!”

“You need to watch where you’re going,” he yelled back. “Because of you, more than half of my coffee has been thrown around in here! You will go get me another one!”

“You here that, James?” she said with a laugh, turning to her companion.

“Be nice, V,” he said, leaning back and putting his elbow up on the back of his chair. “You heard Carly. Kindness is a virtue.”

The insufferable woman in front of him snorted and stalked around Thomas toward the bathroom. He looked over at James. A small smile played at his lips as he shook his head. Thomas watched his lips a moment longer.

“It’s apparent you aren’t having a very good day,” James said. Thomas couldn’t tell whether or not he was being mocked, but before he could answer, James continued. “Let me see if I can help any.”

He leaned to the side a little and stuck his hand out. To his surprise, the woman behind the counter, Carly, according to James, came right over and hugged him.

“James! I didn’t see you come in! Did I get your coffee right? I don’t like guessing when I can’t see you!”

“It’s perfect as always, Carly,” he said with the most dazzling grin. “I was wondering if you could do me a personal favor?”

“All you have to do is ask,” she said, still pointedly ignoring Thomas’s presence.

“This man here…” James paused.

“Thomas.”

“Right, Thomas here is having one hell of a day. Would you be willing to brew him up a couple of your best brews and toss in some muffins on me? He’s going to sit down with me and wait.”

Carley gave Thomas a sideways glance but nodded at James.

“You, James, are just too nice for your own good.”

“Vanessa reminds me of that every day,” he said with another dazzling smile.

Carley made her way back to the counter as James gestured to Vanessa’s vacated chair. He reluctantly sat down. More out of curiosity than anything else.

“Why would you do that?” Thomas asked with narrowed eyes.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

Thomas didn’t know how to answer that under his calm but scrutinizing stare. They sat in silence for a few minutes, a few minutes that seemed like hours to Thomas.

“While I agree with everything the women have said to you, I have a slightly different view on things. Yelling at you won’t help you. Showing you kindness while you obviously need it might. If I’m wrong…” he shrugged. “It didn’t hurt me at all to be kind anyway.”

Thomas stared at him a moment longer before Carly walked back over and set the coffee and muffins down in front of him. She looked him over once and walked back to the counter without a word. He could tell there was more she wanted to say but had decided against it for whatever reason.

“James! You have got to be kidding me!” James just grinned over Thomas’s shoulder. “Why in the world would you even consider helping this pompous asshole?”

Vanessa stalked up to the table and stood there with her hands on her hips, glaring at Thomas.

“Why shouldn’t I help him?” James said with a grin.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because he was rude to Carly, spilled his coffee all over me, and then he demanded I pay for him to get a new one?”

“We all have bad days, V.”

Vanessa snorted and rolled her eyes.

“You owe me a new skirt.”

“Fat chance of that happening,” Thomas said, returning her glare. “If you had been paying attention, none of this would have happened!”

“If I had been paying attention? If I had been paying attention. Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me…”

James put both his hands out. Vanessa stopped in her tracks and shot him a dirty look that didn’t seem to phase him.

“Thomas is sorry for spilling his coffee on you. Vanessa is sorry she yelled at you,” James said, looking at them both in turn. Before he could be interrupted, he continued, “and now we will go our separate ways and continue with the rest of our day.”

James stood up and held his elbow out to Vanessa. She grudgingly took it, and they started to walk away as Vanessa mumbled under her breath. James paused a second and looked over his shoulder at Thomas.

“I hope you have a better day,” he said, giving Thomas a wink.

An Interview: Ty

 “Good morning, Ty. How are you doing today?”

“Can’t complain,” he said as he leaned back in his chair, propping his elbow up on the back of it. “How about yourself?”

“Can’t complain. Are you ready to get started?”

“Mhmm,” he said, sounding more like a grunt than anything else.

“What do you like about your job?”

“Keeps me busy,” he said with a furrowed brow. “Raffe is a good guy. Coin is more than fair, don’t have to worry about much… Well, until recently. Lots of worrying across the board now.”

“Would you ever consider changing jobs, and if so, what would you want to do?”

“Nope. Work can be hard, but I’m good at it. My brother and I get to work most of it together. Not a bad gig.” He stretched his legs out in front of him and ran his hand through his hair.

“What’s a hobby you have?”

“Wood carvings. Small things mostly.”

“Small things like…?”

He pulled his legs back to him and leaned forward in his chair slightly. The first sign of more than professional courtesy or indifference he had shown.

“Usually small animals, but sometimes houses. I started making a small village a while ago,” he said with a gleam in his eye. “It’s on hold while other things are being handled.”

“I’m sure you could get some carving done while waiting for information or plans. Vanessa wouldn’t mind.”

“Maybe. I need my attention on the matters at hand, though,” he said as he leaned back. His expression shuttered. He wouldn’t go on with that line of questions.

“What got you started in carving?”

He relaxed a little, glad the subject of making time to carve now wasn’t being pushed.

“My mom carved things. She did figures and statues of all sizes. Sometimes things so big she had to make them in parts and attach them together. My dad would paint them. Sometimes the whole thing, other times just details.”

“That’s really great. I would love to see one of them sometime.”

He grunted in return. It was unclear if he agreed or not.

“What skill do you have that might be surprising?”

“Gardening maybe,” he said thoughtfully. “Nothing about me looks delicate, but I can cultivate flowers, fruits, and vegetables almost as well as a fairy. Just not off-season like they can.”

“That is fabulous! Do you grow a lot of your own food then?”

“Not a lot, but some,” he said, propping one ankle up on his knee. “I don’t have the time to dedicate to a full garden. I focus on a few flowers in the yard, some tomatoes, and some peppers.”

“Sounds rewarding.” 

He answered with only a grunt.

“What does the perfect vacation look like to you?”

“I haven’t really thought of it,” he said, frowning. “I work when Raffe needs me. Sometimes it’s constantly like now; other times, I have several days to myself. If I ever need time for something, Raffe would allow it. Unless, of course, something significant needed tending.”

“So you’ve never had a vacation?”

“I… I guess not in the traditional sense. But I am happy with my work and unbothered by not having a traditional vacation. If Raffe sends us to another city on business, he always tells us to take a tour of the city and enjoy ourselves.”

“Vanessa mentioned at one time that Raffe was not someone to mess with, but he doesn’t seem that frightening the way you talk about it.”

A Cheshire grin spread slowly across his face as he leaned back into his chair. “That’s because he knows I am loyal, work hard, and he likes me. Cross him, lie to him, or interfere with his business or family and you will see a very different side of him. Raffe runs in extremes.”

“I see. I’ll make sure to stay on his good side then. Ok, our last question before we wrap up: what do you think would be a perfect date?”

“Good food and starlight.”

“That’s pretty straightforward. Can you elaborate at all?”

“I think that’s about it. Good food; I’m not picky on what kind. Sitting under the stars.”

“Why is that the perfect date for you?”

“What someone considers good food is important in the long run. Sitting under the stars allows for conversations, but silences are spent looking up, so not awkward.”

“I like that. Ok, I’ve taken up enough of your time. Thank you for sitting down with me!”

“Mhmm,” he grunted as he stood and stretched before heading back to the portal that would take him home.

It is done!

Ok, not DONE done... Rage is officially written! Now it's on to editing. I have to do a major overhaul that includes: continuity, plugging plot holes, making sure everything is as fleshed out (or vague) as I imagined it, and my technical due diligence. After that, it's off to my lovely betas! They have to let me know what works, what doesn't, and whether or not they would buy it if they didn't know me. Followed by more edits of mine. Finally, off to my editors to make it all shiny and ready for consumption. I'm hoping this process will only take 4ish months, but I can't promise that. 

However, once I get through the overhaul, I will get going on the second book. I won't be getting excerpts out for the second book until a few weeks after the first book's release. I'm going to try to get some extra's rolling, though! There are already two more excerpts from the first book scheduled and a peek into the Thomas and James story! 

But! As it stands now, Rage is 365 pages and 115,669 words! I'm tired and happy and about to go enjoy some very nice apple brandy to celebrate its (sort of) completion! Cheers!

Rage Excerpt 11: The Date

 “Thank you, Vanessa. Now you take care of yourself, and don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”

“I won’t. You enjoy your night.”

When I hung up, I felt lighter.

“I wouldn’t have thought of that,” Nic said, startling me.

“What?” I asked as I turned to face him.

“Asking Raffe for support with the Committee.”

“Well, you don’t work for or with him, so it might be weird for you to call him,” I teased.

“He probably wouldn’t even take my call,” he said with mock hurt.

“What are you doing out here, Mr. Corbeau?”

“Well, Ms. Parker, I’m taking you on a date.”

“You’re doing what now,” I said with a bit of disbelief. “We are camping out for the third day in a row, which means no showers or clean clothes. Not to mention tomorrow is a make or break kind of day.”

“I know,” he said with a mischievous grin.

I laughed and rolled my eyes. “I’ll give you this, you sure are persistent.”

“You did tell me you’d let me take you out.”

“That I did… Your timing is impeccable.”

“I know,” he said with an even bigger grin.

He walked slowly toward me and held his hand out, the question in his eyes. I could tell he was afraid I would reject him again. He really was sweet when he wasn’t being an ass. I put my hand in his and nodded. His answering smile made it all worth it.

This excerpt is taken from a lightly edited first draft. All content here may be changed or removed entirely from the final book.

Rage Excerpt 10: The Rescue

Dex gave me a panicked look before scurrying off, no doubt to tell Randle what happened. As soon as the door closed behind us, I pointed to the balcony, and everyone followed me. I created a box of silence for us to talk in.

 “That sadistic bitch! We can’t leave without Cassidy!” Nic growled as soon as the box was covering him.

“We aren’t. We just need a plan,” I replied. “The problem is, I don’t know where they are keeping her…”

Just then, a small rock flew into view and tumbled across the balcony. I held up my hand before creeping to the edge of the balcony and peering down. Randle was looking up at me. He looked disheveled. He started to open his mouth, but I shook my head and held up a finger. I turned and slipped back into my box.

“Randle is down there. I’m going to bring him up,” I said. 

“Is that a good idea?” Nic asked. “He’s one of them.” 

“He helped her before. Maybe he’ll do it again.”

Nic and Ellie both nodded. Tray was silent. I walked back to the edge and held my fingers to my lips. He nodded. I called on my magic and used a gust of wind to bring him up. He was so surprised, he almost called out, but at the last second, he brought his hands to his mouth. He landed harder than was intended, but I was trying to keep from using the magic for too long. I held up my finger again, telling him to wait, and I expanded the box. I made sure he could sit on the table comfortably without touching the box. I gestured from him to get on the table. He looked confused, but nodded and came forward. As he passed through the boundary of magic, he shuddered and quickly scrambled onto the table. 

“What was that?” he whispered. 

“You don’t have to whisper in here. I made a soundproof box. No one can hear us.” 

“That is really amazing,” he said with a touch of awe. “I have heard a lot about you, Vanessa. I have tried to keep tabs on you to make sure Cassidy was ok. You do not disappoint.” 

“Thank you? I think?” I said as I furrowed my brow. “I’m not thrilled about the spying thing… but we can talk about that later. Tell me, how can we help Cassidy?”

“It is… well… I know where she is being held. I do not know how to release her. The Queen will not let me enter, and you cannot leave your room.” 

“Lucky for all of us, I’m not good at following the rules. Does her room have a window?” I asked. He nodded, looking perplexed. “Perfect. How I just got you up here? I can get her down from up there.” 

“But then we will still be trapped. You will never make it off the grounds. Once Cassidy is discovered as freed, I will lose my life for treason, so I will be of no assistance to you.” 

“First of all, you will not be dying today. Not if I can help it.” 

“You cannot. The Queen will not be persuaded by an outsider.” 

“Randle, you underestimate me,” I said with a grin. “Your Queen does too. Do you trust me?” 

“Yes,” he said with no hesitation. 

“Good, then saving your life will be easy. Now, tell me what I need to know about this room Cassidy is in.”

This excerpt is taken from a lightly edited first draft. The content here may change or be removed all together from the final book. 

Jennifer Donnelly- Rogue Wave ♥♥♥♥♥

Jennifer Donnelly- Rogue Wave
Waterfire Saga
297 pages

I couldn't get a review up for the first book, Deep Blue, but my feelings on both books are very similar. This will serve as a sum of my feelings and impressions of both books. 

I fell in love with this series almost immediately. Sera was so easy to connect with and understand that I was with her 100% from the very beginning. Donnelly was able to invoke real emotions throughout. I can't really give any specifics, but there is a real emotional roller-coaster here! Authors that can do that have an exceptional place in my heart.

The pacing runs pretty smooth, but there won't be any definite conclusions to any of the story arks until the end from what I gather now. I have mixed feelings about that. At the end of both Deep Blue and Rogue Wave, it felt like it was over in the middle of things. There were some revelations, some minor conclusions, but felt a little abrupt to be over. I think the reason I'm not more upset about this is because I own all the books. I don't have to wait a year or more to see what will be happening. I know I can jump right into the next book without delay. I understand using cliffhangers and plot lines that run across multiple books, and I'm ok with that, but here it just seems like Donnelly had one really long story that she cut into 4 books. So it's not inherently bad; I'm just a little off-kilter with how we left things. 

The other minor thing potential readers should be aware of is the terminology. Some of it is a little jarring since there is no readily available explanation. You have to be willing to roll with it and not understand exactly what you read until later. I really like this style of writing because it's more immersive. You don't get pulled out of the story to see an explanation of how it works. It does require a little more patience, though. There is a glossary in the back. Be warned: the glossary is written on the assumption you've read the story. You may encounter mild spoilers if you go there before you are done reading. 

The way all the relationships are portrayed is sooo good. The depth and conflict feel very real. I really am in love with these characters! Two more books with them just doesn't seem like enough. These books aren't long, but they pack a punch with information. A lot happens, you feel like you've run the gauntlet, and then you realize it's only been 100 pages. It wasn't hard to give this book 5 hearts. It earned it. 

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Write Drunk, Edit Sober

 ahhhh, that is one of my favorite writing quotes. Although editing makes me want to drink... 

I'm currently in the middle of a massive edit. I felt like Rage definitely needed it. I am struggling with a couple sub-plots, and I think a few tweaks need to be made. I also found a plot hole (or four) that need to be plugged. So I don't have anything excerpty for you right now. I'm hoping to be done with edits soon, but I can't make any promises. 

On top of all the writing and editing I need to be doing... I took on a couple massive crochet projects that will be Christmas presents. My grandma is getting a temperature blanket for 1955 (the year she married my grandpa). However, since I can't ever leave well enough alone... Instead of a traditional temp blanket, I'm making a hexagon for each day. To shape up right, I have to make 364 (one day had to be axed) hexagons. I have 305 made now—59 to go. Then I have to attach them all and add a border. That is only one of three labor-intensive things I've got going right now. After Christmas, I'll try to get some pics up here of some of it! 

Back to topic: I'm very hopeful that next week I will be done with the editing and have an excerpt or extra to post! 

The 'Rona

Around the beginning of the year, I started paying very close attention to the news. By the time Naomi's school closed for the remainder of the school year, I was already sufficiently inundated with news coverage of how bad the pandemic could be. After schools closed, I became a teacher. The district wasn't prepared to move to online instruction, and the lessons were more than lacking. So, I took over. Months of fighting with a teenager about the importance of History and how even if you think grammar is stupid... you still have to learn it ensued. 

I haven't sat down to write in so long, I can't even remember where I left off. So, this week I've picked up Rage again. I'm taking the time to edit extensively first. I will be trying to get back into the swing of things. It might take some time to get content flowing at regular intervals again, but I'm working on it. 

As a bonus, this is how well editing is going. Alexandria is helping (yes, that is a paper copy of my book she is laying on...)

Rage Excerpt 9

Can you guess who these two are? 

“We should probably head back,” he rasped.

He stood up and offered his hand. I took it and let him pull me to my feet. When he turned to walk back, I stepped up next to him and pulled him into me.

“Not yet,” I said softly.

I slid my arms over his shoulders and pulled him closer. This time he didn’t move quite as slow. He pressed his lips to mine, but I deepened the kiss. I wanted to feel more of him. I wanted to be in this moment with him just a little longer.

Alexandra Bracken- The Darkest Minds ♥♥♥♥♥

Alexandra Bracken- The Darkest Minds
488 pages

Reading this book was a little strange for me at first since the last series I finished and this one have a main character named Ruby... 

Anyway, this is one of those books that I will love rereading to find all the little nuances I missed the first time through. It was all so emotional, though. What this book lacked in action scenes it made up for in how quickly it could rip emotions out of you. The roller coaster was incredible, even if it did give me whiplash a few times. I really liked seeing things from Ruby's pov, but she was mildly infuriating. Yet all of it was understandable. You start to get emotional about her being an idiot and then run through all she's been through. It makes sense, and you just can't stay mad at her, not really anyway. 

Liam was pretty great too. His attitude, his emotions, his overall world view. I really loved him here. There is so much more I want to know, and so many questions I wish I could ask... I really can't wait to start the next book. There is just something about him. I really love him.

Chubs is my favorite, though. His realism mixed with a touch of pessimism, his distrust, and hesitance he plays off with dark humor. I really couldn't get enough of him. I also wanted to smack him upside the head. It was a complicated relationship. There is just so much here I want to say but will hold back. 

I still have a lot of questions swirling about the set up of the world. I think the answers will come in the next book, but I can't be sure just yet. Right now, I'm feeling ridiculously angry and confused. The ending was really well done, but I hate it. Emotionally speaking. It completely reinforced my opinions of the characters, though. It makes sense, but I still hate it. I need to know more, and I'm wishing I could start reading more immediately, but work is calling... so I have to wait a bit. 

Overall, I'm happy with the book. This series might end up getting bumped up into favorites, I haven't decided yet, but there is a really good chance of it. 

Rating:
♥♥♥♥♥

Rage Excerpt 8

Context: a conversation between Nic and Vanessa. 

“Walk me through what you’re thinking,” he said softly.

“That isn’t going to help anyone, but I appreciate the offer.”

“Remember how we talked about letting me help you?”

“Yes, I do. However, I’m not just going to jump right in and share all my deepest darkest secrets.”

“I’m not asking you to,” he said softly. “I’m asking you to tell me what you’re thinking right now. Just one.”

I sighed. Pacing around a little faster, I was trying to decide how much to lean on him. He did want to help, but he was expecting too much out of me.

Elly Blake- Nightblood ♥♥♥♥♥

Elly Blake- Nightblood
437 pages

Be still my heart; I am in love! I came into this book with a lot of anticipation, and I wasn't disappointed! The level of emotions I had to fight through while reading this final installment in the Frostblood Sage was staggering. I bought this series on impulse. It caught my eye as I wandered through the bookstore, and I'm really happy that it did. Like the second book, this one definitely earned five stars. 

Ruby is such a compelling character. She's flawed, and she knows it, but she doesn't hide from it. She has grown so much and watching it happen made me happy. Like deep down inside warm and fuzzy. The way she handles challenges is inspiring, even if you aren't a fireblood. 

Arcus has grown on me so much. I think that was the point. I don't think you were supposed to love him right away. That would take the fun out of it all. Of all the books I've read and all the stories I've seen unfold, I'm just a little bit obsessed with how his character evolves throughout the series. Seeing all of that growth culminate here made me happy. 

Kia. I still don't know how to talk about Kia. He is one of those characters you just have to love. You can't help. I felt so connected to him this time around, and I was glad for it. His entire arch and his journey through this series carries so much purpose, and I just love him. 

When I was close to 100 pages from the end, I was getting very nervous I would hate the end of this book. I didn't want to hate a series I had come to love so much, but I had this sense of dread as I took in everything that was happening. I didn't hate it, though. I am a little torn about it, but I didn't hate it. I feel like everything was constructed so well that it wasn't really a slap in the face (which is what I was beginning to fear). I can accept it, though. I can understand all of it in a way that I didn't think I would. 

The lore was just as impressive here as it has been in the previous books. You really get to understand it all, which is something I thought would take forever. This book brings it all together and doesn't leave you wondering about much, just a little. 

Overall, I love this book and this series. I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for something new to read. 

Rating:
♥♥♥♥♥

An in depth look at the series will be posted soon on my In Depth Review page

Rage Excerpt 7

The horses came to a stop by a set of blue-green colored glass doors. The way the light shined off them, they almost looked like seawater. The gardens here were the most incredible I’ve ever seen. Flowers from all the seasons bloomed and thrived together. I slid off my horse, still marveling at the beauty around me. As tired as I was, I just wanted to stay right here and admire the view.

Randle came around to my side of the horses, a knowing grin on his face. I could hear the others climbing out of the carriage as I looked around wistfully one more time.

“Your quarters are ready for you. You will have two rooms. They are adjoining. So you may meet and settle without worry of others,” Randle said as he approached me. He placed his hands on both of my shoulders and leaned in to kiss my cheek, a high honor from a fairy of royal blood. “Do not drink the wine,” he whispered, barely audible, against my skin.”

“Thank you again for everything you’ve done,” I said with a smile and a slight nod. Everyone made their way over to us.

“It is my honor, Vanessa. Now, I have business to tend to. Dex will escort you from here.”

The Winter is Conspiring Against Me...

The last several days I have been so tired, whenever I sit down to write, I immediately get sleepy. I have almost fallen asleep on my keyboard more times than I'd like to admit. Which leaves me about four chapters behind. It's been both frustrating and draining. I also found out this week that I have severe vitamin D deficiency. Which means the winter is for sure trying to drive me mad. I'm now taking a supplement, so hopefully, this will help with the funk I've fallen into. The joys of living in Michigan. Yet I couldn't ever see myself leaving. 

Elly Blake- Fireblood- ♥♥♥♥♥

Elly Blake- Fireblood
408 pages

At the beginning of my review for Frostblood, I talked about how a book that is a five star is just obvious. It just earns it, no questions. Fireblood definitely did that, and I'm in love with this book! From the very beginning, it grabbed me and pulled me along with it. 

The pacing was on point this time. It took me through ups and downs, lulls, and intensity. My only "complaint" is the lore is kind of hard to follow. There are so many players with affinities and ties to the land, it's a little hard to track. That isn't really a bad thing, though. It's something that makes you think about relevance, and it pushes you to connect dots and remember details. This is definitely the kind of series you have to come back to and read again to truly appreciate all the nods and inferences. I'm still really enjoying untangling all the threads. On top of all of that... the emotions were still so it-hurts-so-good. They were intense and fitting and beautiful and painful all at the same time. And I loved every second of it. 

Ruby has come so far since the beginning of the first book. Don't get me wrong, I was always rooting for her, but now I feel like I'm screaming my support for her. There is so much I want to say about her, but I don't want to give away too much. So, I'll put it like this: she is a refreshing version of a trope I am rather tired of. And I absolutely love her for it. 

I feel so much more connected to Arcus in this book. As I said in my last review... the type he was portrayed as feels so old to me, like I've seen it too many times and want to roll my eyes. However, here, there is a lot more to him. I felt like there was more depth than I gave him credit for. So this is my apology for that. 

Kia. I don't even know what to say about Kia. I hate him. But I love him. I feel like he is such a perfect addition in so many ways. He gives a complete balance to the books that I am feeling so hard. I didn't want to like him, to be honest, but I do like him. 

I also loved the way this story progressed. I like watching all these changes happen both within and without Ruby. This book one hundred percent is the set up of the next book, but it didn't feel like a 400-page intro. It felt complete. Contained, but a part of the whole. If that makes any sense. 

The way this book ended was so satisfying. It wasn't what I expected at all, which was really lovely. I read a lot of books, and it isn't very often I am taken off guard by an ending. It's something I very much appreciated! I sincerely can't wait to start the next book!

Rating:
♥♥♥♥♥

Rage Excerpt 6

This is a short one. For a little context, Cassidy and Vanessa are setting up wards in the middle of the woods where they are making camp. 

“Everything will work out, and once we are done, I’ll get us portaled to Gus.”

That got a smile out of her. They hadn’t really been apart since they got to Kadence. That alone had to be hard on them both.

“I can’t wait to see him again. Is that silly?” she asked. “It hasn’t even been a whole day yet.”

“It’s not silly, it’s very sweet. Just a couple more days, hopefully.”

We went silent again as we finished up. When we got back to the shelter, we made the boys go inside before we followed.

We settled in, and I started to drift off, but then there was howling.

It came from everywhere at once. That’s when Cassidy and I felt our magic triggered. We were surrounded. 

Happy Planner

I got a Happy Planner for my birthday (so I've had it for two and a half months now). This thing is one of the most incredible tools! I can't say enough about them! At first, I was really skeptical. I've never been a person that has a planner or a physical schedule book or anything like that. I use the calendar on my phone, and I make lists. The Happy Planner and I got off to a rocky start, but once I fell into a rhythm? It's incredible. 

Not only are they entirely adaptable for however you want to use them, and, if you get the hole punch, you can make your own pages. Just opening mine makes me happy. I may have a sticker obsession... Since I've started using the planer itself and some of the accessory pages, my productivity has gone way up. Between the sassy, sarcastic stickers that make me smile and the motivational ones that push me to do better, I strive to complete all my tasks for the day. 

So if you're on the fence about it... Get it. But be warned, the stickers are an expensive addiction! Aaaaand! I've decided to post pictures of what this upcoming week looks like for me. I plan my weeks the weekend before, including the quotes and sass. 

It looks a little chaotic, but that's also how my mind works! I make my own chore pages to stick in (which I don't have shown here). I also have an insert page to track writing days, word counts, and projects too! Three days I have blocked off for serious writing. For those days, I have insert pages that also help to push me into getting more done. This is one of them: 

I feel so much better, and I'm getting so much more done. This was probably one of the best things I have ever started using, and I highly recommend it! 

Elly Blake- Frostblood ♥♥♥♥

Elly Blake- Frostblood
371 pages

I was really torn about how to rate this one. I went back and forth between four and five. I settled on four because, to me, for a book to get a five-star rating, there should be no doubt; it's just that good. 

The pace of this book was too steady. The fight scenes didn't carry urgency, and the reprieve scenes didn't have a slow stillness to them. It was fast enough that I wanted more, but not fast enough to need the more right now. The emotions, though... Those were there in spades. The pain and longing, the sadness and lonely. The joy and the hope, the love and grace. The emotions were gut-wrenchingly well written. I've never encountered a story before that had problems with pacing but still packed an emotional punch. 

The last quarter of the book had much better pacing AND the it-hurts-so-good emotions. That was the only part of the book I really didn't think I could put down. I did really like it, though. I loved the world Blake created. The lore was fascinating, but a touch confusing at times. The was another book I was able to pull out the twist before it happened (sort of). I had it mostly right, so I was only half surprised. However, the way it was set up was really fantastic. There were enough crumbs for me to focus on and string together, but not enough to ruin the ending. 

Ruby is a very intriguing character. She went through a lot of growth during the course of the book, but it feels like she has a long way to go still. She has a few traits that annoyed me, but I feel like that's the sign of a strong, realistic, and relatable character. Arcus is equally compelling. I am a little weary when it comes to the strong, silent, haunted thing in main characters. I don't think it's going away anytime soon, though. 

The actual story was compelling, and it left a lot of questions swirling in my head. I don't want to say too much and spoil anything, so I'll just say this: Diving into the lore and untangling the threads will be fun. I really hope there is an opportunity to do that in the second book. 

Rating:
♥♥♥♥

Nic: An Interview

I thought it might be time to let Nic shine on his own. He was supposed to be a character that made a quick appearance and wasn’t heard from again. He showed me… 

How are you doing today?

“I’m doing well,” he said with a grin as he settled into the chair. “Although, I’d be much happier if this business with the Conclave was settled.”

Understandable. I’ll try not to take up too much of your time. Ready to answer some questions?

“Very much so.”

Then let’s get this rolling! How do you feel about your last name?

“It’s a token of my heritage, so I like it?” he said as his brow furrowed. “I’m not sure what you’re looking for here. Do people have strong feelings about their surnames?” Some people do, yes. They hate them for various reasons. He leaned back, tipping his to the left, and the inside of his lip. “I mean, I guess I could say I love it because it’s been passed through my family for generations and carries some authority in the Were community.” 

Is there anything you’d like to thank your author for?

A wide grin slowly spread across his face. “Meeting Vanessa.” Would you like to elaborate on that? “She is something else. I’ve never met a non-Were willing to get in a full-blooded Alpha’s face before. She is a pain in my ass, always challenging me, and she never seems to know when to stop.” None of those things sound like a positive. “Oh they are,” he said as he stretched his arms over his head, then lacing his fingers together behind his neck. “I can never decide what I want to do with her. I love it.”

Interesting. We’ll have to get back to that another time… Next question, you can only eat three foods for the rest of your life, what are they?

He tipped his head to the side, mumbling softly to himself. He brought his hands around to his lap, fingers tapping slightly as if he were ticking things off. “Barbeque ham and bacon sandwiches with mayo, spicy mustard, cheese, and fries on the side has to be one of them for sure. Wait… Is that allowed since it’s more than one kind of food?” he asked thoughtfully. Yes, that’s allowed. What about the other two? A small, shy grin lit up his face, “Popcorn has to be one. Definitely popcorn.” He leaned back again, thinking about his final choice. “Pizza,” he finally said. “Fully loaded with meat, three-cheese pizza. NO WAIT! Pepperoni, bacon, black olive pizza with feta and mozzarella. Yea, final answer. That was a drastic change in pizza toppings. What prompted that? “You’ll just have to figure it out,” he said with a smirk. 

Have you said or done anything that surprised your author?

“Just being here,” he said with a laugh. “She really didn’t expect me to stick around. Cal or Reed either. I just couldn’t help it, though, something things you just have to go after.”

That was… cryptic. We’ll keep moving forward, though. You have limitless funds, what kind of party are you going to have?

“A bonfire, for sure,” he said as he sank back into the chair, thinking. “Tons of food and spirits. I’d find the best musician and pay them a ridiculous sum of money to keep the music up for most the night, of course, they could bring any help they wanted.” He drummed his fingers against his leg as he chewed the inside of his lip. “We’d need marshmallows to roast too. And somewhere for everyone to sleep if they wanted to stay.” That sounds pretty incredible. Why that kind of party? “Why not?” he said with a shrug. “Bonfires are always fun, and I feel like we could all use some fun, carefree nights.”

Fair point. Tell us a quick story about something that’s happened to you that not even your author knows about… yet.

“Hmm, I’ll drop this first: I was affirmed and had a little girl once. I’m not going to go into that now, though,” he said firmly. “But I will tell this story: When I was little, I was a bit of a daredevil. I thought since my wolf form could pull some incredible stunts, my human form should be able to do something equally incredible. I tried to scale the side of a house and then jump into a tree that was about… 8 feet away. I was three floors up and I didn’t make the jump. I broke my arm, and my mother went back and forth between worry and anger so fast it made my head spin,” he said with a chuckle. “I was a difficult child.”

Do you have a favorite hero?

“Not so much one individual, but instead a type of person,” he said thoughtfully. “Anyone that sees something troubling and steps in or tries to change it. Just because you lived through something, doesn’t mean everyone after you should have to. I admire people that refuse to tolerate the suffering of others just because they suffered in a similar manner.”

What do you plan to do after this?

“Well, after the interview, I need to get back to Vanessa since we have a country to protect, but after that… I really don’t know,” he said with a grin. “I’m still trying to work that out.”

Good luck with everything, and I’m sure we’ll talk again soon! 

“No, thank you. It was good to get away for minute,” he said as he stood up. “Until we meet again,” he said with an exaggerated bow before he walked off to meet the portal.