Love's Landscape teaser
Jun. 1st, 2014 02:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jana_denardoSome of the stories are already going up. I'm SO excited for two of the first three (not that the third looks bad. It's just contemporary fiction which isn't my bag and I know there's no way I'll be able to read all 212 stories!). You can find them here but you DO need to be a member of this Goodreads group (and if you like m/m fiction, you'll enjoy the group!). Andrea Speed is already one of my favorite author's and her SF story Villains looks great and a new-to-me author, Edmond Manning's novella Broken Phoenix looks great (I have a thing for phoenixes and dragons).
My story will probably be out a little later in the release queue because well life ran me over and got in the way of editing it (how it got to be nearly 40K I have no idea). I'm very excited for it because I'll be honest, I let my local writers' group have a sneak peek and they enjoyed it (I had to let them see it. I did murder them all in the story, after all.)
I had mocked up a little cover for it that I didn't share because well I'm not good at graphics but here it is for you all.
Yes that IS the Ridges (The Athens Lunatic Asylum) on fire. It plays a role in the story, I promise. And if you missed my earlier teasers you can find them here. All about the Ridges and This one has my prompts (I can't stop looking at the guy in the middle, I fudged the looks on the other two but the blond is pretty much exactly what Faolan looks like).
Before I get to the excerpt I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the places in the story. The Union Street Diner This is where the story opens and is often where my writers group meets (and where we all died). Then there's The Donkey coffee and Espresso Another place my group meets (and listen to open mike night). I love their lavender lattes.
The Wizard’s Guild is a comic book/gaming store (Why do I hurt the things I love in this story?) It's one of Faolan's hang outs being a gaming geek. And a few of my writers group dies twice in this... sorry ladies.
A new favorite of mine and long-time favorite of Faolan and Jason (and they are indoctrinating Derrek with it)> Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery I have to admit Faolan and company drink a lot of beer and tea in this (What can I say? Two of my favorite things).
And the art movie theatre, The Athena which gets busted all up (and as I looked this up, I learned it's showing The Only Lovers Left Alive!)
And now, as promised a teaser for the story!
Jason took up residence on one of the well-padded leather chairs, looking too damn fuckable, and Faolan wondered if he had draped himself on the chair with that in mind. Jason liked to play up the sensual vampire when he had an audience. When Bram Stoker, one of the Lucerna’s dissenting members, had outed the vampires, the entire species had nearly panicked, but other than the people who just had to have someone to hate and rail against, society accepted it better than expected. Books and movies loved the vampires. Werewolves followed suit a few decades later, during the first war to end all wars. It took the mages a lot longer to come out of the broom closet, not until the end of the next world war. Faolan’s grandmother told him stories about the mages stepping out into the open with the other supernaturals.
Hearing Susan talking to someone in the anteroom, Faolan shot Jason a warning look he knew the vampire would simply ignore if it suited him, then turned back to the door. He took a step back when someone slightly different than he was expecting came through it. Instead of Douglas, his doppelganger swaggered in. Either that, or Douglas had shaved off his long dark hair and beard, opting for the Marines’ high and tight style. However, that wouldn’t explain the thousand yard stare. The amber eyes fixed on Faolan had seen some things that left their mark. Granted seeing too much would be true of anyone in the Lucerna, but this seemed to be something more. It was common for Lucerna members to go into the military first, as further training because they would be expected— well, most of them, at any rate— to fight and do any number of dangerous things if need be, from combat rolling into the street after a rogue mage or rescuing hostages from burning buildings. Faolan hadn’t gone the military route, opting for the rigors of both graduate school and the Lucerna’s own combat training.
“Ah, this must be the twin.” Jason studied the werewolf. “Or else the big bad wolf caught the mange.”
First words out of Jason’s mouth were a taunt. How did Faolan know it would go like this?
The young man’s eyes narrowed, and if he had hackles in this form, they’d be up. “I expected the vampire to be a douche, but not the head of the Lucerna,” he growled, and Jason balled up, laughing so hard Faolan thought he’d roll out of his chair.
“Derrek, it is Derrek, isn’t it?” Faolan asked, but didn’t wait for an answer. “Jason is the vampire.”
Jason waved a hand at Faolan. “He’s just Irish white.”
Derrek’s face went red right to what the military barber had left of his hair. “Sorry,” he muttered.
“You won’t be the first to make that mistake,” Faolan said ruefully, gesturing to the chair nearest his desk. “Have a seat. I did get it right, didn’t I? You were already in the Middle East when Jason and I were assigned here five years ago.”
Derrek nodded, but he didn’t sit. He kept his eyes on Jason as if hoping he could turn him to ash just by the heat of his gaze. “Yes, it’s Derrek.”
“What happened to Douglas?” Faolan asked before Jason could jump back in to stir the pot some more. He took a seat, hoping the alpha’s twin would do the same. Faolan tried to remember what he knew about Douglas’s twin. Not much other than he was a Marine, had done more than one tour of duty, and had earned some medals. Derrek had certainly proved himself. To the other werewolves, Derrek just might have had to prove how tough he was. He recalled Douglas telling him he planned to share the alpha duties with his twin, which hadn’t sat well with the Appalachian pack. Derrek was gay.
“Not Lucerna business.” Derrek finally sat. “Just a pack squabble over who gets to run where in the Hocking Hills.”
“I thought you fur balls just peed on your corner of the world to solve that sort of issue,” Jason said, and Derrek’s lips peeled back in a way that was definitely not a smile.
“Jason!” Faolan shot him another warning look, hoping his idiot lover would take it. What was it about vampires that they couldn’t resist pulling a werewolf’s tail? He turned back to Derrek. “Did your brother tell you why we asked him here?”
Derrek nodded. “I saw it on the news, too. The mass murder at the Union. Was it really a half-dozen women dead?” He swiveled in the chair so he could give Faolan his attention.
“Unfortunately.”
“But the demon who did it was killed.” Derrek wrinkled up his nose. “Or should I say, the person possessed was.”
“Yes. We’re looking now for information on whether or not she was responsible for her possession, or if this is the start of something new.”
My story will probably be out a little later in the release queue because well life ran me over and got in the way of editing it (how it got to be nearly 40K I have no idea). I'm very excited for it because I'll be honest, I let my local writers' group have a sneak peek and they enjoyed it (I had to let them see it. I did murder them all in the story, after all.)
I had mocked up a little cover for it that I didn't share because well I'm not good at graphics but here it is for you all.
Yes that IS the Ridges (The Athens Lunatic Asylum) on fire. It plays a role in the story, I promise. And if you missed my earlier teasers you can find them here. All about the Ridges and This one has my prompts (I can't stop looking at the guy in the middle, I fudged the looks on the other two but the blond is pretty much exactly what Faolan looks like).
Before I get to the excerpt I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the places in the story. The Union Street Diner This is where the story opens and is often where my writers group meets (and where we all died). Then there's The Donkey coffee and Espresso Another place my group meets (and listen to open mike night). I love their lavender lattes.
The Wizard’s Guild is a comic book/gaming store (Why do I hurt the things I love in this story?) It's one of Faolan's hang outs being a gaming geek. And a few of my writers group dies twice in this... sorry ladies.
A new favorite of mine and long-time favorite of Faolan and Jason (and they are indoctrinating Derrek with it)> Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery I have to admit Faolan and company drink a lot of beer and tea in this (What can I say? Two of my favorite things).
And the art movie theatre, The Athena which gets busted all up (and as I looked this up, I learned it's showing The Only Lovers Left Alive!)
And now, as promised a teaser for the story!
Jason took up residence on one of the well-padded leather chairs, looking too damn fuckable, and Faolan wondered if he had draped himself on the chair with that in mind. Jason liked to play up the sensual vampire when he had an audience. When Bram Stoker, one of the Lucerna’s dissenting members, had outed the vampires, the entire species had nearly panicked, but other than the people who just had to have someone to hate and rail against, society accepted it better than expected. Books and movies loved the vampires. Werewolves followed suit a few decades later, during the first war to end all wars. It took the mages a lot longer to come out of the broom closet, not until the end of the next world war. Faolan’s grandmother told him stories about the mages stepping out into the open with the other supernaturals.
Hearing Susan talking to someone in the anteroom, Faolan shot Jason a warning look he knew the vampire would simply ignore if it suited him, then turned back to the door. He took a step back when someone slightly different than he was expecting came through it. Instead of Douglas, his doppelganger swaggered in. Either that, or Douglas had shaved off his long dark hair and beard, opting for the Marines’ high and tight style. However, that wouldn’t explain the thousand yard stare. The amber eyes fixed on Faolan had seen some things that left their mark. Granted seeing too much would be true of anyone in the Lucerna, but this seemed to be something more. It was common for Lucerna members to go into the military first, as further training because they would be expected— well, most of them, at any rate— to fight and do any number of dangerous things if need be, from combat rolling into the street after a rogue mage or rescuing hostages from burning buildings. Faolan hadn’t gone the military route, opting for the rigors of both graduate school and the Lucerna’s own combat training.
“Ah, this must be the twin.” Jason studied the werewolf. “Or else the big bad wolf caught the mange.”
First words out of Jason’s mouth were a taunt. How did Faolan know it would go like this?
The young man’s eyes narrowed, and if he had hackles in this form, they’d be up. “I expected the vampire to be a douche, but not the head of the Lucerna,” he growled, and Jason balled up, laughing so hard Faolan thought he’d roll out of his chair.
“Derrek, it is Derrek, isn’t it?” Faolan asked, but didn’t wait for an answer. “Jason is the vampire.”
Jason waved a hand at Faolan. “He’s just Irish white.”
Derrek’s face went red right to what the military barber had left of his hair. “Sorry,” he muttered.
“You won’t be the first to make that mistake,” Faolan said ruefully, gesturing to the chair nearest his desk. “Have a seat. I did get it right, didn’t I? You were already in the Middle East when Jason and I were assigned here five years ago.”
Derrek nodded, but he didn’t sit. He kept his eyes on Jason as if hoping he could turn him to ash just by the heat of his gaze. “Yes, it’s Derrek.”
“What happened to Douglas?” Faolan asked before Jason could jump back in to stir the pot some more. He took a seat, hoping the alpha’s twin would do the same. Faolan tried to remember what he knew about Douglas’s twin. Not much other than he was a Marine, had done more than one tour of duty, and had earned some medals. Derrek had certainly proved himself. To the other werewolves, Derrek just might have had to prove how tough he was. He recalled Douglas telling him he planned to share the alpha duties with his twin, which hadn’t sat well with the Appalachian pack. Derrek was gay.
“Not Lucerna business.” Derrek finally sat. “Just a pack squabble over who gets to run where in the Hocking Hills.”
“I thought you fur balls just peed on your corner of the world to solve that sort of issue,” Jason said, and Derrek’s lips peeled back in a way that was definitely not a smile.
“Jason!” Faolan shot him another warning look, hoping his idiot lover would take it. What was it about vampires that they couldn’t resist pulling a werewolf’s tail? He turned back to Derrek. “Did your brother tell you why we asked him here?”
Derrek nodded. “I saw it on the news, too. The mass murder at the Union. Was it really a half-dozen women dead?” He swiveled in the chair so he could give Faolan his attention.
“Unfortunately.”
“But the demon who did it was killed.” Derrek wrinkled up his nose. “Or should I say, the person possessed was.”
“Yes. We’re looking now for information on whether or not she was responsible for her possession, or if this is the start of something new.”
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2014-06-01 10:49 pm (UTC)I like the excerpt, and yay for your writer's group enjoying it, too!
no subject
Date: 2014-06-01 11:37 pm (UTC)thanks
no subject
Date: 2014-06-01 11:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-06-01 11:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-06-01 11:59 pm (UTC)I CAN REMEMBER SOME STUFF, I CAN.
no subject
Date: 2014-06-02 12:22 am (UTC)Yes you can.
no subject
Date: 2014-06-02 12:27 am (UTC)Though I did eventually recall the bead shop you were talking about.
no subject
Date: 2014-06-02 01:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-06-02 01:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-06-02 01:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-06-02 01:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-06-02 01:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-06-02 01:58 am (UTC)Why am I think it's 441? And the emergency vet was on it?
no subject
Date: 2014-06-02 02:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-06-02 03:04 am (UTC)