jana_denardo

I should probably think of a nice cohesive title for updates on what I've been up to now that What's Up Wed. is defunct.

Anyhow, I do have a lot of newish things to talk about. I got round two edits for my story Wolf in the Fold that will be out in Wayward Ink's Of Heaven and Hell anthology. Again mostly just small stuff. I'm glad that story seems to be standing up well on its foundations.

I got the cover specs for Soldiers of the Sun which is both fun and a little intimidating. The hardest part really is the innocuous even fun sounding question of 'what would your dream cover look like?' and that's when you realize, you do not have an artistic knack. I might as well be staring at one of these bland beige apartment walls because I can't imagine it. What I can imagine sort of highlights the disconnect between what I think this novel is vs what it'll be sold as. Primarily it will be listed as romance. However, what runs through my head are all the intense battle scenes that make up a 1930s demon hunter novel. I could imagine a battle scene cover without much trouble but will that successfully sell something billed as romance? I do not know. I do know a cuddly, 'sexy' cover doesn't capture how I feel about the novel. Big dilemma.


But the biggest news is that in hammering out what it means to be a story in the Soldiers of the Sun series, Dreamspinner is going to rerelease my short story, Snowbound. A little history here: Snowbound was one of the first stories I ever sold to DSP and it was for their now OOP anthology, Necking. It introduced Temple, Caleb and Agni after a battle that claimed Temple's partner and brings them together as a threesome. (It was a m/m/m anthology). But those boys weren't content with a short story. They had so much more to tell.

Originally I had intended for the novella, The Darkest Midnight in December to be in the Christmas advent calendar but it wasn't really a sweet Christmas story. It's technically, in part, about an old school Christmas tale where naughty kids are kidnapped and eaten. Also about that time, DSP decided anthology stories needed to be stand alone characters (which makes sense). I asked would they like it as a novella if I expanded it. They did and it's technically a prequel to Snowbound and in it there isn't a threesome but two couples, Agni/Caleb and Temple/Li.

So here comes Soldiers of the Sun and it's a sequel to both of those. While Snowbound, The Darkest Midnight in December & Soldiers of the Sun are all stand-alone, it would be helpful to read them in order. (There are two other freebie stories lying around too. I need to get them polished and put up where people could find them and use them as enticements this summer). So Snowbound will be rereleased this summer as well with a little bit of an edit since it's been awhile. That is very exciting.

And they decided that I could use Soldiers of the Sun for the novel and the umbrella title. That makes me happy.

And in non-writing news, me and my student's research was well received at the Academy of Science presentation. That is also happy-making. It's been a tough year so far so I'm glad I have this going right for me.

Just before I got behind the wheel for the long drive back to my apartment after nearly three months, I learned that Dreamspinner purchased my short story The Light of Winter for the advent calendar! I'm so very happy. I am not a contemporary fiction writer but I decided I wanted to try and spread my wings a little this year. My first attempt was a swing and a miss back in the spring but this one found a home.

Even though it is contemporary there is still a hint of magic to it. The two characters, Gareth and Warun are both Welsh and looking for a way back to each other. Stressful work schedules has put a strain on their relationship. Also, they are two very different men (both holding doctorates, one medical, the other a pHd). Warun is half African, half Thai and was raised by a devout Christian father (who is accepting of his gay son).

Gareth's family on the other hand are practicing pagans, Druids. Gareth has been slow to share his Yule traditions (Alban Arthan for Druids) with Warun. This story is about their reconnection and sharing their faiths.

It takes place mostly in Angelesy set at one of the places I did research on when I was there as a research fellow.