One of the difficult parts of blogging while actively writing and editing is knowing what to share and from which project. I don't want to give away too much, but I do want to make sure every endeavor gets its day in the Sun. So, since it's almost Christmas (and too early for Rogue One spoilers and too late for politics), how about a little slice of everything?


Tongue, lips, mind, heart kiss
Then break, as day barges in
To steal dream away.


(I do love my Haikus. The poetry book is still on my mind, though it's been a little quiet recently.)



“Am I under arrest?” Lily asked. She had been sitting there quietly for a half hour now. Normally, she assumed that the less she said to the police, the better, but this was feeling less and less “normal” with each passing moment. The female FBI agent had gotten back in the car, put the keys in the ignition, and cranked it up. Then she sat there. And sat there. And sat there.
“Do you want to be?” The agent finally asked in reply. Her voice sounded heavy, like a black mushroom cloud waiting to dump its rain.
“Umm… that depends. What are my options? Can I… just walk away?”
The driver shook her head. “I can turn you over to the local cops. Tell them you attacked a federal agent with a loaded shotgun. You’ll spend at least the next five years in prison. And that’s if you flirt with your lawyer and the judge.”
Lily sighed. “Or? I’m pretty sure I don’t like that option.”
“You go with me back to Oklahoma City. I’m not sure what I’ll need you for just yet. Bait, maybe. Bargaining chip, otherwise. Help me bring in Jacob… safe and sound.”
“Do you really think you can?” Lily felt like crying now. “He’s pretty far gone.”
The agent sniffled a little and Lily was certain she was crying. “Yeah. But somebody’s got to bring him in. Or there’s going to be a lot more wrong in the world than one little demolished casino.”


(I've been focusing a lot on bringing honest depth and screen time to my heroines. I want to make sure that I'm using them to their full potential. This snippet is from Two Wizard Roulette (out May/June 2017, but this scene was a good practice run for The Faceless.)


He sighed. “Not the best way to travel. I’m sure you were in the war against Nirvana. Were you old enough for the Avalonian-Wotsea conflict?”
I tried not to think about it, to not remember the blood and scent of sulfur. “I was there. I was young, but I was there.”
“Bloody mess. Three way war is hell.”
I was suddenly curious, but dreaded his answer all the same. “Were you?”
He said nothing, but studied the board with deep interest. After a minute, he nodded.
I wanted to know what side he had fought for… before I realized it no longer mattered. Even if we had been enemies then, time had passed us by. Exodus traded again with both countries and was rumored to be on the verge of a royal marriage with Avalon. “War is hell,” I agreed and pushed a pawn forward.
We exchanged pieces on his next move. “There is another war coming. Or could be.”
“What do you mean, Jadim?”
He looked me in the eye and I found the green-gold of his irises magnetic. “There’s a group of mercenaries hired by a powerful faction within the Wotsean government, known as the DCI. These mercs are going to steal the Gem of the Dragon Sages and return it to the DCI, the first step in a long and convoluted plan to allow Wotsea to take over much of the known world. If the Gem reaches their hands, war will be inevitable.”
“Is that why you wanted to talk to me? To warn me about an impending theft.” I felt a little bit disappointed. “You could have told me and the rest of the guardians about that by the light of day.”
Jadim smiled. “No, Kiara, it gets a tad bit more complicated. See, I’m the leader of said mercenary band.”


(Got to have something for everyone in a sampler. This comes from The Bard, a high fantasy with a Vonnegut sense of humor. There are those on my friends list that may get a great laugh out of one of the jokes hidden in the passage. Feel free to comment if you get it.)


Well, that's all for now constant reader. I'll be back after the holidays with more surprises for you, provided I don't get locked up for crimes committed at the height of retail fever.