For several years we’ve followed the Ferraro family of Chicago. And though I wasn’t ready to let them go, it was time to move on and meet someone new. Someone from a different family of Shadow Riders.

I wrote Shadow Fire to introduce someone from a different family.



I hadn’t thought about writing Elie’s book. He was a fun secondary character that I enjoyed writing. But, soon he took on a life of his own and he insisted he had his own story to tell.



The Archambault family, which is centered in France, is notorious not only for their shadow riding abilities but because they are a family who also could mete out justice to other Shadow Riders. Try to imagine what kind of training you would need to be able to kill well-trained assassins who could also ride shadows.

The fact that Elie had a dark side to him made perfect sense. He was raised in the shadow of a great family. The expectations of his skills was extraordinary. Because the Archambault family was akin to royalty in its own way, a great deal of discipline and little affection was simply the way Elie was brought up.

When it was dictated to him that he would marry a woman of his family’s choosing, Elie rebelled. And the young woman his family wanted to tie him to heard every cruel word Elie had to say about why he’d not marry her. Elie tried to apologize later, but to no avail. She disappeared and he left France, joining the military and then the Ferraro security detail.

But Paris was never truly far away. Not in his memory. Or heart.



There had been a woman there who’d caught his attention. A woman who stood out. He only had to wait until she was old enough. Ready enough. Now that was gone. As was the chance of a love-match.

He accepted the terms of an arranged marriage. A woman from France. Who met a very specific criteria. She would have everything…but his heart.

She arrived in the United States already married by proxy. The ceremony just a formality. They finally were able to meet in person. And that’s when everything went to Hell.

I had such a great time writing this book and giving Elie someone that would challenge and fulfill him.