The End of an Era

The Dark Elves series wrap up is available now.

Back in March of 2005, Dark Elves I: Taken was published. It's been a wild ride since then, both for the elves and for me. My stories have taken turns I didn't anticipate and I've taken some detours to other series along the way. If you'd asked me back then what I'd be writing most, I'd have said stories like the Dark Elves, in other words, high fantasy. I've been a fantasy reader since I was very young. But I'm glad I got into other types of writing. I think it's kept my stories fresh.

For those who read this sixth installment, I hope you like where there characters have taken me. I think it's a rather appropriate ending.

And, for those who ask, I don't know if or when I'll be returning to the world of the elves but I think I might. It would be a shame not to. I've spent lots of time there now.

End of an era

OK, not exactly an era. It’s only been four years. But I've managed to put a “the end” on the Dark Elves VI: Awakening manuscript. This is the last book in the planned arc that I began with my first published book, Dark Elves I: Taken.

I have to laugh. That last sentence above makes it sound like I had it planned from the start. I didn’t. If I had, believe me a few things would have happened differently in books 1 and 2. Maybe not the central stories, but definitely some background details. But that’s water under the bridge. I didn’t really have much of an idea where I was going with the whole series until book 3. Nuggets of ideas, sure, but nothing solid. Due to certain events that happen in book 3 – and if you’ve read it, I’m sure you know what I’m referring to – I kind of had to bring things full circle. I believe books 4-6 do that. Through the series, I’ve taken my elves from dark secrecy into more of the light. Not completely day, mind you, but they’re a bit more… exposed shall we say.

Twas a long ride to get here and I certainly got side tracked along the way. But that’s okay. My writing needed to mature some to be able to pull of books five and six at least. My elves got to mature along with me and benefited, I think, by my tangents into urban paranormal (Leashed series) and rockstar yaoi goodness (Heaven Sent). I think I might end up being rather proud of book six, once I get far enough away to forget the hell the characters put me through.

Let’s see, what’s next… I’m going to try to finish a contemporary m/m for a Loose Id submission call. Then I promised to do a sequel for a story at another pub. Then I’ve signed a contract to do the m/m sequel to One For The Team. After that, I either need to do Leashed 4 or the first book of the Indigo Knights since I’m getting lots of requests for the latter.

Meantime, Heaven Sent: Revelations is due out on July 28th!

Moving right along…

Elves, anyone?

I'm currently at work on the sixth installment of my Dark Elves series.

For those who don't know, this is the last book I plan to write about the elves. Now, that's not to say that I deny the possibility of returning to their world again. Far from it. I've spent a lot of time in that world now and it'd be a shame to waste it. But, I've taken the elves through over two centuries of time now and I've just about "finished" the story I set you to tell.

Ha. That makes it sound like I had it all planned out from the beginning. I cannot make that claim. Oh, I had ideas, but I can't say I had it all planned. When I wrote book 3, I left some clues toward a future that could be cool. I had some ideas in mind. But, my characters being my characters (read: belligerent, headstrong and too smart for their own good), they threw me some curve balls. Books 4, 5 and, now, 6 have some bits from what I'd planned but they've turned out to be much more. Which is way cool.

It's strange to me to be working on the end of the series that started off this writing stint for me. But, four years later for me and two centuries for them, the elves have taken me on quite a ride and, because of that, they are and always will be near to my heart.

So, be on the lookout for Dark Elves IV: Awakening later this year sometime. I hope you like it.

The elves are back to continue what I've started

Dark Elves V: Discovery is now available at Loose Id.

Those who knew me in college probably wouldn't be surprised at the content of my most popular series. Those who knew me in high school definitely wouldn't be surprised. Well, okay, they might be surprised at the many and varied combination of sexual partners, but none of them would be especially surprised to hear that I was a published author of erotic romance.

Because, you see, I've been a writer of sex longer than I've been published for it. Sex has been a fascination for me for a long, long time, which is kind of surprising when you find out that I didn't have it until I was in my twenties. At least not with another person. I used to write fantasy stories for my friends back in high school and junior high. I was asked how I could write about sex since I'd never done it. Answer? I'd read about it. A lot. Those big thick romance novels? Harlequins? Oh yes, I had them. Used them like text books almost. Luckily I was realistic enough to recognize the overblown from what might actually be fact.

Back then and now, I think it's a beautiful thing when two (or more) people come together to share the only thing they truly have with one another, themselves. It's better when there is love involved, but there are all kinds of love, not just romantic. There is friendship, comfort, respect and just pure appreciation of the beauty of another soul.

So, I write what I like, what fills my head. Hopefully my characters are people you'll want to spend time with and explore with, even if it's just a mindless romp.

This elves story is a bit deeper, a bit broader and a bit different. Hopefully fans of the series won't be put off by certain subjects. I wrote it as it was meant to be written--even if it did give me fits along the way--and hopefully I'll be able to conclude my planned arc in book six to the satisfaction of those who like my fantasy world.

Dark Elves in print again

The second Dark Elves book is now available in print! So exciting. This is the series that started me off and got me noticed so it will always hold a very special place in my heart.

I'm currently working on book 5 of the ebook series and I think book 6 will be my next major project. These 6 stories are the only ones I currently have planned to write but--like the Heaven Sent series--I wouldn't dream of saying that I'd never write in the world again. The elves have been far too good to me in the past 3 years.

It's strange. I'm coming to the close of another series of mine. Kind of a reflective point. Makes me look back to writing book 1 when I had no idea what I was doing or if anyone would read it. Then to book 2 where I was scared it wouldn't hold up to the first. Then to book 3 where I was pretty sure I'd crossed the line and people would be upset with me because of certain occurences. But so far so good. And hopefully people will enjoy the last as much as the first 4.

Thanks to all the fans of the series!!