Aelfwear and the Scuffed Shoes
July 31, 2016
So now it's been out there for a while, here's my story about writing Aelfwear:
I had a vague idea for a story for the Enchanted Soles collection as soon as I saw the call for stories. Bisexuals and magic shoes? Some of my favorite things! The triangle with Frida--our elf who makes the magic shoes; Angie--the beautiful businesswoman who needs her help; and Morgan--Frida's ex and Angie's current fiance, was set in my mind, ready to explode.
But how could Angie piss off Morgan, her asshole would-be husband? What could Frida do to help her?
There's a bar down the street from my house where I like to work sometimes. (This is not a subject change, I swear, I'm going somewhere with this.) It's usually empty mid-day, or almost empty, with just a few people there for lunch or who just got off an early or late-late shift. The music is good and the bartenders know my drink, so it's cool, and I can work in peace and use their wifi.
So one day I was working on an early draft of Aelfwear--or more accurately, I was staring off into space wondering what the fuck I was going to do with Aelfwear. The bartender, the one I know best, was standing nearby and asked me if I needed anything. So I asked her:
"What is something that would drive you absolutely batshit about a date? Like, if they did this one thing, you'd never go out with them again?"
And she thought for a second, then said, "I hate when peoples' shoes are untidy. Like scuffed up, like they don't take care of their things. I don't know why but it's a huge turn off."
BOOM.
So thanks, Kaleigh, my fave bartender in the world, for the help. And for giving me permission to use it in my story.
Oh, also, I finished writing Aelfwear sitting at a very small desk in my niece and nephew's playroom in Chennai, with the air conditioner cranked to eleven. Occasionally one of them would come in and "help" me. So thanks, Adu and Abhi, for the help.
Check Aelfwear and Enchanted Soles out here, or head straight to the shopping cart!
Enchanted Soles is Here!
July 8, 2016
Hello, hello! I return with happy news, my friends. Yesterday saw the release of a super-fun anthology of stories from editor Sasha L. Miller of Less Than Three Press: Enchanted Soles!
The theme of this collection is, as you might suspect, magical shoes. But it's more than that! It's also about my favorite thing in the whole world: bisexual characters! I've ranted and raved for years about how near and dear bisexual characters are to me and how important good bi representation across all genres and media is. So I'll spare you.
Instead, I'll just point out that this book has such a wonderful variety of characters and pairings--there's got to be something for everyone, and there's something new for everyone, too. My story, Aelfwear, is a lighthearted, modern take on The Elves and the Shoemaker. Check it out:
Sometimes all it takes is the right pair of shoes...
In Three Nights (A.D. Truax), Synder buys a pair of sandals that have a mind and plan of their own, and drag him to a celebration to which he was not invited—and into the arms of a handsome prince.
Saidah of Dame Fortune (C. Finley) asks her beautiful new wishing boots to take her to her true love, but the simple question has a complicated answer that will take more than magic boots to find.
Heart, Lace, and Soul (Archer Kay Leah) brings together Elly, who seldom removes the psychic boots that let her read and feel the minds of other people in order to help them, and a man her boots cannot read.
In Aelfwear (Katey Hawthorne), Frida is hired to make hideous shoes for a beautiful woman who claims she's out to cause misery for a man who once betrayed Frida's family—but Frida fears she'll wind up being played for a fool a second time.
And Into the Hollowed Veil (A.M. Valenza) is the story of a man who puts on a pair of beautiful red shoes and finds himself in a strange forest helping a beautiful woman rescue the man she loves...
Find it at...
LT3 Book Market * Amazon * AllRomance ebooks * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords * BookStrand * Kobo * iBooks
And if you're into bi characters (which, come on, of course!), check out editor Sasha L. Miller's current giveaway for a Bisexual Book Bundle of Badassness ♥
I Return--With Clockwork!
March 16, 2016
With clockwork, not like clockwork, unfortunately. But that's become standard last few months as I had surgery (cervical spinal fusion--two of em--if anyone wonders) that's done me a lotttt of good (I can feel my arms and they don't hurt! I can move my neck! OMG!) and then... Got a dog. Well technically my husband got a dog, but hey. This is Daisy. She's adorkable.
My return to my blog comes with more good news though, as the promised release is here! Check out Blood and Clockwork, my... Hmm I guess I'd call it a clockpunky asexual romance fantasy with lots of mystery? Sure why not!
My return to my blog comes with more good news though, as the promised release is here! Check out Blood and Clockwork, my... Hmm I guess I'd call it a clockpunky asexual romance fantasy with lots of mystery? Sure why not!
For a preview, check out my guest blog today at The Novel Approach. It has an exclusive excerpt in which our heroes meet each other for the first time. Also, there's a giveaway for LT3 gift cards, so drop a comment!
Want to jump straight in and grab a copy for yourself? Great! You can find it at the Less Than Three Book Market, All Romance eBooks, and Amazon.
More news later as I do my blog-hopping thing. Until then, <3 p="">
Friday Update: Blood and Clockwork + Katey Stuff
January 22, 2016
Hello! Hope everyone enjoyed the Stronger, Better, Faster, More blogging frenzy! Carlin and I had a great time, and thanks to everyone who dropped in to enter our giveaway. The winners have been contacted and if they don't have their prizes yet, they will shortly. ♥
For my next trick, I'm super proud and excited to be a part of Less Than Three's upcoming Solitary Travelers collection of novels and novellas. Check out this gorgeous cover:
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| Cover by Natasha Snow |
Alistair Click set out to lay to rest the superstitious fears about the Mad Prince's clockwork tower. If that meant he might bring the ghost city of Avalonia back to economic life, connecting the western kingdoms once again, so much the better. So what if no adventurer who'd entered the tower in the last century of desolation had ever re-emerged? They didn't have his skill and wit. He could do better.
The tower turns out to be far more than Alistair expected, however. Not only are there clockwork puzzles to open every door, but one of them drops a boy from a strange world into his lap—figuratively speaking, if only just. Marco Murphy was just gaming in his New Jersey apartment, and now he's stuck in what feels like a never ending LARP nightmare.
The deeper they delve into the Mad Prince's tower, the darker the secrets they uncover. They're not entirely sure they'll ever be able to get out again, either. It'll take all Marco's charm and Alistair's cleverness, plus the strange bond growing between them, to get them out together... and alive.
Yyyyyeah, clockwork fun... and freakiness, but hey. Excerpts and stuff coming soon, and the book happens in march. For now, if you pre-order there's a discount ;)
And in closing, I'm finally getting my horrible spine fixed up today. That means I'll be slow on communication for the next few weeks, unfortunately, but I will be around. Just don't sweat it if I take a few days to get with the program. ♥
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