Tuesday, April 30, 2024

DARK HOURS, a Fantasy Romance by Linda Mooney - Chapter 4

Posted by: Linda Mooney

DARK HOURS

Chapter 4

The sun would be rising soon. Already Emers could see a faint lightening of the sky. It was a sight she’d watched hundreds of times, yet this morning it brought a feeling of dread to the pit of her rumbling stomach. What would she see once all was revealed?

She had no idea how long she’d sat by the fire. How many hours passed while she kept it stoked as best she could. It managed to keep herself from freezing to death as she waited. She shivered. It was something she’d done all night as she picked through recent memories to try and find a reason behind her ending up where she was, wherever she was. And why.

No other soul had passed their way, even though a well-trodden path lay just a few meters away. Twice she’d been alerted to something she couldn’t see or hear, but she knew was there. The huge black dragon had returned only once more during her ordeal. Briefly. Its muzzle remained stained from its earlier attacks. She prayed Kayge hadn’t been a victim. After it left the second time, Emers never saw it again, although it continued to remind her of its presence with the sound of its enormous, leathery wings beating against the night sky. And the shadow it cast over the moon when it flew over her.

She had no idea why it remained nearby, yet for some odd reason she felt safer knowing it was somewhere out there. Probably watching her. Guarding her. But it made no sense. It was a dangerous creature. It destroyed and consumed humans and animals alike.

Why was it sparing her?

She looked down at the armor and clothes that Kayge had been wearing. Clothes she’d found abandoned near that dead man, as well as Kayge’s sword. The horses she and Kayge had been riding were nowhere to be seen, and she wondered if the animals were the reason why the dragon’s beak was bloodstained.

Emers stirred the fire one last time and thought of the man who’d lost his life. Had he been fighting the dragon? Had he been been traveling alone? Or had there been others? Had he tried to ambush Kayge? For the first time since her awakening, she smiled. That would have been a very foolish thing to do, challenging a seasoned soldier like Kayge.

She sat up as she realized something. The sword—the blade had been clean. There had been no blood on the weapon. Unless Kayge already cleaned it.

Yet the fact that she found the sword seemingly left abandoned told her the man had to be acting alone. Otherwise his cohorts would have absconded with the sword. Taken it to the next town where they could sell or trade it.

It was highly likely the strange man was a vagrant. Unless he expected others to join him.

“Perhaps they weren’t meant to join up until after daybreak. If that was the plan, it shouldn’t be much longer before they show.” Regardless, she had to remain vigilant and watchful. And on guard.

She checked the road in both directions. She couldn’t stay here. Not out in the open where she was vulnerable to attack, not to mention the weather. But not knowing where Kayge could be kept her pinned to this location. He could return to claim his clothes. Or, if not his armor, his sword. She knew how much he favored his weapon.

Emers’ stomach growled again. The rabbit had been a meager meal, and there was no telling when she’d eaten prior to that. Slowly, stiffly, she stood. Her bare feet were numb from the cold. A brisk breeze seemed to find its way underneath the woolen cloak she wore, under the oversized leggings and bulky shirt.

A length of hair whipped her cheek. A lock she’d missed earlier had come loose. Deftly, Emers tucked it behind her ear. During the night she’d been forced to braid her long hair and tie it with a length of leather from Kayge’s jerkin, or else the wind would have fiercely tangled it up. “I must find more suitable clothing if I’m going to be moving about,” she murmured. “Another cloak would be welcomed.”

She moved into the nearest thicket to perform her ablutions. The rocks and undergrowth bit into her feet. A splinter dug into her heel, making it bleed. As she plucked it out, she recognized her first priority would be to acquire some slippers, or else she would not be able to go very far. She could at least keep the robe on a bit longer.

Carefully she made her way back toward the tiny encampment. From the corner of her eye she could see the remains of the dead man where the dragon had dragged it last night. Her gaze lingered on the worn boots. Biting her lips, she tip-toed over to the corpse and said a prayer for the man. It seemed to help ease her fear of angering the dead man’s spirit, but it couldn’t overcome her revulsion. Still, she needed to protect her feet, and he no longer had any need for his footwear.

The boots came off easier than she anticipated. Of course, they were bigger than her own feet, but she could make do with a little dry grass for padding until a better pair came along. Dried blood marked the instep of one boot. Emers rubbed some ashes on it to clean it up. If she ran into the others she half-expected to appear, she didn’t want them to become suspicious of her. Heaven knew she had nothing to do with the man’s death, but she would be hard pressed to explain why she was wearing his bloodied clothing.

When she was done, she checked the road again. She recalled Kayge telling her they were heading to the village of Lisstanbor for the night. For our wedding night. But now she had no idea how far she was from there.

Emers glanced around in the growing dawn for some familiar sign or landmark which would help her determine her next course of action. A dark movement caught her eye, and she froze for a moment before realizing it was the dragon. He was flitting back and forth, neck extended, nose almost touching the ground, as if seeking a scent, before landing a short distance away.

The animal appeared impatient. It stopped abruptly and turned to look her way. In the pre-dawn chill, Emers could see the creature shivering, but the wind had momentarily stilled. It stumbled slightly, as if caught off-balance. Sensing something was amiss, she watched the dragon raise its head and let out an almost melancholy roar.

Emers opened her mouth to hail the animal when the first shafts of daylight peeked over the distant mountain range. She squinted against the sudden light just as the dragon turned in its tracks. It swiveled its head to look at her with big scarlet eyes, its mouth open and panting steamy clouds of air. The young woman felt herself entranced by its stare.

Without warning, the dragon staggered upright. Its legs shook underneath it as if they didn’t have the strength to keep its body off the ground. As it struggled to remain upright, the creature made a gurgling sound. Its long neck swung forward and back, the head pointing its snout up to the sky, then dropping it as it retched. Its wide chest heaved, trying to force whatever was in its gullet out of its body. Trying to regurgitate, grayish foam bubbling around the edges of its mouth.

One more heave, and the creature opened its mouth as wide as possible. A form, slick with bile, slid out of its maw and landed on the ground.

It was a man. Naked. Intact with all four limbs. She could see no marks or blood or wounds of any kind on his back, arms, buttocks, or legs. Neither could she tell if he was alive.

The dragon hovered over him, watching him and, she would swear, waiting for her. To do what?

Emers fought the need to go to him and turn him over to see if he breathed. To see if he lived, as impossible as it sounded, but she feared what the dragon would do. For the first time, she feared what the creature’s next move would be.

A groan came from the man, and her heart jumped. The man moved on his own, startling her, and she took a step back when the man rolled over.

Emers screamed his name and threw herself onto his body. As she tried to take him into her arms, a hand found her hair, her face, and Kayge coughed up phlegm.

“Em…”

He shivered from the cold. Tearing off her shirt, she used it to wipe away the slimy wetness coating his face, clearing his nostrils so he could breathe.

“Kayge! Kayge, my love!”

She was vaguely aware of the dragon moving away, circling behind her, but her whole focus was on her love, her lover and husband who lay on the hard ground.

            Coughing up more phlegm, he turned his head and spat. She waited until he opened his eyes so she could see his expression when he finally saw her. Hunched over him, she placed her hands on either side of his face as he opened his eyes.

            He stared up at her, when his gaze shifted upward. She caught the dark reflection in them looming closer and closer, and he shouted her name as he tried to ward off the immense creature bending down with its mouth agape. At the last possible second, Emers tried to raise her arm to ward off the dragon, but she was too small, too weak, and it was too determined.

The last thing she remembered before the enormous creature swallowed her whole was the clench of hunger once more asserting itself in her belly and the maniacal cackling of an unhinged mind echoing in her ears.

TO BE CONTINUED

Linda's Website

Monday, April 29, 2024

HERE BE NEWS for Monday April 29, 2024

Posted by: PG Forte

 

 




 Monday April 29, 2024 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:



Thursday April 25, 2024: PG Forte discusses Author/Reader events in her post, Another Day, Another Controversy.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Another Day, Another Controversy

Posted by: PG Forte

 I am NOT here to talk about the events last week in Denver. First of all because I wasn't there, secondly because plenty of people (some of whom ALSO were not there) have posted huge manifestos on the subject. I have nothing to add and I don't care to speculate. There's enough of that going on in the world right now. On the other hand, last week's events, coupled with a plethora of "memories" of former conventions that showed up in my various social media feeds in the same time frame, left me thinking a lot about the topic of Author Convention/Book Signing/Reader Events in general.

So here's a list of random reflections on the subject. 

1. There are several things authors want from conventions. They want to meet readers who already love their work as well as the readers who will discover them and go on to become super fans. They want to hang out with their author buddies talking books and drinking wine FOR HOURS. They want to network, attend seminars and learn about new opportunities. They want to be wined and dined by their publisher, their editor, their agent--preferably all three.  Alternately, they want to be wooed by publishers, editors, agents, etc. They would really like to sell some books. And they also want to be able to sneak away (when the peopling becomes too much) in order to write in peace.

2. No matter where the event is held, the venue will fail to provide enough staff, especially in the first few days. They will specifically underestimate how much staff will be needed in the restaurants and bars. They will not comprehend how extremely verbose and sedentary authors are. We will spend hours gathering in bars and restaurants talking books and drinking wine. Yes, hours. Yes, every day. 

I mean, think about it. We routinely spend all day, every day conversing with imaginary people. The biggest difference with conventions is that we're only responsible for a fraction of the conversations we take part in, rather than doing all the talking, all on our own. 

If you are the event producer, you will likely have warned the venue that this will be the case. If this is not your first time producing this type of event, you will understand that there is nothing you can say to convince them of this. 

3. If you're the type of author for whom thousands of readers will be willing to plunk down good money for the chance to stand on line for hours in order to get a minute of your time, you probably shouldn't attempt to sign books at a large event. Show up. Chat with your friends. Allow your publisher/editor/agent/etc to pamper you.  Maybe take part in a small, ticketed event where you meet with readers. 

If you attempt to sign in the same place, at the same time as everyone else no one will be happy. Readers will spend hours on line in hopes of getting your signature on books they've brought with them from home.  You won't make new sales. They won't get to buy new books or discover new authors and possibly they won't even get your signature. The event promoters will call you a diva no matter how you behave. The other authors will hate you. 

Oh, yes we will. Especially if your line of readers stretches for hours in front of our table making it impossible for anyone to see us or talk to us or buy our books. You're wasting our time. You're forcing us to spend hours smiling at people who have absolutely no interest in us or our books. Hours that we could have spent in the bar talking shop, plotting new series, drinking more wine...etc.

4. Invariably, there will be problems. Things will get lost, stolen, broken, misplaced. Things will be said. Many of those things will be misinterpreted. In large part this will be because all the introverts will have hit the wall, become depleted of energy and will start to spiral.  And all the extroverts will be drunk, at this point, on the energy that they've siphoned off the introverts (sorry, not sorry) and begin to act out.  And almost as invariably, the event producers will attempt to assign blame to someone else. To anyone else, really. Authors. Readers. Volunteers. The venue. 

My personal belief is that the event producers need to shoulder the majority of the blame because all these same things happen at every single event. They should be expected. 

***

Anyway, that's about it. I don't know if or where or when I'll ever attend another big author event. This makes me sad because--problems aside--it was always so much fun and I miss it horribly. 

Monday, April 22, 2024

HERE BE NEWS for Monday April 22, 2024

Posted by: PG Forte

 

 




 Monday April 22, 2024 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:



From Linda Mooney:  While cleaning out my office, I came across a few paperback print copies of some of my earlier titles left over from when I was with several other publishers.

 

Each month I'll be posting one of them FOR SALE for only $10, and that includes postage. Plus I'll autograph them!

 

Quantities are limited!

 

April’s Title:


SANDEFLAY

Sensuous Contemporary Fantasy Romance

Word Count:  121.5K

 

 

 

 

Buy Here: https://lindam54.gumroad.com/l/bdsyx

 

Miranda Sayers's best friend is her wheelchair.  It has been her refuge for most of her twenty-six years.  But the time has come when her grandmother can no longer help take care of her.  Now Randi is faced with having to survive on her own, and unfortunately that future doesn't look promising.

 

Collin First's job on Earth is to find the Ducts between his world and this one.  As an Extinguisher, he has to eliminate those passageways before any of the dangerous creatures from Sandeflay can pass through and harm any humans.  The last thing he expected when he took the assignment was to find was the beautiful, crippled woman living one floor below his apartment.

 

Before either of them can contend with the impossibility of their relationship, Randi and Collin are thrown together, seeking each other's love and help.  And when circumstances force Randi to follow Collin to Sandeflay, danger and the greatest miracle of all awaits them both.

 

Warning:  Contains nearly invisible predators, extreme poverty, generations of love and loss, bucking the system, hot flashes, and an ending you only thought you saw coming!




Releasing May 8, 2024


The Lyon's Gambit: 

The Lyon's Den Connected World

In a world bound by rules, love becomes the ultimate gambit.

In the glittering world of London, where society dictates everything, Nathaniel, Marquess of St. John, learned the hard way that playing by those rules doesn't always guarantee a happy ending. Jilted by a woman chosen for him by his father, Nathaniel swore off marriage and embraced the life of a steadfast bachelor.

Louise Hartfield is a talented seamstress with a disdain for the 
ton's rigid expectations. Trapped by her mother's antiquated insistence that as the elder daughter she must wed before her younger sister, Louise scoffs at the idea of conforming to such a preposterous rule.

When Nathaniel and his friends bet on whether love can transcend class, they turn to Mrs. Dove-Lyon, whose Lyon’s Den hosts their daring experiment. As Nathaniel and Louise navigate society’s expectations, they find themselves drawn together in a quest for true love.

Will they defy tradition or succumb to its demands? In this high-stakes gamble for love, who will emerge victorious?

Read free in Kindle Unlimited!


Pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/Lyons-Gambit-Den-Connected-World-ebook/dp/B0D18F864Y






If you think it's too soon to get on Santa's naughty list...think again. 
It's time for Volume 3!

Cancel your plans and spend this holiday season with 35+ romance authors who have teamed up to bring you a delicious holiday treat.

This holiday collection will have it all: fake relationships, second chances, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, workplace romance, age gap, CEO’s, bikers, and falling for the best friend’s brother.

Each of the authors will have an unforgettable, steamy story. So come on over, grab a blanket, and get started on finding your next favorite author today.

Let’s Get Naughty is the perfect anthology for you to binge this holiday season.


 

thought you saw coming!

 

Monday, April 15, 2024

HERE BE NEWS for Monday April 15, 2024

Posted by: PG Forte

 

 




 Monday April 15, 2024 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:





New from Linda Mooney! 

 

DERELICT
 Sci-Fi Romance 
Linda Mooney 
Word Count: 67K 
$3.99 e / $10.99 p 

Running from an attack by the Alliance and looking for cover, a derelict ship unexpectedly comes into view. JeVit of the Pure takes the opportunity to hide behind it, not expecting to find an open bay door inviting them in. Too late she realizes she should have rejected that invitation. 

Centurion Zeke Rossi and his team are in pursuit of an enemy ship when it just…disappears. Spotting an alien vessel they don’t recognize, the Terrans temporarily give up the chase to investigate, and Zeke is tapped to board the ship first to look around. Immediately, his gut tells him something is wrong. It’s not until he enters the spacecraft that his feeling is validated, but he has no idea the worst is yet to come. 
The ship seems to be truly deserted, but the two couldn’t be more wrong. When their paths cross, JeVit realizes that although Zeke is injured, their best chance of surviving is to call a truce and join forces. However, trust between enemies proves difficult. 

When escape becomes possible, JeVit chooses the path most likely to save Zeke’s life, and hopefully not end hers on sight. But when Zeke awakens, his memories are nothing but flashes, other than the gray-eyed, blue-headed beauty he keeps envisioning. What happened to him? What happened to her? And how does she fit into the puzzle of his piecemeal memory? 

Raised to be sworn enemies, the two can’t resist the pull to be together, despite what it means for their future. They’re willing to risk it all, but can they convince the Terrans and the Hafu to unite against a common enemy? 

Warning! Contains beef jerky, lessons in swearing, absolute darkness, Vah plus six, trust issues, and one man making the ultimate sacrifice to return to the woman he's come to love when he knows he has nothing left to lose. 

Excerpt and Buy Links: http://lindamooney.com/Derelict.htm

Saturday, April 13, 2024

New! DERELICT, a Sci-Fi Romance by Linda Mooney

Posted by: Linda Mooney

New!

DERELICT
Sci-Fi Romance
by Linda Mooney

Word Count: 67K
$3.99 e / $10.99 p

Running from an attack by the Alliance and looking for cover, a derelict ship unexpectedly comes into view. JeVit of the Pure takes the opportunity to hide behind it, not expecting to find an open bay door inviting them in. Too late she realizes she should have rejected that invitation.

 Centurion Zeke Rossi and his team are in pursuit of an enemy ship when it just…disappears. Spotting an alien vessel they don’t recognize, the Terrans temporarily give up the chase to investigate, and Zeke is tapped to board the ship first to look around. Immediately, his gut tells him something is wrong. It’s not until he enters the spacecraft that his feeling is validated, but he has no idea the worst is yet to come. 

 The ship seems to be truly deserted, but the two couldn’t be more wrong. When their paths cross, JeVit realizes that although Zeke is injured, their best chance of surviving is to call a truce and join forces. However, trust between enemies proves difficult.

 When escape becomes possible, JeVit chooses the path most likely to save Zeke’s life, and hopefully not end hers on sight. But when Zeke awakens, his memories are nothing but flashes, other than the gray-eyed, blue-headed beauty he keeps envisioning. What happened to him? What happened to her? And how does she fit into the puzzle of his piecemeal memory?

 Raised to be sworn enemies, the two can’t resist the pull to be together, despite what it means for their future. They’re willing to risk it all, but can they convince the Terrans and the Hafu to unite against a common enemy?

 Warning! Contains beef jerky, lessons in swearing, absolute darkness, Vah plus six, trust issues, and one man making the ultimate sacrifice to return to the woman he's come to love when he knows he has nothing left to lose.

 Excerpt and Buy Links: http://lindamooney.com/Derelict.htm 


Monday, April 1, 2024

HERE BE NEWS for Monday April 1, 2024

Posted by: PG Forte

 

 




 Monday April 1, 2024 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:



Tuesday March 26, 2024: Linda Mooney treats us to a peek at Dark Hours (a fantasy romance)
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