lovely Fire Tango fanart!

My bestie drew Fremont and Leandre! She shared with me a few months ago and I used this image for Fire Tango promotional postcards during GRL. (I didn't have the cover until just before the event.) The background and frame is mine.

Thank you, Sydney, for this lovely piece of art!

You can find more by Sydney on her DeviantArt account.

Fire Tango release winners

Winners from the Fire Tango release event have been picked by a random number generator. check your in-boxes  because I've sent the emails out. I want to thank everyone for their comments. ^_^ I hope every enjoyed the teasers. Thank you!

Fire Tango excerpt three

Fremont leaned down, removing the pink bowtie from his pocket. He placed it around Fitzgerald’s neck and tied it neatly. “Thank you, Fitz. Will you watch over Leandre for me while I’m not with him?”

“Yes, Monty, sir.”

Fremont smiled and straightened. “Catriel wants Kestrel and I to join the guests dancing.”

Estella turned to Leandre. “Do you know how to tango, Leandre?”

“Fremont had attempted a lesson, but we were rained out.” Leandre placed his attention on his champagne flute.

“Can I teach him, Monty?” Estella gasped excitedly.

“Of course you can.”

“I could teach him,” Victor offered, slipping into their half circle. He looked Leandre over. “Actually, I’d rather not. Forget I asked.”

Fremont inhaled a deep breath. “What do you want?”

“I wanted to say congratulations, Fremont. I’m thrilled to see whether or not an engagement will save you this time as well.”

Fremont scoffed. “Oh, honestly, Victor. What makes you believe there’s any chance of a conviction?”

“What fun would it be if I told you?”

“You were never one for games.”

Victor glanced at Fitzgerald and took a step closer to Fremont. “I’ll make a wager with you, dear brother. If you come out of the hearing unscathed, I’ll simply congratulate you and move on, but if you’re scathed, you’ll lose your faerie.”

Fremont narrowed his eyes. “Lose Fitzgerald how?”

“Deportation, of course. That’s the only thing within my power as a consul.”

“If I’m to be scathed during the trial, I’ll be living in Snowden, so I don’t see how deporting Fitz will force us apart.”

Victor smiled. It wasn’t friendly. “I think what you’ll be up against is a little worse than a simple rejection of citizenship.”

“This sounds like a threat, Victor,” Leandre said, earning a cold stare from Victor.

“More like a warning.” Victor adjusted his waistcoat. “Enjoy the dance, Fremont.” Fitzgerald stepped to the side to avoid Victor as he retreated into the socializing guests.

“I can’t decide who I dislike more: my own little brother or Kestrel’s.” Estella tightened her fingers into fists. “He has no reason to hate you this much.”

“Of course he does.” Fremont tugged off his gloves and handed them to Fitzgerald for safekeeping. “He’s Victor. What more reason does he need?” Estella chuckled in agreement. “I’m sorry, love,” Fremont said to Leandre. “I’ve never wanted to shove you against the wall and kiss you until you beg more than I do in this very moment, but I have to go.”

The straightforward and seemingly boorish honesty Leandre loved so much about Fremont had been dormant for much of their trip. He happily acknowledged the Fremont he knew was still somewhere under the surface.

“If you keep telling me such secrets, I might drag you away early.”

Fremont smiled slyly and took a step away. “Don’t wear him out, Estella,” he requested.

Blurb:
Devil Fremont’s unwillingness to divulge even the smallest details of his past makes building a relationship with his lover, Leandre, a struggle. Doubt and frustration tear at the couple and put their bond to the test when Fremont’s secrets find him after his ten years in exile and force him home to Spezia to face serious charges.

Whatever mysteries Fremont has buried, Leandre does not believe murder is one of them—though his waiting fiancé is a surprise. As Fremont trusts his lover with his past, a second murder throws him deeper into the law’s hands.

Desperate to save Fremont, Leandre searches for the truth. But the conspiracy he uncovers goes deeper than he ever imagined. With Fremont’s time running out, Leandre must act quickly to reveal the true culprit before he loses his bond mate for good.

FireTango and Water Waltz are both available now.

Elemental Attraction: Not your usual devils

There are five races in the Elemental Attraction world: demons, angels, humans, devils, and faeries. The first pages in the novels give a brief explanation of the races. I’ve received reviews and emails from readers surprised that I took creatures with established mythology and changed it. My version of angels is not that from the bible. Demons and devils are different species. Faeries aren’t the ones in any Disney movie.

I took my artistic license and changed the terms to my liking. That’s what’s so great about fantasy. Angels don’t have to be the same creature in every story. Yes, my angels have weaker bones, but that doesn’t make them weak. Demons have horns, faeries have insect-like wings, and devils have tails. Physical characteristics separate the creatures from the humans, but it doesn’t link them to any set law of fantasy creatures.

Initially I wasn’t going to have devils or faeries. But as I wrote Water Waltz and thought to the future of the world I was creating, I knew I needed to have other countries with other races. And Fremont was just too flirtatious to be a demon.

The creature races also have cultures dividing them. In Fire Tango, how devils view sex differs greatly of how demons and angels do. Devils are viewed negatively because of their more accepting nature to sex and physical desires. But devils view how demons and angels hide sexual desires as strange. Neither is in the right or the wrong, but their cultures clash over just the one thing.

Do you prefer reading the known and loved lore of fantasy creatures, or new versions of angels, demons, and the like?

FireTango and Water Waltz are both available now.

Fire Tango: Guest Blog

For today's entries, I'm blogging over at Shira Anthony's website.
I talk about the two angels who speak French in Elemental Attraction series, and share another excerpt.

Click here to go to my post on Shira's site. Leave comments there to be entered into the drawing of a paperback or ebook of Fire Tango.

Fire Tango: Excerpt Two

“You must mean a lot to Fremont.” Kestrel spoke again, this time more quietly.

Leandre had no idea if Fremont had told Kestrel, but decided to hold his tongue. “Why do you say that?”

“His tail.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Kestrel smiled and offered the bottle of wine to Leandre. He declined. “The tail is not just for balance,” Kestrel said. “Look at Fremont and Estella now.”

Leandre glanced at the siblings. His eyes had adjusted to better see detail in the starlit  evening. They were seated shoulder to shoulder on the dock with their legs dangling off the edge, and their tails were wrapped around one another behind them.

“What about it?”

“A devil doesn’t have complete control over his tail,” Kestrel explained. “It’s a part of us, just like our own heart, but it behaves on a subconscious level as well as conscious. The fact that Fremont’s tail was around your leg when you entered from the hallway is enough evidence to prove to me how close of a friendship you share.”

“Is it friendship if I held his tail during dinner?” Leandre asked carefully, sliding his gaze over Kestrel’s face. The prince silently stared ahead for just long enough for Leandre to regret his question.

“For a demon?” Kestrel finally spoke, raising a curious eyebrow. “I have no idea what that would indicate. Maybe a tail fetish of sorts.”

Leandre chuckled, understanding he had been out of line, and grateful the prince had reacted so well. “I do like how tails look and the attention one gathers in Fenian, but I wouldn’t call it a fetish. I would, however, trade my horns for a tail.”

“A demon with a tail,” Kestrel mused. “Wouldn’t that make you a devil?”

“I guess it would.”

FireTango and Water Waltz are both available now.

Continuing the Fire Tango party

Fremont

When I get a story idea, parts of the plot are thought out first, and when I feel like I need to write it, I start by naming characters. Sometimes it’s easy, but other times I research names to use. It’s a fun part in the process, and sometimes I rename characters when the name just doesn’t seem to fit as the character grows.

I’ve blogged about the names for Water Waltz before, but I’ll review it here and add to it for the new characters introduced in Fire Tango. 

Fremont is the lead in Fire Tango. He was a side character in Water Waltz but his story begged to be told. His name wasn’t picked for a special reason. It’s just a name I like. I think it fits his personality though.

Leandre

Leandre is our second lead. He, too, had his debut in Water Waltz. His name is Greek and means “lion man.” He’s a strong but gentle character. In Fire Tango he faces torment of the heart, but stands his ground to protect his lover.

Fitzgerald is the first faerie character. His name came from one of my favorite authors. Fitz is a close friend of Fremont’s. Once upon a time, there were two casinos in downtown Las Vegas. One was Fitzgerald and the other was Fremont. The names have been changed now, but I found the fact amusing.

The wrench (one of many) in Fremont and Leandre’s perfect romance is Kestrel Du Chastain. He’s a devil from Fremont’s past with nothing but good intentions. I really love this name. Kestrel is a small bird of prey. Chastain is from Old French castan for chestnut tree. So Kestrel’s full name means “bird of prey of the chestnut tree.” It wasn’t intentional, but it sure does fit.

The bad guy is Riston. Every story needs a baddie, and this one is out to see Fremont suffer. His name is related to his element—earth.

Another earth demon introduced is Pekelo. His name means “rock.” I simply adore Pekelo. He started out as a love interest to be developed beside Leandre and Fremont’s budding relationship, but it just didn’t fit the murderous plot. So Pekelo’s romance story is saved for the third book. I just need to plan and write it.

We also meet some devils I named after friends—Estella, Moro, Anna, Laura, and even Juxon. The family name, St Aryie, is also a friend’s name. And the Constable Stephen Banks is a tease to a dear friend. When I need to name a bunch of characters, I go to my social media pages. So like or friend me on Facebook, and comment when I do a name call post. I might use your name too.

I’ve posted a guide to the locations for Water Waltz, and it includes all the key places in Fire Tango as well. (Loire in Bretagne, and Foxwood in Spezia) 

Remember to leave a comment to be entered to win a prize during the Fire Tango release event!

Fire Tango excerpt one

Fremont rested on his back with his hands folded behind his head, patiently studying the ceiling. He could hear guards speaking to each other, but the discussion didn’t include his fate. He hadn’t been told anything, but he was fed and treated well, which was all he could ask for. Fremont had also been given an empty cell in an empty room. The privacy only gave him a sense of dread. To be separated from others couldn’t be a good sign.

“I had expected an arrest for lewd behavior, Fremont.”

Fremont recognized the voice and sat up. “Varun.” He smiled as relief swept into his being. “What brings you here, doll?”

“I had to see it myself,” Varun teased, approaching the cell. “Did they really restrain your tail?”

Fremont carefully got to his feet and turned to show how the guards had taped the appendage to his leg in three areas. “It’s uncomfortable and throws my balance off. What did they expect me to do with it, steal the keys and flee?”

“Probably.” Varun motioned for Fremont to step closer. He squatted down near the bars and reached inside with a pocketknife to cut the tape away. “I vouched for you, so don’t plan any escape with my honor on the line,” he warned halfheartedly.

Fremont smiled. “Have you been told why I’m here?”

“Murder. Such a ghastly mark, Fremont. You couldn’t have been framed with something with less shock value?”

“You say I was framed?”

Varun closed his pocketknife and put it away. “You’re not the murdering type.”

“What did they tell you about the murder? What evidence is there that I’m to blame here?”

“It looks bad for you, Fremont. They’ve linked this incident to one from Foxwood.”

Fremont backed away from the bars, studying Varun in a manner he hadn’t seen before. He would have guessed Fremont suddenly feared him. “What were you told, exactly?”

“I won’t repeat a word, Fremont. What was told to me is not mine to repeat.”

Fremont’s heart fell. He lowered to his knees and stared at the concrete floor. He had spent ten years hiding, and now the past had found him. He had never wanted Varun, or anyone, to know.

It was a long time before he could lift his gaze back to Varun’s face. “I didn’t do it,” he whispered.

FireTango and Water Waltz are both available now.

Elemental Attraction Series

Water Waltz is a political thriller with countries set against each other. The two lead characters, Varun and Triste, move along with the plot they help shape. Fire Tango is a murder mystery with characters set against each other. The murders and Fremont himself move the plot. The two stories are similar and share the world introduced in Water Waltz, but politics do not come into play for Fire Tango as they do in Water Waltz.

The story starts a year after Water Waltz. The demons are cracking down on human trade, and all crimes against humans are now handled exclusively by STAR. Fremont is accused of murdering a human, and the ordeal forces him to face his past. Despite wanting to see to it himself, Leandre joins Fremont in his journey to the devil country of Spezia where everything falls apart.

I didn’t originally set out to write Fire Tango as a murder mystery. In my first outline, Fremont’s past was going to spur more political movements, but it just didn’t feel right. Stepping away from world building gave me a change to further develop characters and character relations. I also think a murder mystery is a tad more fun than bickering countries.

The romance in Fire Tango is also very different than the one in Water Waltz. Fremont and Leandre have an established relationship that’s put to the test. Fremont struggles with his belief that he’ll lose Leandre if Leandre gets to know him too well. It’s a fear I’m sure a lot of readers understand. Letting another person know you as you know yourself can be terrifying.

They also face outside sources of difficulties. The world plot comes into play when devils and demons are two races not allowed to fall in love. Hard choices come into play for Leandre and Fremont, and bring up the question of whether or not the love will survive. But don’t worry. The question is answered by the end.

What do you like in your fantasy books? Some epic worlds or some epic adventure?

FireTango and Water Waltz are both available now.

Fire Tango Release Event!

Let's get this party started.

I was going to be posting on the Dreamspinner's blog as well, but wordpress hates me. (the feeling is mutual)

I'll be giving away a paperback copy of Fire Tango, and a few ebooks too. The rules are simple! Leave a comment on any one of the posts made during the event, and you'll be added to a random drawing.

Edit: Since wordpress won't let me post to my publisher's blob, I decided to turn this into a multiple day event. So this party is going to happen until Sunday! (November 11th) That'll be plenty of time for people to read excerpts and posts and leave comments.

Good luck and have fun!

Comment on these posts to be entered: (I'll update the list each day)

• Elemental Attraction Series
• Excerpt one
• Continuing the Party
• Excerpt two
• Guest spot on Shira Anthony's blog
• Elemental Attraction: Not your usual devils
• Excerpt three

Available Now: Fire Tango

I will be doing a release event this evening with prizes. Check back for posts! You can pick up Fire Tango and Water Waltz--book one in the Elemental Attraction series--from Dreamspinner Press today!

Devil Fremont’s unwillingness to divulge even the smallest details of his past makes building a relationship with his lover, Leandre, a struggle. Doubt and frustration tear at the couple and put their bond to the test when Fremont’s secrets find him after his ten years in exile and force him home to Spezia to face serious charges.

Whatever mysteries Fremont has buried, Leandre does not believe murder is one of them—though his waiting fiancé is a surprise. As Fremont trusts his lover with his past, a second murder throws him deeper into the law’s hands.

Desperate to save Fremont, Leandre searches for the truth. But the conspiracy he uncovers goes deeper than he ever imagined. With Fremont’s time running out, Leandre must act quickly to reveal the true culprit before he loses his bond mate for good.

Purchase today from Dreamspinner Press or All Romance eBooks.