Lands of Fire book trailer

From the time I learned book trailers were possible, I've made one for all my books. I am not convinced they are a sale's device, but they are fun to make, require me to think about the essence of the story, and are a challenge. I think I have mentioned I am also an amateur photographer, painter and sculptor. It's not hard to see how images are something I enjoy bringing to my books. 

Below is the one for Lands of Fire, which should be out November 5th although with Amazon, when you don't do a pre-release, exact times are iffy. 

In 1902, Jesse Taggert was considered to be slow-witted which is the word I use for him in the trailer. That does not mean stupid. He had abilities and ways of seeing things that someone who 'thinks faster' might not have. The movie Forrest Gump, which I saw for the first time after I'd written Lands of Fire, illustrated how someone can be slow in one way but in other ways, see more deeply than someone who maybe thinks too fast. Jesse is not the usual hero for romance novels, but he's every bit the hero in all the ways that count. 

The music for this trailer is something I found on JewelBeat. For me, it perfectly suits this story, which is western and set in Arizona's Sonoran Desert. This is a land that is beautiful, rugged and never simple.

Heat level: ♥♥♥♥ with some mild profanity and strong language

Buy links:

Amazon

D2D with all other buy sites as they become live

CreateSpace for paperback

Sale $2.99 from launch now through November 12th 

before it goes to regular price of $3.99

character lists

Ever wonder how historical series writers keep it all lined up? Character lists provide help for those of us without amazing logistical skills where tons of facts can be instantly attained at a moment of need. Character lists are helpful even when there is only one book. 

Once in awhile I have even given my hero and heroine a birth month based on the characteristics portrayed and which astrology sign makes that most likely. For those of you with no interest or knowledge of astrology, you might be surprised how often the time when one is born can tell a lot about natural traits. The reason for that is not clear to me, but just I have often seen it to be so. Do not confuse a birth chart with horoscopes.

Below is an example of one from my Arizona historical character lists. It has been added onto as books were written and characters added. When I start writing any book, I add in the new characters and their births-- maybe even deaths of some older people-- death is part of life unwilling as we are to see it come to those we love. 

I have had some reservations about sharing with readers these character lists mainly because if a reader hasn't read the books, the list gives away what will happen. Of course, romance readers already know a HEA is guaranteed. For those of you who don't read my books, this is mostly to give you an idea of what you can do if you ever decide to write stories that follow a family through many years. As the little image says, these books go from 1883 to 1906 or will go to 1906 when the last one is out.

On this list, some of these characters never became more than secondary ones but when putting together a character list, it's better to add them in case somewhere down the line, they get their own book. It happens. I do a second such list that has the basics of each major character in any book I am writing. This doesn't require birth dates but personalities and interactions. Some call this kind of information the bible as such are done for screen plays.

CHARACTER LIST FOR ARIZONA HISTORICALS

1837          Charles Provo (exact date and place uncertain)
1838          Jeremiah Taggert b. Illinois; James Redman b. Iowa

1839          -

1840                Rose Jarred b. Missouri

1841                --

1842                --

1843                Roman Alexander Oliver b. Kansas

1844                Raul Cordova b. Mexico

1845                Robert Mitchell b. New York

1846                –

1847                Delbert Sicilla b. West Virginia

1848                –

1849                Maria Jacinta b. Mexico

1850                Constance Banyon b. Maryland

1851                Wei Song b. California

1852                Samuel Ryker (O’Brian) b. Kansas

1853                --

1854                Cordell O’Brian b. Kansas

1855                Joseph Coburn b. Missouri

1856                ---

1857                James Redman m. Rose Jarrod Missouri; Clint Adams b. Nebraska

1858                Abigail Spenser b. Illinois

1859                --

1860                Vincent Coburn b. Kansas; Frances Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas

1861                Priscilla Wesley b. Georgia

1862                --

1863                Ellen Buchanan b. Texas

1864                --

1865                --

1866                Asa Taggert b. Utah; Rafael Cordova b. Mexico

1867                Cole Taggert b. Utah

1868                Jesse Taggert b. Utah

1869                Juan Cordova b. Mexico m. Josita;

1870                Raquel Cordova b. Mexico  d. 1869

1871                –

1872                James Angus b. Illinois

1873                Felipe Valencia b. Arizona

1874                Clint Madison b. Illinois

1875                Eliza Wallace b. California

1876                Gabriel Cordova b. Arizona; Holly Jacobs b. Illinois

1877                Grace O’Brian b. Kansas

1878                Anita Cordova b. Arizona

1879                Alexa Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas; Lily Jacobs b. Illinois

1880                Wei Zian b. Arizona

1881                –

1882                Sam & Abigail meet June and m. June and Nov. Tombstone

1883                –

1884                David Ryker b. Circle R Ranch

1885                Priscilla & Cord talk; Grace arrives in Tucson

1886                cabin—Jan; earthquake May 3; marriage—July

1887                Alice Ryker b. Circle R Ranch

1888                Jesse O’Brian b. Circle O Ranch; Raquel Valencia b. Tucson

1889                Daniel Cordova b. Circle O Ranch Jan.

1890                Ellen m. Robert Mitchell; Jose Valencia b. Tucson

1891                Alica O’Brian b. August Circle O

1892                Roberto Cordova b. December Tucson

1893                Grace leaves for back East; Royce Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas

1894                –

1895                James Redman dies Feb. Tucson; James O’Brian b. Circle O, July

1896                –

1897                Rafe Joins Rough Riders; Margarita Valencia b. Tucson

1898                Rafe mustered out Feb. 15; Grace returns to Tucson June; Marries Rafe Sept.

1899                Donovan Cordova b. November Tucson on the Cordova Ranch; Rose Redman m.Roman Oliver. Tucson

1900               Holly Jacobs meets Vince Coburn in April – marries in July.

1901                Jesse marries Lily

1902                Tyler Taggert b. March- son of Vincent: Joshua Taggert b. April- son of Jesse

1903        -

1904        -

1905        -

from Diablo Canyon

The cover is new. It represents one couple, who continue through the book, first as hero and heroine and then as secondary characters in the next two romances.

 

Diablo Canyon, which began with a dream, became one novella and then three, has been one of my more interesting writing experiences. Its writing brought together fantasy, metaphysics, science, ranch life, and the very human emotion of falling in love. 

When writing a fantasy, the one rule is the book must stay true to the world it created but otherwise-- anything goes. Because in Diablo Canyon, spirit guides and even monsters got their own points of view, it may have led to some reader confusion, which might be more difficult for readers not familiar with paranormal thinking.   The spirit guides take on a point of views in the three stories, as they struggle with fulfilling their goals. They operate (sometimes with frustration) through the small, still voice of wisdom. Only a rare human can directly see or talk to them. 

I believe I have a muse (what I call him) but can't say I've heard him arguing with anybody but me-- and a lot of what I believe to be his inspiration is through dreams, coincidences, or my subconscious (and I can pay attention or not). Having this inner voice doesn't block me from seeing the physical reality around me-- nor does he order me to do things. 

My muse or someone like him has been with me all my life. As a small child, I saw him as a playmate. My talking about what the two of us did and that he had a name worried my parents and eventually I quit seeing him. I don't think he left... although might we have different ones at different points in our lives? Regarding this, I don't know-- except in Diablo Canyon, where it was my choice-- the guide job is a lifetime commitment-- and sometimes a frustrating one.

Diablo Canyon involves the paranormal, ranch life, Montana, some unscrupulous humans, and oh yeah, a different love story for each of the three parts (or novellas depending on how someone bought them)-- the last with a rather unusual heroine.  

This is the only story/stories my partner and I published with an option. (When Fates Conspire, The Dark of the Moon, and Storm in the Canyon are offered as novellas without the spice (sensual but all descriptions stop there). Diablo Canyon, with all three parts, has the kind of heat readers can expect in my books-- ♥♥♥♥). This snippet is from the second part-- The Dark of the Moon.

     “What are you two doing here?” Racine asked-- not that she wasn’t grateful.

     “Curiosity,” Remus responded and then looked toward the horseman who had now stopped and was watching them.

     “Who are you?” Pace asked his gaze moving from one to the other. 

    Racine didn't like that one bit. It was disturbing. He saw them and believed he could talk to them. That was not how it was supposed to be. 

     “The bigger question,” Justus said, “is who are you that you see us?”

     “And can talk to us?” Racine added, trying not to sound annoyed and knowing she probably failed. 

     “Well, you aren’t exactly keeping yourselves secret, now are you?” Pace hooked his knee over the horn of the saddle and lit a cigarette. “What are your names?”

     They told him. “Generally we are unseen,” Remus added with a bemused expression.  “It’s not often we run across a human who is aware of the third dimension.”

     Pace smoked. “I didn’t ask for it.” 

     “Heritage then?”   

     He nodded. “It can be inconvenient.”  

     “Get you institutionalized if you aren’t careful,” Justus agreed with a laugh. 

     “So I’ve been told. You already know who I am. Now I want to know why you are here. Not on Aganes’ side, that much is obvious.”   

     “You know the demon's name?” Justus now sounded more surprised than disturbed.   

     “I’ve met up with him before in my… uh work.” 

     “Cole hired you for the job,” Remus said. “We heard that much. He didn’t know all about you though did he? Not all about you.” 

     Pace shrugged. “He could have. He and I have not actually met. He hired me through the investigative agency where I work. Dirk Langston runs it. The thing is, Cole wouldn’t have hired our agency if he hadn’t wanted something more than the usual.” 

     “Why would Cole want that that?”   

     “At the moment, I can only guess,” he said with a smile.  

     “How much does Myra know?” Racine asked, feeling increasingly troubled by this whole conversation. Humans should only be able to see spirits when they died. Pace seemed very much alive. Was he a warlock or sorcerer. 

     “Neither,” he said, as if he’d heard the question she knew she hadn’t voiced. 

     “Your buddy was right. I inherited it. It came down through the men in my family. When I was small, my father taught me not to fear what I was seeing but then added don’t let others know—at least not until you can trust them.” He drew deeply on the cigarette.

     “So it was a gift,” Remus suggested.

     Pace’s laugh held no humor. “It is what it is-- as I have observed a lot with life. The question I have is what are the two of you doing here? I’ve seen the little beauty there around.” He gestured toward Racine. “You two are new.”

     “How much do you really know of the other side?” Remus asked.

     “No more than I have to..."