An Interview with Chris Karlsen

Please join me in welcoming Chris Karlsen today as she shares with us a little about her writing, why she’d like to be a dolphin, and who she has a crush on. WARNING—I may have to fight her for Gerard Butler!

Be sure to check out her excerpt from Golden Chariot at the end of her interview!

1) Links to website and list of books with purchase links

Website 

Books:

Heroes Live Forever (Knights in Time)

Amazon

Barnesand Noble

BooksTo Go Now

Journey in Time (Knights in Time)

Amazon

Barnesand Noble

2) How long have you been writing? What got you in to writing?

I’ve been writing for seven years. It was something I wanted to do since my early teens but never seemed to have the time while I was in college. Afterward, my job and home life seemed to absorb most of my time.

3) What was your first published book? Looking back, is there anything you’d change about it?

First book was “Heroes Live Forever.” No, I don’t think I’d change anything in the story. I really liked the characters and the idea of multiple lifetimes. 

4) What or Who has influenced your writing?

My mother is an avid reader. My love of books came from her. That same love of books inspired me to want to write. Authors who influence me are: Mike Connelly, John Sandford, Joe Wambaugh for dialogue. Their dialogue is always crisp and tight. Julia Quinn has great, well rounded characters. Julie Anne Long writes such wonderful love scenes and just the way she can craft a sentence is something I aspire to. As for instructors, I am a big Don Maass fan. His “Writing the Breakout Novel,” and “The Fire in Fiction,” books are always within reach when I write.

5) Where do you get your ideas?

I get inspiration and ideas from places and things that have fascinated me most of my life. I am a history buff and love medieval history especially. In my first book, “Heroes Live Forever,” my ghosts were medieval knights. Time-travel and reincarnation are also keen interests of mine. I combined the two in “Journey in Time,” the sequel to “Heroes Live Forever.” I’ve traveled to England many times and knew I wanted to use England as a setting for some of my books. I’ve also visited Turkey often and really enjoy that country. I was inspired by two trips to the ruins of Troy and incorporated my interest in the Trojan War and my love of Turkey for an upcoming book, “Golden Chariot.”

6) What hinders your writing? (distractions? noise?)

We have four rescue dogs and they are pretty active, which can be very distracting as they run in and out the dog door. I love him to death, but my husband can be a big distraction at times, wanting to chat when I’m in the middle of a scene.

7) What genre are you most comfortable with? What would you like to explore?

I’m most comfortable with romance. I would like to try a Gothic horror story with a Victorian setting. I have the beginnings of a possible plot and maybe down the road I can develop it more. We’ll see.

8) Are you a by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of writer, or do you have to use an outline to put your collective thoughts into some semblance of common sense?

I write an outline. I write one or two lines indicating what I think should happen in that chapter. But my outline is not carved in stone. I find as I am writing that I often veer from what I initially thought I would put in a certain scene. 

9) Which of your books is your favorite? Why?

I hate to single out a book as my favorite, but if I must, I’d say “Journey in Time.” I got to take my characters to medieval England so I got to incorporate two of my favorite things, history and time-travel. The hero in Journey, Alex was a big part of the first book, Heroes. I really enjoyed being able to give him his own book, to deeply flesh him out. The heroine, Shakira, was fun. A lot of what distressed her about the medieval period were things that would cause me great concern too. I loved making her emotionally strong and clever enough to deal with her situation.

10) Do you incorporate some of yourself into your characters? Personality traits? Likes? Dislikes?

Yes, I do incorporate traits, likes and dislikes into my characters. Shakira, who I mentioned in the previous answer, reflects me the most. Charlotte, the heroine in my next book, “Golden Chariot,” also has much of me. I write character driven stories, all of my characters, including the heroes have a part of me in them. 

11) What do you think is the perfect hero/heroine? Why?

The perfect hero/heroine is clever and resourceful, they must have a great sense of humor, and they possess innate courage and strength of character. They’re honorable. And—they are flawed, as we all are, and they make mistakes. 

12) What is your latest release? Please share the blurb and purchase info with us.

My latest release is “Journey in Time.” It is book two in my “Knights in Time,” series. It can be purchased for Kindle on Amazon, or for Nook on Barnes and Noble or as a digital download or paperback from my publisher, Books To Go Now. 

13) What do you have in the works?

I have book one of a different series coming out in mid March. It’s called Golden Chariot, and is a romantic thriller set in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Turkey. It involves nautical archaeology and artifact smuggling. 

I’ve just started book three of my “Knights in Time,” series. It will be titled: “Knight Blindness,” and is a time-travel also. It should be ready in early fall for release.

14) Do you have any suggestions/comments for prospective authors?

Take an in-depth look at the books you really love. Analyze what in a scene you like best or if it’s something that runs the length of the book, like characterization, then ask, what did the author do that made me love these characters. Try to imitate those same qualities but with your own spin.

JUST FOR FUN

1) If you could be an animal, what would it be? Why?

If I could be an animal, I think I’d be a dolphin. They’re sleek, smart, communicative, social and they travel some beautiful waters.

2) If you had super powers, what would they be? Why?

I’d like the power of persuasion but the problem is, the folks I’d want to influence I have no means of getting close to. It’s probably best not to give me a superpower, I’m pretty sure I’d wind up abusing it.

3) If you could be an immortal, what would you want to be? Why?

As an immortal, I’d opt for being a ghost. It looks like it might be very fun at times and I could travel anywhere I wanted to go.

4) Is there anywhere you’d like to visit? Why?

I’ve visited all the places I really wanted to see but I’d love to return to England, France, and Turkey. All of them have fantastic history, beautiful countryside, architecturally interesting cities with great restaurants and museums. I also like the people I’ve met in those places.

5) Do you have a crush on any actor/actress? Who?

I have a crush on three actors, Gerard Butler, Clive Owen, and Dustin Clare.  

GOLDEN CHARIOT

Myth, murder, and money clash in this gripping undersea adventure.

GENRE: Romantic Thriller

PURCHASE

BLURB:

The rare discovery of a ship sunk during the time of the Trojan War has been found off the coast of Turkey, near Troy. Charlotte Dashiell is an American nautical archaeologist and thrilled to be part of the recovery team. The wreck may contain proof of her highly controversial theory about the Trojan War.

Charlotte is present when the Turkish government agent assigned to guard the site is murdered. Her possible involvement and a questionable connection to a private collector of black market relics bring her under suspicion. Atakan Vadim is the Turkish agent sent to investigate her. Unknown to either of them, the smuggler behind the murder plans to steal a valuable artifact and frame Charlotte for the theft...after they murder her.

EXCERPT:

Shouts of “fire” came from all sides of the camp. The west wind blew sparks in the direction of the lab. They could lose the entire camp, but not the lab, not the artifacts.

Charlotte grabbed an empty barrel from the fire line. She ran with it and started climbing the stairs to the shower stall’s water tank. A man’s large hand covered her mouth. His other hand brandished a gun. With the cold barrel to her ear, he walked her backwards down the few steps to the ground.

“Don’t scream.” Little-by-little his palm came away from her mouth.

An Interview with Kethry Kane

Please join me in welcoming new author, Kethry Kane as she shares with us a little about her writing, what influences her creativity, and some personal information about her family.

Be sure to check out her excerpt for Second Time Around after the interview.

1) Links to website and list of books with purchase links.

http://www.bookstrand.com/kethry-kane - Second Time Around

also available now on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

2) How long have you been writing? What got you in to writing?

I've been writing since I was 16 years old. I have always been fascinated with creating stories and once I picked up my first romance novel, I was hooked!

3) What was your first published book? Looking back, is there anything you’d change about it?

I'm very new and have only had one book published. My first serious attempt at putting something out there. It was a daunting task to say the least and I'm still petrified of being smacked down. I wouldn't change a thing other than relax a little more. Heck, I'm still not relaxed! Now I'm just stressing to get the second one done!

4) What or Who has influenced your writing?

I have my favorite authors who are a great inspiration to me, Catherine Anderson, Anya Bast, Nora Roberts and then my husband who has pushed me to do something about my dream of being an author.

5) Where do you get your ideas?

Random thoughts. I'm a big day dreamer.

6) What hinders your writing? (distractions? noise?)

I have 5 children, so there is a lot of noise and things to do. I wish I could lock myself away, but they always come first.

7) What genre are you most comfortable with? What would you like to explore?

Contemporary erotic romance. I'm pretty happy there. But one day I may try my hand at some fantasy based stories.

8) Are you a by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of writer, or do you have to use an outline to put your collective thoughts into some semblance of common sense?

Very much a by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of writer! I'll obsess over a story in my head until I just have to put it down on paper. But I am not a very organized writer.

9) Which of your books is your favorite? Why?

Only have the one so far, so this one! :)

10) Do you incorporate some of yourself into your characters? Personality traits? Likes? Dislikes?

All my characters will have a little of me in them. Sometimes it's in their character, mannerisms, etc. and sometimes it's just a physical attribute.

11) What do you think is the perfect hero/heroine? Why?

I like my heroes to be a little on the dominant side, but not in an obnoxious way. Strong, stubborn, smart, with a sense of humor and patience wrapped in a pretty package. What woman doesn't want someone to sweep her off her feet, right? But I also like a bit of a challenge.

12) What is your latest release? Please share the blurb and purchase info with us.

Second Time Around is my current release. You may purchase it at Siren Bookstrand, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Blurb:

Melanie's life was picture-perfect and planned, with all her ducks were in a row and safely nestled behind a white picket fence until tragedy struck, leaving her a grief-stricken young widow struggling to come to terms with her dead husband's final wish.

Danny works hard and plays harder. Chasing the new flavor of the month is a pastime he can't seem to resist. However, when his best friend passes away, he is forced to step up and deal with his friend's grieving widow, who also happens to be his old flame.

In an unlikely and surprising twist, Melanie and Danny find themselves thrust together and forced to deal with a long-kept secret and grief they both share. Through the pain, fire flickers between them, fueled by long-suppressed desires, but is this enough to heal old hurts and bring back love?

13) What do you have in the works?

I have several unfinished works I'm tinkering with. I haven't figured out yet what I want to go with and it's driving me a little nutty. But hoping for a bit more of a romantic comedy.

14) Do you have any suggestions/comments for prospective authors?

I would say never give up on your dream. It's not easy putting yourself out there and sometimes rejection will sting. Learn from your mistakes and always find ways to improve your craft. But I think the key is if you don't try, you won't get anywhere. Keep at it if it's what you want.

JUST FOR FUN:

1) If you could be an animal, what would it be? Why?

A cat because they can get away with almost anything and people don't expect them to follow rules.

2) If you had super powers, what would they be? Why?

Mind reader because I'm always curious to know what people are really thinking.

3) What would be a perfect date for you?

I'm a simple girl with simple tastes. A nice romantic dinner with my husband. To be able to actually talk without little ones interrupting every 10 seconds. Maybe a movie or a walk somewhere. I like quiet time.

4) Is there anywhere you’d like to visit? Why?

I'd love to go back to Wales, where I was born, but also visit surrounding areas, like Ireland and Scotland. I just love Europe.

5) Do you have any obsessions? What are they?

Writing and Facebook

Getting personal with Kethry Kane…

I am your every day mom of 5 wonderful children. Most of the time you'll find me cleaning the house, cooking, running errands. Doing random everyday stuff. I do enjoy watching movies on weekends once in a great while, but I have to admit, I am completely addicted to my little purple netbook. Writing is just my passion. I just wish I had more time and energy in a day to do it all!

Author Name: Kethry Kane

Book Title: Second Time Around

Genre: Erotic Romance/Contemporary

Publisher: Siren Bookstrand

Purchase:

Siren Bookstrand

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Formats: pdf - lit - html - prc - epub

Excerpt: Adult

“I may not be a teen anymore, but trust me, I’m ready for round two.”

“And yet your pants are on,” she countered, giggling as a dark brow rose in mock surprise and he chuckled.

“It does seem a little unfair.” Leaning down, he captured her lips in a sweet kiss that left her breathless and needy. Their lips parted in unison, his tongue sliding sensually across her own in a slow, deep thrust.

She forgot all about his pants and anything else he was wearing as they sank deeper into the kiss, enjoying the flavor of each other’s mouths while she mussed his hair and he trailed his hands over her thighs to her bare hips and moaned. The way she shifted beneath him, squirming to get closer, sighing as his fingers brushed over her smooth skin, was making him crazy again.

Grasping the edge of her shirt, he edged it up and broke away to kiss her chin, drifting up to her cheek and then dipping down her neck. She turned her face and offered him her neck, her breath hitching as he hit the sensitive hollow of her collarbone.

Mel sighed his name and wiggled as he pushed her shirt up and up, working to help him under his weight until they wrangled the cotton up and over her head. She brought both her arms up, her limbs tangled in the shirt where he teasingly pinned them. “Keep them there.” His silky-soft whisper against her ear made her shiver, and she stilled, watching with apt interest as he nibbled his way along the line of her bra. Her nipples poked against the soft material, begging for attention. He brushed his chin against each peak gently and gazed up at her with smoldering eyes. He stole her breath and her heart all over again. Mel lost herself in his gaze, followed it as he moved back up and kissed her again.

Somewhere between untangling her arms and wrapping them around his neck, Mel realized that he had cleverly gotten rid of important bits of clothing and was pressing himself between her legs. She sighed and lifted her knees, wrapping her legs around his hips and welcoming him into her slick, tight pussy again. Danny thrust and she met him eagerly, moving her hips under him.

Again, she felt like heaven, so achingly perfect that he had to muster up the control to keep it slow. Unlike moments ago, he wanted to savor the moment and her. Pressing into the mattress, Danny pushed his hands under and trailed them up her back to cradle her, leaning down to touch her lips ever so softly.

Tears pricked her eyes, and a flood of warmth and love threatened to overwhelm her. She tugged at his shirt and managed to pull it free so she could run her hands over his bare chest and arms. As desperate as she felt to get closer, Mel slid her legs down and let him set the pace. “You have no idea how often I’ve wished for this. Wished I could undo the past,” he murmured thickly.

She cupped his cheeks and smoothed her thumbs over his lips, gasping as he rocked against her. “Shh, don’t,” she whispered. Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them away, bringing his face down for another kiss. For the first time since all this had begun, Mel suddenly realized that she wasn’t the only one struggling with guilt and fear. Danny had just done a better job of hiding it all. Even though neither of them had exactly done wrong, the fact that both of them had held on to a lie for so long had been torture.

She shared his breath and caressed her fingertips down the sides of his face, neck, and over his shoulders, which brought forth a soft growl as he rocked his hips a little harder against hers. He reacted to her soft gasp by caressing her outer thighs as he squeezed her bottom in his large hands. Soft whimpers and sighs fueled him on as she mapped the play of muscles under his skin and eagerly reciprocated affection.

Pressing close, Danny held on tight, burying his face against her neck, and continued to slowly grind against her, making sure to angle his hips just so, applying pressure against her clit. She dug her heels into the bed and moved under him, panting sweetly in his ear as she strained to ease the growing throb of need that he had ignited. Her fingernails dug into the skin of his back as she bumped her hips up and whimpered out his name.

The sound of it sent a bolt of white-hot pleasure through his veins. His teeth grazed her skin, drawing on it with his mouth. “Oh yes!” She gasped. “Oh ungh, yes!”

You can find Kethry at:

Website

Facebook

Inside Heat by Roz Lee

About the Author…

Roz has been married to her high school sweetheart for thirty-two years and is the proud mother of two grown daughters, both in grad school. She divides her time between her home in rural New Jersey and Los Angeles, where her husband works. She's never without her laptop and prefers to write with her Labrador Retriever, Betty Boop, by her side. Roz admits she's addicted to Facebook, chocolate, and travel, not necessarily in that order.

When she's not clicking the computer keys, she's either on the road looking for a new adventure, or at the gym, where she claims some of her best ideas come to her while she's on the elliptical. She confesses some of that has to do with the hot, sweaty men to be found there too, but don't tell her husband. He thinks she goes there to stay in shape!

Musing on Adulthood and Summer Nights

We’ve passed another calendar milestone on the road to putting 2012 behind us. Daylight Saving Time is here again, and it's got me thinking.

Since becoming an adult – some odd decades ago – it seems as if each year passes faster than the previous one. Perhaps you've noticed this as well. I vaguely remember as a kid thinking childhood was going to go on forever. This was before Daylight Saving Time existed, and summer nights were long and filled with all manner of nocturnal activities like frog hunting, catching lightning bugs and playing hide and seek. The time when I would make decisions for myself was so far in the future I couldn't fathom it. *snort*

Then one day I woke up and realized I was the adult. I was the one expected to make the decisions for myself, and my dependents. Yes, dependents. Children. Little people who depended on me to choose wisely, keep them safe and nurture them. It was a sobering thought.

When had this happened? Why hadn't I noticed before?

Tough questions for a mother living several large states away from her support system. Somehow, I muddled through it. I put on what I still think of as a costume – my – I'm-the-adult-do-as-I-say-because-I-said-so, costume and played the role. What else could I do? They were there, looking up to me, expecting me to play the part.

I doubt Broadway or Hollywood will ever come knocking at my door based on my performance, but I think I carried the role pretty well for someone who had never read the script. Just so you know – there isn't a script. I found that out along the way too. It was all improvisation – from the word go.

Today, my girls are grown – adults, if you will, and from my vantage point, they turned out pretty darn good, even if they've never known a pre-Daylight Saving Time summer night.

So, what does an out-of-work improv actress do with her time? I write. I guess it's my way of reliving those long summer nights when creativity was the name of the game, while still wearing the Do-as-I-say costume of adulthood. I find my characters – creations of my imagination more malleable than the creations of my flesh. My characters take on the personality I wish upon them, not the one they inherited. They do as I say or I delete them. (Not recommended for the other kind) Their thoughts and words are mine as they rarely were, or are, with my children.

It's a heady feeling, knowing I have so much control of others – even if they are only figments of my imagination. I enjoy creating characters, giving them a life, a voice and yes, love. In my latest, INSIDE HEAT, I've gone back to those summer nights of my childhood, to the baseball field bathed in artificial light, to kids dreaming of the glory of playing in the Major Leagues someday. My characters, Jeff and Jason Holder grew up with that dream, and for them it came true. Now they're looking for the woman they can share it with, and Megan Long just might be that woman.

Grab your peanuts, popcorn and Cracker Jacks and join me in the bleachers for nine innings. Come on, it's a nice night for a ballgame.

Book Title: Inside Heat

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Publisher: Roz Lee

Purchase:

Amazon  

B & N 

Format: eBook

Blurb:

It's about more than scoring–It's about hitting a home run.

Jeff "The Terminator" Holder is the closer for the Texas Mustangs' baseball team, and revered throughout the Major League for throwing inside heat. His twin brother, Jason, the Mustang's catcher, leads the League in hits. They share a love of the game, as well as their identical DNA – but that's not all they share.

         

Pediatric Nurse Megan Long doesn’t know baseball, but she does know a sexy guy when she sees one - or two. When she seeks out an autograph for one of her patients, she falls under the spell of two of the sexiest players in baseball. Unable to resist their charms, Megan finds herself in bed with both men, but falling in love with only one.

       

Locked in an epic battle against the steroid pumping Martin McCree, Jeff's obsession with striking out McCree strains his relationship with his brother, and leads to an injury that threatens his career and dents his ego. Megan does her best to get through to him, but if Jeff can't see past his failings to find the love she's offering, he's going to strike out in the biggest game of his life.

Megan can't believe her luck when twin professional baseball players Jeff and Jason Holder turn their attention on her. She may not know baseball, but she knows a sexy guy when she sees one – or two! 

The relationship makes it to first base in record time – but a Grand Slam is in Megan's future.

Excerpt: R

Bit by bit, Megan relaxed in their company. They had a way of telling stories that was amusing to watch. One would start, and by some secret cue, the other would continue. It was as if their brains were sync’d by an invisible cord. Prepared to find something to dislike, she chastised herself for categorizing them before she knew them.

Jeff insisted on dessert, and they lingered over the mountainous chocolate cake and another bottle of wine. They were nearly through when Jason spoke. “Why don’t we take some chocolate cake home. Then we can smear it all over each other and lick it off – real slow.”

Megan wasn’t used to drinking more than an occasional glass, and at first, she attributed what she’d heard to the three glasses she’d consumed tonight.

“What?” She closed her eyes and forced her brain to focus. Surely, she’d misheard Jason’s comment. She was long past trying to deny her attraction to the pair, but conjuring up propositions went way beyond fantasizing. It bordered on drunkenness and possibly, insanity. “Would you repeat that, please?”

Megan mentally congratulated herself for sounding rational when she was working with seriously compromised judgment.

Jeff touched her lightly on the arm and she turned her now pounding head in his direction. “Jason can be a bit crude sometimes. I apologize for his behavior.” He shot his brother a look that said, "Way to go, asshole," then turned his attention back to Megan. “What he meant to say, was, we’d like for you to come out to our house this weekend. We want to get to know you better, and give you a chance to get to know us.”

That sounded more rational. Megan tore her gaze away from Jeff, and risked a glance at Jason. His smile made her insides warm, or maybe it was the wine. Jeff’s fingers still rested lightly on her forearm, not demanding, but conveying a message all the same. She jerked her arm off the table and twisted her hands in the cloth napkin in her lap.

“No pressure,” Jeff said. His voice vibrated along her nerve endings. “We like you, a lot. And we think you like us. We want to explore that further, to see if perhaps you might like a lot more from us.”

“I think I’ve had too much to drink. What exactly are we talking about here?”

“This isn’t the place to go into details, but I think you know. We want you, Megan. Both of us. We’d like to find out if it’s something you’d be interested in. We don’t expect you to answer right away. That’s why we want you to come out to our place. You can see the way we live. We can discuss the details then, if it’s something you think you might want.”

She didn’t know what to say. It seemed she had heard Jason correctly. He’d asked her to go to bed with them, tonight. More specifically, he’d suggested licking her body – all over – and allowing her to do the same. It hadn’t been her overactive imagination, spurred on by too much wine. As appealing as that sounded, and she wouldn’t lie to herself, it did sound appealing; she wasn’t into that kind of thing. At least she didn’t think she was. She didn’t do no-strings-attached-kinky-ménage sex.

“I’ve got to go.” She jerked her purse off the back of the chair as she stood. Her head swam, and this time, she knew it wasn’t entirely the fault of the alcohol. She was off balance, but she couldn’t blame it on drinking – not entirely. She made it as far as the front door, and turned to ask the maitre d’ to call a cab. Two towering males blocked her way.

“We have a car waiting. We’ll take you home.” Jeff slipped an arm around her waist while Jason signaled to a car parked down the street. The sleek black town car pulled to the curb, and a moment later Megan was in the backseat, flanked by the two sexiest men she’d ever seen. Jason asked for her address, relayed it to the driver, then closed the partition, sealing them off from the world.

One hot hand skimmed her thigh, sneaking under the hem of her dress to stroke dangerously close to her throbbing parts. Another slipped around her neck, long fingers massaging her nape as the thumb stroked her jaw, gently turning her face in the opposite direction from where the other hand had come from. She found herself looking up into Jeff Holder’s eyes. Before she could form a protest, he bent his head and took her lips in a kiss that loosened every muscle in her body, and did serious damage to her moral fiber. The hand on her thigh tugged, and her legs slid open. Fingers stroked a path to her core, and she groaned against Jeff’s lips as another set of fingers joined the fray. Her thighs spread wider in silent invitation.

***

You can also find Roz Lee at:

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter 

Demons by S.F.Spencer

About the author…

I grew up reading fantasy - David Eddings, R.A.Salvatore, Tolkien, Michael Moorcock - and began writing my own stories at an early age. I had a vivid imagination, which was further fuelled by the tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons. I'd had an idea for my first novel and over the course of many years, I wrote several variations of Demons, all of them centred around my D&D character, Mecel. Eventually I moulded these drafts into something I would allow other people to read. The positive feedback I received was so encouraging that I took steps toward publishing it, finally producing it as an ebook on Amazon. Writing is something I do in my spare time and for the enjoyment of submersing myself within the realms of fantasy. When I'm not working for the National Trust, I'm out and about with my camera or playing guitar or creating videos, but all I want is to share my words with the world and have the world give me the thumbs up.

Author Name: S.F.Spencer

Book Title: Demons (Part one Corilon of Corsden)

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Amazon Kindle

Purchase  

Format: ebook

Blurb: 

Demons is the first in a magical new series of 'sword & sorcery' novels by S.F.Spencer, exploring the thin line between good and evil, hero and villain. Corilon of Corsden is a man with a past he works hard to forget. Once a court mage for the Baron of Corsden, contentment came to an abrupt end when he was attributed blame for a series of sacrificial murders in the town he was charged with protecting. Stripped of his magic by a rival mage, Mecel Corilon was then banished in disgrace, sending him on a journey of madness. Seven years later and he believes he's finally rebuilt some semblance of a life, only his world is about to turn upside down again...

Excerpt:

Mecel closed his eyes and tuned out all sound but that of his own heart beating loud in his ears. Lorina was at his back, Thallion to his right, and that was as far as he allowed his senses to extend. Don’t get hit, he told himself.

Before he’d even opened his eyes, Mecel sprang into movement and parried a dagger that had been on its way to gutting him. With a flick of his sword he deflected the weapon before cutting the orc in two, spinning around to slay his second before facing a third. Bodies dropped at his feet with the regularity of raindrops from an oncoming thunder cloud, but still the orcs came. From out of the corner of his eye he kept watch over Lorina, but she showed no signs of needing help, and Thallion was swinging his axe with the practised skill of a master.

Trelain was surrounded by his men, all of them fighting to protect a Prince who looked angry at being kept out of the fight. None of them looked to be injured though, but then, Mecel didn’t think the orcs were paying them much attention. They all seemed to want to fight him, and for a long time, they did just that. Until:

“They’re retreating!” cried Lorina triumphantly, pulling her sword from yet another dead, green body. Mecel cut down one, two, three more, before getting the chance to look around and see that she was right.

“Don’t let them get away!” roared Trelain, and his men charged after the fleeing orcs, disappearing into the trees while Monti, panting from exertion, took up protective residence beside him. Lorina, resting her hands on her knees to catch her breath, exchanged grins with Thallion. When the barbarian’s eyes fell upon Mecel, however, his triumphant grin faded.

“What is it?” he asked. “Are you hurt?”

Mecel was frowning thoughtfully down at the dead that scattered the ground in a sea of green blood. “No, I’m not hurt. It just seems too easy.”

“Easy?” exclaimed Thallion, laughing. “You call that easy? We were outnumbered five to one!

“Exactly. So why did they run?” Mecel looked questioningly at Thallion, unease knotting inside his stomach. He peered out into the darkness beyond the fire light. The night was quiet – too quiet, and Mecel couldn’t even hear the sounds of Trelain’s men chasing after the orcs that had fled. Something wasn’t right.

“Trelain, call your men back.”

The Prince looked at him, uncertainty gnawing at him like he was gnawing at his thumb nail. “You think it’s a trap?”

Before Mecel could respond, something grabbed hold of his leg, just below the knee. Startled, he jumped back – or tried to – but the dead orc’s hand remained firmly clamped around his calf and he fell. The ground was suddenly a writhing mass of limbs, some severed, some not, and now everyone found their legs being grappled as the hands tried to pull them down.

“The fire!” yelled Mecel, struggling to disentangle himself from the grip of hands that were clawing at his body, “Use the fire!”

The corpses were regaining the use of their heads now, and Mecel found himself having to fend off sets of rotten, broken teeth as well. Somewhere behind him he heard Lorina cry out – whether from pain or fear, he couldn’t tell – but try as he might he couldn’t escape the orcs to even turn his head and look at her. He could hear Monti cursing and swearing as he hacked at the bodies, but the dwarf was quickly overcome due to his lack of height.

A pair of jaws clamped around Mecel’s forearm, biting down hard on the soft flesh, and he let out a cry of pain. Somehow he managed to twist his arm out of its mouth and punch the reanimated orc away.

Thallion came into view, shaking oil out of a flask and all over the bodies on the ground. A moment later and there was the putrid stench of burning flesh. The smell crawled into Mecel’s nostrils like slime, making him choke and gag; none of the orcs screamed or shrieked their pain – they were already dead.

Teeth sank into his shoulder while hands took hold of his throat. Lorina appeared above him, kicking and stabbing at the orcs that had smothered him. With her help, Mecel managed to drag himself out from under them just before Thallion set them alight with the burning torch he’d taken from one of the camp fires. Lorina dropped to her knees beside him.

“Are you alright?” Mecel asked her, ignoring the blood that was pumping from his arm to check her over for injuries.

“Oh my God,” she breathed, quickly removing her shirt and wrapping it around his arm. Even as he began to feel faint, he took comfort in seeing that she was wearing something else beneath that shirt, a kind of corset made of hard leather. It was with alarm that he realised the rune on his chest felt hot, and was growing hotter.

It’s awakening! screamed the voice of panic inside his head.

Just stay calm… he told himself, closing his eyes in order to concentrate, …stay calm and regain control.

 “Thallion!” Lorina shouted urgently.

“Hold on!” he called back, still dealing with the last of the animated bodies.

  

Mecel couldn’t understand his weakness of late. He could see the doors again, doors he’d kept closed for so long, and prayed to the Gods he would be able to keep them closed. He tried to think when he’d first shut them and of the man who’d helped him do it, but he couldn’t focus. Was he really weakening?

  

Lorina was holding his hand but he was close to being overcome with panic. His rune was burning now, threatening to take him, to take his mind and consciousness, and no-one knew what he would do then. When the rune had him, it was like he was somebody else. When the rune had him, he never knew what he did or where he was – what if he attacked his friends?

What if I attack Lorina?

  

“Thallion, please!” shouted Lorina, close to tears herself. Monti hunkered down beside her to peer at Mecel, his expression immediately becoming one of concern.

  

“He doesn’ look so good,” he commented, taking Mecel’s wounded arm and looking beneath the makeshift bandages. “Nasty bite…bleedin’ well. It should be cauterized –”

  

“No!” exclaimed Mecel. Something like that would definitely send him over the edge. He could feel something inside him, something foreign and sharp crawling beneath his skin which had nothing to do with the rune, he was sure.

  

Before he knew what was happening, he was convulsing. Lorina threw herself on top of him to keep him from hurting himself as he arched his back, shaking violently, the veins in his neck standing out so much they looked as though they might burst. It was like what had happened in their bedroom, back at Galor, only this time it was worse. Am I awake? he had asked Lorina.

  

Give yourself to me…echoed the chilling voice of something that wasn’t quite human, a voice that only Mecel could hear. He immediately recognised it as belonging to the thing of his nightmares, and losing control over the rune on his chest suddenly became less important than keeping the demon out.

    

I can see into your soul, the demon all but cooed, and what a wasted life you have led. Failure and loss has dogged your every footstep. What makes you think you can defeat me, mortal? What makes you think you can be successful where countless others have failed?

  

It felt like his entire being – his very soul, even – was being invaded and ravaged by spiritual pestilence. Vaasz had forced his will and mind into Mecel and was now dipping his clawed fingers into every part of him. The rune on his chest was burning hotter than ever. His body seized and bucked and convulsed as every muscle tightened and twisted in revulsion, trying to expel the demon.

  

Turn around now and forget this foolishness. Return to whence you came, and perhaps I will spare your soul the torment that awaits all others. It is what your heart desires anyway. I can taste your fear.

  

“Fear? Fear fear fear feaaaaargh!” screamed Mecel, in a rage. The rune felt as though it was burning a hole in his chest, but right now it didn’t matter, because the demon had just made its first mistake and had unwittingly strengthened his resolve.

  

“You fear me!” he screamed. “You fear me! Get…out…!”  

  

Vaasz had been trying to convince him to give up, and Mecel believed with great conviction that it was because Vaasz felt threatened by him. The constant nightmares, the frightening illusions – it was all scare tactics. He knew that now.

  

I will destroy you, mortal! I will feast on your very bones and confine your soul to infinite torture –

  

With the help of the rune and a huge, concentrated burst of will power, Mecel expelled the roaring demon from him. For a moment he lay there still and panting, allowing the sensation of relief from intense pain to wash over him. The rune cooled too; it must have been reacting to the demon’s magical forced entry of his body. After all, it was a kind of anti-magic field, which was why he was no longer capable of being a wizard.

  

Mecel locked eyes with Lorina, who was still laying across his chest and staring wide-eyed down at him, breathing hard. Silently she pushed herself off him, and Mecel rolled over to be sick, the nausea not passing until he’d brought up the entire contents of his stomach.

 

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