Friday, July 28, 2017

Published! Wolf's Huntsman: Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Book 4

Book 4 Published on Kindle


Wolf's Huntsman published on Kindle today, July 28, 2017. The paperback is still processing but will publish later today or tomorrow.

The book continues the story of Nate Rollins, the Royal Alpha werewolf, and his friends as they try to make the world a safer place for all werekind and humankind

Blurb:

Black Forest Huntsmen intend to take over the U.S. government.

Nate and Eli, both elite soldiers and Royal Alpha werewolves, strive to assert their dominance over werewolves, werepanthers, and other were in time to safeguard them from this hidden foe.


Events culminate in the discovery of a plot so insidious, so catastrophic that, if not foiled, will poise all were on the brink of annihilation and thrust humankind into perpetual servitude.


Want to catch up on the series? 
Book 5: Wolf's Reign(Coming Soon)

So, What's Coming After Wolf's Reign

I'm not sure at this point, but I believe this series will be complete after book 5, Wolf's Reign. My characters will tell me if I am wrong. :)

However, I will not be done writing in this world. Minor characters want their stories told, too. I am planning a second series in this universe telling the back stories of many of these characters, how they came to be a part of the series, and where their lives take them from here. Time will tell how many books are written in this universe. If more stories keep popping into my head, this universe may supply several series.

Have ideas about possible stories for these characters? Let me know in the comments. I'll discuss your ideas with my characters and see if any will take the challenge. :)

Thank you for reading my books. Thank you for reading my blog posts.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all!

Later,





Thursday, July 27, 2017

Review: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to edit yourself into print

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King

A Review: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers

One of the 'rewards' I give myself when I publish a new book is a copy of the book just publishing in paperback and a book on writing or editing.

The most recent writing/editing book I purchased was Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to edit yourself into print by Renni Browne and Dave King.

All writers need editors. Unfortunately, logistics and finances don't always cooperate, especially for indie authors.

Though non-fiction writers also need editing, the topic for today is self-editing for fiction writers. With several years of professional technical and non-fiction editing behind me, it was interesting to learn fiction editing is different in many ways.

What surprised me and had me excited about this book is the number of examples. In every chapter, clear examples demonstrate how to use the training Browne and King provide.

Both authors, Renni Browne and Dave King, are professional fiction editors. Their chapter headings include: Show and Tell, Characterization and Exposition, Point of View, Proportion, Dialogue Mechanics, See How It Sounds, Interior Monologue, Easy Beats, and more. The appendices provide answers to the exercises in the book, as well as a list of top books for writers.

I'm going to go read more.

Later,











Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Wolf's Huntsman: First Draft Complete

Wolf's Huntsman Update: 1st Draft & 3 Edits Complete

Wolf's Huntsman, Book 4 in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack series should publish no later than August 1!

It has been through 3 edits, with a few more to go. 

You can read the first three chapters in this blog post: 

The Black Forest Huntsmen intended to take over the U.S. government. When Alpha werewolves, Nate and Eli, with the help a young Huntsman, thwart those plans, the Huntsmen send agents to kill their traitor. One of those agents is the man's sister. 

But, there's more to the story. A plot so insidious, so disastrous that if it isn't foiled will have more far reaching consequences than a possible World War III.  Will Nate learn about the threat to all humanity in time?

In this story, Nate begins to unravel the history of the werewolves and his own family, culminating the discovery of a threat to the lives of all humans.  

Want to catch up on the series? 

Book 1: Wolf's Man
Book 2: Wolf's Claim
Book 3: Wolf's Mission
Book 4: Wolf's Huntsman (Coming Soon!)

Later,




Saturday, July 22, 2017

Fiction Writers and the Impostor Syndrome

Impostor Syndrome and the Fiction Writer

Today, while scanning Twitter, I noticed a tweet posted by a writer about feeling impostor syndrome.

That is the catalyst for this article. 

A Definition of Impostor Syndrome


Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome or the imposter experience) is a concept describing high-achieving individuals who are marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud".  Wikipedia


Who Experiences Impostor Syndrome?


Impostor syndrome affects a wide group of people. It includes almost anyone that achieves a goal for the first time. Especially if that goal is one seldom attained by other people.

For instance, the first time I felt impostor syndrome was after I earned my Bachelor’s Degree. My brother, sister, and I are first generation college graduates. We all felt it. It felt like someone would magically appear, say, “Sorry, we were just kidding!” and take our diplomas away from us. We kept waiting for, as my grandmother would have said, “The other shoe to drop.” It just got worse as we went forward to earn more degrees.

I’m not sure it ever truly goes away. To this day, I have trouble feeling like I earned my degrees, even with a 3.86 GPA. I’m not trying to brag. I want to demonstrate that this feeling is not dependent on how poorly or how well you do in achieving a goal. Impostor syndrome can still strike.

Impostor Syndrome and the Writer


Most people seem to think writers are more, or less, than other people. What I mean is that, depending on the kind of writer you are, there will be some who will put you on a pedestal, simply because you can write a basic sentence others can understand and enjoy. There will be others that look down their noses and believe you write because you can’t get a ‘real’ job.

Maybe, in some cases, they may all be right. I don’t know. I do know that a good fiction writer is someone who has spent a lot of time investing in knowledge of grammar, story techniques, dialogue, and much more. A good writer is a fantastic reader and loves to read a broad range of genres in both fiction and nonfiction. A good writer wants readers to open a book and be lost in a cinematic experience.

When said writer publishes for the first or hundredth time, and the book sells well, it may seem as if it can’t be true. This is impostor syndrome at its finest. You may feel as if people bought your book, but they couldn’t have enjoyed it. You may feel as if somehow, you fooled them into liking your work. It may be hard to internalize your success and believe in yourself.

Helps for Impostor Syndrome


The truth is, you can’t fool your public. If they purchase and like your books, if your books sell well, if you receive acclaim for your work, you are not an impostor.

Wikipedia (the bane of scholastic writers everywhere) has a good remedy for impostor syndrome.
·         Be kind to yourself
·         Seek support/ share your feelings
·         Do not use "just" and "only" when describing your work
·         Do not apologize for perceived mistakes

For the writer, I would include this: Keep writing. Your writing will improve every time you write a new book or short story. Over time, you should see this feeling for what it is: A self-belief that is limiting. While impostor syndrome is not a defined medical diagnosis, it is believed to affect approximately 70% of the world’s population. So, you’re not alone.

Follow the bullet steps above to prevent feelings of inadequacy and fear of new experiences. Don’t accept failure. Know that bad reviews can be for a variety of reasons.

Years ago, I worked in sales door-to-door. My manager gave me advice that applies to writing, as well. The advice? “Remember, you don’t know what’s going on in someone else’s life. If the door slams in your face, it might be that person is having a really rotten day. They may have a sick child, an argumentative spouse, or be miserable for any number of reasons. Don’t let them pass their bad day on to you. Shake it off. Put a smile on your face, and keep going. This is the way to success.”

When stress and self-doubt appear, use the emotions you feel to build a character. If it makes you feel better, have the character die in a horrendous manner. Don’t keep those feelings inside. Put them on paper. Even if you never show that particular piece of writing to anyone else, it will help you better deal with your emotions.

You can do this.

After all, you’re a writer.


Later,


Thursday, July 20, 2017

Comparison Survey Wolf's Huntsman Cover


Wolf's Huntsman Cover Survey

The first image (#1) is the cover I first designed for the next book in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack series. After some recommendations by other authors, I have made the adjustments in the second cover (#2).

I'm looking for feedback. Which cover would you be more likely to catch your eye? #1 or #2?

Please comment below and let me know which you like best.

Thank you for your input. I'm back to working on the book. I have nearly 22,000 words, now, so I am about  2/3 finished.

Update:  This cover has changed. It now looks like this:



Later,










Want to catch up on the series? 

Book 1: Wolf's Man
Book 2: Wolf's Claim
Book 3: Wolf's Mission
Book 4: Wolf's Huntsman

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Wolf's Huntsman Preview: The First 3 Chapters of Book 4 in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series

Wolf's Huntsman Preview & Update

Book 4 in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series

Wolf's Mission, Book 3 of the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series is now available in both Kindle ebook and paperback. The official publish date was July 15, 2017.

My current work-in-progress is the next book in the series titled Wolf's Huntsman. 

In this story, a huntsman who helped them with their mission in book 3 becomes a reluctant ally. 

Thinking the wolves kidnapped him, his sister and her friend decide to go to the ranch and rescue him. At least that's what his sister thinks is happening.

But betrayal begets betrayal.

Can even the Royal Lycos set things right?

So far, I have 17 chapters complete, and the story is about half done. A preview containing the first three chapters are below:

Chapter 1

 Paige Marston stood at parade rest before the Huntsmen Triumvirate. Blinking against the spotlight fixed on her, she swallowed and tried to see past the bright lights to study the three commanders’ hard expressions. Unsure why she was ordered to face the Triumvirate, she searched her mind, trying to discover what she might have done.
Supreme Commander Reinhardt, sitting at the center of the table, frowned at her. “You are Lieutenant Paige Marston, Phillip Marston’s sister?”
“Sir, I am.” Whatever Phillip did, they were not happy about it. Behind her back, her right hand clenched her left wrist, her fingers spasming with sudden nerves.
“Have you heard from Philip?”
“Sir, no, sir. The last time he called, he was headed to Canada for guard duty. That’s all he would say, sir.” Under the spot light, her uniform coat was stifling. Sweat trickled down her back. She tightened her shoulders against her body’s need to twitch.
“You are aware he has not passed his trials?”
“Sir, yes, sir. His final trials are in August.”
“Do you believe he has the fortitude and dedication to be incorporated into the Huntsmen Collective?”
Paige blinked. She thought about her younger brother, his blatant disregard of their father’s attempt at Huntsmen indoctrination. Truth be told, she didn’t think he fit the Collective’s needs. But, saying so would get him killed. And he was her baby brother. “Sir, I don’t have reason to believe otherwise.”
The three men bent their heads together, their discussion too soft for her to hear. Paige swallowed, struggling against the need to clear her throat, and tried to keep her concern for her brother out of her expression. The men sat up and faced her. The Supreme Commander leaned slightly toward her. “Your orders, Paige Marston, are to find your brother and bring him to us.”
“Sir?”
“We have reason to believe he is with the werewolves in Texas. Retrieve him.”
“Texas, sir?
“That’s the location of his uniform beacon.”
Paige’s heart lurched in her chest. “Sir, why would he be with the werewolves?”
“Before his partner was destroyed, his report indicated that the wolves took your brother.”
Stunned, Paige gasped. “Destroyed, sir?”
“He was bitten by the wolf he was guarding. We don’t allow our people to become werewolves.”
Paige tried twice before she could force out her question. “The wolves took Phillip?”
“They did. Find him. If he has turned, kill him. If not, bring him back to face charges.”
“I don’t understand, sir. Charges?”
“Your brother is a traitor to the Collective, Lieutenant. He released our captive.”
Bowing her head, Paige gave the answer they expected. “Sir, yes, sir!” When they dismissed her, she saluted and then marched smartly out of the Triumvirate Court office. Holding a tight rein on her emotions, she avoided everyone in her haste to get to her quarters. Shutting the door quietly behind her, she slumped against the door. “Oh, Phillip, what have you done?”
When a knock sounded on the door behind her, she straightened, pulled her uniform jacket off and hung it on hanger suspended from a hook on the door. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her face to be expressionless and opened the door.
Xandrie Schneider shoved past Paige, dropped on the bunk, and leaned back on her elbows. “What happened?”
Paige shut the door behind Xandrie and turned to study her. Xandrie’s long blonde hair, a darker blonde than her own, was neatly pulled back into a regulation bun, her uniform jacket splayed open to show her t-shirt. Paige sighed. “Werewolves have captured Phillip. They’re sending me to retrieve him.”
Xandrie grinned. “So, we’re going hunting.”
“What?”
“Captain Weber ordered me to accompany you on your mission.” She sat up. “We going incognito or wearing our uniforms?”
“Incognito, I suppose. According to the Supreme Commander, they’re holding Phillip on a ranch in Texas.”
“Great! Never been to Texas. Maybe we’ll have time for some sightseeing.”
Thinking Xandrie was trying to cheer her up, Paige gave her a weak smile. “You ever seen a real werewolf?”
“Nope, but I think I’ll know one when I do.”
“How?”
Xandrie laughed. “Mom says they all smell funny. Like wet dogs that need a bath.”
Paige felt her grin slip a little and reinforced it. “Maybe. I never smelled one. Or saw one, either. Phillip doesn’t think they really exist.” Too late, she realized what she said. Her gaze snapped to Xandrie’s face.
Xandrie pursed her lips and nodded. “I heard that about him.” She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as the look she gave Paige intensified. “What about you? You believe in werewolves?”
“My dad’s never lied to me. He says he hunted one last year in France and killed the whole family, so, I guess so.” She turned her back to Xandrie’s too perceptive gaze and opened her closet. “Incognito. Think jeans and t-shirts are good enough? I hear June weather in Texas feels like August here.”
“My aunt moved to Corpus Christie two years ago. I was supposed to go visit her last summer, but Dad sent me to the Huntsman Training Camp, instead. Maybe we can go visit her, while we are there.”
“Maybe. You said you only have the one aunt, right.” Paige glanced over her shoulder to see Xandrie nod. “What’s she doing in Texas?”
Xandrie waited until Paige turned around, several pairs of jeans and t-shirts draped over her arms. “She keeps tabs on the financial doings of the Texas pack.”
“Hmm. If we have time, I don’t see why we can’t swing down and visit for a bit. Not sure we have time, though. We’re supposed to bring Phillip back here.” Paige started folding her clothes to go into her suitcase.
“If he hasn’t turned.”
Paige looked up. “What?”
“If he’s turned, we have to kill him. In that case, we’ll have plenty of time for a visit.” 

Chapter 2

 “What are you going in the dirt, Mom?”
Cynthia Thomas pulled the brim of her sun hat lower to shade her eyes from the early morning Texas sunlight and looked up at her foster-son. He would be her adopted son, but he didn’t agree to the adoption when he was a teen. He refused until he knew what happened to his step-dad. Now that he knew, well, adoption was probably about twenty years too late.
“Good morning, Nate.” She pointed at the flower bed with the hand hoe in her right hand. “These flowers are strangling for nutrients with all the weeds in this garden. Just thought I’d clean it up a bit.”
Nate sucked air between his teeth. “We have someone who can do that.”
“I know that.” Cynthia frowned at him. “Stop making that noise.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She tried to keep her face straight, but the chagrin on the face of her hulking, 6-foot 4-inch son was just too funny. “And that’s no better.”
He grinned, unrepentant as always, and Cynthia shook her head. “I thought you had to work today.”
“Supervising what goes on here on the ranch is my work.”
“You don’t still work in San Antonio?” When Nate looked askance at her, she knew she was losing it again. Pretending nothing was wrong, she shrugged. “Oh, that’s right. I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s already over 90 degrees out here. Why don’t you come inside and have some tea to cool off?”
Cynthia sighed. “You’re not going to start acting like your dad, are you? He’s always telling me what I can’t do.”
“He’s just worried you’ll overdo it.” Nate offered his hand, and she let him pull her up.
“I know. It’s just . . ..” Cynthia shrugged. “Guess I’m not as young as I used to be.” She wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her right hand, careful not to let the hand hoe scrape her face, then brushed the dirt, grass, and leaves off the knees of her jeans. “Where’s your dad?”
Nate shrugged. “I think he went to his office.”
“It’s strange to have such a nice, comfortable building just sitting there empty, Nate.”
“I suppose so.” He was keeping something from her. Cynthia stopped and looked at him. “Something bad happened here, didn’t it?”
He opened the kitchen door and held it for her. “Bad things happen everywhere, Mom.”
She sat on the stool he led her to, then watched him pour her a glass of tea from the pitcher Janelle kept in the fridge. The air conditioning was a welcome respite to the heat outside. “Is it a bigger secret than almost everyone here being a werewolf or some such?”
Nate poured a second glass of tea for himself, then walked back to the bar and sat beside her. “Here you go, Mom.” He shook his head. “A lot happened here before I even got here. Most of the werewolves that lived here were killed in an attack.” He sipped his tea. “The office dad is using was the school house. Except for the teens on a training run, all the kids that lived here died in the school during the attack. The wolves don’t like to go in there. Too many memories, so I thought we could use the space for Dad and Don to use as an office and barracks for the two soldiers stationed here with them.”
Cynthia bit her lip. “Is it safe here, Nate?”
“As safe as we can make it. The people who attacked before are dead, and there’s no reason to believe anyone else will try.” He drained his tea glass in one long swallow, ignoring the frown she fixed on him. “Anyway, that’s why I keep patrols running. If someone comes to the ranch, we’ll know about it before they can cause too much mischief.”
“Mischief.” The word seemed inadequate for the atrocity he described. She sighed. “How is Janelle, this morning?”
“Moving slow. Baby’s due anytime, now, and she’s a bit grumpy.”
Cynthia laughed. “You’d be grumpy, too, if you had to carry twenty pounds all day, every day, on top of your bladder.”
“I suppose so.”
She studied his pensive look. “What’s on your mind, son?”
Nate’s gaze rose to meet hers. “Being a dad is . . ..”
When his voice tapered off, she grinned. “Awe inspiring? Ecstatic? Incredible? Terrifying?”
He nodded. “Yeah. All that and more.”
“It’s a big responsibility, Nate, but you’re up to it. You’ll be a wonderful father.” She put her hand on his arm. “I believe in you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He gave her a quick hug. “Guess I better get back to work. Don’t stay out in the sun, too long, okay?”
She shushed him. “I’m fine, Nate.”
He stood and looked at her, a frown on his face. “You know, as good as you are with flower gardens, maybe you would like to help Phillip with the landscaping. He could do the work and you could supervise.”
Laughing, she shook her head. “Trying to keep me out of the dirt?”
“No. Yes.” A sheepish grin snuck onto his lips. “But, I would like to have someone keep an eye on Phillip, and he’s still scared of most of the were.”
“I can understand that. How old is he, anyway? Not much more than a boy, I’d bet.”
Nate blinked. “I didn’t ask, but now you mention it, he does look pretty young.” He tilted his head and grinned at her. “Why don’t you take him under your wing and find out?”
“And let you know?”
“Only if you think it’s something I need to know.”
“Okay. I think I can handle another wayward youth.”
Nate raised an eyebrow. “I hope you aren’t referring to me.”
Cynthia laughed. “Of course, I am. Both you and Eli. Boys will be boys, after all.” She waved her hand in a dismissive manner. “Go on. I’ll find him and see what I can find out.”
Grinning, Nate set his empty tea glass in the sink, then left, both hands in his pockets.
Taking another sip of her tea, Cynthia considered Nate’s suggestion. It would be nice to talk to someone normal. Human. Not that she minded being around werewolves, werepanthers, and werebears. After all, both her sons were werewolves. But . . . sometimes, she wished she still didn’t know. Wished life was still simple. And safe.
Sighing, she set her glass in the sink beside Nate’s. Wondering if Phillip was having as much trouble acclimating to the ranch as she was, Cynthia put away her garden tools. She washed her hands to get the garden dirt off, then dried them on a paper towel. She headed out the kitchen door to find Phillip.

Chapter 3

Eli Thomas pulled his new SUV, a wedding gift from Nate, his foster brother, to the side of the road. Shifting into park, he left the engine running and turned in his seat to study his nervous bride. Her right hand was wrapped around the seat belt crossing her chest, her thumb brushing the edge of the belt while she stared out her window. She hadn’t said two words in six hours. “Want to tell me what’s wrong?”
Renate Thomas, formerly  Renate Bianchi, sighed and looked at him. “I just don’t know how well this is going to go over.”
“You think I can’t handle it?”
Renate nibbled her bottom lip. “Being the Alpha of a pack isn’t like being a soldier or a cop, Eli. As a werewolf, even a made-wolf, those jobs were fairly safe for you.”
“I didn’t know that at the time.” Less than a month ago, Eli learned his childhood blood-brother pact with his foster brother changed him to were. The charmed medallion Nate always wore prevented either of them from shifting. Absently, Eli touched the medallion he wore. It was identical to the one Nate wore while they were growing up.
“True.” She put her small hand on his arm. “Eli, I’m not disparaging your courage. You survived a fight with Sinclair. Not many were could.”
Eli frowned. “You don’t think I can do this. Why didn’t you say something before we left the ranch?”
“It’s not that I think you can’t do it.” She gave him a half smile. “I just don’t think you know what you are walking into. Nate practically fell into the Alpha position. After the panthers attacked, there were no strong wolves left alive to challenge him. It won’t be that way here.”
“So tell me.” Being a werewolf was new to Eli, but he was learning.
Renate sighed and nodded. “Pack order is determined by strength and power.”
“Is it the strength or power you think I don’t have.” The words sounded angry. Eli sighed, then shook his head and picked up her hand. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. If I don’t understand, please explain it so that I can.”
She squeezed his hand. “It can also be determined by guile and tricks. I have no doubt you can win a fight, Eli, but some of these guys are sneaky and have a mean streak.”
“I’ve dealt with hard cases before.” He grinned. “I am a Marine, you know.” Eli loved hearing her laugh.
“Yes, I know. And a member of the General’s Elite.” She tilted her head and smiled. “Okay. Here’s what will happen. When we get there, you must immediately claim the Alpha position. Someone will be . . . I suppose a good word is ‘annoyed’ by it and challenge you.”
“So I have to fight.”
“Maybe. Probably.” She frowned again. “Eli, if you kill your challengers, you will cement your role in the pack, but it will cause a lot of anger and descent with their families. You must fight only until your opponent surrenders and acknowledges you as the superior wolf. Make sure he admits your dominance before the whole pack.”
“You guys kill each other for the Alpha role?”
“You killed Sinclair.”
Eli shook his head. “I fought Sinclair. You killed him.”

To be continued . . ..



I hope you enjoyed this preview.

Later,










Want to catch up on the series? 

Book 1: Wolf's Man
Book 2: Wolf's Claim
Book 3: Wolf's Mission
Book 4: Wolf's Huntsman (Coming Soon!)

Monday, July 17, 2017

Wolf's Huntsman, Newest Book Started

Wolf's Huntsman #4 in the Texas River Wolf Pack Series.


I have been working on this book since Wolf's Mission published. At this point, I have seven chapters and over 9,000 words written.

In Wolf's Mission, Nate and Eli bring one of the Huntsmen back with them. After helping them retrieve a kidnapped werewolf, his life is forfeit.

But what happens when a Huntsman, raised by a family of Huntsmen, suddenly finds himself surrounded by the very werewolves he has been trained all his life to fear, hunt, and kill?

The preliminary cover selected for this book is at left.

Read the first three chapters!

Have you read the previous books in the series?


Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series


To get up to speed on the series before this book is published, the following books are available on Amazon.com.

Kindle Ebooks:


Wolf's Man (Book 1)
Wolf's Claim (Book 2)
Wolf's Mission (Book 3)

Paperbacks:


Wolf's Man (Book 1)
Wolf's Claim (Book 2)
Wolf's Mission (Book 3)

Please leave a review for books you read. It doesn't have to be much. Even, "I liked it." helps a lot.

Thank you for your continued support of my writing efforts.

Later,


Sunday, July 16, 2017

Wolf's Mission: Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series Book 3 is in Kindle Unlimited

Wolf's Mission: Book 3 in Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series

Wolf's Mission is Now Available for Kindle!

The president's life depends on the rescue of a werewolf . . ..

Black Forest Huntsmen capture a werewolf's daughter to force him to commit treason.

To prevent the president's assassination, resulting in a human/were war, her father asks Nate, a powerful Alpha, and his foster-brother Eli, a human changeling werewolf, to save her. With just two days to rescue her and stop the Huntsmen's dire plan, the two werewolves, both elite soldiers, rush to rescue her. 

Black Forest Huntsmen hunt werewolves. Their goal? 

Hunt them to extinction. For two centuries, werewolves migrated to the United States to escape the Huntsmen. After three generations, the Huntsmen are only stories that frighten young werewolves. 

But the Huntsmen are real.

And if the Black Forest Huntsmen force the girl's father to assassinate the president, a human/were war may erupt. 

Eli and Nate must do everything in their power to rescue the girl and defuse the situation. Will they be in time to prevent the human/were war the Huntsmen are attempting to start?  Or is the future drenched in the blood of innocent humans and werewolves?

Wolf's Mission, the third novella in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series, is now available in ebook on Kindle and will soon be available in paperback! Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read FREE as part of their subscription service.

UPDATE: The paperback edition is available now!


Later,










P.S. Don't forget to opt-in to my mailing list to get your FREE copy of Wolf's Son!


Thursday, July 13, 2017

Wolf's Mission Update: Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Book 3

Wolf's Mission Update


UPDATE TO THE UPDATE:

Evening July 13: I finished the first draft today! After I reread for accuracy, spelling, and grammar, it goes to my beta reader and editor for the first run through tomorrow. I will have this published on or before August 1!


I finished chapter 27 last night. According to the minimal outline I have, I still need to write two chapters before calling the first draft complete.

This series is still so much fun to write. I love being a discovery writer and learning more about the characters and their lives as I go. I know some writers prefer to have a fully fleshed outline before writing, and I applaud them. Wish I could write that way. But, as even this book shows, my characters decide to jump in and tell their stories the way they want them told, regardless what I think.

In Wolf's Claim, for instance, there is a walk-on character. I thought she and her family were just to show how bad another character was and make him less sympathetic to the reader. Nope. She was only mentioned in Wolf's Claim. In Wolf's Mission, there is a complete chapter devoted to her and the change in dynamic that her presence brings to the pack.

The closer I get to finishing this part of the story, the more I look forward to writing the next segment. 

Back to work.

Later,









Learn About the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series Facebook Page


Read the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series:

Texas Ranch Wolf Pack: Wolf's Man

Texas Ranch Wolf Pack: Wolf's Claim

Friday, July 7, 2017

Wolf's Mission: Preview of Chapters 1 & 2

Wolf's Mission Cover

Wolf's Mission Preview

Wolf's Mission is the third novella in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack series. Nate and Eli must rescue a captured werewolf from men who plan to use her to coerce her father, Secretary of Defense Bianchi, to assassinate their target.

Can they get to her before her captors kill her and before her father becomes an assassinator? 

I have a good start on this novella, with more than 11,000 words written. Plans are to publish by August 5th.

The current version of the cover is shown at right. The cover is subject to change.

As mentioned in a previous post, I am actively searching for ARC (Advanced Reader Copy readers).

If you are interested in being an ARC reader, learn more on Seeking ARC Readers

Wolf's Mission 

Chapter 1

Renate Bianchi sat on the cold concrete floor, her back pressed into the corner of the concrete wall, one shoulder resting against each side of the corner. Knees up, arms resting on her knees, and hands dangling between them, she kept her eyes closed, trying to get some rest. With cold silver bars set at five-inch inch intervals meeting the two walls extending from the corner behind her, she was imprisoned in a small equilateral triangular cage, 10 feet to each side. In the center of the bars, a door also made of silver bars was the only way into or out of the cage. No getting through concrete walls, and no ability to touch the bars long enough to get through them. Renate wasn’t sure her werewolf strength would be enough to bend the bars, but the silver kept her from even trying.
In Renate’s cage, a flea-infested bed she refused to touch stretched along one wall. A toilet occupied the opposite corner. Only the thin, almost see-through shower curtain taped over a few bars hinted at privacy to use it. On the other side of the bars, two men dressed in black and gray camo trousers and black t-shirts played poker at a folding card table, ignoring her as long as she stayed quiet. Renate didn’t recognize the uniforms. They each carried Glock’s in holsters under their arms. Not that they needed them. Unless they opened the cage door.
Beyond the two men was another door. She didn’t know where it led. She didn’t know where she was. Only that she didn’t want to be here, and didn’t have much choice. She sighed inaudibly. It never occurred to Renate that she was unsafe at a campaign dinner in Washington D.C. Someone must have slipped her a roofie. That’s the only thing she could figure out. She remembered going to the Ladies Room. The next thing she knew, she woke on that fleabag bed. Fleas would not bite werewolves, but the thought of them crawling on her made her ill. She hated bugs. All bugs. Even the pretty butterflies her mother hatched in her sunroom garden.
When the door beyond the card table opened, Renate strained to hear. Hoping they would believe her sleeping and open the cage door, she felt her muscles tense, ready to move fast if they did. Two, no three people walked into the room. The two men playing cards scraped their chairs against the concrete floor when they stood up.
“At ease, men.”
The voice was new to Renate. Stomping footsteps approached the bars of her cage. “I know you’re not sleeping.”
Renate considered her options, decided she didn’t have any and looked up at the man looking in at her, the other men with him standing at his back. This man was in charge. She could see it in his alpha stance. She almost snickered. Even humans had their alphas. “Why am I here? What do you want?”
The alpha man tilted his head and frowned, his face in the shadow. The only light in the room was the single bulb hanging from a cord in the center of the room behind him, giving his dirty blond hair a halo effect. “From you? Nothing. From your father?” His teeth showed ghostly white in the shadow of his face. “Let’s just say he has a job to do for us.”
Renate glanced at the cage bars. This man knew she was a werewolf. Otherwise, her accommodations would be much less expensive. The silver bars must have cost a fortune. “Dad won’t cooperate.”
“He will if he wants to see his puppy again.”


Chapter 2


Something smelled off. Nate Rollins frowned and glanced at his foster brother, Eli Thomas, as they followed the general into the bowels of a massive military compound. Eli’s expression showed he, too, was uncomfortable. Trying to identify what was bothering him, Nate thought back over the last two hours. That the general was unhappy when he found Janelle, Jonathan, and Ben at the helipad was clear. They drove Nate and Eli to the airstrip to wait for the helicopter the general sent for them. The minute Nate and Eli climbed into the chopper, General Brighton put a headset on, started writing something on an electronic tablet, and refused to talk.
He still refused to talk. He marched ahead of them, their steps echoing in the underground corridor, before finally stopping at a metal door. The general pressed his hand to a palm scanner, then led them inside when the door swished open. Behind them, the door swished closed with a finality that had Koreth, Nate’s wolf, on edge. Koreth hated being in confined areas even more than Nate did.
The cold, metallic smell of the walls surrounding them felt like an itch he couldn’t reach. He hoped he and Eli would be out of the compound and away on their mission soon. They marched down another corridor, then into a small room. In the center of the room, a small table held a block of silver toned metal. Four metal chairs were scooted up beneath the table’s edges, one on each side. A combat unit standing against the walls was armed with M16s faced the center of the room, their weapons at ready.
Nate’s right eyebrow climbed as he took in the rifles not quite aimed at him and Eli. He turned his attention to the general, waiting for him to speak. General Brighton walked to the opposite side of the table, out of the line of fire, and turned to face Nate and his brother.
The general’s piercing gaze studied them, one at a time, then he motioned toward the block of metal on the table. “Pick it up.”
Nate frowned. “Sir?”
“Pick it up.”
He reached forward. Just before his hand closed on the metal, he felt the itch in his palm increase. Solid silver. As a Royal werewolf, silver didn’t affect him much. While it was uncomfortable to his touch, it didn’t burn him like it did most werewolves. He swallowed and cast a glance at the general. The general’s gaze hardened as Nate hesitated.
He knows about were. Koreth’s thought was confirmation of Nate’s own. Without further hesitation, he picked up the silver block, bounced it in his hand as if weighing it, tossed it from one hand to the other, then looked at the general again. “What do you want me to do with this, General?”
The general’s tension eased a bit, and he shoved his chin toward Eli. “Give it to him.”
Nate kept his panic from his expression. Koreth, can Eli handle silver? He felt Koreth’s affirmation. He can if we protect him. Nate looked at Eli. Koreth, tell Jabril that we will protect him. Tell him to act like it is nothing to handle silver.
The only indication that Eli received the communication from Jabril, his wolf, was the glance he threw at Nate. Without hesitation, Eli lifted the metal from Nate’s hand and turned it in his hand. His expression curious, Eli set it on the table and looked at the general. “What’s up, General?”
“Hold out your hands, palm up.”
Nate and Eli extended their arms, showing the general their unburned palms. The general sighed and nodded toward the chairs. “Sit down, men.” He turned to the combat unit. “Dismissed.”
Nate and Eli sat and waited until the soldiers left the room, closing the door behind them. The general sat and faced them. “Sorry about that. After finding you on the ranch, I had to know for sure.”
Nate’s eyes narrowed. “Know what for sure, sir?”
General Brighton chuckled. “You’ll think I’m crazy, but the truth is, I needed to know if you’d been turned.”
“Turned?” Nate ignored the tension rolling off Eli. “You know we’re loyal.”
“I knew you were loyal, but things can change if a man turns.”
Nate studied the general. He schooled his expression into one of confusion. “How would a block of metal tell you we weren’t loyal?”
“I needed to know if you are werewolves.”
Nate laughed. “Werewolves? There are such things as werewolves?” Inside, he wasn’t laughing at all. He shrugged. “Okay, then, if there really are werewolves, how about you pick up the metal. Just so we know you’re human.”
The general looked at the block of silver and shook his head. “I can’t. It would burn me.”


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Get Caught Up on the Series!


Book 1: Wolf's Man
Book 2: Wolf's Claim
Book 3: Wolf's Mission
Book 4: Wolf's Huntsman
Book 5: Wolf's Reign (Coming Soon!)