Nightlights
Posted By Kate on July 4, 2009
Filed Under Dark fantasy, Mystery/Detective | 1 Comment
I have a new novel in progress, a crime-fantasy set in the City of Light and thus full of shadows. It’s also full of auxilary characters who are giving me trouble by being coolly named (so I can’t arrest them), lovable (so I can’t kill them off) or in the case of the newest one … well. He’s not telling me his name but he’s sinuous, winged, sly and not a dragon – just in case you were wondering.
So having burnt my wordcount and inspiration for the day on him, I’m flicking through the playlist in hopes of driving him out of my dreamlist for the night because I really don’t want to, thanks.
Illume playlist includes:
Shivers – The Screaming Jets
Nightbird – Stevie Nicks (because there’s always Stevie)
Lovefool – The Cardigans
Sirens – My Friend the Chocolate Cake
Hallucination – David Bowie
Disco Biscuit Love – The Jezabels
More details, as always, at Siren’s Gate where we’re drinking limoncello to ward off winter’s chill.
WIP: Chasing Storms
Posted By J.C. Montgomery on June 9, 2009
Filed Under Excerpts, Mystery/Detective, Suspense/Thrillers | 1 Comment
She opened her email but decided to only read the one marked urgent. She pushed aside the mouse and reached for her travel mug, wondering how much longer she had before they arrived.
What would it change if they knew the truth? They wouldn’t believe me anyway, so why should I bother?
The day had been going well. Nothing unusual, not even the green tint to the clouds had her worried. Tornado season was well under way and Longbow always saw its fair share of action. The town has a warning system, which seems pointless to Joanna since the storm chasers always hit town long before the weather, giving them ample time to prepare.
They’re a welcome sight. After losing the refinery, the town began to shrivel up and crack like a field suffering from a severe drought. Some days, the caravans heading out past the abandoned buildings reminded her of the images of fleeing refugees she once saw on CNN.
Swallowing the last of her coffee, she looks out the open window towards a massive shape swirling in the distance, moving slowly across the horizon. As the sirens begin to wail, she re-reads the message, its implications making it clear she needs to act quickly.
Joanna makes a couple of quick calculations and figures she has just enough time to make it to the gravesite and ensure it looks no different than the landscape surrounding it. They made her promise never to tell. No sense in it they told her. No one would listen, only believing what they want, never accepting the truth. Just make sure you visit us every so often, and remember us the way we were, not what we’d become.
She’d kept her vow. She’d taken care of everything. It’d been easy to explain that they’d left town while they still had the means to start over. But someone’s been talking and she has a good idea who. She curses herself for being stupid enough to trust him.
Deleting the message, she turns off the laptop and sets out to protect the world from a knowledge it isn’t ready for and couldn’t handle anyway. As soon as the investigators leave, she packs up the Jeep and heads toward Dallas. One more time she thinks. After him, I’m through.
© J.C. Montgomery 2009. All Rights Reserved.
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Flee, pale mortal…
Posted By Kate on May 19, 2009
Filed Under News | 4 Comments
Thanks to a link discovered on the Tor.com site I’m reading Dracula in real-time – well, almost. Have to allow an extra day for the US/Australian time zones. Nineteen days in and I’m very much on The Count’s side although I haven’t quite figured out the significance of his hairy palms (hmmm!). I’d be even more on his side if he’d kill Harker now. Such a wet whiny character, how can Mina stand him? Or maybe she can’t and encouraged Harker to take this trip as a way to get some breathing space. Okay, deep breath; try to forget my Mina perception was formed by League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and no doubt shadowed by Lydia in Barbara Hambly’s Travelling with the Dead.
But Harker, ha! He’d be much improved if he lolled back in his chair and said, so you’re a vampire, how interesting.
Another deep breath. That’s something Lee Dervani from my RM line would do. Hmmm. I haven’t seen him for a while…
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sticky note #389
Posted By Kate on May 3, 2009
Filed Under Dark fantasy, Romance, Vampires | 10 Comments
? = baby book
Because this vampire is like a toothache; he’s keeping me awake wondering what his name is, drat him.
Still Falling
Posted By Kate on April 29, 2009
Filed Under Space Opera | 2 Comments
Soon – very soon – Before the Fall will be available for purchase, my first ever space opera. With six-foot felinoids and catmint … yes, it’s one of those stories.
It also features the Winterlark and that was a surprise. She originally arrived on the page/screen thanks to a Blue Room competition requring the key words: chain, coffee, black, tattoo. Read more
When Characters Come Alive
Posted By vbpurcell on April 24, 2009
Filed Under News | 8 Comments
I’ve been writing about the life of a clueless teenage girl for two years, having come to know her as well as any real life person. Her story is embedded in my daily rituals and momentary escapes. I even imagine her voice when I’m writing out her dialogue.
So you can imagine how flabbergasted I was when I saw her standing on a train platform I catch daily. She had the same short wind-blown hair, heart-shaped face and big round eyes brimming with naivety. She even stood with the same slumped posture and insecure confidence I always pictured for Neven.
I wanted to see more of her to check the resemblance but quickly realised it would’ve come across as “checking her out” and, quite possibly, freak her out. Eye-balling strangers are still considered nut-jobs in this day and age.
Instead, I hurried past and made sure there was a safe distance between us. It is creepy to think someone you conjured in your imagination could actually exist in this reality. Honestly, if she did have the same abilities as my fictional character I’m not inclined to test her skill of throwing out fireballs from the palm of her hand. Although, this ability would be ideal when I’m hankering for toasted mash-mellows.
I had a tall cappuccino that morning. Double shots. I never saw the girl afterwards. Every other morning since, a strong cappuccino keeps me grounded.
For information about who Neven is and her life, visit the Chiorntex Tales and seriphynknight.com
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