a.c.Mason

Wow. Mason, are you going to write on your own blog?

Oh my, I think, I might just do that. Lol. All jokes aside I enjoy showcasing some fellow writers I know and the work they are doing.

As the title suggests I’m going to strip down my writing process to the bare flesh.

Idea: a realization of a possible way of doing something or of something to be done

Example: NIGHT REINS. Ancient immortals fighting to keep us safe from Vampires. The immortal race lives one image out in the open and a secret society.

Issue: a source of conflict, misgiving, or emotional distress

Example: DEAD AND ADORED. I don’t like Zombies. I’m stunned at my own prejudice against beings that have done nothing to me. It’s not their fault they want to eat people. What kind of world could I create where Zobies are “ok”. What kind of zombie would be a hero of sorts.

Once I have something in my head it ferments or masticates in my brain.

Ferment: to cause, develop, or evolve something, or be developed or evolved 

Masticate: pulverize food inside the mouth, using the teeth and jaws

I prefer to say masticate, which is a Masonism, my brain chews over the idea/issue until scenes and dialogue start to take place. My characters take form in my mind and I have them rehearse the scenes playing them out a number of ways before I write. I think my camera operator background and floor directing experience help. Is this a wide-angle scene or a close up? I play out way more material in my mind then I’ll ever need for the book. Often I add in scenes after feedback from a first read from a critique partner as what they point tells me they need more of the contents in my head. I know information the reader will never know but I draw on the content and context to add the layers to the story.

Oh, I should note that usually I have multiple plots going on at once because I was blessed with three muses, affectionately known as Dark, Darker and So-Not-Funny. Darker has a really disturbed sense of humor. Warning my next comment may disturb some people. Read at own risk.

Example: DEAD AND ADORED. Vaihan doesn’t like eating human brains because they taste like cheap pâté. Plus he doesn’t much enjoy the texture.

I do a lot of planning in my head before I put one word to paper. I write synopsis or scene outlines. Those are my road map. I’m still working on the planning part of writing not happening so much in my head.

That’s the velvet rope tour of how my writing process works. I hope you enjoyed.

Mason

I’m honored to have Susan Hanniford Crowley, on my blog to talk about THE STORMY LOVE LIFE OF LAURA CORDELAIS.

I’m excited to be here.

The readers don’t know but this book is the first work of yours I ever had the privilege of seeing in the writing stage.

That’s very true, and through the critiquing process you were also the last person to see the entire manuscript before I found my publisher, Tease Publishing LLC.

Tell me about the process you’ve been through with this novel? Where did the idea come from for this book?

Actually I dreamed of Laura and David, and since I was a science fiction and fantasy author at the time I didn’t think that their story would work out for me.  I wasn’t yet a romance author. Still the characters persistently inhabited my dreams until I had no choice but to write their story. When I was done, I sent it to my critique group which was made up of science fiction and fantasy authors. They were very good technically but told me they didn’t know about writing romance and that’s what it evidently was. One person told me I had too much sex in it.  They were very honest though about the whole thing.
I ended up looking for a romance critique group.  I began reading everything about romance writing and romance books.  Then I found my current romance critique group and met you, a.c. Mason! 

We were so young back then.

I really enjoy the journey these two take. Haven’t we encountered David Hilliard before?

You have. After writing THE STORMY LOVE LIFE OF LAURA CORDELAIS, I had this most amazing dream about two supernatural rescue workers, Gregor and Regina, at the World Trade Center site on Sept. 11^th.  Gregor has this vampire friend, David, who is also a rescue worker. That story became WHEN LOVE SURVIVES. It kind of backs up the series a bit and introduces David and what he’s like before he met Laura. WHEN LOVE SURVIVES, which is a paranormal/sf/fantasy romance novella, was published last month by Tease Publishing LLC.

Tell us a little about the different creature some of the readers may not have come across before? 

LOL.  That would be Laura Cordelais.  I do a tremendous amount of research. In Greek mythology, there was a very early group of people called Telkhines that lived on the isle of Rhodes.  According to the myths, Telkhines were talented metal smiths able to fashion incredible weapons and wonderful jewelry. They could also control the weather.  The God Zeus was angered by their talents to manipulate the weather to their will and their arrogance about it.  Arrogance was a sure fire way to anger a Greek God, so he and Apollo paid them a visit.  When he visited the home of Dexithea and her sisters, he and Apollo were welcomed, fed, and entertained.  So when Zeus punished the Telkhines by making them dog-faced sea demons, he left Dexithea, her mother, and her sisters out of it. He even blessed Dexithea by giving her the further gift of controlling lightning. 

In the story, Laura Cordelais is a direct descendent of Dexithea.   

 

Blub:

Being descended from an ancient race blessed by Zeus doesn’t help Telkhine Laura Cordelais. For Vampire David Hilliard to save her, he must kill her, and by loving her, he could lose her forever. When plunged into a dark underworld of voodoo and sorcery, will they escape? Together?

A taste:

Laura struggled through the dark and burst through a great light.  She gasped for breath and it filled her.  Warmth spread through her every part, then a surge of energy she didn’t understand.  Her heart beat.  Differently.  Odd.  Different from any feeling she’d ever had.  Her eyelashes fluttered and then in the dim light of a strange windowless room, she saw a man’s face. 

His dark, curly hair framed his chiseled features.  What struck her most were his dark, fathomless eyes.  I can get lost in those eyes and never want to leave.           

He smiled.                              

She flushed.  I hope he can’t hear what I’m thinking.           

I can.

She sat up, smiling with embarrassment.  “You pulled me out of the river?”           

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”  Laura trembled.  “I don’t understand.  I was dying.”

            “You were very badly injured in the fall.  I was going to take you to the hospital, but you said, ‘No hospital.’  That you’d keep trying to kill yourself.”  His jaw tightened.  “I couldn’t bear the idea of your death.  Please, forgive me, but I couldn’t let you die.”  He gazed deeply into her eyes. 

Laura moved her tongue inside her mouth and came across the fangs.        

“Oh, my God!”  She tried to sit up, but he pushed her gently down.           

“Don’t get up just yet.  You’re still healing.”

“You made me a vampire?”  Every tale she’d heard as a child in New Orleans rushed back to her.  Vampires were monsters.  “Now I’m a monster!”  Anger flushed through her.  How dare he make her this!  He had no right.  She seethed. 

“No.  You are not a monster.  Neither am I.  I gave you a life.  It’s your choice how you live it.”

Then another emotion unexpectedly filled her, when she gazed up into his eyes.  I couldn’t bear the idea of your death.   His tender words echoed in her entire being and soothed her broken heart, as if he’d kissed her lips without touching her.  She looked at him with wonder, reached up and caressed the young beard on his chin.  He smiled and she could see his fangs now.  Strangely, she wasn’t frightened.

“We must do the last part.”   He bit into his arm just inside the elbow and put it against her mouth.

“No.”  She pushed his arm away.

“You need it to stop the hunger from possessing you.  Just close your eyes and drink.” 

The blood oozed into her mouth, as he pressed his arm against her lips.  At first, she choked and sputtered but then finally accepted it.  Laura tried not to think about what it really was.  The warmth reminded her of ginger tea with a citrus tang.  

“Since I am your sire, my blood will give you a balanced mind.  You will not need to feed again until tonight.” 

After a few more minutes, she pushed him away.  The wound on his arm healed before her eyes.  Wide-eyed, she smiled.  “I feel so strong and well.  I don’t ache or hurt anywhere.”  Then his reference to being her sire struck her.  “So you own me now!”  Her anger flared again along with her strength.  She slapped him.

“What was that for?”  He held his hand to his cheek.

“Oh, I don’t know.  You made me a vampire and now you own me.  Take your pick.” 

David gazed upward.  “This isn’t going well.”

“Who are you talking to?”

“God.”

Laura scoffed.  “A vampire talks to God?  Does God answer you?”

David frowned at her and sighed.  ”God apparently has one hell of a sense of humor.”

“What does that mean?”

“Never mind.  Let’s get back to the subject at hand.  No, I do not own you.  I have no claim on you whatsoever.  You are free to decide where you want to be and with whom.  I’ll help you get started, that’s all.”  With every word, he seemed more uncomfortable.  “We do have a blood tie though, so if you ever need my help, just think of me and I’ll come.  I’ll find you.”

Her anger dissipated.  Laura enjoyed seeing him vulnerable.  And he didn’t hit her back.  She smiled.  “I don’t know your name.”

“I’m David Hilliard.”

This time she gently touched his face.  “I’m Laura Cordelais.”

He held her hand to his cheek and closed his eyes.

Laura gasped as she realized her surroundings.  “Do you live here?”

“No.”  He chuckled.  “I just needed to get you out of the sun.  I have an apartment.”

“Well, that’s a relief.  I thought I’d have to live in a cemetery.” 
           They both laughed.

Laura looked around at the grim tomb.  A spider crawled up the stone wall nearest her, and she trembled.  “I’m afraid of small, closed spaces.  And bugs.”

He enclosed her in his arms.  “Don’t be afraid.  As soon as it’s dark, we’ll leave.” 

Her mouth was so close to his, she could almost taste him.  Then he pressed his firm lips against hers.  

Hmm.  He tastes of honey.  I love honey.

Their fangs knocked together.  Laura giggled nervously.

“Shall we try that again?” he suggested.

She nodded. 

David gently took her chin and tilted her head slightly.  Then his lips possessed hers again.  Laura tingled from head to toe and wondered if a vampire was capable of love.  She hoped David was. 

When their lips parted, Laura frowned.   

“I’m still angry with you.”

“Really?  You don’t sound that angry.”

“I’m furious with you.  I mean you made me a vampire.”

“Are you furious?”  He carefully pushed a hair off her face and kissed her forehead.

“Now that’s not fair.  Are you using your hypnotic powers on me?”

“No.  I want everything between us to be real.”  He kissed her left temple and moved down her jaw line.  His mouth caressed her lips.  His tongue rubbed her fangs.

“Whoa.”  Rubbing her fangs stirred a passion so hot, it was hard to ignore.  Still.  He had just made her a vampire.  All his distractions were making her forget that.  She should be angry with him, but his kiss stirred up a frenzy of desire. 
                                                                       #
The excerpt is based on David’s earlier request to God to take pity on his loneliness.  Of course, keeping her is a whole different issue.  The two are torn apart by supernatural forces that refuse to see a vampire together with a Telkhine, and it’s here that Laura truly discovers the enormity of her powers. Will she be able to stay with David?

Where can the readers find THE STORMY LOVE LIFE OF LAURA CORDELAIS?

It just went on sale at All Romance Ebooks http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thestormylovelifeoflauracordelais-374695-139.html

What other work can the readers find of yours floating around?

WHEN LOVE SURVIVES is also at All Romance Ebooks http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-whenlovesurvives-362921-143.html  I love that story because of Regina O’Malley’s character. If you love the Irish, you’ll love Regina.  The story itself speaks of courage and heroism, not only of the character but of all the rescue workers.

 

 

 

 

 

What’s your next project?

A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS is a special romance novella and it introduces the Arnhem Knights. Who are they? You’ll have to wait and find out. David and Laura are also in it, as it’s also part of my Vampires of Manhattan series.

If readers are looking for you, where can they find you?

I’m on Twitter as onlyladyknight.  I’m on Facebook as Susan Hanniford Crowley.  They might want to Facebook friend me as all my friends get the announcements from the interviews and contests on the Nights of Passion blog, which is at http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com

I share the blog with yours truly, a.c. Mason, and B.B. Roberts.  My personal website is http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com  

Susan as always it’s been a pleasure. I hope to have you back when A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS comes out. I wish you many sales on THE STORMY LOVE LIFE OF LAURA CORDELAIS.

Thanks so much for having me. It’s been fun.

Susan’s books can be found at All Romance Ebooks

Links. http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thestormylovelifeoflauracordelais-374695-139.html

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-whenlovesurvives-362921-143.html

Another wonderful week is underway.

Susan Hanniford Crowley over at Nights of Passion asked me if I would write something about the birth of my creatures, the Aequitas for Halloween. I said, “Umm, okay, what would you like to know.”

Tell us about the development of your beings for the book Aequitas?
How you came up with the history or mythology?
How much is based on real mythology?
How much did you add or created to make your world?

There they were the questions to which Susan wanted me to perform the autopsy of my being the aequitas with. This is where, I role up my sleeve and pull on my none-latex gloves. I pause for a moment, is this were the magic of the world I created for the reader is pulled back and they get a glimpse into the neurotic writer’s brain? Probably, but I’m willing to go there, just for you, the reader.

Auria was the first image that formed in my mind. I was seeing through the eyes of my hero, Etienne and this gorgeous female dressed in white leather yet internally dark strolled toward him. He is sucked deep into her. But what mortal male wouldn’t be?

I had no idea, what she was when I saw her strutting forward but she intrigued Etienne and me. What was the duplicity we saw in her? Then, I asked myself what hasn’t been done? We have hybrids of creatures coming out of the woodwork lately. Half werewolves and vamp, shifters in all types of mixes so what would be fresh?

Here is where my critique partner G. Jillian Stone would say, Mason goes esoteric. I’m thinking hard as I go on my morning jog trying to figure what hasn’t been done? Think, Mason. And Voila!! The idea came to me, part angel and demon creatures. Great how on God’s green earth am I going to make this believable. Why would anyone create such a mix of beings? It hasn’t been done probably because you need a reason? Like an angel and demon fall in love and make babies. Lol. Often the most logical reason. But that would take a lot of back-story to have an entire society of them. Something with equal part good and evil in them, always fighting to stabilize the good side, inside them. Then I thought what if humanoids where host to equal part powerful angel soul and demon. Oh… now there is something for me to consider and I did.

More jogging followed. And yet some more. Why because I had this unique idea but now I had to build a word that need these creatures. Then as if from the back of my mind, all those Roman Catholic Sunday school teachings came back to me about the war in heaven. Strange things come out of war, as we have all learned over the ages. I wasn’t the first to use the battle in God’s kingdom but I was going out of the usual box. I was going to do angels and demons fighting over humans but with a twisted spine. This is just not how my derangement works. What if the war didn’t end? Maybe they need peacekeepers? But what would these peacekeepers be doing? What would angels be needing to be keep an eye on about? This is the harder part because really anyone could believe demons where up to no good but what about angels? Not such an easy sale right?  A very small but powerful light bulb went on. Us, it’s always about living beings and the forces of good or evil messing around with our freewill. Sure angels use their influence for good but what if that messed with universal fairness? Oh, you see where I’m going with this, don’t you? If you don’t keep reading. If we truly have freewill, even someone out to help us for the forces of good is manipulating, our ability to use the sacred gift given to us by God. Right? As far as I know freewill is something God gave us? That’s what I learned in Sunday school, Catholic school, from many a priests and the bible.
 
Maybe, I think this way, because even when someone is manipulating me for my own good, I feel betrayed. I really don’t like it. I’m weird. I don’t care if all turns out for the better mistakes are mine to make and I won’t let anyone take that from me. Yes, I’m a tad pig headed. Psst, don’t tell anyone. Shsh.
 
Okay, so now I got the reasons to backup why an elite force of supernatural being were created and what their job was but I didn’t have a name for them. At the route of their job was policing the forces of light and dark.

Mason, has a thing for languages, Latin and Greek mostly plus French and English the two I write, speak and read. Latin relates to my Catholic background. It seemed fitting to look for a word in Latin. I looked up the Latin word for justice and came up with:

aequitas equitas : justice, fairness, equity

I liked the first word a lot. And I christened my creations the Aequitas.

What are the Aequitas?

They are humanoids who:
Travel through realms and planets.
They are immortal.
They can fly with angel’s wings that come out of their back, they can learn to harness inner peace, and work on the side of what is just.
They can communicate telepathically.
They exchange blood to share their most sacred gift a part of their soul.
They have demon strength, cunningness, and speed.
Their eyes turn black when using demon attributes.
They can collect and release souls.
They are a race of slaves, born into servitude.

Where would the story start? I have a think for drama so I don’t like to start too early. I often start the story to late and get, asked to back up. I prefer you learn information as the plot advances. Since I suspect my readers are humans, I thought a good place to ground them given a lot of weird stuff happens from page one was Earth in modern day. A nice city park. I could have tossed you another curve ball, but I’m already knees deep in way out there stuff.

I find the best way for me to write fresh is to read the mythology and move away from what people know about those ideas. Otherwise, I’m making a poor imitation of a classic tale.

Once I figured out who, what, where, when and WHY. The reason I capitalized why is because everything that happens has to have a why. I’m asking you, the reader to pay attention to information that might seem insignificant at the time but is part of the greater puzzle. I suspect if you picked up my book, you know, its a paranormal thriller and you looking for a tense ride with some passion along the way.

 Thanks Susan for allowing me to share my creatures with your readers.

 Aequitas I: Betrayal by a.c.Mason

The Aequitas, part angel and demon, have kept the balance between the forces of good and evil — until now.

When Etienne Grant is kidnapped and transformed into an Aequitas, marriage to Auria is the only thing that will save his soul.

Auria is a beautiful but efficient Aequitas, a General who wants nothing to do with love. A former lover has plans to prevent any hope of happiness with her new husband, and after murdering his own best friend and forcing Auria to join his rebellion, the balance between good and evil spirals out of control.

Can Etienne’s tenderness melt Auria’s cold heart and heal the pain of their secret pasts? Their very survival depends on it.

 

A taste:

A female form approached, clad in white clothing that accented her brown skin.

The endless depths of her black onyx gaze mesmerized him, seemed to hold him captive. His surroundings faded.

Eyes he’d seen before, but where and when?

He tried to blink but could not. A euphoric daze came over him as the dark abyss of her eyes pulled him in further.

Her small fingers shoved his chest, and he soared into the air.

Oh no!

As his body slammed to the ground, he gasped. His lungs clutched for air. How could such a petite feminine creature overpower him?

A seraphic beauty or a demon?

She leapt, rising in the dark of night, steel heels gleaming. Crap! Yet he didn’t move, spellbound by the fluidity of her movements, and then braced for impact.

Landing feet first, she knocked the wind from his lungs. They screamed for air. Impossible. The heels should have gone through him.

Emotionless, she stood on his chest, yet her body didn’t weigh on him. His attempts to shift, fruitless. He remained pinned.

She bent down. Her heels ground into his skin, scraping his chest until she knelt, knees pressed to his collarbone.

“Err,” he protested, teeth gritted in anguish as his flesh bled beneath her slicing heels. “Err.”

The slight twinkle in her eyes as she pressed her forearm to his throat held him in a trance, the movement of branches crawled. Everything around him seemed to slow. The only sounds came from his pounding heart and rapid breath.

Why didn’t she finish the job? She’d clearly proven she could dispose of him with ease.

Face close to his, she made contact with his cheek and stroked her thumb on his flesh.

He shook his head, reached up and grabbed her small wrists, restraining her, but she twisted her arms free. Lips curved upward to one side, she rose and stepped off his chest.

She toyed with him. If her intent wasn’t to kill him, what on God’s green earth was it?

“Do I have your attention?”

***

I’m hard at work on the next book in the trilogy AEQUITAS II PUNISHMENT.

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

I’m not all fun and sense of humor. Since I survived the vortex, I need to get back to work that is more serious.

I sometimes blog about the workload of writing. At this point most of the work is self-imposed. What have I been up to? I’ve tweaked the website some.

 A lot but I’m going to focus on THE MINOAN CHRONICLES. If you remember, when I got back from RWA National’s in Washington, I said I was going to work on the planning part of writing. Now, maybe because I’ve only said a thing here and there you thought I gave up. I don’t know how to quit.

Yesterday, I finished the first attempt at the blurb for the third book, LIFE REINS in the series. Today, I finished the draft of the synopsis for the second book, DEATH REINS.  

My next step is to write the synopsis for book three and to continue wordsmithing the synopsis for book two and the blurbs.

A fellow writer and someone I’m honored to count as a friend designed a beautiful series post. When I saw the image, it captured the feel of the books. In typical Mason form, book one, NIGHT REINS, has an eclectic mélange.

Let me share the fruits of my labor with you.

THE MINOANS CHRONICLES

Minoans are a blood drinking day walking dynasty of Crete thought to have vanished two millennia ago. They live among us protecting humans from the Nox— blood-sucking night creatures, our mutual enemy. The ancient Greeks live parallel to us but they face their greatest challenge yet, extinction.

NIGHT REINS, 99, 000-words – Complete

Retired vampire slayer Tazrein Noir-Hue’s dreams crumble a fateful summer night. Lordel ruler of the Minoans lures her into his world. Life is on an upswing. She meets, an elusive general, who catches her eye, Mr. Elson. But someone wants her dead. Lordel offers her refuge so he can works his charm and makes her his wife. Sucked deep into an ancient society she doesn’t understand, she staggers along a dangerous path of secrets and death. She tastes Mr. Elson during a replenishing ceremony. Desire wakes. The Nox capture Mr. Elson and Tazrein then imprison the pair. The kindle between them ignites into flames. When free the lovers must leave their passion behind and return to their place and duties. Lordel shows his wife compassion and devotion. In return, he expects loyalty. Though, she cannot ignore the fire between them, a void grows inside her. She spirals out of control in a culture filled with strict laws. Mr. Elson pulls her from her desolate existence. Lordel and Mr. Elson know they must duel until one takes others head. Can she find her place in these converging worlds and relinquish the hurt bottled up to save the men she loves. Will she take the reins and lead them into a new dawn?

DEATH REINS, work in progress

Micha Knossos MD/PhD is the head geneticist at Pseira Industries. Her seemingly meaningless existence is about to take a sharp turn. The leader of her people wants her to direct a retrieval team to secure a group of compromised humans on the hitless of an angry Minoan faction. Aware of the dogmatic beliefs of Minoan males she asks that Shen Hue —a turned human be put on the squad though no one trusts him. The heat between the two has them breaking all the rules. They marry and Shen goes to prison for his part. Micha continues to track down targets when she finds herself buried alive with special agent Cornell Bronson. Bronson finally gets answers regarding the rash of murders all appearing linked to Ms. Knossos and the strange goings on at Pseira Industries. To save the beauty, he offers his life for hers but she gives him immortality. When rescued she must atone for her actions and face her husband. Can she prove her worth and heal the pain she caused. Will she save those in need of the Minoans protection as they fight for their own survival?

LIFE REINS,

White shaman Soyala Kuuyi’s visions lead her into the grips of danger as she warns the Minoans of imminent threats. Eros Eira Middle Eastern representative, heads the liquidations of all company assets with the help Soyala on the black-market so his people can once again go underground until humans forget about their existence. Sparks castoff from the attraction of Eros to Soyala. Kalibe Knossos’s won’t leave before incubated samples have reached gestation. The survival of his race depends on the data of these samples. Soyala stays behind in hopes the spirits will inform her before the government closes in. Eros growing attachment prevents him from parting with the witch. The self-proclaimed alley cat Soyala becomes a fugitive as she helps the immortals stay one-step ahead of government’s taskforce out to imprison them. The closer she gets to Eros and Kalibe her spirit guides vanish until all she hears is the darkness inside the powerful males luring her. The Knight of Mortis storm Pseira Industries and capture primary target Soyala Kuuyi’s. Marks two and three surrender to save her life. Transported to a compound in the desert the three are tortured for information. The burn among, her and the two, ignites into flames. The murderous rage between Kalibe and Eros threatens to tear her to pieces. Can she save them and restore the natural balance between Minoans and Humans?

That’s me for today. I’ll keep all of you in the loop with developments related to the series.

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

I’m the only woman  known to survive the Total Perspective Vortex. That’s what my critique partner tells me.

The Total Perspective Vortex is allegedly the most horrible torture device to which a sentient being can be subjected.

When you are put into the Vortex you are given just one momentary glimpse of the entire unimaginable infinity of creation, and somewhere in it a tiny little mark, a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot, which says, “You are here.”

I say bring it on!!

Zaphod Beeblebrox, is the only man to have survived the Total Perspective Vortex.

I’m in good company.

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires