Hel-lo Monday

It’s only appropriate that I begin this new year of posting on a Monday. One of my goals this year is to get back to blogging, among other things. What’s the point of having a blog if the content isn’t fresh? So I’m going to give you more of what I’m thinking than just release news. Yes, you’re welcome. LOL

School has started back up for me and I’m typing from the campus library right now. Fortunately for me, I was able to get a parking spot on this first day–winter term isn’t as popular as fall or spring, apparently. In just another half hour, I’ll be heading into Kinesiology II and learning where certain muscles attach to the body. Oy. It’s a tough class, a lot of memorization, and I swear it’s made me a better writer.

Weird, but true.

Having been writing for a living for the past five years, it was easier for me to get into a rut, not outside my comfort zone. About as unusual as it got for me was interviewing real people for my McCauley Brothers series, so I didn’t sound as if I was talking out of my ass. Not a great visual, I know.

I found I have a lot of fun interviewing people. I sat down with several folks to get some details right. A plumber, a general contractor, a Realtor, a financial investor, and a CPA. All of them were invaluable to getting the little details right. And I learned a lot while talking to them. While 90% of what they told me did not go into the stories, that valuable information made my characters well-rounded. They were appropriately aged, financially and geographically on target, and a lot more realistic than the shifters and aliens I can craft from my own ideas. Not to say my paranormals aren’t a ton of fun, but they’re much easier to create than a model of a real person.

Anyhow, I’m blathering. For those interested in what I’m doing next, I posted my 2015 schedule (so far) here.The big question I keep getting asked is about the McCauleys. Are they done? What’s next for Colin? Will J.T. get his story told?

The McCauley Brother series ended. What to Do with a Bad Boy was the fourth and final book for the sexy, snarky brothers. However, I managed to introduce Hope Donnigan, who works for Cam. She’s one of four Donnigan siblings, and I’m REALLY wanting to write about them. This would be a three book series, since Theo, the youngest, just graduated high school. And yes, I have a story in mind for J.T. I’ve had it since I first had the idea of Del and Mike’s story in book 4.

What’s next for Colin is working on getting a little brother. Not a sister mind you. A brother. Perhaps far down the future I could write him his own story, but it’s hard for me to see him as more than a cute and conniving little boy right now.

I recently finished Havoc & Hell: A Dragon’s Prize, for those who were wanting to know if I’d ever get to finishing the Ethereal Foes series. Rest assured, James now has his story. Problem is I found a few more stories that would be awesome to write after finishing his. Damn it! (Literally, this applies. The series is about Ethereal creatures, so, hell is a factor.)

What’s super exciting is that I have the mock covers for all three books. Samhain redid my original covers for the first two, Dragons’ Demon and Duncan’s Descent. Added to that one for H&H, and the trilogy looks FANTASTIC. Wish I could share… Damn it again.

Well, I’d best get back to H&H edits, then on to class. Hope you’re having a great Monday in 2015. I’m guzzling coffee–all is right with the world.