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Archive for 'Assassin'Friday, December 11th, 2009
Some of my titles are now available on Kindle. Ellora’s Cave have a huge backlist of titles, and it’s taking a while, but all titles from A – C are now available at Amazon in Kindle format. Several of my Middlemarch Mates series are now available on Kindle. Here’s the link to my available Kindle titles – go forth and shop for Christmas! Saturday, December 5th, 2009
The theme for this week is secondary characters. I really enjoy using secondary characters in my stories. They provide an element of comedy, a foil for the hero and heroine. They can say and do things the main characters can’t get away with if they’re to remain likeable. Sometimes they prove interesting enough that I decide to write their story, complete with happy ending. In Scarlet Woman, the first book in my Middlemarch Mates series, I introduced Saber Mitchell and his four brothers. Readers loved this story and requested more stories. Peeping Tom features Felix Mitchell, Assassin features Leo Mitchell and Stray Cat Strut features the Mitchell’s friend Saul Sinclair. I’d hoped to find time to write Sly and Joe Mitchell’s story this year, but it looks as if it will be 2010 before they meet their match.
“Oh, man. Look at the tits on her.” Felix made kissing noises deep in his throat. “I’ve died and gone to heaven. Oh, man. She winked. Yep, heaven.” Sly thumped his brother on the back. “Don’t think it’s heaven, bro. Can’t be with all that sinful lust shining on your face.” “Cut it out, the pair of you,” Saber said, trying to scowl his boisterous younger brothers into obedience. Despite laying down the law this afternoon, the four were out of control. He had to get them settled before one of their harmless pranks boiled over into something that threatened them all. “Yeah, gotta remember, this is punishment,” Leo chided, humor dancing in his dark eyes. Joe let out a low whistle. “I vote the lady in red administers my punishment.” Saber relaxed a fraction. Good. His plan was working already. If he managed to get each of his brothers mated, they’d cut out the mischievous shenanigans and settle down to raise a litter or two. And he wouldn’t have to worry about articles in the paper like the one he’d seen last month. Black panther sighted again. At least the article had lit a match under the council elders. Finally. Agreement that they needed to do something to help the younger males settle. Saber’s mouth firmed in introspection as he recalled the heated meeting. The council had discussed the lack of females of marriageable age. They knew the causes—the feline families tended to have male offspring while the human females seemed to enjoy the lifestyle offered in the city of Dunedin or farther afield. They attended high school and university in the city and never returned to their birthplace. The human males left too, but they tended to return after exploring a little of the world outside Middlemarch. Until the reporter’s story had appeared, no one had tried to solve the problem of a lopsided gender ratio. The article in the paper had been the catalyst. They’d all swung into action to organize a dance they hoped would benefit both the young shifter and human males living in Middlemarch. The task they’d called impossible suddenly became imperative. Saber eyed Felix and Leo, the brothers standing closest to him, feeling the tension brought about by responsibility coalesce into a solid lump in his chest. They both strenuously denied taking part in the prank, but Saber wasn’t so sure. He knew his brothers—where there was fun to be had, they were in the thick of it. Felix nudged Sly. “Big bro’s looking serious. He’s got Mission Mate on his mind again.” Joe leaned closer and whispered, “Can’t have shape shifters roaming around Middlemarch for the humans to see.” “Enough,” Saber snapped. His brothers sobered, knowing they’d pushed him far enough tonight. Dammit, he had to find them mates. It was too late for him. But not for them. None of his brothers remembered how it had been between their parents. They’d been too young when they died, but Saber remembered how they’d laughed and played together, how they’d made everything seem like a game, even the work on the farm. Yes, he remembered the intimacy between his parents, and that’s what he wanted for his four brothers. “Look, we said we’d go along with this plan,” Felix said. “We’ll give it a shot. Me first. Introduce me to the lady in red.” The lady in red. The second brother to mention her. Curiosity piqued, Saber turned to check out the view. His breath stalled until the tight vise around his lungs reminded him to breathe. Saber inhaled sharply, his nostrils flaring, feline genes kicking in. He wanted the lady in red. To read further excerpts or to buy one of my Middlemarch Mates stories follow these links: To read more Snippet Saturday excerpts about secondary characters follow the links below: Eliza Gayle Saturday, November 7th, 2009
This week’s theme is weapons and weaponry. My characters have used all sorts of things for weapons. In Fancy Free the heroine used a fibre glass penis and her elderly friend used her knitting needles to great effect. In Wanderlust intruders conked one of my secondary characters on the head with a pot. In the following excerpt my heroine Isabella is an assassin on one last job before she retires. Her weapon is more traditional.
The bastard was out there. Isabella Black could feel him like an irritating itch at her nape. He was there. The same instinct that had led her to come outside searching told her he was there, hidden out of sight, waiting patiently. With heavy tension swirling in the pit of her stomach, she scanned the hills and rocky outcrops surrounding Middlemarch, resisting the urge to stomp back and forth in a show of frustration. She didn’t like the situation. It pushed her temper from calm to uncertain, which wasn’t good for someone in her line of work. Her breath escaped in an impatient hiss. At least the target was safe, stashed in a secure house on an isolated farm. Felix Mitchell would keep his new family from harm or die in the effort. As it should be, Isabella thought with approval. Felix was an honorable man and perfect for Tomasine. Isabella swiveled silently to scan the main road dissecting the small township below. The breeze ruffled her shoulder-length hair and she brushed it off her face with an impatient hand. She reached for the case holding her high-powered rifle. Without looking down, Isabella assembled the weapon and loaded it, holding the rifle lightly in her hands. She turned slowly, eyes watchful. No strangers. Not a thing out of the ordinary. Then a flash of light caught her eye, just to the right of a leaning pine. “Move again. Let me get a good look at you,” she murmured. Patiently she waited, watched. Finally she caught the outline of a figure picking his way across the hill, slinking from rock to tree. “That’s it,” she crooned, her fingers flexing around her rifle. She watched him in her telescopic sight, noted his familiar face. One of Mika’s cronies. Even if she hadn’t recognized him, the weapon he carried would have given him away. The man meant business. Kill or be killed. She aimed until his face lined up in the crosshairs of her sight and gently squeezed the trigger, feeling not a trace of remorse. He fell instantly, remained still. A quick check ensured no one had witnessed the hit. Not a soul stirred, which wasn’t unusual around Middlemarch since it was a small country town. Isabella moved carefully, needing to check for peace of mind. She watched the body up on the hill, saw he didn’t move, and cautiously approached to check his pulse. When he didn’t move, she nudged him with her foot. Dead. To purchase your copy of Assassin To read other excerpts in the Snippet Saturday trail follow the links below: Anya Bast Monday, February 11th, 2008
The well-known game Monopoly is going global with the World Edition launching soon. Currently there’s a worldwide online voting campaign to select which cities will fill the 20 available spots on the monopoly board. Queenstown, located in the South Island of New Zealand, is the only New Zealand city on the leaderboard and is competing with 68 other finalists for a spot. I love Queenstown. It’s not far from where the fictional Mitchell family lives (my Middlemarch series) and my next release in this series, ASSASSIN is partially set in Queenstown. It’s a tourist mecca in both summer and winter, the town dominated by the beautiful lake Wakatipu and the majestic Remarkables mountain range. This photo was taken from the gondola on the way up to our dinner at the hilltop restaurant.
Queenstown is currently sitting in 18th place. Vote for your favorites here. Which cities do you think should be on the World Edition of monopoly? Saturday, February 2nd, 2008
I’ve just received the cover for Assassin, the next story in my Middlemarch series.
Here’s the blurb: Middlemarch Mates, Book Four. Feline shifter Leo Mitchell is the pretty brother who attracts women with ease, but he’s turned picky. He suspects the mystery blonde hanging around Middlemarch is the one for him. If only he could grab the elusive female and seduce her. Oh yeah. He craves some hot, sinful lovin’ with the lady in black leather. Assassin Isabella Black has harbored a huge crush on hunky Leo for ages. Because the timing sucked she’s watched him from afar, praying another woman won’t snatch the hottie away before she’s free to stake a claim. Finally the pair meet. Isabella offers her naked body but Leo counteracts with a cup of tea. Seems Leo likes to call the shots when it comes to sex. A day later they’re finally dancing horizontally. It’s smokin’ hot, steamy, delicious—everything she’s ever wanted. Isabella is ecstatic until another assassin threatens to ruin her happiness. It’s life or death now. One wrong move and her secrets will destroy the Mitchells along with everything that has become dear to her…including Leo. Assassin is due for release on 6 August 2008 Saturday, January 12th, 2008
I’ve been tagged, not once but three times. Cassandra Curtis, LA Day and Debbie Mumford have all tagged me with this meme. Like Cassandra, I’m changing the rules and blogging about my Middlemarch characters. Here are seven things about my Middlemarch characters that you might not know: 1. Saber Mitchell from SCARLET WOMAN is the head of the family and his brothers and members of the leopard shifter community generally listen to him but he’s putty in his wife’s hands and adores Emily. 2. All the unmarried brothers seem to go to Emily Mitchell for advice. She likes to tease them because after all, they are males, but gives them great advice. She adores all the brothers and still can’t believe her luck in finding a man like Saber. 3. Felix and Tomasine Mitchell from PEEPING TOM are hiding from assassins but unknown to them they’ve been coming into contact with an assassin on a regular basis. So far, they’re still alive but danger lurks… 4. The assassin, who you haven’t met yet but will in ASSASSIN (Aug 2008) likes to ride a motorbike and looks great in black leather. 5. Sly and Joe Mitchell, the twins and youngest of the Mitchell brothers, who you met in SCARLET WOMAN are currently languishing in Dunedin because Shelley can’t quite decide on the exact hijinks for them to get up to. Although Shelley did say the wait would probably end this year. 6. Leo Mitchell from ASSASSIN helps run the family vineyards and he’s good at it since business is booming, but he still likes to help out on the farm. 7. Felix Mitchell is currently working on a new project with Tomasine. They’re busy trying to make a baby. And because this is all about my characters, here are the links to their books:
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SCARLET WOMAN by Shelley Munro
ASSASSIN by Shelley Munro
