The Trouble With Dragons

And when I say dragons, I mean my two personal dragons, Depression and Anxiety.

But first, good things are happening. The second book in my Sisters in Sin series, Bewitching the Dragon, was released on Tuesday, and yesterday, the following announcement went live in Publishers Marketplace:

Author of BEWITCHING THE DRAGON, Jane Kindred’s THE DRAGON’S HUNT, about an immortal Viking cursed to lead the Wild Hunt and the tattoo artist who reads the tapestry of fate in the ink on his skin, to Kayla King at Harlequin Nocturne, in a nice deal, in a three-book deal, by Sara Megibow of kt literary (World).

Now, I look at that description, and I think, “Hey, I’d really like to read that!” And I wrote it. Which puts me in a panic, afraid the book can’t live up to that one sentence.

A lot of stuff goes by in a blur of sulfurous smoke when your Depression and Anxiety dragons are spiraling out of control. And the mad state of affairs in the world right now really isn't helping any, to be perfectly frank.

But writers write. So I keep pushing myself onward. Onward and upward. Or, in the words of my least favorite Narnian chronicle, The Last Battle, “further up and further in.” The latter is C.S. Lewis’s exhortation to fully experience God’s abundance. In those scenes, set in the afterlife, the Narnian dwarves steadfastly refuse to see any of the good around them, insisting they’re being fed straw and dirt instead of delicious fresh fruit from Aslan’s kingdom.

That’s kind of what being depressed is like. Not that having a book published tastes like straw and dirt, but it doesn’t taste delicious, either. It doesn’t taste like much of anything. I just have to hope the book tastes good to everyone else. Or at least someone else. Meanwhile, I’ll just sit here in this dusty barn and chew on an old root and hope for the best.

But enough about my personal dragons. The dragons I really want to tell you about are the ancient Sumerian demon, Kur, in Bewitching the Dragon, who turns out to be surprisingly endearing despite his namesake, and the Jörmungandr-esque dragon in the forthcoming The Dragon’s Hunt. Jörmungandr is the sea-encircling ouroboros from Norse mythology destined to kill and be killed by Thor during Ragnarök. (As an aside, I cannot wait for that movie to come out—and by the by, my Viking Leo looks quite a bit like Chris Hemsworth, just so you know.) But the other inspiration for my Norse serpent-dragon happens to be my favorite Narnian chronicle, The Silver Chair.

I have to confess, I’ve always had a thing for the witch—“the Lady of the Green Kirtle”—who enslaves Prince Rilian and enchants him as the Black Knight, only to allow him to return to himself during a single hour a day while tied to the accursed silver chair in the underworld. (Okay, so she was going to dig her way up into Narnia with goblins and gnomes or whatever and invade, but except for that, I totally would have stayed with her and her soothing harp-playing and incense, denying that I’d ever seen the sun in the sky and swearing it was only an exaggeration based on my knowledge of a lamp and a ceiling.)

But my weird fantasies aside, the curse my Viking hero Leo is under in The Dragon’s Hunt was inspired by Rilian’s curse, and the dragon in the story is, in my head, none other than the one the witch turns into in The Silver Chair. (If you’ve been following my books since my debut, The Fallen Queen, you may have noticed I have a thing for enslaved, moody princes under spells who wear black and the delightfully sweet-voiced wicked ladies who own them.) ;)

If you’re a dragon fan (or just a fan of hot, moody dudes), Books 1 and 2 are available now.

The Millionaire's Redemption… 

When Sedona's most eligible bachelor is accused of murdering a local psychic, medium Phoebe Carlisle finds herself drawn into the danger that surrounds him—by the meddling of the shades she channels and by his irresistible charms. A public defender and a gifted medium, Phoebe is devoted to justice—and not just for the living. Proving Rafe Diamante's innocence means conjuring up two shades who were former lovers and now ignite the chemistry between their hosts.

Rafe can't afford to lose control and act on his feelings for Phoebe. His unfulfilled sexual tension begins to stir something inside him—the legacy of Quetzalcoatl. But as these newfound abilities awaken a dormant power in Rafe, can he stop the real murderer in time to claim his true destiny?

One Night with a Dragon...

Ione Carlisle worked hard to be accepted by the Sedona Covent, but now everything is falling apart. Especially when she lets loose for a wild night on the town and ends up with the one man she should be avoiding at all costs—the man who came to Sedona to fire her. He ignites in her a carnal need that she can’t and won’t ignore...

Buttoned-up assayer Dev Gideon’s loyalty to the Leadership Council should be reason enough to resist Ione. Never mind that she stirs the ancient demon secretly bound within him. But their blood connection is undeniable. And now Dev must risk his reputation, and his soul, to save Ione from a vigilante intent on destroying her and the entire Covent, even if it means unleashing the monster inside.

Sexiest Superhero Showdown

With the countdown on for the release of Yesterday's Heroes (just eight more days), I have been paying attention to all things superhero. Arguably, this summer's Avengers is one of the largest superhero movies of all time in term of the powerhouse characters and box office, so who are the sexiest superheros of all? I'm going to post my top ten and your task, should you choose to accept it is vote for your favorite in the comments AND tell us why they would come out on top in the battle of the sexy...charm, good looks, skill, and yes--abs. 

One lucky commentator will win a copy of Yesterday's Heroes AND a ten dollar gift certificate to Amazon (could help you buy that copy of Avengers when it comes out on the 25th!)

Pre-Order Today

Batman

Dark, tortured, and orphaned at a young age, Batman fights crime with his gadgets, strength, stealth and high intelligence. Unlike many in the DC Comics world, Bruce Wayne may wear a mask to become Batman--but Bruce is the alter ego that Batman must play in the daytime world. Comforting him is a worthy task, don't you think?

Gambit

Remy LeBeau was popular with the ladies, possessed a devastating charm, and a swoon-worthy heart as he grew more and more devoted to the one woman he can't touch: Rogue.  His mutant ability allows him to tap into the kinetic energy in an object. When he throws something, it releases that energy on impact and explodes. Thus he can make a deck of cards deadly. He has superhuman dexterity and agility and can create interference for telepaths trying to read him. And the man has a Cajun accent...

Wolverine

I admit to some bias here because Wolverine is played by Hugh Jackman in the films and I think this is one sexy Aussie (and he's not the only one to make this list), but Wolverine's super healing factor, adamantium skeleton and tortured past make him the ultimate anti-hero. Wolverine's fierce temper is balanced by his absolute loyalty.  He carried a torch for Jean Grey for a long time, he needs a little loving don't you think?

Green Arrow

Like Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen was wealthy, lost his parents when he was young and lived like a playboy--until in one origin, he was stranded on a deserted island and had to develop the skills to survive. By the time he returned to civilization, Oliver grew determined to use his newfound skills. He's not as law and order abiding as Bruce might wish him to be and he's definitely got a knack for pissing people off, but Ollie is a fierce enemy and a fiercer friend. His long-term on again off again affair with Dinah Lance (Black Canary) was hot and he was played by the gorgeous Justin Hartley in Smallville (Yum!)

Iron Man

Tony Stark is arrogant, rich as sin, and a genius--not to mention he is Iron Man. His playboy ways and cavalier attitudes are a product of his upbringing and the fact that his need to design and build projects can sometimes overwhelm his good sense--but he does have a strong moral compass and when his eyes were opened to what some used his weapons for...well, Tony wasn't having that.  Robert Downey Jr. plays him with wicked delight too!

The Human Torch

Test pilot Johnny Storm is an irreverent daredevil with a heart and a desire to succeed. When a cosmic accident turned him into the human torch...literally, he took full advantage of his new abilities--his favorite of course being flying. Johnny's devoted to his sister and he's got swagger. Who wouldn't want to tame this bad boy? It doesn't hurt that a younger (and leaner) Chris Evans played the part before he was Captain America.

Blade

Bad ass, bad attitude, bad karma--sorry, not really. But Blade is not your typical poster boy for charm and kindness. In fact, Blade makes Wolverine look warm and fuzzy, but this hard core loner has an axe to grind with most of the vampire population and the way Wesley Snipes plays him? Yum!

V

Technically, V is not a hero--he's the absolute anti-hero battling against the establishment. Experimented on and horribly disfigured, V becomes the face of the resistance with his Guy Fawkes mask against a Fascist Futuristic Britain.  Combine his devotion to a cause, his absolute refusal to bow to the establishment, and a cunningly clever ability to twist his tongue around verbal conundrums and you have the type of hero you want to save yourself. Hugo Weaving's brilliant voice in the film made him even more tragic and compelling.

Cyborg

Victor Stone was just a regular rebellious teen with plans to turn his sports skill into a scholarship when an accident in his father's lab destroyed over half his body. Rebuilt with metallic prosthetics, he became half-man, half-machine and struggled with his personal identity, but Victor's greatest strength is his utter humanity and understanding that the heart and mind make a person human, not their limbs. His friendship with Garfield Logan and indulgence of the younger hero's pranks made him a man to be admired (and sympathized with). It helps that Victor's no slouch in the brains department.

Thor

Of COURSE Thor made my list. The Asgardian God of Thunder carries a mighty hammer and an even mightier responsibility--living up to the greatness of his father: Odin.  This is a hero that can go toe to toe with the Hulk and actually last. But with great power and skill also comes great arrogance and Thor's greatest weakness is that wild arrogance that needs to be tempered with humility. Chris Hemsworth played him in the movie, need I say more?


Is your favorite not on the list? Throw them in the mix. Remember, one lucky commentator will get a copy of Yesterday's Heroes AND a gift card to Amazon.  So what are you waiting for? Who is your sexiest superhero?

10 Things You'll Love About Me

It's official! I'm a paranormal romantic. Not that this should surprise anyone who knows me, but being a bit of a schizophrenic writer, my love of the paranormal has waxed and waned in my book choices through the years. Like the cycles of the moon, I always return to a robust love affair with the books that marry two of my favorite genres: romance and fantasy.  Weaned on romance novels courtesy of my grandmother, I fell in love with fantasy in my late elementary, early junior high career via Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.  Urban fantasy is something of a no brainer, but paranormal romance is like the cherry on my the library cream sundae!

What You Need To Know

So what do you need to know about me? I'm a fairly prolific author, I've always got about ten ideas vying for my mental attention. At any given time I'm editing one novel, writing another and plotting a third. If you're thinking that I'm a little bit nuts, don't worry.

I'm a lot nuts.  Remember the schizophrenic comment above? Well, my love all books and genres translates into several series from erotic contemporary romance to paranormal romance to urban fantasy and one of my particular favorites at the moment: paranormal western historical romance.  It's a marriage of everything I love in all those genres.

So what will you love about me?