Works in Progress
Here are my current projects:
Pirouette
Genre: Dark fantasy
Status: Final edit complete/out to critiquers
Synopsis: Alisia Duval is a Death Dancer, a very powerful Fae with the ability to communicate with and raise the dead through dance. But because her own people fear and shun her, she and her mother were exiled to our world, where Alisia made a life for herself as a ballerina, passing herself off as human. Until she is forced to return to Faerie to wed her sworn enemy, the King of the vampiric Moroii, to end the war between their two races. She is suddenly thrust into the world she never knew, into an arranged marriage, and into a new — and scary — role as Queen of her people. But to rule successfully, Alisia and Lucien must put their lifelong distrust and hatred aside. Of course, Lucien being sexy and mysterious keeps things interesting. As Alisia and Lucien spend more time together, they find themselves falling in love.
But dark forces are at work. Lucien’s insane father, who is cursed to live in an aging body, is killing every Fae alive. He compels Alisia, through a blood bond, to assist him in gaining power so that he can reclaim the throne. For every kill, Alisia loses herself more and more each day. When Alisia’s dance magic is revealed, Lucien sends her away and vows never to see her again. But Lucien’s father keeps killing, and through Alisia, still grows stronger. If Alisia and Lucien have a chance to stop him, they must join together and fight — or lose their world, their people, and most of all, Alisia’s soul.
Interesting facts about this novel:
This book was born as a short story called Salvation. It featured a human girl, Emily, who is incapacitated in a car accident. Lucien appears to her and offers to heal her for a price: that she become his vampire mate.
I wrote the first draft for National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) in 2005. Alisia's original name was Emily. Then I changed it to Alisia, after hearing the name on one of my favorite TV shows. It's pronounced Ah-LEE-SEE-A.
Lucien, in the first draft, was a doctor.
Its theme song is "Walk in the Shadows" by Queensryche
Alisia and Lucien's theme is "The Killing Words" by Queensryche and "Space Dye Vest" by Dream Theater
Alpha Female
(Novella set in the Pirouette world)Genre: Dark fantasy
Status: In revision
Blurb: Natasha, leader of the Dark Covenant -- a secret group of Faerie assassins -- ends up in enemy hands after being injured in battle. Luke, the Alpha Male of the Lupi, swears that she is his Alpha Female, his long-awaited mate who can keep him from succumbing to the madness. The madness is in every Alpha Male of the Lupi, and it leads to death and destruction...unless they can be tamed by their Alpha Female. Unfortunately, Natasha doesn't want to be his mate, until circumstances force her to stay with him -- or die. She's not sure which is preferable.
Interesting facts about this novella:
Natasha was a character that showed up in Draft 2 of Pirouette. She intrigued me so much that I had to write a story about her.
I built the Lupi around the standard werewolf mythos, but expanded it to include the Alpha Female thing and the madness.
I didn't decide that the Lupi and the Fae were enemies until I started planning this novella.
Natasha and Luke's theme is: "In My Dreams With You" by Steve Vai
Natasha's theme is: "Don't Close Your Eyes" by Kix
Darklight
Genre: Horror
Status: First draft
Blurb: In a seemingly utopic world, the successor to a vengeful, not-quite-dead goddess discovers an insidious plan to destroy humanity. She must stop that from happening, fighting the goddess's control and her indoctrination. Time is running out. Once she is Awakened, there will be no going back.
Interesting facts about this novel:
This novel was inspired by a throwaway comment by a character in the TV show Bones about one of the main characters "chasing his own ghost."
The name came to me out of nowhere one day and I wondered what a "darklight" could be. My answer is this book.
I've rewritten the first two chapters five times, completely against my usual methods, because my muse demanded it. I'd started out in first person present point of view ("I look at her and smile") and discovered that I can't write like that and promptly changed to first person past tense ("I looked at her and smiled"). My muse is wacked out I think.
Ellya started out her life as Dasia, then Tempest, Katherine, and Elizabeth. I finally settled on Elliana, Ellya for short, and now I can't imagine it being anything else.
Theme songs: "Keep the Streets Empty for Me" by Fever Ray (Red Riding Hood soundtrack) and "Lightning Field" by the Sneaker Pimps
Ellya's theme: "Don't Say a Word" by Sonata Arctica
Last updated: 09.24.11
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