Highway Man the Novel

A few years ago I wrote a short story released by Torquire Press, after having seen Magnetic Fields' video Papa Was a Rodeo on a friend's website, where she said she wished someone would write a story for the song.

Challenge accepted. It's not really a story of the song, merely inspired by the song. I had to do a lot of trimming to stay under the required 8,000 word limit the publisher had for "sips". After rights reverted to me, I was able to add in the stuff I'd wanted to the first time, and the word count swelled to 15,000.

I was quite proud of that story, a departure from the norm for me, and it set the stage for writing anti-heroes. From my disillusioned rocker Killian Desmond came Lucky Lucklighter and the Diversion series.

While the story certainly wasn't a best-seller, those who loved it loved it well, wanted more, and especially wanted to hear Mike's voice. For all of you, I've revisited this work.

Highway Man is now a novel of over 60,000 words, has been polished, and is ready for my betas to read.

With any luck I'll soon be releasing this story, dedicated to the fans who wanted more.

Mike really grew on me.

The story also contains several songs written by yours truly.

I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Manipulation, Now Available in Audiobook

The talented Darcy Stark has once again brought Lucky, Bo, and the others to wonderful life with his performance of Manipulation (Diversion 4). He really nails Lucky's personality, and I love how Bo sounds a certain way, but his voice is distinctly different when he channels alter-ego Cyrus Cooper.

Lucky Lucklighter has a new life. His old life wants him back.

He traded trafficking for taking down criminals with the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau, and a drug-lord lover for a man on the right side of the law. Bo Schollenberger found the way past the thorny defenses of Lucky’s heart, and made Mr. I-Get-Along-Fine-Alone think about his and his closets, stevia in the sugar bowl, and a picket fence—with a good lock on the gate.

Now Bo is missing, and a voice long silenced asks, “Did you miss me?” Lucky must deal with a devil from his past to get Bo back.

And if Bo isn’t willing to come? A drug ring needs its back broken before flooding the US with a designer high, seductive and undetectable. But there’s a fine line between good and evil, and a truckload of temptation urging Lucky to cross. 



You can find the audiobook version exclusively on Audible here. 

Manipulation Coming in Audiobook

I've approved the audiobook file for Manipulation (Diversion Four). Darcy Stark is doing an excellent job of working his way through the series. I need to get to working on book eight, Decision, before he catches up to me!

Now the book in quality control for ACX, which usually takes about two weeks, so look for Manipulation at Audible within the next week or so.

The Cormorant

I've finally finished the menage sci-fi, and since no better title occurred to me while writing, I named it The Cormorant, for their ship.

The characters from The Sentinel were supposed to have cameos, but they wound up hanging around. So Connell and Stone fans, be prepared to see the guys again.

Now blurb time. I always struggle with those. How much of the story is enough, how much too much? What drives readers to want to read, especially menage, which is not everyone's cup of tea? However, that's how the book turned out.

Louis Quinton Van Orskey, or Van, has been in my head for years, and like Lucky in the Diversion books, he wouldn't shut up. And we saw what happened then.

Tayn wasn't so clear in the beginning and, don't tell the other characters, but he grew to become my favorite. How can you not love a guy who exists in a ship's circuits?

As for Jorvik, he started with a print I saw years ago on DeviantArt, called Tibetan Prince, with a somewhat haughty expression on his handsome face, decked out in jewels and finery. Circumstances show he's far more than meets the eye.

I'll keep you posted on when to expect this work to appear, but now I'm diving back into writing two books at one time: Decision (Diversion 8), and Highway Man the novel.

 

What I'm Working On...

Although I've been a bit quiet lately, I'm actually hard at work, both at the day job and with my writing. My currently unnamed sci-fi is in the loving hands of my beta. I really do need to think of a title soon. I don't like giving projected publishing dates and not be able to meet them, so let's just say I'll keep you posted. The search for cover art begins.

I'm working an lengthening Highway Man into a novel, for so many people have asked to know more. This one is for them. I've been advised that, career-wise, this isn't a good move as the story has already been told as a novella. However, I'm doing this for the readers, myself, and because the characters in my head are holding me hostage until I do. Also, Mike's story needs telling too. The new novel will also tell what happens after the current novella.

I've got a few short stories in the works that I chip away at every now and then, but the big project I'm devoting time to is researching for Decision (Diversion Book 8). I'm in the home stretch now of the series, and hope each book gets better and better and gives the fans their Bo and Lucky fix. I hope to finish the series in book nine, though a novella might tie up a plot point.

As usual, I'm also consuming audiobooks at an alarming rate, due to my three-hour daily work commute, and I'll post reviews of my favorites.

I hope all are doing well and, for those of you living in areas that practice Daylight Saving Time, don't forget to reset your clocks on Sunday!

Free MM Romance Books, Anyone?

I love a book deal, and what's better than a deal on the genre we love?

Check out some old favorites and some new-to-you authors now!

Find these fine romances here!

Corruption (Diversion 3) in Audiobook

Adapting the Diversion series for Audible is well underway, and I'm so loving narrator Darcy Stark's take on Lucky and Bo. Look for Manipulation (Diversion 4) to release in early April.

Get your copy of Corruption today at Audible.

Renegade biker. Drug runner. Recovering addict. Wanted by the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau. But he isn’t a crook, he’s the law. 

SNB Agent Bo Schollenberger’s solved his cases using his brains and not a gun, and with his partner, not alone. Now he’s handed a tough new case involving designer drugs that turn users violent. One false move could end his life as he immerses himself into a motorcycle gang to locate the source. His fate depends on how well he can impersonate someone else. Someone named Cyrus Cooper. 

Cyrus is everything Bo Schollenberger isn’t, including the badass enforcer for a smuggling ring. He establishes pecking order with his fists and doesn’t take shit from anybody, not even the undercover agent who comes to help his case. 

Simon “Lucky” Harrison’s always been the best, whichever side of the law he was on. Former trafficker turned SNB agent, he damned well ought to be undercover in this motorcycle gang, instead of hanging around the office going crazy with new policies, new people, and “inter-departmental cooperation” that sticks him in a classroom. Yet he’s passed over for the SNB’s biggest case in decades in favor of the rookie who shares his bed. A man Lucky thought he knew.

When survival depends on a web of tangled lies, lines blur, worlds collide, and a high stakes game turns friend to foe. Lucky knows the difference between Bo the agent and Cyrus the outlaw, but does Bo?