Works in Progress, week Four, Blood Bound and Bones of Earth

Blood Bound

Bones of Earth
Heir to the Firstborn, Book 3

This week has been… interesting.  Dorian was supposed to be apocalyptic… but it apparently didn’t get the memo that said the apocalypse was supposed to be in Florida, not in the Bahamas or Nova Scotia. So we had three days of “What’s going to happen?” followed by one windy night and a lot of rain.

This led to three days of not a lot of work, a lot of stress baking, and me playing frantic catch-up the rest of the week.  With Blood Bound, that hasn’t been hard — the words are flowing nicely. I’ve also got a Spotify playlist, if you want to hear what I’m listening to while I write each chapter — each song is the corresponding chapter, and is either mentioned in the text, or reflects the mood.

With Bones of Earth, I’m still finding a new focal character’s voice, and she’s giving me a hard time about it. So it’s slow going. I think I finally have her, though. So we’ll see if I can pick up the pace. However, next weekend I also have Keiser Supercon on Saturday, and a 5K on Sunday morning. I might just have brains made from tapioca by Sunday afternoon. Here’s hoping the words come easily this week, so I don’t have to worry about that!

I’m expecting edits back on Forged in Fire sometime this week, so I’m going to say that yes, we’re on track for the October 19th release date.

And that’s about all in my neck of the woods.  Here, have an excerpt:

“Itami? Is that you?”

The voice was accented — Eastern Europe, maybe? — and very deep. And the effect it had on Hiro was electric — the vampire sat up straight, eyes wide, looking past Daniel. Then he laughed.

“Liski! I was not expecting you until next week!” He looked around the table. “Please, if you’ll excuse me?”

“Go ahead,” Mama said, making a shooing motion. Hiro grinned and got up from the table. Daniel turned in his chair and watched as Hiro walked over to a big man, who was accompanied by a pretty, petite woman.

“He looks like a bear,” Trace murmured. Daniel nodded. The name sounded familiar. Liski…?

“Holy shit,” he breathed. “That’s Grigori Liski.”

“Who?” Trace asked.

“Head Justiciar,” Daniel answered. “Oh, crap. They’re coming over.” He was out of his chair in a minute, but not before Trace was on his feet, and standing between Daniel and the newcomer.

“Grigori, if I may present my…” he paused, and for a moment looked perplexed.

“Friends and employees,” Trace supplied. “It’s complicated.”

Grigori laughed. “It is always complicated with this one,” he said. He smiled and offered his hand.

“Grigori Liski. My bond, Clara Underwood.”

“Trace Maurin,” Trace answered. “My mother, Antoinette.”

“Oh, do not stand, Madam,” Grigori said. He came around the table and bowed over Mama Maurin’s hand. “A pleasure to meet you.” He came back around the table, looking at Daniel. He smiled and held out his hand. “And you. You must be Daniel.”

Daniel blinked and shook the vampire’s hand, feeling suddenly dwarfed. Grigori had to be at least 6’5”. He glanced at Hiro. Had Hiro been talking about him? Wait, what was he thinking? Of course Hiro had talked to his superiors about Daniel. “Yes, sir,” he answered. “I’ve heard about you. It’s very nice to meet you.”

“I could say the same,” Grigori answered. “I have heard your name. And yes, it is nice to meet you. Now, if you’ll excuse me? I need to speak to Itami for a moment.”

He bowed again, and escorted Hiro away from the table. Daniel sat back down, trying to fight the urge to turn and watch.

“He’s been talking about you?” Trace whispered.

“I don’t think he can hear you this far away,” Daniel whispered back. He gave in and glanced over his shoulder, only to find that Hiro was looking at him. Their eyes met, and to Daniel’s shock, Hiro blushed.

Daniel heard Trace cough. “Didn’t know vampires could do that,” he said. “I told you, Danny. He’s in to you.”

Daniel swallowed. “Yeah. I know.”

It was definitely too late to turn back now.