Spirit Bear available to buy

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM7ZHdYDc8XrMHcesLLu5bE6SBFvMS_mTSS8hUSSVZ5M-mx9ev5F12mofa48qlqazOMWpTrdry1k2m2bB4Ax-l9EatDvpUP4M_KYHoSF4S1J2CJ9B0P6C6-OH75Xfnc_BVg-tEtHmn7U/s1600/Spirit+Bear+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM7ZHdYDc8XrMHcesLLu5bE6SBFvMS_mTSS8hUSSVZ5M-mx9ev5F12mofa48qlqazOMWpTrdry1k2m2bB4Ax-l9EatDvpUP4M_KYHoSF4S1J2CJ9B0P6C6-OH75Xfnc_BVg-tEtHmn7U/s400/Spirit+Bear+large.jpg" /></a><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Blurb and Buy Links</span></b><br /><br />Dominic Novak left more than a legacy for conservation and an instinctive love for animals behind when he died.<br /><br />He left a son, Aiden, who craved the instinct with animals that his father had ... and a pupil, Mitchell, whose life changed after hearing Dominic lecture on conservationism at college.<br /><br />Aiden is hiding, scared of people finding the real him, hiding his identity from the world, and keeping a lid on his grief.<br /><br />Could working together at a placement in Khutzeymateen, a grizzly bear sanctuary in British Columbia be the making of them, or will it end up destroying Aiden?<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.lovelanebooks.co.uk/">Buy from Love Lane Books</a> $2.99 </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>(28,500 words)</b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reviews</b></span><br /><br />"...I have read most of Ms Scott's books and this story is her third best book behind Oracle and A Christmas Throwaway ... This book has been a long time in coming but it was more than worth the wait. Don't miss out on this terrific story..." <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/529016826" target="_blank">Full review, Hearts On Fire Reviews</a><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Excerpt (Chapter 1 & 2)</span></b><br /><br /><b>Chapter 1</b><br /><br />“No. Just no,” Edward Brandon said in a horrified voice. <br /><br />Anthony Novak sat back in the chair, shocked by the vehemence in his guardian’s voice. <br /><br /><br /><a name="more"></a>“But I don’t see why not,” he said softly. Edward was his dad’s oldest friend and, more often than not, indulged Anthony in most everything he had wanted after his dad had died ten years ago. Since Edward had been the closest thing he had to family for so long, it was hard for Anthony to hear the ‘no’. <br /><br />Edward sighed heavily and scrubbed a hand over his face. He looked tired and Anthony knew he’d been up all night with the lemurs. “Because it’s the most stupid idea in the long list of all the really stupid ideas that you have ever had,” he said. <br /><br />Anthony exhaled noisily and wished he didn’t feel like a ten-year-old at the moment. He was twenty-four and he knew exactly what he wanted to do. His friend and mentor would come round to his way of thinking eventually. <br /><br />“No one actually knows my real name at the moment,” Anthony began. “It’s been five years since I last hit the papers. I just want to stay under the pseudonym for a few weeks more. I don’t understand why that is so difficult for you to understand.” <br /><br />“Because now you’re coming here to the Park full time. You should be coming on as full partner as a Novak, not as Aiden Samuels. You have a responsibility to your father’s name.” <br /><br />Something twisted in Aiden’s chest at the mention of that huge weight pressing him down. <br /><br />“I promise you,” he said. “Whether I join the Park as partner or ranger, I’ll be Anthony Novak. But just for three more weeks, let me be anonymous. I’ve lived five years as Aiden Samuels, twenty-one more days isn’t going to hurt.” <br /><br />Edward contemplated him over steepled fingers. “So let me get this straight. You want to be part of the annual bear census at the Khutzeymateen reserve but you want to go under your assumed name. All in the hope that the bear census organizers won’t realize who you are.” <br /><br />The Spirit Bear Park, an animal reserve just outside of Seattle, was named for the elusive pale-furred black bears that could sometimes be seen in the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia. Dominic Novak had spent a year studying them as a young man and he’d always said they were part of his soul. <br /><br />“Dad was such a big part of the bear studies. If they knew I was there, his son, then yes, I wouldn’t be just another ranger on his first educational placement, but someone they would expect more from.” <br /><br />“More?” Edward appeared puzzled and Anthony knew he hadn’t explained all this enough to make it clear to his dad’s closest friend. He opened his mouth to explain but Edward got there first. “I know how difficult it is to live in the shadow of your dad.” Edward was sincere in what he said. “He was a larger-than-life character, but you are his son and one day everyone will know that.” <br /><br />“But why does it need to be today? Can I not just have another three weeks of being anonymous?” <br /><br />Edward was quiet. “I don’t know what to say.” <br /><br />“I’m not my dad. I don’t have his instinct with animals. All the books I’ve read don’t mean I can share what I learned with others and show the level of passion he had.” <br /><br />“Your dad was a showman. You don’t have to be just like him,” Edward protested. <br /><br />“But if I could have half of the success that Dad had in furthering conservation—or even a quarter—I would be happy. I know it’s time for me to use my expensive education and work here at Spirit Bear.” Anthony pushed away the edge of impatience in his voice. He wanted to work at the reserve, but he knew as soon as people knew who he was they would look at him with pity or stare with dollar signs in their eyes. Working on the annual bear census would be one way of getting into the thick of things without everyone’s expectations hanging around his neck. <br /><br />“Work here as the joint owner, with me.” Edward said. <br /><br />“I can't just walk into that. I want to learn from the ground up. I want to see it all, and just for a while longer I want to be Aiden Samuels, not Anthony Novak.” <br /><br />Anthony crossed his arms over his chest and eyed Edward, looking for a chink in his impenetrable armor, but he could see nothing. Okay, so working and living under his assumed name for a little longer was probably a bad idea, but hell, he just wanted to enjoy his time with the bears. If just for that short time longer he could be Aiden Samuels, new guy, then maybe he could find what that passion inside him without all the extra crap he would have to deal with otherwise. <br /><br />Edward nodded slowly. “You were such a tiny baby when your mom died, and then losing your dad… I know it’s hard. But to hide who you are now, I don’t get that. Whatever the newspapers throw at you, we can handle it.” <br /><br />“I’m not sure I can. Just the three weeks where I can think about what I do and get a handle on it all. Please?” <br /><br />“What about the ranger you would be going to Canada with? What will you tell him?” <br /><br />“Nothing at first. I’ll be Aiden for three weeks, then on the flight back I’ll tell him who I really am.” That much was clear in his head. <br /><br />“That there is a recipe for disaster and could go all kinds of wrong. He’ll feel like you lied to him.” <br /><br />“That’s a chance I’ll have to take. You’re looking for a new ranger—look at the application I filled in.” <br /><br />Edward rifled papers, his lips tight, his eyes dark with indecision and questions, before finally sighing and moving the pen down the application form. “Aiden Samuels, twenty-four, degree in Zoology and college work placements, on paper the perfect candidate for a position here.” <br /><br />“But no real-life field experience, apart from the month in the Sudan. That is what I feel is missing, what I need to be comfortable in my new role,” Anthony insisted. “How can I manage rangers who have more instinct with their animals than I do?” <br /><br />Anthony knew he was right. He may well have had field experience as a child because he’d been a constant companion to his dad for the years leading up to Dominic Novak’s death. But at the end of it all, he needed adult experience. <br /><br />“Okay,” Edward said thoughtfully. “Go to the placement with the bears, do the three weeks.” He held up a hand to forestall what Anthony wanted to say. “Let me finish. Complete the three more weeks as Aiden Samuels and think about what you want to do when you come back. What I really want, and what you deserve, is for you to take your place as equal partner. Not as another ranger.” <br /><br />“Okay.” That wasn’t such a hardship. “Should I consider myself added to the bear count team?” Anthony asked softly. He could see the battle in Edward’s eyes, knowing how hard it must be to see his friend’s son, half-owner of the Park, sitting so hopefully for a decision on a placement that he could just add himself to anyway. But he needed to do this to get the missing passion and instinct in himself that he so desperately wanted to find. <br /><br />Edward sighed. “Consider yourself hired.” <br /><br /><br /><br />* * * * * <br /><br /><br /><br />The Spirit Bear Park Education Center wasn’t new and it certainly lacked the sparkle of a new paint job. But it was lived-in and it was home for Mitchell in ways his own had never been. This collection of buildings with rooms to teach was a legacy from Professor Novak, and Mitchell was the assistant manager and lead teacher. Every day a new slew of students from schools tagged alongside students from universities on placements, and the mismatch and jumble of resources and knowledge was passed on to spread the word. <br /><br />Spirit Bear Park had been established some time ago and large open spaces made it an award-winning attraction, but it wasn’t just a place for people to visit on their downtime. The Park made a valuable contribution to conservation. It was a place where families could see animals roaming freely and learn more about the various endangered species that Dominic Novak had begun to re-home twenty years before. <br /><br />It was Mitchell’s first job and he was convinced it would be his only one, alternating with the rangers to experience the animals firsthand and then creating vibrant programs for learning at all levels. It excited him, it moved him, and it was his life. And he had friends here, including Scot, who had slumped into the chair in Mitchell’s small office with disappointment carved into his face. <br /><br />“I can’t go to Khutzeymateen,” Scot said softly, disappointment in his gravelly voice. “The wedding of the century is slap bang in the middle.” <br /><br />“How is that going by the way?” Mitchell smirked, knowing exactly how to get the rise out of his friend. Scot muttered a few choice words, which included the word lilac if Mitchell heard right. Scot’s sister had met Alan, fallen in love with the guy, and then planned a wedding in the space of two months. Scot had been planning his rotation on the bear audit for two years. Mitchell knew family came first but it didn’t seem entirely fair. “Couldn’t you attend the wedding and then go on to the placement?” <br /><br />Scot frowned. “Thought of that, but you know the whole grizzly thing is like a full-immersion experience; I can’t exactly turn up halfway through for a week.” <br /><br />Mitchell nodded, that was the point of these occasional placements in areas of specialty—full immersion to experience and learn. He was gutted for his friend; Scot had been so hyped to get the placement at Khutzeymateen. His sister booking the middle week for her wedding was just really bad timing. <br /><br />“So I was thinking… you should go instead,” Scot suggested. <br /><br />Mitchell hated snap decisions, hated amending his educational programs around forced change, grumped and groaned for weeks at any kind of disruption. <br /><br />“They didn’t offer the place to me,” Mitchell said. Problem solved. <br /><br />“They did, it was an open offer, two places for qualified rangers, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t go.” <br /><br />“Do we know who else is going with you—sorry, was going with you—oh, you know what I mean.” <br /><br />“Some new guy, Aiden something. I heard he just finished at some foreign college, doing the placement before he starts at the Park. I don’t know much about him, but he was the only other one qualified enough and who had expressed an interest other than you.” <br /><br />“I never expressed an interest,” Mitchell defended quickly. “All I said was that it sounded cool to work with the conservation guys and the bears.” Mitchell knew he was losing this discussion. <br /><br />“Your last course finishes a few days before you would need to leave, I checked. Take the sabbatical, take the time off to do the practical stuff, Mitch. Get out of the classroom, it would do you good.” <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Chapter 2 <br /><br /><br /><br />Mitchell had been sitting in the small plane for a good ten minutes before the guy who was going to be his teammate slid into the seat next to him, pulling the belt across himself and fumbling to close it, all the while muttering under his breath. Mitchell waited until five-ten of dark-haired guy stopped with the muttering and then he extended his hand in welcome. <br /><br />“Mitchell Steward,” he introduced himself. Blue eyes focused on him, and then his companion held out a hand to shake. <br /><br />“I know,” he said. “I’m Aiden.” A Southerner by the sound of his drawl, Mitchell thought. He filed that away for future discussion; after all, he didn’t want to use up all his conversation starters at once. <br /><br />“So three weeks then,” Mitchell pointed out quickly, aware he probably needed to say something. All Aiden did was send a confused look his way and slide iPod buds in his ears. <br /><br />“Sorry,” he said, turning the dial and closing his eyes, the tinny thump of music echoing in Mitchell’s ears. <br /><br />“Great start to a four-hour trip,” Mitchell grumbled to himself, opening his collected research at the last page he was on and trying to get back into the detail. So much for getting to know this Aiden guy. <br /><br />He was alternatively amused and annoyed seeing the white-knuckled fear as his companion’s nails dug into cloth-covered armrests and then having to listen to off-tune humming that grew louder every time the plane hit any kind of turbulence. He felt like poking the sprawled guy in the shoulder at least a hundred times, especially as his companion had a decidedly loose definition of personal space. Mitchell spent some time pushing him back and the rest of the time staring at the guy’s hands, his large hands, curled and strong, wishing he could concentrate on his freaking information sheets. <br /><br />In the end he gave up on reading. He closed the sheets and pushed them into his carry-on. Leaning back in his seat and closing his own eyes, he leaned away from the heat from his fellow passenger’s arm and the intriguing scent of his aftershave or deodorant or whatever he was wearing. Catching himself sniffing the air, he mentally chastised himself. His companion waking up and spotting what he was doing wouldn’t bode well for them spending the next three weeks together. He briefly wondered what Aiden would do if the iPod charge ran out and was amused to be treated to the spectacle, halfway through the flight, of a panicking Aiden switching his purple iPod for a blue one before screwing his eyes tight and leaning back in his seat. <br /><br />The captain made an announcement about descending into Vancouver Airport, where they had their first stopover and a connecting flight. The plane came to a complete halt before Aiden pulled out his ear buds and finally looked Mitchell straight in the eye. <br /><br />“Hey,” Aiden said. <br /><br />“Hello,” Mitchell said quietly. Blue eyes regarded him intently. <br /><br />“Sorry,” Aiden added. He indicated the iPod, now laying quietly in his lap, and then waved his hand in front of his face in a whatever kind of gesture. “I’m not a good flyer.” <br /><br />Mitchell nodded his understanding and unbuckled. He was way beyond tired and probably wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be commenting on how Aiden had been on the flight. He just wanted off the Air Canada flight and out into the fresh air. Pointedly he waited as Aiden untwisted his legs from the small space and stood, his head connecting with the overhead lighting and a muttered curse on his lips. <br /><br />He appeared to be disoriented if the way he tripped and clambered with his carry-on was any indication. Finally he managed to make it to the exit, looking back at Mitchell with a very definite well are you coming then? kind of look. He backed it up with a grin, his ashen face getting more color into it even as he waited for Mitchell. <br /><br />They had just over an hour and a half to connect to the next flight, and once they left the plane Aiden wanted to get coffee. <br /><br />“Are you excited about this?” Mitchell asked when Aiden didn’t seem to want to start a conversation. If anything, he appeared to find more interest in the sheafs of notes he had in front of him. They were brightly notated in purple and green. Evidently Aiden was more prepared than he was. <br /><br />“I so am,” Aiden said excitedly. He wiped a foamy moustache from his top lip with a napkin and looked back down at his paperwork. At this point Mitchell expected him to ask the same question back to Mitchell. Instead he tapped the papers on the table and launched into conversation. <br /><br />“I think it is the grizzly bear’s survival that will be the greatest testimony to our environmental commitment in the end,” he said firmly. He was looking at Mitchell directly and his unwavering blue stare was curiously hot. Great, now he was crushing on the guy he was going to be in close quarters with for three weeks. Not good Mitchell. Not good at all. <br /><br />“I agree,” Mitchell said somewhat lamely. <br /><br />“If we can get this right then maybe we can solve some of the other ecological and environmental messes we have made.” <br /><br />Mitchell remembered reading something along those lines in his online research. He considered if Aiden had read the same thing and was just adopting known comments or whether he’d actually came up with it himself. The British Columbia Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy had been developed by the government of BC with the tenet It will leave a permanent legacy for our children. Just those few words had made Mitchell think almost as much as they apparently made Aiden talk. <br /><br />“So, yeah, I’m excited. Recovery planning for grizzly bear populations that are at risk is kind of a critical element, y’know, in the whole conservation strategy,” Aiden said. <br /><br />“Critical,” Mitchell parroted. Those eyes are really blue and does his hair have red streaks in it and how long does he spend making it look so effortlessly tousled and cute? <br /><br />“So being involved in the rolling program to quantify population and habitat is kind of cool. Don’t you think?” He’s talking. Listen to his soft, drawled words and for God’s sake, say something clever. <br /><br />“Statistical analysis with multiple regression models and practical visual analysis is always cool,” Mitchell finally said. <br /><br />Aiden’s eyes widened and then he grinned broadly. “Totally.” <br /><br />Spirit Bear Park sent two people each year to work here. He and Aiden would be looking at habitat, population, and any other factors that could affect the work that was being undertaken with the grizzly population they were to study. Canada and the US were encouraging international cooperation for management of the bear populations, some of which were in danger of extirpation, or as Mitchell’s old species lecturer explained, as close to extinct as virginity at a frat party. <br /><br />It wasn’t only people like them, with their degrees and their experience, who saw how species were dying one by one. Extinction of species was at the top of most nations’ to-do lists. Khutzeymateen was one of the most well-managed conservation areas, an ideal that other parks where grizzly populations were threatened aspired to. <br /><br />“Extirpation of a species is a tragedy and if this work revitalizes the indigenous bear population in BC and across the border then it’s a win-win.” Aiden caught himself as he chattered and looked down at the papers in front of him. Mitchell saw the flush of embarrassment on Aiden’s face as he tucked his hair behind his ear. Hella cute and—oh hell, I didn’t just think that. “Sorry. I can go on and on if you let me,” Aiden added. Mitchell instantly wanted to reassure the other man and chuckled. He jumped in to save Aiden with a conversation extension. <br /><br />“I know the population of grizzlies at Khutzeymateen is considered viable and that it’s a stable population that needs assessing. I just wish I’d had more time to read up on all this.” Aiden looked up and Mitchell indicated the paperwork spread out in front of him. “I only got everything last night. I was a last minute change replacing a friend.” <br /><br />Aiden frowned. “You wanted to come though?” <br /><br />“Yes, but the last project I was on was Kenya, it’s been a while.” He didn’t have to try hard to put enthusiasm into his speech. “I work in the Education Center at the Park,” he offered, because Aiden hadn’t actually asked. “So I know all the facts, I just didn’t have a chance to analyze the charts and statistical data we have so far from previous teams.” <br /><br />Aiden tapped a finger against his temple. “We’ll be okay; I have it all in here. We can work on that when we get to the first night’s stop.” <br /><br />Aiden pushed his hair behind his ears again. The reddish brown mess of flicks and layers fell around his face and he was evidently irritable with it. When Aiden mumbled something while looking back down at the table, Mitchell realized he had just found Aiden’s tell. It appeared he was nervous and when he got like that he touched his hair and lowered his gaze. <br /><br />He didn’t mean to make Aiden anxious. Maybe he was staring a bit too much. Deliberately he concentrated on the caramel macchiato he had in his paper cup. A lot of time in the rainforest would pass before he got more coffee like this and he needed to remember it. <br /><br /><br /><br />The second flight was as quiet at the first. Another color iPod and yet more tinny music meant Mitchell had time to think about Aiden. The younger man appeared wary of Mitchell, even though Mitchell had generally been on his best behavior. He could hear Scot’s voice in his head, Angsting much, gay boy? Just… there was a vulnerability about Aiden that intrigued Mitchell. A combination of clumsiness, shyness, enthusiasm, and the finest ass on either side of the border had Mitchell wondering if there was any chance Aiden was gay, or even just a little bit bi. That would make the three weeks fly by when, instead of cold nights in individual sleeping bags, there could be hot sex in bags zipped together. He chastised himself and willed his sudden erection to fuck off. Not only was Aiden a new member of staff at the Spirit Bear Park, but he was too young for Mitchell. Hell, he couldn’t be much more than twenty-three or -four. Aiden was at least seven years younger than him, and Mitchell was really feeling that difference. <br /><br />As the plane banked and dipped through the clouds, Mitchell got his first look at this beautiful part of Canada and its distant snow-tipped mountains. Finally, after a long couple of hours they descended from high wispy clouds and landed at Prince Rupert Airport. The plane continued taxiing, rolling to a stop at the end of the middle-of-nowhere runway. Mitchell moved to look out the window at the flat space beyond. Excitement curled in his stomach like a kid before Christmas, the unknown beckoning to him beyond the thick glass, and he shifted in his seat, a now-blinking Aiden looking out the same window. <br /><br />They climbed down steep metal steps, standing uncertainly at the base, both looking for the contact that was supposed to be meeting them. There were people around them—passengers and flight crew—each seemingly moving with purpose towards a shelter to one side. Exchanging inquisitive expressions, both men followed the herd, so to speak, to come in behind a guy with a note board and pen. <br /><br />“Fowler and Samuels?” he asked officiously. “Do we have a Scot Fowler and an Aiden Samuels?” Aiden spun on his heel, his eyes widening, and he shouted a quick ‘here’. Mitchell added the fact that it was he, Mitchell Steward, and not Scot Fowler that was on the flight. The officious man tutted, but then he crossed the two names off his list. <br /><br />They followed him to the baggage claim, a wooden table with chairs around it that appeared as if someone had cleared away dinner to use the top for cases. Both men grabbed their bags. Digby Island, where the runway was located, was a bus and ferry ride away from the mainland, and Mitchell hoped like hell that Aiden wasn’t afraid of boats or being driven. He wasn’t sure he could handle another minute of muted tinny Lady Gaga. Instead Aiden chose to inundate Mitchell with a non-stop dialog ranging from his fear of flying, his apologies for appearing rude, his love of animals, and the fact that the grizzly bear was perhaps the greatest symbol of the wilderness. <br /><br />It fell to Mitchell to facilitate Aiden’s talking with the insertion of a few nods and uhms. To be fair, he did agree with most of what Aiden was saying, sensing a fellow soul in his quest for species survival and conservation. If only he could concentrate on that instead of feeling like a kid with his first crush then all would be fine. <br /><br />“It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?” Aiden said. He was taking photos with a tiny digital camera and moved from one end of the ferry to the other like a kid hyperactive on cola. <br /><br />“Beautiful.” The water was a sapphire blue and the mist rising amongst the trees was amazing. He couldn’t think of any more words to describe the stunning vista. He leaned against the rail of the boat and breathed in the cold Alaskan air that filtered along the BC coast and then inland to where they were. <br /><br />The ferry nudged the dock, and Aiden was first off, jumping the space between boat and dock with an agility that seemed to belie his clumsiness on the plane until he caught his leg on the rope and almost fell flat on his face. Mitchell climbed off as the boat was tied, feeling much older than his thirty-one years as Aiden started to babble on in unashamed excitement. It unnerved him to have Aiden near bouncing on his toes. In his mind the movement didn’t come over as particularly professional when their contact from Khutzeymateen crossed to them, looking faintly shocked when Aiden grabbed his hand and shook it with both of his own. <br /><br />“How long will it be now?” Aiden asked quickly as Mitchell shook the guy’s hand a lot more sedately. They followed the man, who had introduced himself as William Helin, to a black 4x4. <br /><br />“It’ll be a good four hours,” he answered. He encouraged both Aiden and Mitchell into the back. “Easier to nap.” <br /><br />“I’m too hyped to sleep,” Aiden replied instantly, at the same time knocking his head on the roof of the 4x4 as he tried to fold himself into the small space. <br /><br />“Jeez, man, are you trying to kill yourself?” Mitchell commented softly, helping Aiden with the belt and pulling the door shut. Aiden turned to face Mitchell with a flush of scarlet coloring his cheeks. <br /><br />“Sorry,” he apologized and subsided to look out the side window. Mitchell frowned and was concerned at Aiden’s response. He hadn’t meant anything by his comment. The other guy looked uncomfortable and way past embarrassed. And now he was quiet and that was just plain wrong. <br /><br />“I didn’t mean anything,” Mitchell started, and Aiden turned to him, an earnest expression on his mobile face. <br /><br />“It’s okay, I know I can sometimes be a bit—” He shrugged. “—y’know, clumsy, hyperactive, and shit. You just need to say if it gets too much. I always thought I might have ADHD or something ’cause I don’t sit still, when I’m nervous I can’t shut up, and I fall over things all the time.” <br /><br />“No,” Mitchell was quick to apologize, “really, it’s cool.” Mitchell wasn’t sure if that was the right thing to say, but it had the desired effect. Aiden went back to looking out the window, but at least Mitchell saw a small smile on his face before he turned. What Mitchell needed to think about is why that smile and that happiness made him feel so damn pleased. Scot was right when he said that Mitchell’s gay side was getting him all emotional. He leaned back on the headrest, watching as small-town living gave way to Canadian wilderness, an excitement building inside him that not even being tired could stop. They climbed into the snow line, high into the peaks some 6500 feet above a valley of wetlands, old-growth temperate rainforests, and the large estuary. Mitchell imagined the air outside the window was cold and crisp and clean, like this land was new and untouched. <br /><br />The last part of their journey was off-road; because of the area’s high sensitivity and strict conservation orientation no one was allowed into the conservation area outside those who worked there. No campers, no families, no hunters, just acres of unspoiled wilderness and the bears. <br /><br />William was talking about the park as they bumped and slid along trails that Mitchell wasn’t even sure actually existed outside of William’s head. “This area is just off the watershed of the Khutzeymateen River.” <br /><br />“I read that it’s an important hunting and fishing site for First Nations people,” Aiden said. Then he subsided with a murmured sorry. <br /><br />William nodded. “The Gits’iis, one of the nine tribes making up the Allied Tsimshian Tribes. The park was created in partnership with the Gits’iis people.” Aiden was nodding along, agreeing as William commented; he had obviously done his homework. Although Mitchell knew about the First Nations people, he hadn’t researched that side given the short notice for attendance. “The park is managed jointly with BC Parks and the Tsimshian Tribal Council.” <br /><br />“What does the name Kitsimdeen mean?” Mitchell asked. He was sure he was butchering the pronunciation of the word. <br /><br />“You say it K’tsim-a-deen,” Aiden interrupted. “It means ‘valley at the head of the inlet’.” Mitchell wasn’t surprised Aiden knew that. He seemed to know an awful lot about this placement. <br /><br />“Will we get to have any interaction with the tribes?” Mitchell queried, blinking as Aiden sent him a look of mild amusement. <br /><br />“I think you’ll find you already have been interacting,” he said softly, laughing along with William. “William‘s surname is Helin.” The next part he directed at William. “I guess you are related to the tribe elders?” Aiden was throwing it out as a question, but William was still laughing, and Mitchell could do nothing other than smile along with them. <br /><br />Mitchell knew a lot of information important to this placement. He knew bears were as fast as racehorses, whether on the flats, going uphill, or going downhill. They’re strong swimmers with good eyesight, good hearing, and an acute sense of smell. He knew that all black bears and young grizzlies were agile tree climbers; mature grizzlies were poor climbers, but they had a reach up to four meters. He had made it a point to know that if a bear is standing up it is usually trying to identify you and that it wasn’t looking to hurt you. He had worked the bear rotation at Spirit Bear; he knew enough, and really, wasn’t that why he was here? To learn? But so he didn’t know William was related to the elders, sue him. Aiden looked over at Mitchell ruefully and Mitchell realized his inner annoyance must be showing on his face. <br /><br />“Sorry again,” Aiden said, too low for William to hear. “I didn’t mean to laugh.” Mitchell shrugged it off, suddenly feeling very stupid; he didn’t know why Aiden’s laughter got to him like that. He couldn’t get a handle on this clumsy man who worried about what other people thought of him, who spent his whole time apologizing for what he was or what he knew. The whole package fascinated Mitchell and he thought that maybe he’d like it if he and Aiden could end this three weeks as friends, if only so he could stare at him some more. <br /><br />“My grandfather,” William said, answering Aiden’s original question. “At least fifty percent of the people tending to the area are locally sourced from the Tsimshian. The rest are people like you: researchers, graduates, and the like. We are a closed community.” Aiden nodded, and Mitchell frowned to himself, he bet Aiden had known that too. <br /><br />“I know they are more prevalent on the islands, but do you think we’ll see any Spirit Bears?” Aiden asked. By this time he was leaning forward to listen to William and Mitchell realized he could probably stare at the high cheekbones and long dark eyelashes framing those stunning azure eyes all day. <br /><br />“Moksgm’ol. They are known to the Tsimshian people as Moksgm’ol. And I expect you will,” William answered. He turned the wheel to avoid an obstacle in the road and Aiden slid sideways against the belt until his thigh rested against Mitchell’s. I’m going to hell, Mitchell thought immediately.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">oOo</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.lovelanebooks.co.uk/">Buy from Love Lane Books</a> $2.99 </span></b></div>

Spirit Bear available to buy

Blurb and Buy Links Dominic Novak left more than a legacy for conservation and an instinctive love for animals behind when he died. He left ...

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Friday Interview - Chris Quinton

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2COKsijViVNH8hfQtTZCAEelxwiQ80d0RXg_Ehd9aRQ_r8egNU_WSvJEm3CH_ZMTFt2IL-alLAc0PNLx9Mj-YuUTAhQ8kkoIZual9AMHqQkqQRKRKC74Bl-SuPo30TyiNcSj0XTZfoQ/s1600/FoolsRush-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2COKsijViVNH8hfQtTZCAEelxwiQ80d0RXg_Ehd9aRQ_r8egNU_WSvJEm3CH_ZMTFt2IL-alLAc0PNLx9Mj-YuUTAhQ8kkoIZual9AMHqQkqQRKRKC74Bl-SuPo30TyiNcSj0XTZfoQ/s320/FoolsRush-small.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><b></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b>Questions posed by FB friends: </b></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>*****</b></div></b><br /><b>What inspires you? -</b> Can be anything from a chance-heard phrase, a picture [not necessarily of a sexy man or two *g*], a feeling, the kind of dream that's like watching a movie. Sometimes, and those are the most awesome times, at least one of the characters appears out of the blue, right *there*, virtually in front of me, and presents me with the opening scene of the book. Then I have to work out all the necessary background details, of course. And that little thing called plot *g*. Xavi [Fool's Odyssey trilogy] has done that to me three times.<br /><br /><div><b>Do you take a notepad with you wherever you go? -</b> Yes. Notebook and pen, as well as a small net-book for when I have access to a wifi hotspot. And usually a camera as well. There's always a pad and pen beside my bed as well. Writing is a compulsion, something I've felt the need to do since I was a kid, so I'm well and truly in the habit of being prepared. So much so, that if I have to leave the tools of the trade behind for some reason, I tend to get twitchy...<br /><br /><b></b><br /><a name="more"></a><b>How do you keep everything straight? Especially when you have characters from different books fighting for attention. -</b> I keep all my Work In Progress stories and ideas in their own folder - notes, maps, family trees, other cast members, locations, research sidelines and websites, photos, rough drafts, all filed under the story title. I also have a paper file for the maps and town and house plans I draw myself. Not all my stories are set in real places.<br /><br />Pushy characters demanding attention are real pains in the ass, and it's easy to end up with a mental log-jam of conflicting ideas. The only way I've found that *sometimes* works, is to make notes on what they have to say, then file it in their own folder, and promise them I'll get back to them as soon as I've finished the story I'm working on.<br /><br /><b>How do you feel when it comes time to end the story? Sad? Happy? Relieved? -</b> All of the above *g*.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>*****</i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Fool's Rush</i> from <a href="http://manifoldpress.co.uk/" target="_blank">Manifold Press</a><br /><br />Xavi has changed - oh, how he has changed! But how much has he learned - about life, about himself, about what - and who - he needs?<br /><br />Third in the Fool Trilogy - Father Esteve hires Xavi to trace the true owners of the gold found in the crypt of San Pedro-by-the-Wall, but it's an old and tangled web. Someone has an agenda and a rising tide of anti-vampire reaction sweeps Barcelona. It's focused on Xavi and Andreas, which causes additional problems with the vampires of Renaissance. Then Xavi meets a handsome young man who isn't all he seems, and that's when things become really complicated... </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">*****</div><br /><b>Excerpt </b><br /><div style="text-align: center;">September 2042 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Chapter One </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>144 Las Bolas Street and Las Ramblas, Barcelona; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Renaissance, Begues, and San Pedro-by-the-Wall, Barcelona </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The balcony was secluded, not that Xavi gave a damn if half of Barcelona watched him work on his all-over tan. His body was good and he knew it. But exhibitionism wasn't entirely why he was stretched out oiled and naked in the sun. Maintaining the bronze that emphasized the sleekness of his muscles was no longer as simple as it had been, especially since he refused to go for the easy and painless option of a fake tan. Fake was exactly that; he preferred the real thing. Exposure needed to be finely judged, though. Death by sunlight wouldn't be immediate, unlike the movie and TV stereotype. With care, Xavi could endure the rays. Clothing, of course, offered protection. So did sunblock, which was why he was lying there wearing neither. Xavi would be relatively safe as long as he remained conscious. Leaving it too long, until he passed out, would guarantee there'd be no second chance.<br /><br />He wasn't a masochist, but sheer vanity insisted he accept the risk of death and the suffering necessary for the genuine article. So Xavi gritted his teeth, lay in the unshaded heat of noon and endured the pain of the blistering. The burn would heal in a matter of moments once he was in the shade of the tree again, and he would be left with the perfect suntan. Without the risk of skin cancer, or so Doctor Cortes assured him. So far, Xavi had failed to persuade Andreas to do the same. That was a shame because it would change the man's sallow ivory pallor to an olive-bronze, which would look very good on him. Just because he was a vampire, didn't mean he had to go with the stereotypical pallor. <br /><br />So he gritted his teeth against the agony, waited until his vision started to fade and the blisters began to crisp. By then he'd had enough of the torture in any case, and he crawled from the spread towel to the one waiting in the tree-shadow. He collapsed, groaning with relief. With no direct sunlight to fuel it, the burning of his over-sensitive skin faded quickly. So did the pain. Xavi yawned and stretched, then rolled onto his back and relaxed into a semi-drowse. Life was good. Boring but good. <br /><br />The nights weren't boring, though. They were better than good.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*****</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><i>Links</i></i></div><i></i><a href="http://chrisquinton.com/">Website</a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000894893197">FaceBook</a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/chrisquinton">Amazon Author Page</a>

Friday Interview - Chris Quinton

Questions posed by FB friends:  ***** What inspires you? - Can be anything from a chance-heard phrase, a picture [not necessarily of a sexy...

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Information on re-issued books

<div><b>The following books are being re-released with new cover art:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/deefur-dog.html">Deefur Dog</a><br /><div><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/oracle.html">Oracle</a><br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/book-of-secrets-oracle-2.html">The Book of Secrets</a><br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/heart-of-texas.html">The Heart Of Texas</a></div><div><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/texas-heat.html">Texas Heat</a><br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/texas-winter-sequel-to-heart-of-texas.html">Texas Winter</a></div><div><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/11/wonderful-new-cover-art-received-for.html">The Gallows Tree</a><br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/soldiers-tale-fitzwarren-inheritance-2.html">The Soldier's Tale</a><br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/one-night.html">One Night</a> (added chapter & Epilogue)<br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/all-kings-men.html">All The Kings Men</a> (re-written)<br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2012/02/art-of-words.html">The Art of Words (with Meredith Russell)</a><br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/shattered-secrets-in-shadow-of-wolf-1.html">Shattered Secrets (with Diane Adams)</a> (June 2013)<br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/broken-memories-in-shadow-of-wolf-2.html">Broken Memories (with Diane Adams)</a> (July 2013)<br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/splintered-lies-in-shadow-of-wolf-book-1.html">Splintered Lies (with Diane Adams)</a> (July 2013)</div><div><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/kian-fire-trilogy.html">Kian</a> (July 2013)</div><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/darach-fire-trilogy.html">Darach</a> (August 2013)<br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/eoin-fire-trilogy.html">Eoin</a> (September 2013)<br /><a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.com/2011/10/jesses-christmas.html">Jesse's Christmas</a> (re-written) (December 2013)<br /><br /><b>The following books will be signed over to my co-authors from 15 June 2013</b><br /><br />A Better Man<br /><br /><b>Free Replacement Service</b><br /><br />If you have an old book and you want the replacement book with the new cover art then please don't spend your money and buy them again... if you have proof of purchase (from your Amazon account, Silver Account, AllRomance E-books account etc) then email me this to rj@rjscott.co.uk and I can replace any you have a receipt for free of charge... I will try to answer all emails as quickly as I can. Please indicate which format you require from PDF, Mobi (Kindle) or ePub.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Hugs and thank you for your patience...</i><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><ul></ul></div></div>

Information on re-issued books

The following books are being re-released with new cover art: Deefur Dog Oracle The Book of Secrets The Heart Of Texas Texas Heat Texas Wint...

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The Vampire Contract - available from eXtasy Books

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep3f2lbkzCNr8LHfxkkbXorl26lhxCvmjHHvXb8uGJr08rkfAGYjpKDz1QnPX_we5U4eNsX3orouPWFK-atEo4SXP9iW3SYvAud5BSIjuvJV4X2H7opbyFWx1QpIkftIAVqbIToYM1DY/s1600/THEVAMPIRECONTRACT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep3f2lbkzCNr8LHfxkkbXorl26lhxCvmjHHvXb8uGJr08rkfAGYjpKDz1QnPX_we5U4eNsX3orouPWFK-atEo4SXP9iW3SYvAud5BSIjuvJV4X2H7opbyFWx1QpIkftIAVqbIToYM1DY/s400/THEVAMPIRECONTRACT.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><b>Book 1 - The Vampire Contract</b><br />Book 2 - The Guilty Werewolf (March)<br />Book 3 - The Warlock's Secret (April)<br /><br /><b>The Vampire Contract</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/index.php?route=product/product&author_id=973&product_id=3892" target="_blank">eXtasy Books BUY LINK</a></b><br /><div><br /></div><b>A vampire guilty of murder on the run from justice to prove his innocence. A werewolf sent to retrieve him with one thought – that only the guilty run.</b><br /><b><br /></b>Vampire Micah Jamieson is found guilty of killing his human husband. He runs from the execution he is facing to get home. He just has to pray he’ll reach home before supernatural law enforcement, in the shape of a Glitnir Court Retriever close in on him.<br /><br />Wolf shifter and Retriever, Connor Strand easily captures Micah and he’s fully prepared to take the runaway in. But his wolf has other ideas.<br /><br />Something about Micah challenges Connor and his long held beliefs. What if Micah is actually innocent? Will Connor put to one side his own prejudices, and then risk both his life and career to keep Micah safe?<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Excerpt </span></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>Chapter One </b><br /><br />“I know you’re out there!”<br /><br />Connor tensed at the loud words. His quarry knew he was here? How the hell could a blundering, uncoordinated, frankly very short vampire know Connor was tracking him? <br /><br />“What do you want, wolf?” <br /><br />Exhaustion dripped from each syllable and Connor focused in on the body language of a defeated man. Was Micah Jamieson giving up and giving in? <br /><br />Connor hesitated. This could well be a trick. No way was he going to let himself be swayed from what he had to do. His claws extended in his splayed hands and he rolled his neck with the itch of change that pressed on the front of his mind. <br /><br /><br /><a name="more"></a>“Come out and talk to me,” Micah said. He turned in a circle as he peered into the undergrowth, the bushes that surrounded him, and high into the tall oak trees. <br /><br />Connor watched with amusement. The vampire may be clever enough to figure out a wolf was tracking him, but he didn’t know where he was. Then Micah, murderer, criminal, listed for execution, turned and faced exactly where Connor was hidden. <br /><br />“Retriever or not, I could do with the company and we need to settle this so you can go home.” <br /><br />The vampire’s voice was sad and held a quality of loneliness that Connor thought only he had the capacity to feel. He shrugged away the sudden and inappropriate twinge of empathy. <br /><br />“Here, here, wolfy, come on out and play with the scary vampire.” Micah ended on a chuckle and crossed his arms over his chest. <br /><br />Dark haired and dressed from head to toe in black, he was merging with the smudge of gloom in the approaching evening, but Connor could still scent him from where he was—a combination of fresh forest air and something else that he couldn’t put his finger on. Micah didn’t smell like a normal vampire, if anything Connor found his scent weirdly comforting. <br /><br />Shorter than the average vamp, nice scent or not, he was an easy take down. That was exactly how Niceros had sold this particular hunt to Connor. Easy. His boss always used words like easy and quick, but at the end of the day, Connor was hunting a paranormal called Micah who had ripped his own husband’s throat out and carved words in the fragile human skin. Short or not this vamp was dangerous and possibly psychotic. <br /><br />Forcing his claws to retract as he straightened was an effort. Connor’s lupine half clung to his thoughts and demanded attention. Not now, he thought as he stepped into the clearing to reveal himself. The scent in the air was charged with moonflowers and there was magic stringing its way through the topmost branches of sprawling trees. Micah Jamieson’s scent was intermingled in it all. <br /><br />Assessing Micah and the threat he posed was like breathing. Vampires were sneaky, scrappy fighters, fond of using a combination of teeth, knives, and formidable muscle strength. Added to which vampires were renowned as selfish, spoilt superior beings who disregarded society and its norms. No wonder this husband of Micah’s only lasted three weeks of marriage to the vamp. <br /><br />“Strand,” he said firmly. “Senior Retriever.” The words were familiar and rolled off his tongue with ease. Step one of retrieval: state your name and rank and ensure the convicted were fully aware of who you were. As soon as they left his mouth, he waited for reaction. This was the point that those facing Court-assigned punishment reacted one of two ways: begging or running. Connor could deal with either. <br /><br />“Senior?” The vamp huffed a laugh. “I was that much of a flight risk they sent a top grade hunter?” <br /><br />“Just come quietly.” <br /><br />Micah scanned Connor and let out a short laugh. “You’re not even armed.” <br /><br />Connor took another step nearer, his arms loose at his sides and his hands ready. No wolf shifter Retriever was ever armed, they didn’t need to be. <br /><br />“I’ve come to take you back.” He moved closer and could see Micah’s face more clearly. He was a lot smaller than other vamps Connor had taken down, and he looked resigned. He shrugged and held out his hands in front of him, palms up. <br /><br />“You can try,” he finally said. <br /><br />There was no bravado in his voice, merely plainspoken words with an edge of that same exhaustion Connor had heard before. Was the vamp really considering he could take on a senior wolf shifter? Connor had never actually seen bravado before in his prey. He’d seen begging and crying and witnessed a whole lot of running, but never this quiet acceptance. <br /><br />They stood in a tense faceoff about three feet apart. Connor was in range of both vampire fangs and sharp, skin-slicing knives if Micah had any. He couldn’t see knives but rule one was never to underestimate any supernatural. <br /><br />“Come quietly,” Connor said. “It will look good for you at Glitnir.” <br /><br />Micah shook his head at the mention of the supernatural Court. “You mean they’ll cut my sentence from execution in a week to that of beheading in a month?” <br /><br />“You will have more time to say goodbye to loved ones,” Connor said calmly. <br /><br />“Glitnir thinks I killed a loved one.” Temper sliced into Micah’s words. “Why would they even think of giving me more time to say goodbye?” <br /><br />Connor could see the sense in Micah’s words. Knowing what Glitnir would do to the vampire when Connor took him back was not his concern. For what he’d done he was lucky he was given time to settle his affairs. The quickest trial in the history of Glitnir and a punishment of death by beheading had been handed down in minutes. The evidence was there. The husband's human body drained of blood, the throat torn right through to the spine, and the vampire words, centuries old, cut into flesh. All of it led to Micah. <br /><br />“If I was you,” Micah snapped. “I would shift and run back home.” <br /><br />“Retrievers never return empty-handed.” Connor widened his stance and allowed his wolf side free rein. <br /><br />Micah unfolded his arms and allowed them to hang loose with his fingers clenched into fists. “Sorry, dog, this time one will have to. I don’t have time for games.” <br /><br />The single word dog was the ultimate insult to a race as old and proud as werewolves and the vampire knew this. Rage sparked in Connor, but he had to balance it if he didn’t want this to go to shit. Micah opened his mouth to say something else, but Connor acted on pure instinct and moved like lightning. <br /><br />Connor leaped before Micah could move, and in that single second where he must have known Connor would be on him, there was acceptance etched into every line of Micah. Connor’s attack was instant and he kicked with his strongly muscled legs dead center in Micah’s chest. Micah fell off balance, slamming back against the tree. Connor followed Micah onto the ground and crouched over him, hands scrabbling to catch hold of Micah’s throat. Micah pushed back and his strength was enough to force Connor back and away. The plants and bushes around them caught on their clothes as Micah threw himself at Connor with a knife in one hand as his fangs descended. When they connected, Micah’s breath left him in a swift huff. <br /><br />“Come home,” Connor snapped as Micah pinned him. The gleam of a blade was inches from his face and as much as he pushed up, Micah met with equal force. He flipped the other man with a knee to his balls and despite the yell of pain, Micah didn’t retreat. He lay under Connor with absolute determination in his expression. <br /><br />For a second, no more, they were held in a match of force and Connor knew in an instant that this was not going to be a graceful fight but a scrappy uncoordinated battle for the upper hand. His wolf side took over and he found extra strength even as Micah pushed that little bit harder upwards and the knife moved dangerously closer to Connor’s face. <br /><br />“No!” Micah said, and with a mighty heave, he had Connor sprawled on his back with his breath lost to the impact. <br /><br />Connor used the momentum of his fall to roll on his side and then flip up standing. He charged at Micah without hesitation. Claws extended, he grabbed Micah’s knife hand and then used his other hand to dig through material and into skin below. <br /><br />His long claws pierced the clothing and Micah screamed in pain before rolling them again so Connor was under him. He felt like the heaviest weight and now Connor had a hand trapped between them with claws still extended into Micah’s skin. He dug deeper, this wouldn’t kill the vampire, but it would surely incapacitate him for a while. Micah cursed and pushed up and away, and Connor felt his claws wrench free of the bloodied mess. <br /><br />Stumbling back, Micah didn’t check the wound that was a ripped hole through jacket, shirt, and skin. There was real fear in his eyes as he fell to his knees. Connor howled in excitement at the ecstasy of ripping through his prey and he could almost taste the thrill of the win. <br /><br />Micah scrambled away, with a hand clutched to his side and then used the trunk of a tree to stand. He took a step away from the bark and near doubled in pain. <br /><br />“Don’t make me hurt you,” he begged as he straightened. <br /><br />Connor growled in frustration at the nonsense Micah was spouting. He took the two steps up and away to jump at Micah. The vampire reacted instantly. He spun on his heel and suddenly the two were a mess of nails, claws, and teeth. The snarling, spitting fight had them pitted evenly against each other despite Micah’s injury. <br /><br />Micah would get the upper hand only for Connor to switch and force Micah to the ground. He needed to pull the cuffs from his belt at that single point he had the upper hand, but sensing the loss of focus, Micah scrambled and fought his way free. His pale skin was marked with mud, leaves, and blood and the spread of dark on his shirt was dangerously large. Even a vampire would take a few days to heal from that. <br /><br />“You chose to run,” Connor spat the specific words he needed to say on retrieval. “The Glitnir Court wants your return to carry out punishment for the crime of murder of Ethan Harris.” <br /><br />He didn’t finish as, with a yell, Micah rushed him and near head-butted him in the stomach. The two men fell and rolled over and over down a small incline. Connor’s head smacked a stone and he felt the pain reverberate through him. Then the moonlight glinted on the sharp fangs that descended in Micah’s mouth and there was blood on his lips, Connor’s blood. They had both tasted blood tonight. <br /><br />“No,” Micah spat at him in fury. “I didn’t kill him—” <br /><br />Connor was shaken and beaten away from finishing what he had to say. His pain increased and Micah was pushing and stabbing with the knife. Connor felt the snap in his left arm as it broke against a fallen tree. Adrenaline spiked and he pushed through grating pain to force Micah off him and in a smooth move, had the cuffs in hand and was inches away from getting one wrist of the hissing, spitting, snarling night man cuffed. <br /><br />“No!” Micah shouted. Terror widened his eyes and he was shouting and pleading and none of it made any sense. “Don’t make me hurt you.” <br /><br />Connor carried on with the rights he needed to say. “An appointed councilor will review—” <br /><br />“I can’t go.” <br /><br />The first cuff snapped around Micah’s wrist and Connor suddenly had the upper hand. Micah threw himself back and pulled Connor with him in a mess of twisted limbs while he was talking, chanting, saying something. Connor shook his head and scraped claws along every available inch of skin he could find. <br /><br />This wasn’t a clean fight, this was desperation, fear, and a crawling despair in Micah. The scent of terror was ripe in Connor’s nose. He could work with fright and panic in an escaped prisoner, it made them careless and vulnerable to attack. With a final lunge he aimed for Micah’s other wrist. <br /><br />A scream of anguish from Micah and an invisible force lifted Connor from him and threw him across the clearing where he contacted with a tree. <br /><br />“I didn’t mean to, I didn’t mean to!” Micah shouted. <br /><br />Connor was losing the will to stay awake. Heaviness pulled him apart inside and his mind went blank.

The Vampire Contract - available from eXtasy Books

Book 1 - The Vampire Contract Book 2 - The Guilty Werewolf (March) Book 3 - The Warlock's Secret (April) The Vampire Contract eXtasy Boo...

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News Roundup

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY6SqEHkLzzBFeKfdoCJd2ky6U51ijML6uIB5ZVB0GWUgfSZI4U74EOUYFpTA3Zp7mpei7buAo2O7i2ZuXDz8DvA8MTecI3UC8cIofeTsw3q45wAzBOkzCnylMgSEVRyhLazW5BMsrM8/s1600/The+Heart+Of+Texas+600x900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY6SqEHkLzzBFeKfdoCJd2ky6U51ijML6uIB5ZVB0GWUgfSZI4U74EOUYFpTA3Zp7mpei7buAo2O7i2ZuXDz8DvA8MTecI3UC8cIofeTsw3q45wAzBOkzCnylMgSEVRyhLazW5BMsrM8/s400/The+Heart+Of+Texas+600x900.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><b>The Heart Of Texas</b><br /><div><br /></div><div>This is now, thankfully, back with me and is available in the usual places. <a href="http://lovelanebooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Love Lane Books</a> (my site), <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Heart-Of-Texas-ebook/dp/B00B891PAQ/ref=sr_1_10" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theheartoftexas-1050373-145.html" target="_blank">All Romance E-books</a>, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/rjscott" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> etc. Barnes and Noble takes a little longer and I will shout when it arrives there.</div><div><br /></div><div>This means, anyone who purchases this book from now on is ensuring that the money comes direct to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>However the sequels <b>Texas Winter</b> and <b>Texas Heat</b> remain with their existing publisher and I can't see as how I will ever see money for those. All being well I will have these sequels back with me at the end of April. Watch this space. <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/heart-of-texas.html" target="_blank">Read more >>></a></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Spirit Bear</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I am really sorry but this is being delayed by four days and will now be available 9 February. This is due to the fact that everything that has been happening with getting Heart Of Texas back has scrambled my brains and I do NOT want to publish an inferior product. Many apologies. I think this is the first time in nearly three years of writing that I have EVER delayed a book from release date... it hurts... I blame my ex-publisher. <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/spiritbear.html" target="_blank">Read more >>></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Vampire Contract</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Is released 1 February and is my first book with eXtasy Books. I am really excited for you all to read Book 1 in this Supernatural Bounty Hunters trilogy. Book 2, The Guilty Werewolf, is out 1 March, and Book 3, The Warlock's Secret, is out 1 April... <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/only-guilty-run-wip.html" target="_blank">Read more >>></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Case Of The Cupid Curse</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Written with Amber Kell, this is the first book in our End Street Detective Agency series. It is available for TEB pre-order 11 February and is available for VIP download 25 February. We are in the middle of writing Book 2... <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-case-of-cupid-curse-end-street.html" target="_blank">Read more >>></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Montana </b></div><div><br /></div><div>My three book trilogy has been optioned by TEB... YAY! Dances... I can't wait to start writing... each book will be 50,000 words or more... more news to follow but I think we are looking at Summer for releases... Book 1 is called *Crooked Tree Ranch*. <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/montana-sky-book-1-crooked-tree-ranch.html" target="_blank">Read more >>></a></div></div>

News Roundup

The Heart Of Texas This is now, thankfully, back with me and is available in the usual places. Love Lane Books (my site),  Amazon , All Rom...

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252,000 hits and Silver Publishing books

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm9xS20lQ5vgEJTOgTptEFULT2mqHPsUPWE4k3oOlwRnvltTNYWDw-H0TfuVgrLPraHmVEL3c9pAj9Zlaw39rgHJLsAkEV2Iwkz2GhXh4Sb2pGKV4afgH1bTZRWFQGoSwsz0PlzrsDCg/s1600/All+the+kings+men+4x6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm9xS20lQ5vgEJTOgTptEFULT2mqHPsUPWE4k3oOlwRnvltTNYWDw-H0TfuVgrLPraHmVEL3c9pAj9Zlaw39rgHJLsAkEV2Iwkz2GhXh4Sb2pGKV4afgH1bTZRWFQGoSwsz0PlzrsDCg/s320/All+the+kings+men+4x6.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New art by Meredith Russell</td></tr></tbody></table>Just passed a quarter of a million hits to my website since February 2012. I think that is cause for celebration and have opened a bottle of wine accordingly! Thank you guys... xxx<br /><br />Also, thank you for the support you have all given me over Christmas and into the New Year, both publicly and privately.<br /><br />This seems as good a point as any to explain what is happening with my old Silver releases.<br /><br />I know a lot of you have been noticing books disappearing from Silver etc and also new cover art to replace the old covers from Silver. You may also know that I have set up a direct sales website (www.lovelanebooks.co.uk) to sell a significant amount of my old books and also to publish new books at least every other month.<br /><br />I have some wonderful cover art from BitterGrace Art and Meredith Russell for these books moving from Silver and coming under my creative control. I want to publicly thank them both.<br /><br />The book that seems to be giving most cause for concern with the amount of emails I have been receiving is the disappearance from Silver and third party sites (Amazon etc) of The Heart Of Texas. <strike>Unfortunately I can not give you any updated news on that. Either way it will either be with TEB or will be available via Love Lane Books and I hope to have an answer for everyone very soon.</strike>  <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/news-roundup.html" target="_blank">UPDATE - HERE</a><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9Gd1YSA8HMrLVQdAW20zHGOMTZWJTPJ78hdFQoLASkmt96HvIb9xIxTCQOfmtZzeZ8JJ62SLGe4X2umaZhCs5eTgpSC6KYXBF3MflJwREbAulPYkarI12UUdCKDGQCxbJLOEB3NPJWI/s1600/moments_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9Gd1YSA8HMrLVQdAW20zHGOMTZWJTPJ78hdFQoLASkmt96HvIb9xIxTCQOfmtZzeZ8JJ62SLGe4X2umaZhCs5eTgpSC6KYXBF3MflJwREbAulPYkarI12UUdCKDGQCxbJLOEB3NPJWI/s320/moments_800.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New art from Total E-Bound</td></tr></tbody></table><b>The Texas Series</b><br /><br />Book 1 is currently not available anywhere at present. Watch this space for news.<br /><ul><li>Heart Of Texas</li><li>Texas Winter (available from the usual places)</li><li>Texas Heat (available from the usual places)</li></ul><b></b><br /><b>Previous Silver Books and where they will be available.</b><br /><br /><b>Total E-Bound</b><br /><br />Alongside new books and series that are contracted with TEB, I also have contracts for the following books with new editing and cover art.<br /><ul><li>Back Home (April)</li><li>Moments (March)</li></ul><b>Love Lane Books</b><br /><br /><br />Thanks to my wonderful husband I have a direct sales site at www.lovelanebooks.co.uk for the following books to have homes as soon as they are available:<br /><ul><li>Kian - Fire Trilogy  (Feb 2013)</li><li>All The Kings Men (TBA)<i> *** re-written</i></li><li>Darach - Fire Trilogy  (TBA) </li><li>Eoin - Fire Trilogy  (TBA)</li><li>One Night (TBA) <i>*** with additional chapter at end</i></li><li>Deefur Dog (TBA) </li><li>The Gallows Tree (TBA)</li><li>Jesse's Christmas (TBA) </li><li>Oracle (TBA)</li><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUq5ASYtD660JDgSPOT9wkQHCpe-EKo2iCYfi2WIyEEZohy_I3Vv6I77rFvlY0YRv7_R_YjwLZHClqINp4a1xZ7RALUUqmmfFOYkV9XPkAJHG_lSxN0lbOuzvRNz9FsMP2TrUb_w5BYg/s1600/Deefur+Dog_RJ+Scott+4x6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUq5ASYtD660JDgSPOT9wkQHCpe-EKo2iCYfi2WIyEEZohy_I3Vv6I77rFvlY0YRv7_R_YjwLZHClqINp4a1xZ7RALUUqmmfFOYkV9XPkAJHG_lSxN0lbOuzvRNz9FsMP2TrUb_w5BYg/s320/Deefur+Dog_RJ+Scott+4x6.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New art by Meredith Russell</td></tr></tbody></table><li>Oracle 2: Book of Secrets (TBA)</li></ul><b>Co-Authored Books</b><br /><br />I am in discussions with my co-authors and final decisions will be made on these books at 18 April 2013. Currently these are all available via Silver and Amazon, and all the other usual 3rd parties.<br /><ul><li>The Soldier's Tale (Sue Brown/Chris Quinton)</li><li>The Art Of Words (Meredith Russell)</li><li>Shattered Secrets (Diane Adams)</li><li>Broken Memories (Diane Adams)</li><li>Splintered Lies (Diane Adams)</li><li>Hearts of England (Anthology) </li></ul><b>The Halfway House series</b><br /><br />Written with Jaime Reese A Better Man was book 1 in a planned series of books. These are all available via Silver and Amazon, and all the other usual 3rd parties. Jaime will be writing book 2 onwards.<br /><ul><li>A Better Man</li><li>A Hunted Man (WIP I believe)</li></ul>

252,000 hits and Silver Publishing books

New art by Meredith Russell Just passed a quarter of a million hits to my website since February 2012. I think that is cause for celebration...

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Friday Interview - N.R. Walker

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtf7lEfw049Uq-0q9oqmbpgRyIQhyphenhyphenTfAWhzvR2Y0SGYxv5CpGOXTNlNjdHc0OAvYoHJdLzzVNrlcAA5kva3fp5ImYKXei9Yp17weyLHZshkm54oFYPPnCC7_K0S3cHn7n7e1OY9eluw/s1600/blind+faith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtf7lEfw049Uq-0q9oqmbpgRyIQhyphenhyphenTfAWhzvR2Y0SGYxv5CpGOXTNlNjdHc0OAvYoHJdLzzVNrlcAA5kva3fp5ImYKXei9Yp17weyLHZshkm54oFYPPnCC7_K0S3cHn7n7e1OY9eluw/s1600/blind+faith.jpg" /></a></div>I’d like to thank the ever so lovely RJ for having for me on her blog today, and I’m very excited to introduce my newest release, Blind Faith.<br /><br />But first, a little about me. I’ve been writing for about three years. I’m a late bloomer, I know. I never knew I had a knack for writing until I wrote something almost accidently, posted it online without a clue as to what I was doing, or without any inkling that the general public would read it. <br /><br />Well, read it they did. <br /><br />Apparently I had a way with words. I know, right? Who knew? Certainly not me. LOL.<br /><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">*****</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Okay, now for some Q&A…<br /><br /><div><b>How do you keep everything straight? Especially when you have characters from different books fighting for attention.</b></div><div>Well, there isn’t much that’s straight about my stories. *winks* This is easy for me, because I only ever write one book at a time. I know some authors who have several WIP’s going at once and the thought alone makes my eye twitch. I find myself having conversations with my characters all the time, or scene snippets play in my head like a movie all the time, so if I were to have this from several different characters from different books, I’d be certifiable. <br /><br /><b> </b><br /><a name="more"></a><b>Do you have a difficult time getting into the different characters heads when they're arguing and trying to see both points of view or not take sides when you love them both? Do you take a lot of ideas from your own personal life and experiences?</b></div><div>I write in first person POV, so I live in the head of one character, not both main characters. I’d like to think I capture both characters truthfully, but it’s the main character POV that I speak from. In one story I wrote recently, I found myself struggling to write a make-up scene where the love interest forgave the main character because I myself, wouldn’t have forgiven him. But the character had to, to take the story in the right direction. I hope I portrayed his dilemma accurately. And yes, a lot of ideas and character traits come from my personal life and experiences. Usually a character’s preferences or distastes for food or music will stem from my own, for example, you’ll find one of my characters always loves coffee or hates hiking. There’s a little piece of me in all my characters.<br /><br /><b> How do you feel when it comes time to end the story? Sad? Happy? Relieved?</b></div><div>I love finishing a story. Love it. I love giving characters life and a journey and a story, but I love giving them closure the most. For me, and maybe I’m weird, but it’s the best part. If the story has dragged a little, or if I’ve struggled with something in particular, there might be a tinge of relief, but mostly I’m happy to have given the characters their HEA. After all, it’s what we’re all striving for, so to be able to give that to characters who I’ve developed and had in my head for weeks or months and come to love, is the best part. Writing <i>‘The End’</i> are my two favourite words. <br /><br />It also doesn’t hurt that I usually have the next story in my head and can’t wait to create that, but it’s never been a sad experience for me. <br /><br />Okay, enough about me, now about this new story of mine… <i>Blind Faith</i>. <br /><br />Now these boys were something special. I loved, loved, loved writing these boys. <br /><br /><b>Blurb</b><br /><br />Starting a new job in a new town, veterinarian Carter Reece, makes a house call to a very special client. <br /><br />Arrogant, moody and totally gorgeous, Isaac Brannigan has been blind since he was eight. After the death of his guide dog and best friend, Rosie, his partnership with his new guide dog, Brady, isn't going well. <br /><br />Carter tries to help both man and canine through this initiation phase, but just who is leading who? <br /><br /><b>Excerpt</b></div><div><br />“So, Carter,” Hannah said, smiling at me when I finally drew my eyes off her brother. “How’s the patient?” she asked, looking to the dog sitting between my legs. <br /><br />I looked Brady over, feeling his spine, his hips, ribs, legs and fetlocks. I looked at his eyes, his gums, his teeth, though I really didn’t need to. He was a picture of health. But before I could say so, Dr Fields answered. “Brady’s what? Nearly three years old now?” <br /><br />It was a little odd. He wasn’t giving any kind of diagnosis. He was steering the conversation. I looked at him quizzically, but he gave a quick but subtle shake of his head and I knew not to question him. But I had to say something. If I wanted Isaac to trust my professional opinion on anything in the future, I had to ask something. So, instead, I asked, “Isaac, how’s his appetite?” <br /><br />It wasn’t an invasive question, more of a general observation. <br /><br />Isaac, who was now again sitting next to Dr Fields, seemed surprised at my question. “He would eat until he exploded if you let him.” <br /><br />I chuckled. Most Labradors, even well-trained guide dogs, would eat until they exploded if you let them, but I didn’t say this out loud. “And how many days per week on average does he work?” I wasn’t an expert on guide dogs but I knew some. I knew when they were harnessed with their human half of the team, it was called working. <br /><br />Isaac was still, no expression, no movement, and I wondered if I’d asked a wrong question. But then he answered, “That depends. Sometimes five, sometimes seven days a week.” He opened his mouth to say something else, but then obviously thought better of it. He cocked his head in my general direction. “Why?” <br /><br />“Just getting to know the patient,” I answered, hoping he’d hear the nonchalance in my tone. “That’s all. I’m sure Dr Fields will fill me in on any particulars if needed.” <br /><br />Dr Fields, my boss for the next two weeks before his retirement, jumped in on the conversation. “Dr Reece, could you go out to the car and grab the bag of dried dog food? There’s a five pound bag in the trunk. I forgot to bring it in.” <br /><br />I could read my cues. He wanted some alone time with Isaac. “Sure.” <br /><br />And as I stood to leave, Hannah joined me. “I’ll walk you out.” <br /><br />As we walked out into the warm summer sun, she sighed. “Isaac can be difficult,” she said softly. “So don’t feel bad. He and Max have known each other a lot of years.” <br /><br />I popped the trunk, collected the bag of dog food and closed the station wagon’s rear door. I looked at her and smiled. “I can see that.” <br /><br />She smiled back at me. “You can see which one? That Isaac can be difficult, or that he’s good friends with Max?” <br /><br />I wisely chose not to answer, which was in itself an answer. <br /><br />Hannah smiled and nodded. “Just don’t let him bother you too much. He loves Brady, he does. It’s just some days are better than others…” <br /><br />Before I could ask her what she meant, she looked to the bag in my arms and she brightened. “Come on, I’ll show you where you can put that.” <br /><br />We walked back into the house, through the living room where Isaac and Dr Fields were still talking, and into the kitchen. I sat the bag of Brady’s dry food on the counter and not a second later, the two men in the living room stood, their conversation drawing to a close. <br /><br />When we were saying goodbye, Dr Fields had taken Isaac’s hand, patting it the way a grandfather would his grandson’s. “It’s not goodbye. I’ll call in and see how you’re doing from time to time.” <br /><br />Isaac snorted. “If you can drag yourself off the golf course.” <br /><br />Dr Fields laughed. “Well, there’s that.” But then he was serious and patted the younger man’s hand. “You can expect the same service from Dr Reece, Isaac. He’ll look after you.” <br /><br />Isaac had nodded but not said anything, and when we’d driven out onto the road, heading back to the clinic, Dr Fields sighed. “Isaac doesn’t take change very well,” he explained. “He never has.” <br /><br />I thought about that, and what certain changes would mean to a blind man. He’s familiar with Dr Fields, he trusts him. Not just in his treatment of his guide dog, but trusts his judgment and also, more importantly, trusts him in his house. His safe haven. Any kind of significant change must be an ordeal. I looked at the older man and agreed with a nod. “No, I don’t suppose he would.” <br /><br />I had questions about Isaac Brannigan, but figured the older man had just basically said goodbye to an old friend, so I decided it could wait another day. We made the rest of the drive back to the clinic in silence and went straight back to appointments. It wasn’t until later that evening the questions I had couldn’t wait. <br /><br />I’d finished my daily appointments and was catching up on paperwork when I’d opened the Brannigan file. So I knocked lightly on Dr Fields’ office door, and when he looked up, I held up the thick file so he’d know who I was referring to and asked, “Is there any reason why we run every imaginable test on a healthy dog? Just what exactly are we trying to find wrong with this dog?” <br /><br />Dr Fields put down his pen and closed the folder in front of him. He took off his reading glasses, rubbed his thumb and index finger into his eyes and sighed loudly. “Come in and sit down, Carter,” he said, resigned. “Let me tell you about Isaac Brannigan.” <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*****</div></div><div><br />Blind Faith is available from January 26th at Silver publishing. The link to buy is <a href="https://spsilverpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_book_info&cPath=0_2&products_id=1367&zenid=6bee4a914deb5d9aab7285a9a6615e98">HERE!!</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://nrwalker.blogspot.com.au/?zx=d7a681332b82fc3c" target="_blank">My blog is here! »</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Again, huge thanks to RJ for hosting me today!</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*****</div>

Friday Interview - N.R. Walker

I’d like to thank the ever so lovely RJ for having for me on her blog today, and I’m very excited to introduce my newest release, Blind Fait...

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