SPARK - The Elements Book 3

 SPARK

Book 3 of the Elements 

Now Available:

Amazon:  Spark

Barnes and Noble:  Spark

BoucherCon 2024

 BoucherCon 2024 - Nashville, Tennessee 

Bouchercon Convention is upon us.  In case you have not been paying attention, it runs August 28-September 1, 2024, and is held at the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville.  If you are coming to enjoy BoucherCon this week, please join me and my other esteemed panel members, Saturday morning, bright and early at 8:00 a.m. to discuss finding success with independent and small press publishing.

Update: Spark, Book 3 in the Elements Series

 Spark, Book 3 in the Elements Series

I'm happy announce that my next novel, SPARK, Book 3 in the Elements Series has been picked up by my publisher.  It has a scheduled release for January 8, 2025.

I have been hard at work completing yet another set of edits to Spark and it is now back in the hands of my publisher.  Next up will be their formal edit and format, and then cover designs.  I can not wait for that step. It's one of my favorite things in the list of tasks that come along with book publishing.  Putting my story into a simple yet compelling picture.  One that I think represents my vision and one that people and my readers will like as well.  My least favorite is the editing.  It's amazing to me that no matter how many times I go through a project, and other people go through it, and then beta readers give it a look, that there are sometimes STILL mistakes in the final project.  It's incredibly frustrating.  

I think I will focus on the exciting bits instead of the annoying ones.  Bring on the cover design!

2020/2024 Graduates

 Graduation 2024

Creator: Nosyrevy | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

    This spring marks a milestone for many graduating seniors.  However, for the high school graduation class of 2020 that is now graduating from college, this year will bring to close what the Covid Pandemic took from them.  

    If we look back to 2020, the high school graduates didn't get a senior prom.  They didn't get a senior trip.  They didn't have their senior breakfast.  They didn't have a rehearsal.  They didn't get a senior clap out.  And for many, and maybe one of the most important losses for not only the seniors of that year, but also their families too, they didn't get to walk in their high school graduation ceremony.

    Many schools tried so hard to make up for the lack.  They tried virtual events and drive up diploma pick ups that they called graduations.  But let's be honest, it was so far from a ceremony and event, as you can possible get, and still call it a graduation.  It wasn't the same for the graduates. It sure as heck wasn't the same for their families who had been a part of their school journey and had also been looking forward with excitement for the conclusion of that stage of their child's life.  

    Many went off to college and I would bet most felt like sometime was missing, as they didn't get that closure. In my opinion, not having that closure changed many of these young adults. The world as they new it, and felt comfortable in, was no longer safe and no longer known.  Everything was suspect.  Everyone could be dangerous.  They began their adult life, in an unknown world filled with fear and confusion as what the future would hold.     

    Here we are, and 2024 has arrived and with it the chance to finish what they started and attend their graduation, a first for many, with their family and friends there to cheer them on.  These young adults lost so much in 2020.  Their worlds and life came crashing down right as they were about to take off and fly into adulthood with hope for a bright future.

    So to the college graduates of 2024, who are also the high school graduating class of 2020, I am so proud of you all. For your strength.  For your perseverance. And for your ability to pivot and push forward regardless of the obstacles you faced.  You have come a long way, but you made it.  Congratulations to you all, wherever you are.  You made it!  

April Blues

April Blues

By Courtney Rene

Spring rain in the forest, fresh branches of a bud and young leaves with raindrops, by Kichigin19

    April Showers, brings May flowers. Here in the grand state of Ohio (USA), we live by this saying.  Winters can be hard here.  With below zero temperatures, snow and ice, and don't even get me started on the wind, we wait and dream of spring.  Spring arrives in March, yes, however, for us Ohioans, that does not mean an end to the cold and wintery weather.  By the time April finally arrives, we are a sad and pale reproduction of our summer selfs.  

    The problem being that although the snow and ice may be gone, we do generally get a lot of rain in April. So much so that we go from frozen cold misery to mud city (esp. those of us with pets).  I wondered if maybe the old saying of April showers brings May flowers was a way of saying, hang in there.  There is a purpose to all this wet misery.  You need the rain and storms for the plants to grow and bring forth the beauty of the coming summer seasons. 

    With that in mind as I slog my way through all the wet, the question is: where did the saying come from?  Well, it is not a saying per se.  It is a poem.  Didn't know that.  It has its origin from the year 1157 from a poet named Thomas Tusser.  His very short and sweet poem read:  "Sweet April Showers, Do Spring May Flowers".   I know poems come in many forms and fauna, but is this really a poem or just a quip really.  The idea of what constitutes a poem, may be a discussion for another day.  Moving on.

    Geoffrey Chaucer, however, did write a poem in the fourteenth century.  The original in all its spelling glory is:

"Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote

The Droghte of March hath perced to the roote

And bathed every veyne in swich licour,

Of which vertu engendred is the flour,"

Translation:

"When in April the sweet showers fall

That pierced March's drought to the root and all

And bathed every vein in liquor tht has power

To generate therein and sire the flower,"  

    I do like the melody that comes with this poem, and the story behind all the flowery (no pun intended) words.  Chaucer, he's got quite the story telling skill in my mind.  I may need to do more digging on the man behind the poem.  I know of him, but do I know who he is?  Stay tuned that may be in the works next, as now I am intrigued.  

    Happy April.  Hang in there. The beauty of spring and summer are on the way.  

St. Patrick

 

https://images.app.goo.gl/gPmNSpYRafZMnS1B8

Conversation Hearts

 

Image by Jill Wellington

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day coming up, here is a little reminder, that this is actually not a day of love, chocolates, flowers, and stuffies. It is in reality a day of death.  

Saint Valentine, statue on church altar

St. Valentine, who the "holiday" is named for, died on February 14th, in the 3rd century.  He was a Saint recognized at one time by the catholic church and then removed in 1969 (Britannica, 2023).  Why was he removed?  Because...the church really could not obtain what they deemed as reliable information on the guy.  There are too many "real" and vastly different stories about him that don't add up.  So, was St. Valentine one guy? Or several?  St. Valentine is still recognized as a saint, but he is no longer documented in the General Roman Calendar and has not been since 1969.  He was named as a saint and was listed as a patron saint of epileptics, beekeepers, and...lovers (Britannica, 2023).  Hence, where our story begins.  

St. Valentine (again, based on unreliable information) was in some stories a Roman priest as well as a physician.  He was martyred in Rome during the rein of emperor Claudius II Gothicus in about 270, during the Christian persecutions.  Another telling of what is believed to maybe be the same story is that he was a bishop of Italy, but again was martyred in Rome due to his conspiracy against the emperor (Britannica, 2023).  

The fairy tale begins and ends in one account that St. Valentine signed a letter with, "from your Valentine" on his day of death.  This letter was to the daughter of his jailer, who he had helped heal her blindness (Britannica, 2023).  During St. Valentines imprisonment, he and the girl had then become friends and in some telling, St. Valentine fell in love with the girl.  This story transpired because St. Valentine was held prisoner in the home of one of the nobles.  Once he healed the blind girl, the entire household converted to Christianity, which angered the emperor. He was then tortured, decapitated,  and then put to the death, which was how in this story St. Valentine was martyred (Gershone, 2024). Just before his death, he sent the letter to the girl, signed "from your Valentine".  I know this is supposed to be a sweet love story, but I get stuck on the idea of how old was St. Valentine and the daughter?  

Another telling of the legend is that St. Valentine secretly married people, in defiance of the emperor's order, for the purpose of sparing husbands from war, as married men were not generally forced to go to war (Britannica, 2023).  Husbands were seen as not being good soldiers as they missed their families too much.  This sounds very romantic in some ways.  Couples in love being married in secret.  Forget the fact that they were only doing it so the man didn't have to go to war.  It's still romantic.  More so than some old guy falling in love with a daughter of a noble.  St. Valentine was captured, beheaded, and again martyred upon his death for his conspiracy against the emperor (Gershone, 2024).  

If you keep digging into the history of St. Valentine, you can find many different stories and tellings.  Who knows what is real and what is made up.  With these historical fairy tales in mind, how will you be spending our Valentine's Day?

 

References

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023, October 10). St. Valentine. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Valentine

Gershone, L. (2024, January 30). Who was the real St. Valentine.  The Many Myths Behind the Inspiration for Valentine's Day.  https://www.history.com/news/real-st-valentine-medieval

Winter Hobbies

Like many people I have hobbies outside of writing.  These include many artistic avenues, but one I spend a lot of time on is painting.  I paint in watercolors, acrylics, and even dabble in oils.  I'm versatile like that...

I like watercolors the best, simply because they are easy to clean up.  I like oils because even if I mess up, I can just scrap the mistake off and try again.  Acrylics are also fun as I can get deep colors and they are easy to use on any type of surface.  I don't pretend to be very good.  Somethings I can paint very well.  Others...I am very lacking. However, I keep enjoying the time spent on them all the same. 

Here are a few for your winter day enjoyment:

A home in the forest, a watercolor by Courtney Rene

Ladybug, a watercolor by Courtney Rene

Turtle, a watercolor by Courtney Rene

Bluebird, a watercolor by Courtney Rene

You may begin to notice a trend...I have an affinity to animals, bugs, and nature.  

Mountain Landscape in oils by Courtney Rene

Whale, an acrylic, by Courtney Rene

Wolf, an acrylic, by Courtney Rene 

Nothing too awesome but not to shabby either.  I use painting when I'm stuck with something I'm writing or when I just can not get inspired to write.  I think that may mean that if I have not put out anything in the book or magazine world in a while...someone might need to tell me to put my paintbrush down and get to writing!  

We all need our outlets.  Painting is mine.  

Cold January

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

This January here in Ohio has been strange.  In most years, the 1st of the month hits and hits hard with winter weather.  We get blasted with snow, cold, and ice.  This type of harsh winter weather stays for weeks and weeks.  Then we get a January thaw for a day to help wash away the brown ick that has become our landscape.  We breath a sigh of relief at the break in the weather.  Only for winter to rear its giant angry head and hit us again with a gleeful vengeance.  Schools close and companies let employees work from home.  January is a hard month usually.  Misery is winter in Ohio.

This year, 2024 has not been the usual.  We had lovely 40 degree weather for most of the month so far.  That is until this week when the snow and ice has come with a vengeance of its own.  Temperatures in the negatives and windchills making it even worse.  It is only January 20th and I am dreaming of spring.  Wishing for it. 

No, granted it has not been a hard month overall.  However, this last week sure has felt hard.  Getting outside, walking in that wind is miserable.  The air physically hurts.  Less than nine weeks until spring at this point.  As we still have February to get through, it can not come fast enough for me.  Brrr.  

Welcome to Winter...

Spark - Book 3 in the Elements Series

 Spark - WIP

The new year has brought with it a new and determined spark of creativity on my end.  With that in mind, book 3 in the Elements series is firmly in the works and a concrete work in progress.  For those that don't know, this series is about four extraordinary teens, each with a corrupted gift from one of the four elements:  water, earth, wind, and fire.  These young adults come together to face a common threat...their creators.  Scientists of a genetic engineering company have been hunting for them since they were children.  Each one of these genetically modified teens have been on the run and hiding for years. Alone.  They have decided to not run anymore.  

Cold - Book One in the Elements Series

Cold - Book one in the series is Nora's story.  Water is destructive all by itself, but turn water to ice and it can become even more deadly, especially in the hands of an angry young woman out to right a wrong.

Burn - Book Two in the Elements series

Burn - Book two in the series is Ash's story.  Fire is destruction.  It burns and eats anything it comes in contract with.  It has been used as a weapon, as a means of demolition, and even as a method of death.  That does not mean it always has to be evil and used to destroy.  

Spark - Book three in the series is Eve's story.  We don't yet know what all Eve can do.  She is an earth element and with it is a creator of life.  Does that mean she is also the bringer of death?  How far can she be pushed before she becomes exactly that?  

Wind - Book four in the series is Reed's story.  Stay tuned as his story will be told and soon.  

Upcoming Events

With the new year here and roaring, that brings with it the planning of events.  This year, I have worked hard to get some big things on the schedule.  I currently have three on the calendar, but anticipate four or five.  The main ones, are exciting though.

The first big even is the Mid Ohio Indie Author Book Expo.  I have been trying to get into this event for about 3 years, but it sells out so fast.  I am so excited to finally be apart of this expo.  The event will be held on August 10, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  You can find information on location, attendees, food, parking, and more here:  Mid Ohio Indie Author Book Expo

The second big event this year is that I have registered to attend the BoucherCon 2024 - Murder and Mayhem in Music City.  I was supposed to be a part of this conference in 2021, held in New Orleans, but thanks to Covid and a hurricane, it was unfortunately cancelled.  The conference for this year is being held in Nashville on August 28-September 1, 2024.  Once I have more information on the conference as well as any panels I will be sitting on, I will update.  For more information on the BoucherCon you can find it here: BoucherCon2024

Finally, up and coming is the West Lafayette - Hop into Easter Event on Sunday, March 24, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This event will be held at the Coshocton Moose Lodge.  Fellow Author Rebecca Besser will be joining me at this event and we will have plenty of books on hand. 

Stay Tuned as this list will change as the year progresses, but for now, this is the anticipated events.  

New Year - 2024

Image by hannazasimova on Freepik

With the new year upon us, most will look back over the previous year and think about what they would have done differently.  What they loved the most.  What they did not enjoy.  Then, there is the big question of what we want to do in the coming year.  

My 2023 came with a job change (or two).  It also brought with it a new inspiration with my writing.  I am back to working on book three of The Elements series.  For those keeping up, this will be Eve's story.  Eve has the gift of life.  She can create life in the form of plants.  She can help create life with animals.  The question is, as our four elements are growing and learning and surviving...what else can Eve do?  Now that Eve along with Nora, Ash, and Reed, have left SanCorp together, the four need to decide how to forage on in the world they have always been fugitives within.  There is also a part of them that wants to understand and set right the wrongs done by SanCorp not only to them, but what they are coming to understand, includes many others as well.  Stay tuned as Eve gets here story told. Coming as soon as I can get it written.  

Be save this new year.  If can offer any advice, it would be to take the time to find out who you are and what you want.   I have been trying to do that for several years now.  I think I'm getting closer to actually figuring it out.  

Three Year Journey

The Three Year Journey began in 2020. As the pandemic is slowly but surely making its way into history, a question people ask and ask often is how others got through it. My story begins in January 2020, before the pandemic hit. My last child was a senior in high school. She had been accepted into many different colleges and universities, and many were not close to home. I was aware of the significant changes coming at me in several months. For the last ten years or so, my daughter and I spent most of our time together as she was a competitive dancer. She had dance practice every day and some weekends. During the competitive season, we had weekend-long events and traveled around the state and even the country for events. I learned how to do ballet dancer hair. I learned to sew and alter and fit. I gemmed, jeweled, and bedazzled. I had contacts at dance apparel companies around the world. I had a full-time job outside my full-time job. It was busy and crazy, but I enjoyed it too.  

As my tiny dancer entered her last year at home, I could see my busy lifestyle and close relationship with my girl coming to an end. My house would be child-free, and I would be at loose ends. My husband suggested that I look into going back to school. I'd obtained an associate degree in paralegal studies right out of high school, but I'd always had the intention to return. Then life happened, which included children. There was simply no time to go back to school. In 2020, with the future I was facing before me, it sounded like a great idea.  

I searched online for accredited and reputable online, fully electronic programs. I wanted a program that I could do in my own time, in my own home, whenever I had time, and wherever I could. I found a few, but the one I ended up with was through Northern Arizona University. They had a program of business that fit my needs and wants perfectly. It was competency-based and entirely online. In a moment of determination, I applied to the college and then sat back and waited. I had not been in school for 25 years and was not confident I would get in. After all, I'm not 18, and I don't have SATs or ACTS behind me. I did, however, get in. Surprise! After some frustration trying to obtain my transcript from my associate's degree, I was set up to begin university.  

I was excited. I could do this. I'm a writer, a published writer, after all. I could do this! I'm sorry to say I almost could NOT do this. The program had classes that you must take, just like any college. Within those classes are specific lessons that must be learned. In each lesson, you must complete and pass with a grade no lower than 86 an assignment, an exam, and an essay. I did well on the assignments and the exams. I didn't have any issues there. The essays, however, were a significant bump in the road. When I was in high school, we didn't have essays. We had extended response. We had complete sentence structures. We had reports. I assumed incorrectly that a report was the same as an essay. Wow. I was so wrong. No worries, I'm a writer. I could figure this out. I'm not going to lie. It was not easy. After some serious frustration, a lot of tears, and driving my husband up the wall, I finally figured it out. That first semester almost did me in. I was passing exams with flying colors. I was doing assignments with ease and even some enjoyment. I was reading and learning, which was great! The essays, well, they were the reason I came really, incredibly close to quitting. So close that I contacted my counselor to ask if my credits were transferrable. It was a rough period. I had a professor send me a harsh message saying that as the program was based on a lot of essays, I needed to really think hard about whether or not I should be in it. That hurt. It about broke my spirit.  

So, after more tears and angry frustration, I decided I had to ask for help. My husband, thankfully, explained how an essay works. What the ingredients for an essay are. How to format. How to get evidence and cite things properly. I needed a serious lesson on how to write an essay. Once I felt better about the issue, I drafted and passed a rewrite of my failed essays. I shed more tears over that, more in relief than anything else at that point. I don't know how many essays I wrote throughout my college career, but I feel it was close to 120. I can now say I am pretty darn awesome at essay writing.  

I began my program in February 2020, and as we know, Covid hit in March 2020. The world shut down for many people. Mine did not. I continued to work full-time, in the office, for the entirety of the pandemic. I put in my hours at work, and then I would spend another 30+ hours a week on schoolwork. On average, I completed 24 credit hours each semester and was able to complete a four-year degree in two years and seven months. If I had understood the essays from the get-go, it would have been even faster, as that first semester was slow.  

The college experience helped me to survive the tiny dancer going off to college at Purdue. I was so busy with schoolwork I didn't miss the crazy schedule of dance. It helped get me through the horrible days of sadness with my children all grown and flown. It kept my mind busy instead of lonely. I am so grateful to have started that program, and not going to lie, I am so glad (relieved) to be done. I now have an associate degree in paralegal studies, and as of December 16, 2022, I have a Bachelor of Science in Business with an emphasis on Human Resources with a minor in Computer Information Technology. That's how I survived the pandemic and how I survived my drop into an empty nest.  

Now, what will 2023 bring? We will wait and see.

Fresno Farmer's Market

Welcome to Spring 2022!

Now that the world is starting to reopen since March 2020, I have decided to rejoin it by getting back out and about with events.  This Saturday, May 28, 2022, is opening day for the Fresno Farmers Market.  I along with fellow author and friend, Becca Besser, will be there for the opening day's events.  Check back here for future date of attendance for this event as I plan on taking part in the the market at least once a month through September  2022.  

Here is a quick excerpt from their page:

Rebecca Besser is a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature and is a member of the International Thriller Writers. Her most notable credits are a short story in an anthology published by Atria Books (Simon & Schuster), a nonfiction article about skydiving for children for NY assessment testing (McGraw Hill), and a children’s poem in an early reader (Oxford University Press India). She is best known for her works of adult horror, especially zombie and organ harvesting, but has been published in the areas of nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and children’s. She will be signing/selling books and homemade cross stitch bookmarks.

https://rebeccabesser.wordpress.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-Besser/e/B004V3IIC4

Courtney Rene is a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature. She mainly writes young adult books in the paranormal genre with contemporary, fantasy, and alter dimensional themes. She hopes to break into the mystery genre soon. She will be signing/selling books, and will be attending intermittently throughout the summer, but will be there opening day!

https://ctnyrene.blogspot.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Courtney-Rene/e/B004X6SS2Y

It looks to be a lovely day with lots of fun things to see. If you come out, be sure to stop over and say hello, pick up from free swag, and maybe a new book or two to read.

Stay tuned, as there are several exciting updates that I will be making over the next few months, including...a new release on the way.

Sci-Fi Thriller: COLD

I am generally, just your average paranormal fantasy writer. However, I stepped outside my box to write the book COLD.  This is a Sci-fi thriller book that steps into many realms, including paranormal, mystery thriller, and new adult.  I began this book as a stand alone story, but realized once I got to know the characters that no, it would end up being a series.  Book Two in the Elements Series is in the works.  

Where to find this book: 

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble

Google Books 

New Release - Feathers

Feathers, by Courtney Rene

My latest books is on it's way to final publication.  Look for it on August 1, 2018.  It will be available in both print and electron formats at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, through the publisher, Rogue Phoenix Press, and other fine book retailers.

Look for it August 1 2018

Once Upon A Christmas Moon - Blog Tour Stop

Just in time for the holidays, I bring you, Once Upon a Christmas Moon, an Anthology of love, pets, and the holidays.  As with most tours I host, the authors of this book will be giving away a copy of their previous anthologies: A Valentine Anthology, A St. Patrick's Day Tale and A May Day Anthology, to three randomly drawn commenters.  

Title: Once Upon a Christmas Moon

Authors: Christine Young, C. L. Kraemer, Genie Gabriel

ISBN: ebook: 978-1-62420-369-5   POD: 978-1979071093

Genre: Anthology/Roamnce/Fantasy

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Buy at: Amazon

TAGLINE

A collection of stories about the magic of romance at Christmas time.

BLURBS

TWELVE DAYS TO LOVE

When Archer Steele shows up at Calanthe Durand's failing plantation with

an alligator over his shoulder, Cali thinks she's never seen a more

handsome man. During the war she had to defend herself and her servants

from both union and confederate soldiers. Independent and

self-sufficient, she vows to never marry. But Archer Steele has

different ideas. The first time Archer sees Cali in town, he feels an

instant attraction. He decides he will do everything and anything to

convince the beautiful Miss Durand he is worthy of her love. During the

weeks leading up to Christmas, he gives her twelve gifts in hopes she

will fall in love with him.

BOOTS AND BLADES

An ancient evil from the old country has arrived in the high desert of

Oregon. Gnome children are vanishing then re-appearing, showing various

stages of traumatization. Tiamoon, warrior gnome, will put her skills to

use alongside Killian, a handsome warrior, also in need of a cause.

CHRISTMAS PAWSIBILITIES

With their world destroyed and their space ship malfunctioning, the

dogizens of Planet Canid have little choice but to crash land on Earth.

They face tortuous experiments at the hands of the Geeks in Green...or

they can trust an eccentric inventor and his zany family to deliver the

Canine Queen's puppies and help them celebrate new lives.

EXCERPTS: 

Once Upon a Christmas Moon

Twelve Days to Love

by, Christine Young

Near New Orleans October 2,1867

“Sam! Close the shutters on the back landing. I’ll get the front. Hurry. There’s a storm coming.” Calanthe Durand felt the small hairs on the back of her neck rise and shivers run down her spine. A big storm was on its way, probably a hurricane. Energy and fear poured through her like the pounding rain and flooding that accompanied high winds. Closing the house to the storm was imperative.

Cali took a moment to smile. She’d heard Sam grunt. He didn’t talk much, but she wouldn’t have survived the war or these last two years without Sam and his daughter Daisy. Both sides, the North and the South, had occupied their home. Daisy and Sam were family, the only family she had. She’d do whatever was necessary to protect them. Even with emancipation, life wasn’t easy for blacks in the south.

“I’ve got them, Miss Cali.” Daisy rushed past her and out the door. Wind whipped her hair and tugged at her dress. Branches torn from trees landed on the porch.

Cali followed, the storm swirling around her, her hair beating against her face. Her breath was ragged, and fast as her heart thundered. She pushed and tugged at her skirt, trying to detangle the fabric from her legs. “Get inside!” The tempest raging around them swallowed her voice.

“Not until we’re finished here.” Daisy fastened a shutter before moving on to the next one.

They worked together to protect the windows from the storm on the raised porch which stood five feet off the ground as wind howled around the eaves. A steady rain poured from the black sky, and lightning slashed the darkness.

Cali pushed dripping strands of hair that had slipped from her chignon away from her face. “I’ll light the candles. It could get dark here pretty fast.”

“Horses and livestock are safe for now.” Sam stepped beside her. “Hope it’s not a big one.”

“Hello up there. Hello, bonjour, anyone home?”

Hearing the voice from below, Cali left the protection of the house to lean over the porch railing. Below her a man stood, with cupped hands to his mouth and a dead gator slung over one shoulder a quiver filled with arrows on the other. “Hello. Can I get shelter from the hurricane?”

“Don’t know if it’s a hurricane.” Terrified of unknown men, Cali didn’t want to do the charitable thing. She pursed her lips, thinking, but all that came to surface was memories of troops commandeering her home. Good lord but she’d had to hollow out a bedpost to hide her jewelry. The soldiers had taken everything they could see. Sometimes she felt as if the war had ripped her soul from her body.

“Maybe not a hurricane. Could be just a bad storm, but I don’t want to be on the swamp right now. The water’s rising.” A loud roar and a thunderclap followed his pause. Behind him an old Cyprus tree crashed to the ground, uprooted by the wind.

“You can take shelter in the stable.” Cali watched his back stiffen, while she swallowed hard, but she wasn’t about to back down. The stable was good enough for some wandering man who she owed nothing. Besides, there was a tack room with a bed. No one slept there anymore, but she kept it clean and the moss in the mattress was fresh. Daisy had rolled it out two days ago. Yet a small niggling in the back of her head kept telling her this wasn’t a traveling man but one of means. He was a man she should treat as a gentleman. She’d been taught better but the war had changed all that and the lessons she learned were not served to her with a silver spoon.

“Much obliged.” He nodded before turning toward the barn. His natural swagger and broad shoulders sent a different kind of sensation through her. Warmth swept inside, swirling within and heating her frozen heart. For a moment he looked back, a strange expression on his well-chiseled face.

Boots and Blades

C.L. Kraemer

High Desert, Central Oregon

Killian stared at the rise of rock from the desert floor. The emerging sun tricked the sky into revealing pink and blue streamers across the horizon exposing the severe lines of craggy mountains. Pine trees scented the air, and the slightest hint of sage tickled his nose.

“Where are they disappearing to? They’re much too young to be running away.”

“Master Killian?”

The young man turned his blue gray eyes from the mountain to answer. “Yes, Ms. Luna. What can I do for you?”

“Are you sitting out here at this early hour worrying about the young ones?” Luna’s black hair was braided down her back and she sported a shawl bright with her clan’s colors. She handed the young man a steaming cup of coffee. “I hope you don’t mind black. I’ve yet to milk the goat.”

Killian flashed her a seldom seen smile. “Ms. Luna, you make the best coffee in the desert. Black is fine.”

Taking up a spot next to him on the porch, she turned her attention to the mountains admiring the soft colors of rose and tan springing to life in the morning sun. “What is it that haunts you so?”

“The illogicality of it all.”

“Aye, I figured that. It is indeed illogical. The children are too responsible to leave unannounced, yet they are snatched from their beds in the middle of the night with no clues.”

Killian sipped the wicked black brew and allowed the liquid to spike his taste buds. The brilliant light of a new day was caressing the landscape and warming the air. “The kinders disappearing are not inclined to run off. 

They are the eldest and most reliable. These missings make no sense. They don’t happen in the same area or at the same time. They’re completely arbitrary and being so—random—has given me pause to find a method. If I were to discover a pattern, the recovery would be simpler.”

Luna watched the anguish distort his handsome young face. His blue eyes clouded to a dark grey when he spoke of the missing children, and his normally full mouth stretched to a tight slash across his face.

“I don’t wish to sound cruel, but none of these are young ones of your own family. Why take their absence to heart?”

Killian relaxed his scowl a bit, and a smile began to touch his lips. “Because it is they who will be the leaders of our clans in but a few short years. I had hoped to retire my sword someday to warm my boots by a fire. Having a mate and young ones around isn’t such a bad idea.”

He automatically sipped his dark brew. It would indeed be nice to warm my feet by a fire with a mate and children. The problem being I’ve found no person who makes me think in such terms.

“Well, I must admit, Master Killian, I never would have thought you to be the settling type.” She picked up his cup, returning from the kitchen minutes later with fresh coffee in the container.

“Neither had I, Ms. Luna, neither had I, however, aside from our missing young ones, there has been no conflict between the clans, nor have the Others tried to interfere in our affairs in a very long time. It is a good thing for many but for me, what good is a warrior without a war?”

Luna could only agree with his forlorn assessment; what good, indeed, was a warrior without a war? “Maybe a solution will arrive in the near future. You never know.”

Killian shrugged his shoulders. Who knew indeed?

Christmas Pawsibilities

by Genie Gabriel

“So where is this alien craft?”

Fletcher had never completely trusted Commander Viktor Atrocitor. Since he had taken command of GIG two years ago, the atmosphere at the agency had become cold and suspicious, like the man himself. He seemed carved from six and a half feet of granite, blocky and scowling.

“It has disappeared.” Fletcher knew this statement would draw Atrocitor’s ire and disdain, but what was the use of denying the obvious?

“Fool! Can you do nothing right?” Atrocitor turned to the GIG agents waiting at a wary distance. “Search the neighborhood. Someone must have seen something or is hiding them.”

While Atrocitor berated Fletcher, other GIG agents spread throughout the neighborhood, offending pretty much everyone by demanding they stay in their houses while their property was overrun and searched.

After two hours of fruitless searching, Commander Atrocitor called a halt. “If you want to save your career and this town, you will bring me these aliens within twenty-four hours.”

As Fletcher watched the caravan of GIG vehicles disappear down the road out of Watermark, he felt like a six-year-old kid again. Bullied and humiliated for his belief that beings from distant galaxies simply wanted to explore and build alliances. They weren’t like aliens in movies who wanted to destroy humanity.

That’s why Fletcher started working at Geeks in Green. He thought he found other humans like himself who believed alliances with aliens could benefit everyone. Now he was starting to believe the rumors about Commander Atrocitor being heartless and determined to eliminate aliens were true. How could he know for sure?

His thoughts were interrupted when Agnes staggered out the back door toward the barn. “Who’s disturbing my goats?”

With her hair disheveled and her clothes askew, she did indeed look as if she had spent a raucous night of partying—the after-effects of being zapped by a ray gun.

Laycee and Fletcher followed Agnes into the barn, where the spacecraft was once again visible. Now the hatch was open, with guards standing on either side pointing ray guns at Agnes, Laycee and Fletcher.

“Holy extraterrestrial!”

With a sizzle of purple, one of the alien guards fired his gun and Fletcher crumpled to the ground.

“Why did you do that?” Ryan hustled out of the spacecraft.

“He is of GIG,” one of the guards stated. “He is a danger to our Queen.”

“Is he dead?” Ryan knelt over Fletcher’s inert body.

“Simply stunned. We will revive him when the danger to our Queen is gone.” The two guards loaded Fletcher onto a transport board, which levitated and moved inside the spacecraft.

“Your mouth isn’t moving but I can hear your words.” Laycee’s shocked whisper matched the stunned expression in her eyes.

“Our Canine Queen is birthing and is not to be disturbed.” This time the alien’s mouth moved as he spoke, and he looked like any other human except for a twinkle of star light in his eyes. “Weren’t you getting milk for the royal puppies?”

“Yes.” Ryan refocused his attention on this task, determined to ignore Laycee’s presence. What was she doing here anyway? “Agnes, do you have milk from your goats?”

“My goats don’t much like to be milked.”

“Surely it can’t be that difficult,” Ryan said.

Agnes lifted an eyebrow. “You’re welcome to try. I’ll get a clean bucket.”

Determined to get milk for the Queen’s puppies, Ryan began stalking one of the goats.

“I think it should be a female,” Laycee said.

Ryan felt like a first grader again. “I knew that.”

Laycee coughed behind her hand to cover her laughter. “There’s a girl goat on top of the space ship.”

Ryan looked up the curved, smooth surface. “Maybe there’s another girl somewhere easier to reach.”

He stepped around the space ship and over the boards broken when the craft crashed through the roof. “There’s a girl! Help me get her into a stall.”

“Um-kay.”

While Ryan circled around the nanny goat one way, Laycee closed in on her from the other side. The little goat narrowed her eyes at the humans and, when they were within a couple feet of her, she let out a bleat and ran between Ryan’s legs. Startled, he stumbled and dropped to one knee.

“Watch out!” Laycee’s shout made Ryan turn in time to see an irritated male goat charging toward him.

AUTHOR BIOS

Christie L. Kraemer Bio

A traveler for most of her life, C. L. Kraemer has settled in the Northwest with her husband and two cats. When not creating a new world or entity, she likes riding next to her husband on their Harleys.

Genie Gabriel Bio

Fur against my face and the soft smell of a dog curled protectively around me existed before my first memories of this life. So began my journey of being more in tune with animals than with people.

I went through the expected motions of marriage, kids, divorce, and career, but usually out of step with most of the human population. This proved to be an advantage in developing an independence and a curiosity about things most people don’t even consider.

A minor health issue led to energy healing and becoming a master level Reiki practitioner. Working at the local animal shelter flipped on the switch to communicating with animals. Each dog I adopted showed miraculous changes most people couldn’t believe.

As a writer, I explored the mysteries of why people behave as they do, and also became fascinated by science, especially quantum physics. But perhaps my favorite way of writing stories is to ask the question, “What if?” and dive into those imagined worlds—surrounded by my beloved furbabies, of course!

Christine Young Bio

Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, Dakota's Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children.  Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

 

KEYWORDS

Christmas, anthology, romance, fantasy, adventure, mystery

SOCIAL LINKS

Rogue’s Angels

Blog: http://roguesangels.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/roguesangels

Christine Young

Website: http://christineyoungromancewriter.com/

Blog: http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/achristay

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe

            Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/achristay/

            Google +: https://plus.google.com

C. L. Kraemer

Website: http://www.clkraemer.com/

Blog: http://mistressoftheredinkpen.blogspot.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/christie.kraemer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kraemerc

Genie Gabriel

Website URL: www.GenieGabriel.com

Blog URL: http://quantumcanines.blogspot.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/genene.valleau