Jamie Hill and Brenna Lyons

Wildfire would like to welcome authors Jamie Hill and Brenna Lyons.

Jamie Hill

Julie: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

Jamie: I wrote my first novel at the age of ten. It was a gripping, well written story—okay, maybe not. But I've always loved to read, and wanted to tell my own stories as soon as I started to write. I wrote all through high school and then set it aside, picking it up again about fifteen years ago. That first novel took a long time to write, and went through several versions and revisions before it was finally published. Once I discovered the writing world online, I not only found tons of help, but discovered epublishing, which has given me a huge break.

Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants, or a combination of both?

Jamie: Normally I fly by the seat of my pants, but on longer novels I definitely outline to keep track of everything. I start at the beginning and go where the characters take me. I could never write the ending before I get there; my characters tend to go in all different directions!

Julie: How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author?

Jamie: I love hearing from readers. I love it best when they like my work, but I've gotten some constructive criticism that I've taken to heart as well. Reviews are the most common reactions authors get, and of course, I love a good review! I've gotten a few that were less than complimentary, but most have been very good. Occasionally a reviewer will mention something that I hadn't thought of when writing the story, and it's made me more careful to consider all angles when writing.

Julie: What's next for you?

Jamie: February brings my novella Change of Plans from Phaze. March will see the Lust Bite short story Convincing Cate from Total e-Bound Publishing, as well as the first novella in my Unexpected Love trilogy, Nothing to Lose, also at TEB. April brings the novella Second Time Around from TEB. I've got several more things lined up with both publishers and a couple more with Freya's Bower for 2008.

Julie: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?

Jamie: I'd love to have more titles in print. I do have nine novels and anthologies available in paperback now, but more is better! Of course I'd love to hit a big market—I'm still trying to crack the Harlequin secret—but I'm very happy with the online publishers I have now.

Julie: Most people envision an author's life as being really glamorous. What's the most unglamorous thing that you've done in the past week?

Jamie: Authors who write for a living might live a little more glamorously than I do, but I suspect even the biggest names still scrub the toilet occasionally. And change diapers. An important job, but not that glam!

Julie: There are so many publishers out there, how do you decide who to submit your work to?

Jamie: Word of mouth from other authors, then looking over the publisher's catalog and submission guidelines has worked well for me. Sometimes a certain call for submissions catches my eye. I've had very good luck with my publishers

Julie: Describe the space where you write.

Jamie: An ancient computer at a big, cluttered desk in my kitchen. The computer is so old, I have to use floppy discs to back up my work. (All USB ports are in the back, impossible to get to, even when dusting…achoo!) It's not hooked up to the internet, so I can't procrastinate and surf the web, which is what happens when I try to write on the newer computer in my home office. So much to do, so many things to distract me!

Julie: What do you do when you aren't writing? Any hobbies or special interests that you can tell us about?

Jamie: Besides writing and my full time day job, I have a fifty-five gallon aquarium with freshwater fish which I enjoy. My fish are huge—we have three parrot fish, a big fat algae eater, and a foot-long Bala Shark. I also enjoy cooking reality shows like Top Chef, anything with Gordon Ramsay, and watching scary movies.

Julie: What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?

Jamie: Don't give up. If you love writing, just do it. Use the guidelines you find in how to books or online, and polish your manuscript to within an inch of its life. Send it to someone you trust and ask them to read/edit for you. Know your market when submitting, make sure you've chosen the right publisher. Follow their submission rules to the letter, and send off your best work. Then work on your patience skills, because there'll be a lot of waiting to hear back!

Jamie Hill was born and raised in the Midwes, where she continues to live with her husband and two sons. Writing romance and fan fiction as far back as she can remember, her first erotica story was published in 2006.

When she's not in front of the computer writing, Jamie can often be found there anyway, tinkering with her website or working as a freelance editor. She also enjoys reading, watching scary movies with her family, and tending to the fish in her large aquarium, including a foot-long Bala Shark.

Coming soon:
Change of Plans, Phaze
Head Over Heels, Phaze
Seattle: Giving Chase, Phaze
Nothing to Lose, Total e-Bound
Convincing Cate, Total e-Bound
Worth the Risk, Total e-Bound
Having it All, Total e-Bound
Second Time Around, Total e-Bound

Links:
Website
Newsletter
MySpace
Infinite Possibilities Yahoo Group

Julie: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

Brenna: Writing and storytelling are part of who I am; I write, even if no one will ever read it. I've been telling stories since I learned to talk and committing them to paper since I learned to spell. I wrote my first poem at age 7, and I started competing in poetry at 11. Since then, I've taken every opportunity to write, study with writing professionals, and compete I can get.

Strangely, though I'd written poetry, essays, articles and short stories for years, I could never get past the first few chapters of a novel. Then came April 1, 2001. April Fools Day. I woke up with what I thought was a short story brewing, and I started writing. Less than a month later, I came up for air and realized I had 50,000 words, no end in sight, and hadn't started at the beginning of the book. So I kept writing. In four months and six edits, I produced a two-book, 214,000-word serial. And, it didn't stop there. I launched into the next book, immediately—165,000 words in two months. Then they started coming in packs, four books together on the next shot.

Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants, or a combination of both?

Brenna: I'm a complete pantser/organic writer. I don't plot/plan. I don't outline. Even when writing research papers, I considered outlining a dirty word and worked the writing process backward to avoid outlining before writing the paper. I don't write linear or write one book at a time. I don't know what's coming on the next page, let alone the last page, unless I've already written the ending, and even then, I may decide to add something later...an epilogue to connect to the next book in the series, perhaps.

I typically write the first two drafts longhand with paper and pen. Then I start putting it into the computer and doing my (now) two edits (visual and auditory), before I submit. Occasionally, I'll write something directly on the computer, but that's not common for me, and I never write poetry that way. It's more common when I'm writing an article than when I'm writing fiction.

Julie: What influenced you to get published? How long did it take for your first book to get published?

Brenna: Like everything else about my writing, there really was no consideration involved. I've been publishing, on one level or another, since I was ten. My first newspaper article (in a local newspaper and not the school newspaper) appeared when I was 13. I had my first public poetry reading at 19. There was no question for me that I would publish the book I'd written, so I started on that, as I was writing my second book.

I finished writing Prophecy in August of 2001. I tried to take the agent route, but a first time author with a 214,000-word serial is not what an agent wants to take a chance on. After about 80 rejections and two near misses, I decided to try publishers instead of agents. At a loss for doing that (since all of the books tell you to get an agent first), I was talking to Jacqueline Elliot, author of Full Moon Inheritance, and she suggested her publisher, Treble Heart. I submitted Prophecy in late March 2002...along with Fairy Dreams, and I was offered contracts on both of them in May. Suzanne James and I went through massive edits together, including cutting the books down somewhat. Prophecy released in fall of 2003. That would be 2 1/2 years from start of writing to publication or just over two years from start of agent search to publication.

Amusingly...and a prime example of how different publishers work in different ways, Prophecy was not my first book released. In November of 2002, I placed an excerpt of a WIP titled Last Chance For Love on a writer's Yahoo group. Lora Leigh, the then-EIC of eXtasy Books, saw the excerpt and requested a read of the full for eXtasy. LCFL wasn't quite done yet, but it was three weeks later, and I sent it off for a read, as promised. Less than twelve hours later, I had a contract in my in-box. I signed it, and three weeks later, I signed the prequel novella, Schente Night. A month later, I signed the sequel novella, Second Son. Those three books released late January 2003 (SN), February 2003 (LCFL) and March 2003 (SS). All said and done, Schente Night was put out for sale a little more than a month after I finished and signed it. By the time Prophecy: Revelations released, it clocked in at my seventh book released, though it was the first written.

By a twist of fate and contract negotiations, Fairy Dreams never released with Treble Heart. It released in fall of 2007, from Mundania Press, LLC. Though it was the second book I wrote, it was more than 4 dozen releases into my career. Of all the books and stories I've written for indie press, that one is the single longest wait for a release I have on record—just shy of 6 years from the end of writing it to release date.

Julie: When you write, is atmosphere important? For example, do you use mood music or candles? Do you need complete quiet to concentrate?

Brenna: In this house, I would hope complete quiet wasn't needed. I live with my husband, three children, three large dogs (two Siberian Huskies and an Akita), a cat, and two Leopard Geckoes. If I needed quiet to write, I'd be in a world of hurt. Then again, I've never had a lot of quiet in my life.

Atmosphere isn't as important as a comfortable spot to write. I don't light candles. I prefer no music, especially no music with lyrics I might be tempted to sing along with. White noise is best for me...the usual background sounds of life or maybe a movie I've seen dozens of times, because that will just go in one ear and out the other.

Julie: What's next for you?                                                                            

Brenna: That's a hard one to answer. I've got three books in print coming in the next few months, between Under The Moon and Mundania: Written In The Stars, Once Upon A Time...Yesterday, and TYGERS. I've just submitted a couple of more shorts to Mundania. I've got six dozen WIP at the moment. Of them, I've got a handful that are a stone's-throw from being done. At least two of them are slated for Phaze. One is another naughty nursery rhyme (Bride Ball), this one based on Cinderella. The other is (to my knowledge) a stand-alone weres story, tentatively titled Animal Instincts.

Julie: Most people envision an author's life as being really glamorous. What's the most unglamorous thing that you've done in the past week?

Brenna: I'd say mopping the kitchen floor, but the truth is, long hours at the computer cause havoc with my shoulder, so sitting wrapped in hot packs would probably be the most unglamorous part of writing I've done in the last week.

Julie: Describe the space where you write.

Brenna: Most of first/second draft is done on the corner of the living room couch, on a lap desk. Computer work is either done on the laptop, in the same place...or at my desk. Since we've moved into this house, my computer desk has been placed in a corner of the dining room. I have an old entertainment center to my right, full of books and writing supplies. My desk is in front of me (and always cluttered). The walls to either side of my desk are covered with pictures, award certificates for writing and a couple of reviews and fan letters I've received. My husband is making me a little writing cubby, off of the kitchen, but other home repairs need done first.

Julie: What do you do when you aren't writing? Any hobbies or special interests that you can tell us about?

Brenna: I love photography, especially nature scenes. I enjoy swimming, hiking and camping. I was a member of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) for many years, but I'm lapsed, at the moment. But, I have little free time, since I not only work as an author but also as Senior Editor of Mundania Press, LLC., president of EPIC, a columnist at ERWA, and as a special needs teacher.

Julie: Do you ever experience writer's block? If you do, how do you cope with it?

Brenna: I don't usually have this problem. I might have a block on a certain scene or book. In that case, I just work on something else, until I figure out where that one needs to go...what's missing. I rarely block on everything. A stall usually means I need to work out a problem on a particular part of the book, in my subconscious.

That said, I once had several years of writer's block. I wrote almost nothing during that time. Like most people, major upheavals in my personal life will disrupt writing. In this case, I was having marriage problems. Once I took control of my life again and got back on an even keel with my husband (of 20 years, this summer), I had one of the biggest creative surges of my life, years of backlog flowing out of me. It hasn't slowed down much, since then.

Julie: Are there any absolutely-must-have characteristics for your heroes or heroines?

Brenna: They have to be the right match for their partners. I don't demand Alpha males, for instance, because Mollie needed something different. An Alpha wouldn't have matched her. I suppose the only thing that is a constant for me is that I dislike writing weak, hopeless, TSTL (too stupid to live) females. My characters are typically competent, no matter what else they are.

Julie: The editing process is so critical. In your opinion, what are the most important aspects of the editor/author relationship?

Brenna: I can talk about this from both sides of the fence. The most important aspect is communication.

A good editor is trying to make what you're offering stronger. He/she is not trying to rewrite the book or change your voice. If it seems the editor is trying to do the latter and not the former, ASK. I've found that authors often misunderstand just how small a change can make the difference. Sometimes the editor is asking for a change of a single term, and the author thinks she wants much more.

Editors are not perfect. They get tired. They misread. If you think the editor is wrong, discuss it. Tell the editor why you believe you're right...but do it in a calm, professional manner.

Know when to ask for help. There comes a time when the editor and the author just don't see eye to eye. If you reach a stalemate, ask the EIC or Senior Editor to step in and problem solve. This should be reserved for extreme cases, but that's part of the EIC's/Senior Editor's job description.

Julie: If you weren't writing romance, what would you be writing?

Brenna: I don't write only romance. I write science fiction/fantasy/horror, straight genre without a romance and erotica of the same. Most of my work is milieu-heavy and dark. I do throw in the occasional humorous or satirical piece. If you're asking if there's anything I haven't written but would consider writing or have wanted to write? If it's not already a WIP, probably not. I've got so many genres covered, at least in a cross-genre mix, I don't think there's much left.

Brenna Lyons wears many hats: award-winning author of more than five dozen published works, senior editor of Mundania Press, LLC. and board member of EPIC (The Electronically Published Internet Connection). In her first five years published in novel length, Brenna has finaled for 6 EPPIES, 3 PEARLS (taking Honorable Mention second to Angela Knight), 2 CAPAS, and a Dream Realm Award. She's also won Spinetingler's Book of the Year for 2007.

Backlist:
dan Aidan Fairies series-
Fairy Dreams, Mundania Press, LLC.
Blood Mages series-
Enslaved, Phaze
Mythos series-
Black Sail, Phaze
The Punishment of Phoebus Apollo, Phaze FREE READ
Naughty Nursery Rhymes collection-
Mama's Tales, Phaze
Kegin series-
Conquest, Phaze
The Last of Fion's Daughters, Phaze
The Earth-Born Lord, Phaze FREE READ
Grellan War series-
With Great Power in Ultimate Warriors, New Concepts
Night Warriors series-
Playing Games I&II in Forbidden Love issue #1: Bad Boys, Under The Moon
Star Mages series-
The Master's Lover in Forbidden Love issue #3: Sacred Bands, Under The Moon
Stand-alones-
We Shall Live Again, Phaze
The Color of Love, Phaze
The Fire God's Woman in Coming Together: Under Fire, Phaze
Phantom Dreams, Anima Ex Machina and Trick or Treat in NOBODY: An Anthology of Dark Fiction, Dark Hart
Marked in Forbidden Love issue #2: Wicked Women, Under The Moon

Poetry-
Collected Writings: Poetry Book One, self-published (Lulu and CafePress)
Phaze in Verse, Phaze

Coming soon list:
Star Mages series-
Written In The Stars, Mundania Press, LLC.
Night Warriors series-
Becoming A God in Monsters of Myth, Mundania Press, LLC.
Renegades series-
TYGERS, Under The Moon
Naughty Nursery Rhymes collection-
Bride Ball, Phaze
Xxan Chronicles-
Close Enough to Human in Forbidden Love issue #4: Love's Bitch, Under The Moon
Stand-alones-
Once Upon A Time...Yesterday (co-written with Gregory L. Norris), Under The Moon
A Wasted Mind and Birthright in Monsters of Myth, Mundania Press, LLC.
Melting The Ice Queen in Forbidden Love issue #5: Fire And Ice, Under The Moon

Links:
Website
MySpace

If you would like to request an interview, please send a query to info@allromanceebooks.com

Until next time!

Julie Cummings
Wildfire Interview Coordinator
All Romance eBooks

The Final Straw (from Celeste's Point of View) by KT Pinto

This story is rated 1 flame. Love scenes are not consummated, or if the love scenes are consummated details are not given.

Let me start things off by saying right off the bat that none of this was my fault. All I wanted to do was to save my precious Vanity. Am I going to be held accountable for all of the deaths that occurred and, if so, are you going to blame me for the Black Plague as well?

Before you answer that, listen to the entire story first…

I hadn't seen Vanity in almost 20 years. It was the 1980s; we had been touring with an American pop singer through Europe, when the werecat just disappeared.

This wasn't all that unusual; over the past two thousand years, Vanity had—on numerous occasions—abandoned me for no particular reason, and then returned the same way. But usually there were signs in his attitude and demeanor that let me know he was about to vault. However, when we were in Europe, I just woke up one night to find that he was gone. Some bodyguard he was.

I stayed with the pop star for a while longer, but she had really gotten on my nerves, pretending to be pure and loving in front of the cameras while being a rip-roaring bitch when the cameras were off. Now I have nothing against being a bitch, but be proud of your bitchiness: own it, nurture it; don't hide it locked away in the pit of your soul like a child might hide a puppy in her closet that she brought home, knowing that Mommy and Daddy wouldn't allow it.  It dies in that closet.  It withers and wastes away.  Let it out to run free and scamper chasing the squirrels…I digress… The minute I stepped foot on American soil, I left the singer and her false purity for raunchier pastures.

It was while I was sowing my proverbial oats that I discovered that my dear friend Ali was planning to hunt down and kill the werecat; he thought that then—with Vanity out of the way—I would be a helpless mass of unwary womanhood who would just let him take control over me and my crazy ways.

Did he really think I had lasted for two millennia by hiding behind Vanity (although, I will admit, that it is a really nice view…)? Sadly, I was going to have to take charge, and nip Ali's nefarious plans in the bud...

I figured that the best way to find Ali was to be nearby when he attacked Vanity. The problem was, how would I find the werecat? I had no idea where in the world he was… he was more elusive then that Carmen San Diego tramp, so imagine my surprise when he called me. Now imagine my righteous anger and disgust. He had deserted me, and was now finally calling to find out why I hadn't waited for him in Europe.

Marked for death or not, that cat was asking for a beating.

After listening to him plead and beg to meet for the 12^th time, and telling him in some of the most colorful language I knew just what I thought about him, I told him I'd be there in less than an hour. Then I made one more call, and threw my phone out the window.

Snarling, I grabbed the first clean outfit I found and—knowing it wasn't worth trying to sneak out—called together my entourage. Yes, I have an entourage, but not by choice. Before he left for war and glory, Marco—one of my long-time protectors—decreed (Yes, he decrees…That's his style.) that I should be watched at all times until his return. So—for a dozen decades or so—members of his vampyric Family and their coteries have been showing up at my door with the intent of keeping me safe.

All I can say is that it's a good thing that Marco has such a large family.

I made a face of disgust as my limousine pulled up to the werecat's place of business. Hordes of human wannabes were gathered at the front door of what could only be called a faux gothic nightmare. Fake marble gargoyles stood on either side of a portcullis-like doorway complete with those big spiky things jutting from it, rather like teeth. The building itself was black with the upstairs windows painted. The flashing lights and melancholy music were both loud enough to bother me, even with the limo windows closed.

I looked at the vampyre seated across from me. "There's got to be a back door," I said hopefully.

I found a narrow staircase that led to an unmarked door; to my disappointment, it was unlocked. I shook my head and slipped into the building. The hallway was empty; no guards, no lackeys, nothing. It was disheartening and, if I were up to no good—and I usually am—this would have been a cakewalk. (I always wondered where that term came from. Have you ever walked on a cake? Not as easy as it sounds.)

Now, it may seem silly that a being who can grow to seven feet tall and four hundred pounds of muscle with razor sharp claws would need protection, but those days of hand to claw combat were long gone. Things were done with guns now, and one silver or iron bullet could do some severe damage to the half-fairy werecat, and enough of them might even kill him.  It could happen.

I had my body wrapped around his before he could react—sloppy, very sloppy—and ran my hands all over him, looking for weapons. Nothing. I thought at one point that he was packing a knife, but he was just really happy to see me.

So…no weapons, no bodyguards, no caution. For one who was supposed to be a master guardian and ultimate fighter, he was being lackadaisical nearly to the point of being naive.

But gods, did he smell good.

Suddenly, he grabbed my chin and yanked my head up. "What trouble have you gotten into now, Celeste?"

"I am not the one in trouble," I answered, pulling away, "Ali is after your head, not mine."

"What do you know of Ali?"

"Tall guy," I answered, "dark-skinned, bald, had a fondness for snakes…was once a king of a small town in Germany called Wudu-Faesten…"

"I mean, what recent information do you have on Ali?"

"Oh." I draped myself across an overstuffed leather sofa that had been calling to me since I walked into the room. "He's out to kill you."

"How do I know Ali didn't send you here?" he asked.

I raised one eyebrow at him. "Because you're not dead."

"Ah," he sat next to my hips and ran his hand across my stomach. "And you are here because…"

I sat up and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my body against his. "I plan on not leaving your side until the danger's over."

He let out a shaky breath and ran his fingers through my hair and down my back. "So, shall we celebrate your return?"

There were many things he could have said to tick me off. That was one of the big ones. "My return?" I said, pushing him away, "My return to what? To you? That would imply that I was the one who left in the first place!" I stood and walked across the room to his desk. "You're talking as if I wasn't the one who was abandoned." I whirled around and crossed my arms over my chest. "I was the abandonee, remember?"

It was like talking to a brick wall…a very horny brick wall. With two long strides he was standing in front of me, placing his hands on the desk on either side of me and nuzzling my neck. "You are right, Celeste. I shouldn't have left you. But I'm here now…"

I rolled my eyes. I could have said that he was a purple-eyed newt at this point and he would have agreed. Besides, I did like the way his lips felt against my skin…

"Rhys!"

Yes, I had seen her walk in, but she was no more dangerous to Vanity than I was…at that moment, at least.

The werecat leaned his head against my collarbone and sighed. He then turned, and I hopped onto the desk for a front row seat for what was to come.

"Good evening Nastasja," he said through gritted teeth, "Back from your trip early, I see."

I stared at the woman for a few moments with interest. She looked so much like her inner beast that it was like she was walking around with a neon sign saying 'I'm a ware-horse, ask me how!' over her head. That was where my interest in her ended. I walked back to the couch and fell into its softness. Ah, bliss!

"Who the hell is she?" the horsewoman asked.

I tilted my head towards her. "You don't know?"

She sneered. "Should I?"

"Should she?" I drawled, amazed by her stupidity; I chuckled and turned away. "Should she…is this couch real leather?"

"Are you planning on leaving any time soon?" she asked, "I need to talk privately with my fiancé."

The world stopped for a moment; has that ever happened to you? Now, before you think I'm one of those women who thinks a former lover wouldn't be able to move on after being with her, I've got to remind you that I've been around for over two millennia. I think it's safe to say that one or two former partners of mine have found love elsewhere.

But never with someone so ugly.

At this point, I was bored. She was standing there, thinking that her words and opinion meant anything to me…and I just couldn't look at her face anymore. So, I stared at her eyes, let my power wrap around her equine brain and told her—unequivocally—to leave.

And she did.

I glanced at the werecat, whose eyes were saucer-wide. "Still not used to my powers after all these centuries?"

"I'm not used to you after all these centuries, let alone your powers."

I shrugged, draping myself over the couch again. "So, what's with the mare?"

His eyes narrowed. "Her family members are some of the most powerful weres in the nation."

"A horse is a horse, of course, of course," I sang.

"Celeste…"

"There was an old lady who swallowed a horse…she died, of course." I hung my head off of the couch and propped my feet up top. "You really need to get her out of here. She's in as much danger as you are, being your fiancée and all…"

"You do know that this is an arranged marriage, right?"

"Ah, my dear werecat, but the question is, do I care?" I folded my legs over my head and flipped off of the couch. Turning to him, I shrugged. "And the answer is, 'No, not really'. I'd just like to keep you alive a little while longer. Shall we go see what's happening out there?"

He grabbed me as I walked past him, pressing his body against mine. "No Celeste.  If something is going to happen, I'd rather have it happen in here."

I pulled away and opened the door to the club below. The place was packed, too packed for a Tuesday night. The game had begun.

Vanity stepped next to me and put his hand on my lower back. "See anything interesting?"

"There are way too many people here."

"I thought so too, but we are still far below the legal fire safety limit."

"No, I meant, it shouldn't be this busy so early in the week," I felt his hand squeeze my ass. "Stop horsing around!" I growled.

His eyes flashed. I really didn't mean it as a jab against his fiancé, but it had the same effect. He dropped his hand and sullenly followed me down the stairs onto the main dance floor, where, earlier, I had had my men place a throne of molded steel. He reluctantly sat, and I gave my entourage the signal to pull in and form a circle around the dance floor.

Did I expect Ali to just outright attack him? Not really, but I couldn't be too cautious…

"Can you tell me why I have to leave here?"

I glanced up at Nastasja from my spot at Vanity's feet. Yes, I had seen her approaching, but again, no threat. "Because, Nasty…"

"Nastasja."

"Because your man's life is in danger, and I don't have enough resources to protect both him and you."

Her eyes narrowed; dear gods, what an ugly child. "I don't need you to protect me."

I shrugged and leaned my head in Vanity's lap; it takes so little sometimes. "No one can say I didn't try…"

Her eyes flashed as my arms wrapped around his calf. "Do you know how many people I could summon with just one phone call?"

I smirked. Do people still use phones nowadays? I shook my head, purposefully rubbing it against his growing erection. "No, I don't know, but the question is, do I care?" Damn, that really is a good line! So versatile.

She snarled and walked away. Like I said, it takes so little…

Suddenly, I sat up. I didn't even realize that I had done so until I saw myself plucking four knives out of the air that had been heading straight for Vanity's chest. "I think it's safe to say that Ali's here," I said.

I turned and saw the werecat's form starting to ripple with power. "I'm going to kill him," he growled.

I felt his power wash over me and shivered; what a rush. "No, you're not."

"Because two of these knives are iron and two are silver. These would do some severe damage to you, if not outright kill you. You getting all monstrous and hirsute is just going to make you an easier target to hit." I watched his human form come back into focus before commenting, "Of course, in your full cat form…"

He made a face; his full cat form is about the size of a large housecat. "Can't we just call him out and get it over with?" he asked.

No matter how old we get, there are always times when I look at Vanity and see that adolescent werecat that I met all those years ago…this was one of those times I tried to hide my smile as I replied, "Sure, why not?"

It turned out just the way I had pictured it. With so many young weres, vamps, fae, and humans in the club who just wanted a taste of violence, the thought alone of helping out a high-powered, ancient Fairy werecat sent them into frenzy.

The vampyre known as Ali was reduced to lovely bits of flesh sliding down the walls, innards spraying bodily juices across the room, and pieces of skull and brains splattering across the bar and into drinks. His eyes oozed down his cheeks in milky rivulets, and then he disintegrated into a pile of dust.

It made my day…almost.

She came out of nowhere, coming at me from behind and staying in my blind spot. Yes, I knew it was her, but now she was a threat…at least to me.

I threw the silver blade and hit her square in the chest. She fell to her knees, blood pouring out of her mouth and her eyes full of hatred. Then she fell to the ground with a wet gurgle, twitched more than a movie villain, and finally died.

Now that made my day.

I tried to suppress my smile, but only when I met Vanity's angry eyes did the smile melt away. "Oops," I whispered.

"Oops!" he yelled, "Oops! Do you know what you've done?"

My eyes narrowed; I didn't like his tone at all. "I saved your life."

I'm really not sure what happened next. I'm certain he rambled about how he was finally going to get stability and a family, and some such. I do know that I left him in the middle of his rant and stepped into the limo that was waiting for me outside.

Ali was waiting inside, holding a glass of champagne. "From your smile, I assumed it went well?"

"Better than well," I answered, accepting the glass, "His only desire now is going to be to hunt me down and kill me. As usual, that feeling will pass." I downed the champagne and smiled. "And maybe he'll remember this the next time he thinks about abandoning me…"

Did I mention that none of this was my fault?

Did I mention that I'm also a big fat liar?

KT Pinto has been writing for over 20 years. In order to eat, she has worked as a teacher, a pastry chef, an adult Girl Scout, a talent scout, and a grease monkey for a national department store chain. She lives in Staten Island, New York with her dog Clifford, seventeen tribbles, 57 stuffed animals, and over 3,000 books. She spends her limited free time reading, sewing, bowling, or belly dancing.

KT has been published in numerous magazines, including Nth Degree, Proteus, the LARPer, and Pyramid, and her short story "Game Over" can be found in the anthology Hear Them Roar. She has been a panelist at numerous conventions, including Lunacon, Balticon, Philcon, Arisia, Icon, and World Horror Con.

Her website is www.ktpinto.com
Celeste (The Books of Insanity, Vol. I) is her debut novel.

Backlist:
Emails:10, Nth Degree Magazine
Game Over, Hear Them Roar,  Spyre Press
Celeste (The Books of Insanity Vol I),  Mundania Press

Coming Soon:
Vanity (The Books of Insanity Vol. II), Mundania Press
Marco (The Books of Insanity Vol. III), Mundania Press

Links:
Website
Myspace
Live Journal
Facebook

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