Character Interview: Perseus

It’s almost release day! Caught in Crystal, the anthology that includes my novella Iron Tears, goes live tomorrow. So I’ve got time to squeeze in one more character interview. As promised, Perseus is next up for the hot seat. Our Scourge warrior doesn’t say a whole lot, though he has warmed up recently. Hopefully, he won’t be too quiet today. Without further ado, I give you Perseus. Becca: Do you have a last name or title I should add? Perseus: No. Perseus is fine. Those who know me don’t require more. Becca: (smiles) It is a unique name and you do seem to have a certain reputation—within the ferromancer race and beyond. But with regard to the name, you’ve admitted you’re immortal and— Perseus: If it’s all the same, I’d rather not go into that. There are those I haven’t been open with and if word got back that I told you… Becca: Um, you can’t be open with me? Perseus: It was my understanding that this conversation would be made public. Becca: Yes, that’s right. Perseus: (nods and settles back in his chair) Becca: (clears throat) Okay. We’ll skirt your distant past, but you have admitted that being immortal has left you hesitant to form close friendships. How is it that you’re working with a partner? Perseus: It just made sense. Our talents compliment each other. Kali and I make a good team. Becca: (waits for elaboration…) Perseus: (lifts eyebrows) Anything else? Becca: Apparently not. (sighs and turns to question list) Kali’s sensitivity seems to surprise you at times. John would like to know if her talent is unique? Perseus: She frequently surprises me. I’ve never worked with someone so sensitive. I only wish she had some training so that she could better understand the things she senses. Becca: That’s right. She grew up outside the ferromancer world—which leads into the next question. A few people were curious about how you and Kali met. It had something to do with her ferromancer father, right? Perseus: That’s correct. I was hunting him and he was hunting her. Becca: And? Perseus: Kali came through in a big way. She impressed me. Becca: Her talent? Perseus:...

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Cover Makeover: The Final Formula

In September, The Final Formula turned five years old. (Hard to believe it’s been that long!) I decided it was time to give the book a different look, and perhaps entice new readers who weren’t attracted to the first cover. Please note that this is the same book. Aside from a few typos, nothing in the interior was changed. I’m in the process of updating all the retail sites. If you haven’t tried The Final Formula, it free everywhere it’s sold. Pick up a copy at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | Apple Here’s a look at the new cover. Happy Birthday,...

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Alternative POV Scene: Zach in Ferromancer

A few weeks ago, I asked folks over on my Facebook page to suggest an Iron Souls scene they’d like to see from a different point-of-view. Mandy suggested a look through Zach’s eyes during/after being healed in Ferromancer. Intrigued by the idea, I decided to give it a try. Hope you like it! Warning – If you haven’t read Ferromancer, there are spoilers here. … Finding the Words   Zach knelt on the deck beside Grayson, but could only watch as he pulled his knees tighter to his stomach, whimpering in pain. The movement caused the metal spines protruding from his upper back to glint in the sun. The sight was disturbing, but Zach had grown used to it over the course of the night. Unlike the stomach churning split in the skin over Grayson’s shoulder blades, exposing even more metal. The emergence of that metal had been painful enough to wake Grayson from his near comatose state a short while ago. Captain Briar knelt across from Zach, looking as lost as he felt. He wished he could offer some words of encouragement to her, but even if he could speak, he didn’t know what to say. “Miss Briar?” Eli said from above them, his voice soft and uncertain. Grayson cried out and a stream of blood ran from one nostril. Zach gripped his shoulder, feeling helpless with his inability to offer anything but comfort. Still, he knew how important that contact was. After the fire that had taken most of his family, he’d lain for weeks, slipping in and out of consciousness, fighting fever after fever and unimaginable pain. His cousin had sat at his bedside, as helpless as he was now, but she hadn’t left him alone. She had held his hand and talked to him through those long days and even longer nights. That was why, when he saw Grayson writhing in pain and delirium, he had silently vowed to stay with him—even though he couldn’t talk him through it. “Whatever’s happening,” Jimmy said, softly, “I don’t think he’s going to make it.” “Lock?” Briar said. The strange response made Zach look up and he saw that she had pulled a...

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Corroded: Iron Souls, Book Four

Corroded will release on August 31, 2018. Cover, blurb, and excerpt below. (And yes, that’s Andrew on the cover.) Captain Briar Rose is on a deadline. She has one week to deliver Grayson to Solon, the ferromancer behind so many of her problems. If she doesn’t arrive in time, Solon has promised to destroy her hometown. She’ll have to push hard to meet his arbitrary deadline, but it should be possible—if her cousin Andrew doesn’t get in the way. Andrew has been Briar’s nemesis since they were children, but now that he’s working for Solon, Andrew has become an even bigger problem. His insistence on meeting at every toll office is a hinderance, especially when her boat becomes a target for sabotage. Briar doesn’t have time for a pretentious cousin or a damaged boat, but her troubles don’t stop there. The clock is ticking for Grayson as well. His devolvement is accelerating at an alarming rate and nothing they try seems to slow it. As Grayson struggles to remain the man he is, Briar begins to believe that time is her true enemy. Perhaps Solon’s deadline wasn’t so arbitrary after all. Read an excerpt here: Corroded Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords |...

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Character Interview: Molly

A while back, I interviewed several characters from my Final Formula Series (you can find them here: FF fans). Those were so much fun that I wanted to do the same with my Iron Souls Series. I polled folks over on my Facebook page and they selected Perseus and Molly—much to my surprise. I decided to interview Molly first and save Perseus for after the release of Book Four. So be thinking about your questions for Perseus. Corroded: Iron Souls, Book Four releases on August 31, 2018. Let’s get started… Here’s Molly Rose, newest crew member of the Briar Rose, and by all accounts, a wonderful cook. Becca: Thanks for taking time away from the stove to talk with us, Molly. Molly: I honored to be here. (looks around) It’s so much cooler. (her gaze settles on the computer) What is that? Some kind of ferromantic device? Becca: Um, no. Think of it as a typewriter. Molly: (doesn’t look convinced) All right. Becca: (clears throat) Moving on to the interview… Let’s begin with your position on the Briar Rose. It must be a bit of a culture shock to go from what you knew before to your life now. Do you miss your high society parties? Did you have to leave any friends behind? Molly: Parties in Mr. Rose’s household were a source of anxiety for me. Everything had to be perfect. Attending another’s party wasn’t much better. As for friends, I was only permitted those that Mr. Rose judged as acceptable—and they were never the sort I wished to spend time with. Becca: I can imagine. I wouldn’t like Andrew choosing my friends either. (turns back to question list) Janet would like to know if you expect to cook for the foreseeable future and if you really enjoy it? Molly: Those who knew me before seem to have a hard time believing that I enjoy being part of a canal boat crew, but it’s the truth. I’ve made some wonderful new friends and discovered that I enjoy cooking. Becca: Isn’t it a lot of work? You had servants before. I would think— Molly: I’ve never minded work. I’m the sort of person who...

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