AD # 3 Preview

We crested the east hill of the Wynter property and the towers of the manor enveloped in their misty folds. To our left was Wynter Haunt, our family’s graveyard which wasn’t really a graveyard at all, but rather a numinous space on the canvas of earth, a structural break in time where the laws of life and death ceased to apply. Tangible power flowed from the marble of the crypts and headstones that all sheltered empty caskets. Two gargoyles sat atop twined metal pillars, and behind them an arch of the same metal curled around the tree branches that hung low, the rest was shrouded in mists. On these grounds the trees were barren, and grass that grew here died almost as soon as it tasted air, only the roses remained in full bloom year round, and their velvety petals boasted the colors of blood, snow and darkness. I let go of Lily’s hand and walked forward until I stood under the arch. I almost never passed by this place without stopping, there were so many things in the dappled shadows and beyond that called to me. The wind was colder here; any light from the day was sucked up by the mists. I ran my hands over the statue that stood at the entrance of the arch. She was beautifully done in green marble, with ruby flecked hair that twined through the roses framing her; she knelt atop a fountain of gold and held a stone plaque in her hands. ‘Wynter women at rest.’ It read. I always found it ironic, they never rested. Lily walked up beside me and took my hand. Together we stepped under the arch and the mists closed in behind us.

Thank you everyone who came out and bought my books this weekend. SUCH a difference from last year and I felt so greatful that there was enough in the story, writing and art--which took us soooo long to put together--to make you come back for more :) ROTHIC.com is officially up and running! Go and get my new book Iron & Lace. You know you want to. J.Scott Campbell inks on the cover and Dawn McTeigue sketches inside. Hand numbered and only 100. As always I truly value your patronage!

Showing skin...

I put up a picture I took a while ago in a red dress and it had an interesting response where a lot of my other photos have not. Now don't get me wrong all the comments felt good, in fact I completely loved them, they did get me thinking. I wasn't a pretty girl growing up, or at least in my mind I wasn't. I was rather thin, straggly and massively clumsy. I loathed taking pictures...I have four beautiful sisters, and compared to them I fell rather short in the beauty department. I had my mind, my art and my writing and I felt those were solid enough to make up for what I lacked in looks. Needless to say I wanted to break into the industry without having to put myself under the camera that often. I realized how wrong that thought was. The Con floor is a place for fantasy, a vehicle of myth facilitating trips into other worlds with dashing nights and beautiful ladies, superheros and goddesses--so of course dropping my clothes (well almost all of them) and smiling for the camera was part of the job. Something strange happened. With all the cameras flashing I started to feel beautiful. The more beautiful a girl feels the more it shows on her face. No my features didn't change but I find myself not cringing at every photo. I accept my flaws, I believe in the end they give us each an unique beauty that is only ours. Maybe it's okay to show a little skin...we are after all in the arts :)

Dreaming

Oh how long I have had the idea for Southern Nightgown in my head--I am pretty dang excited to see it in print! I know you probably are too but every time I think about it my heart just starts pounding! Thank you so much to Dawn who just took a chance on a crazy girl and to her husband (page troll) who took a chance on two insane women. Life really does have a way of working it's self out. Things come to us when it is the time for it and not before. I could have done this another way. In fact lots of people told me I would fail and fail hard, but it is all about the dream and believing in what you-- as your own god or goddess can accomplish. I think the true definition of living your dream is: No contingency plan.

Writing

Writing a book is a very strange thing. First of course there is the body of the story--what event initially kindled the tale in your mind? When you picture the opening scene can you smell rain, ocean, hot sunlight? Then you realize it is rain you smell and you are seeing the white puff of your own breath through someone else's eyes. You feel cold, a trickle of rain running down the crevice behind your ear sending wet shivers in its wake. Your heart throbs with hopelessness and you feel only terror. Noises in the darkness, haunting pain in your heart--yet also a reason to live, someone to live for. A face in your mind, dark hair, flashing amber eyes...then there is the glowing sword in your hand coated with demon blood, piles of bodies at your feet. You smell them, sweat and rot. The plot forms. You are fully your character and suddenly you know what you are fighting for--know where you are going--the soul who needs rescue and the villain who earned your vengeance. It is different for everyone, yet no matter how it happens for a writer I find the process magical. For someone like me, the ability to be able to retreat into a world of fantasy at will is amazing and probably a necessary ingredient to functioning for the most part like a regular human being, not one of my characters. At the moment I am trying to decipher the laws of the land I currently creating--a justice system to a people who do not understand the definition of the word. It is challenging. Being in contact with so many incredible artists lately I have often found just wanting to draw it. Then I look at pieces like this and remember why I chose writing over art--firstly because I am better at it, but also because I love the passion of words, they way they can create a scene so vivid and alive. Alive because in the mind of the reader it is always seen differently.

Here is J. Scott and Nei's version...not in CMYK :)

In exactly two weeks Southern Nightgown is FINALLY going to be available for purchase. I am quite thrilled with how it came out. Better than I imagined. Here are the cover previews. Special thanks to J.Scott Campbell, Dawn McTeigue, Stefan Merour, Sabine Rich, and the incredible Nei who colored a cover for me when she had no time at all (I heart you) It was a pain to make and certainly took a piece of our souls...I hope you love it as much as we do. To be able to have the image like this you will have to by both books they are connecting covers. Nei's color version is available for individual purchase.