Welcome Guest Blogger, Alexis Morgan!
I’d like to thank the Samantha and the other writers here for inviting me to visit today. This is an exciting time for me. You see, I have two very different stories coming out within a week of each other, something I haven’t experienced before. Each story present its own set of challenges.
What's at Stake? is not only my first short story, but also my first vampire story. An editor contacted me at the end of last year to see if I’d be interested in participating in The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance even though my paranormals aren’t vampire stories. I jumped at the chance because I’ve always wanted to write about a hero with fangs.
It was such fun to develop my own twist on the vampire mythology, and Rafferty was born. The story opens with him awaiting execution. That’s the bad news. That his assigned executioner is the woman he loves is the good news—maybe.
Writing a short story was an interesting exercise for me because I’m used to having 90,000 words to play with when it comes to telling a story. My vamp story was limited to 7,500, so it had to be far more linear and much more focused. My first draft was fifteen hundred words too long, leaving me with the problem of what to cut. Nouns? Verbs? Adjectives? With a lot of work, I finally pared it down to 7,495 words, squeaking in under the wire. Needless to say, I learned a whole lot about careful word choice during the process.
Dark Warrior Unleashed, the first book in my new Talions series from Pocket Star, will officially be released on July 29. I love writing my Paladins series, but I had this rugged redhead who kept shoving his way to the front of the line and insisting that his story needed to be told. Ranulf Thorsen is a centuries old Viking who drives a 1940 Packard convertible through the Cascade Mountains with the top down. He’s a warrior who has carried the heavy burden of protecting his people, the Kyth, for too long. He’s burned out and longs to live out his life in lonely peace. But his honor demands that he respond when the leader of his kind calls on him one last time to defend humans and Kyth alike from a serial killer. In the process, Ranulf meets a woman who captures his heart and reminds him how it feels to be loved and happy.
World building is one of my favorite parts of writing paranormal romance. It was especially challenging to create a world for Ranulf and his people that was different than the one my Paladins live in, especially because Seattle provides the backdrop for both series. Equally interesting was developing my own take on the vampire myth. Rafferty’s story is my tip of the hat to all those wonderful vampire series that are out there.
Gotta love a guy with fangs, you know, not to mention a big, tall redhead with a hot convertible!
Welcome, Alexis! I am
Welcome, Alexis! I am impressed that you can write 7,500 and 95,000. I can't imagine the 7,500 part, lol. I think Seattle is a great area for paranormal activity. It's so...moody, I guess. I've always loved the area and it seems as if beings other than ourselves could easily live there. Good luck with the books!
Jeannie
Alexis!! My Mammoth book
Alexis!! My Mammoth book came yesterday! *doescookiedance* and then I had company and didn't get a chance to read Rafferty's story so that's on my agenda today. But I did take a look at the first four pages and really resented the company coming! :D And Ranulf is on order and I can't wait!
Oh, and how goes the whole RWA thing? Are there any youtube videos yet? ;)
Hi Alexis! Congratulations
Hi Alexis! Congratulations on your new book, it sounds great! I love vampires, and anything else that goes "bump" in the night, lol.
J.K. Coi
Immortals To Die For
www.jkcoi.com
Oh Alexis I can't believe
Oh Alexis I can't believe Ranulf is finally going to be here, seems like it has taken FOREVER....
You are so incrediably talented that you can tell a story in 7,500 words or less, and yes now I'm anxiously awaiting Rafferty's book, not to mention Jarvis's book (Paladin Series).
I do have to say even though I haven't read the 2 new books I feel the Paladin Series will always be my favorite :-)(nearest & dearest to my heart)but who wouldn't love a guy with fangs!!!!!!!!!
I can't wait for your
I can't wait for your upcoming books. I think yours are some of my fav paranormals.
and I totally love guys with fangs lol
Ashley
Thank you all for the great
Thank you all for the great comments! Sometimes it does feel like forever before the books will finally hit the shelves. I certainly feel that way when it comes to my favorite authors! It kills me to go a year between Sookie Stackhouse books, for example.
It was a real challenge writing a short story. The focus has to be pretty much a single significant event in the of the main character(s), a snippet of time, if you will, as opposed to a series of events that can take place over days, weeks or even years. I tend to write stories with fairly large ensemble casts, so focusing strictly on the two main characters was a bit confining for my usual style of story. I couldn't spot a secondary character and go delving into their thoughts, too. I had the same struggle with the novellas I've written.
Of course, my first published books were both only about 50,000 words. Back then, the thought of writing 90,000 words about one story was pretty terrifying, too!
Alexis
HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Alexis.
I'm so excited to get my vamp on with you! I'm even more excited about the new series. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE me some of our guys, but um... a new set of men in my life wouldn't spur too much trouble! :P
Well my Talions book is on
Well my Talions book is on order and I'm going to pick up Ranulf's book this weekend. Just wondering, Alexis -- Can we look forward to any other vampire stories from you?
vampire books
Great question, Jackie. I have to admit that I had a very hard time letting go of Rafferty and his world. My agent and I decided that I should come up with a book idea based on the same world. We're currently marketing the idea--and it looks very promising, indeed! I should know more on the subject very soon.
Alexis
Dang it!
You all know my budget can only handle so many new books at a time and now I not only hear about two that really fascinate me (a new vamp story AND a Viking in a Packard!) but they're set in my neck of the woods!
Decisions, decisions!! I guess I'll have to get the vamp one first since it's being released first!
ani
All the New Stuff!
Alexis,
Thanks for taking the time to come and talk about your new stuff! We are anxiously waiting for the 29th now!
It seems like there is a tremendous amount going on in your life right now; 2 new books, conferences, um, shopping ;-), guest blogging and keeping up with your own blog, er - sorry, DJ's blog. Are you writing new stuff, any new ideas we should know about? It seems there is never quite enough of you to go around.
What's looming ahead!
Caron,
Yeah, things are a bit busy right now. I leave next week for RWA National, so I've been trying to get things ready for that. DJ's Blog on my website actually helps to keep me sane most days! I love all the support I get there.
I'm hard at work on the sixth Paladin book. I recently turned in the second Talion book and the fifth Paladin book, Darkness Unknown, is well into the production process.
Meanwhile, I just sent my agent and my editor some brief story ideas with thoughts on future stories for both series. It will be interesting to see their reactions to where I want to take the series.
Alexis
Re: What's looming ahead!
Alexis,
Thanks for the response. It prompts another question. How do you keep it all seperate? You've finished Jarvis's book, are working on Hunter's, have the Talion book finished and are working on another one. Then you go and promote two that you finished some time ago. Plus, there are all the new ideas. . . Do you make lots of notes? Have seperate sections in your brain? some of both? :-)
We, at DJ's Blog, are glad to do what we can to keep you sane. ;-) (or share in the insanity)
BTW, we are very much looking forward to where you take us!
Caron
P.S. Have a fabulous time at RWA. Wish I could be there!
Welcome Alexis!
Chiming in a little late, here, but so glad to have you with us today. :)
You really spoke to me with the word counts -- I shudder at the idea of anything longer than maybe 80K and I'm much more comfy in the 60-70K range, however, I've had two experiences writing short now, and love it -- my anthology story out now was only 25K and I just submitted a Spice Brief that was only slightly longer than your vamp story, about 9,300 words -- and I loved it. I really enjoy the focus and the editing -- managing 50 pages is so much easier than managing 300. It's also nice to finish something that doesn't take months!
It really is a trick to maintain continuity with the established worlds that are out there, and yet to make your own take unique -- have had some experience in that lately, too, and it's fun, but grueling...
And you have a red-headed vampire??? (Dee, are you out there??? LOL). Very cool.
Sam
Red-headed vampires
Yeah, Rafferty has chestnut hair with blond streaks. For some reason,when I envisioned my vamps, they were of Irish derivation, so red-heads are bound to show up. ;-D
Writing to different lengths is interesting. My first two books were around 50,000 words. Back then I couldn't imagine writing 90k or more. My friend Janice Johnson still teases me because I also said I wouldn't write historicals because I didn't want to do the research--I wrote ten.
Dark Warrior Unleashed
Dark Warrior Unleashed sounds like an interesting read.
Alexis - First, congrats ont
Alexis - First, congrats ont he two stories coming out. You know how happy that makes the ladies of DJ's Blog. LOL The only thing that would make us happier is his story. :)
My question is this. When you shortened Rafferty's story did you cut entire scenes? And if so, will you post them on your website after the book is released?
I know you are busy getting ready for RWA. I can't wait to hear what kind of trouble you and Bonnie get into while you are there. LOL
Stacy L.
cuttig to length
Great question. No, I didn't cut whole scenes. Mostly description got cut and some internal dialogue. For example, I had the heroine stop and think about all the ugliness and pain the prison had absorbed over the years. While that would have helped emphasize her reaction to being there, it wasn't needed to move the story along. I really had to look at the story line by line to make the cuts work.
Hello
Hi Alexis,
I look forward to reading your Paladins books. Do the books need to be read in order?
reading order
Hi, Jane--
Although I wrote the Paladin books to stand alone, I think they'd make more sense if you read them in order because they build on the events in prior books.
The new release, Dark Warrior Unleashed, is the first book in my second series, The Talions, so you'd be starting at the beginning with it.
Wow!
Congrats on your releases, Alexis! And being able to write at both ends of the length spectrum is quite impressive indeed! And, I keep getting distracted by that lovely cover...
Cover
Yeah, I admit to doing some serious happy dancing when I first saw this cover. I recently got the cover for my February release and oh, my, my. I sent the art department chocolcates! 8-D
Cover
We did some pretty serious happy dancing too, Alexis...hot doesn't even begin to describe Jarvis! *drools*
I can't wait to read
I can't wait to read Rafferty's story. And I'm also impatiently waiting for the first book in the Talion series. Now you're going to have us wanting new books in 3 series. How will be be able to stand the wait between each book....lol....Glad that we can help with our comments on DJ's blog
My Talion book just
My Talion book just shipped!!!! Can't wait :D
NM's Talion Book
You lucky wench! LOL Mine should be here next week, along with my Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance. Whoo Hoo! Alexis, thanks for the great stories and keep 'em coming. :)
grrr
I'm growling at you NM!!! Not fair!
Oh well, weather you can hear me or not I'm growling, but I'm jelous!
Thank you
Strohs and NM-- I'm glad that you're looking forward to getting the books. I just got my own copy of the Mammoth book--a lot of my own favorite authors have stories in it, so I'm looking forward to reading them all.
Again, I'd like to thank Samantha for inviting me to visit here today--lots of great questions and I appreciate the support.
Alexis Morgan
Hi Alexis, I'm actually
Hi Alexis, I'm actually reaching out to my screen to put my hand on that cover! I remember when it came up on Amazon and been excited about this release for a few months and so glad its finally here! What you spoke of with developing your own vampire myths, is what I so love about vampire romances! And this series. I go into reading them and just captivated and pulled into the world you create, I did that with the Paladins series. So when I think of this book, I know its going to be one that I hope there will be more to read, because all that you did to create this 'universe' so deserves to have more stories told! Looking forward to these fangs of Raffery! Huge congrats on this series! Would love to be in the contest too!