Yep.
Sworn is off to alpha readers, which means two things.
One: I feel like puking (a lot), because sending a story out to be critiqued for the first time is terrifying. Actually, sending it out for the last time is also terrifying.
Two: Yes, I’m supposed to be focusing on getting ready to move (more on that another day), but I still need something writing-related to work on so I don’t go crazy. This means I blew the dust off of Resurrection (an urban fantasy project that some of you may remember), printed it out, and will be reading it over this week.
It got rave reviews from readers before… I just have to decide whether I’m still happy with it, and what comes next. It’s a novella. A satisfying story on its own, but definitely leading into more. I have plans for the series. I’m just not 100% sure what they are yet, whether we’re looking at a 4-5 book story arc or something more episodic like Nancy Drew Sookie Stackhouse. Either way, 5 books max.
Released at 2-3 month intervals.
YAY.
I’ve got planning to do.
Anyway, it’s officially a work in progress again, and WIPpet Wednesday is when we share a snippet from a WIP. It has to relate in some way to today’s date. I was going to give you something from chapter 13, but there is no chapter 13.
I’m not superstitious, it’s just that compact.
So let’s go with chapter 4 (1+3), 5 paragraphs for the 5th month.
Trixie, Shivva, and Daniel just came back from a tough crime scene involving slaughtered humans and rogue vampires, and Daniel’s not talking to anyone*. This snippet gives a reasonable idea of how they feel about us.
All scenes in this one are from Shivva’s POV. Weird…
“I don’t know what crawled up his ass,” Trixie says. She squeezes a lemon wedge, watching the juice roll off her fingers into her tea. “He’s not just being overprotective, either. He was fine until right before we left. Maybe he didn’t get a good feed in.”
I flop back on the bed. “Maybe he’s sick of my issues.”
“Probably. You’ve got to let it go, Shivva. We’re not human. It’s not our job to protect them.”
“But we need them.”
“We need our stock,” she clarifies, and stirs her tea with a dainty silver teaspoon. “The feeders. That’s it. Even then, one’s pretty much like any other. It’s no big loss if something happens to one of them. But keeping them safe gives them incentive to trust us and saves us trouble.”
Nice, eh?
For more WIPpet Wednesday fun, click this here link. To join in, just post on your own blog space, link back there, and stop by to comment on everyone else’s posts. Easy peasy, and a great way to meet some wonderful writer-type peoples. Big thanks to our host, KL Schwengel!
Hope you’re all having a great week!
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*Daniel is Shivva and Trixie’s trainer. He’s… eh, you’ll have to read it.
disregard the prologue 
May 13th, 2015 at 9:11 am
Interesting that I’m currently reading Dracula (the original Bram Stoker)
May 13th, 2015 at 9:16 am
How do you like it? I couldn’t get into it when I tried.
Frankenstein either, actually.
I think I’m too easily distracted.
May 13th, 2015 at 9:57 am
Woo-hoo! Vampires! I admit I’m a sucker (HAHA) for a well penned vampire. Weirdly, I just created a vampire character last week! Just for fun. Because. Well, clearly I don’t need to explain it to you. Ahem. Can’t wait to read more!
May 13th, 2015 at 10:22 am
It’s funny. I love them, and I swore I would never write them because the genre is so crowded. But when a character taps you on the shoulder and wants to tell a story, what can you do?
May 13th, 2015 at 10:29 am
Kate, I think there’s always room for a good vampire story. And your excerpt shows that you can produce one.
May 13th, 2015 at 11:47 am
I don’t like Trixie. *shakes head* No. Huh-uh. She is a scary, scary person. *shudders* Scary person.
May 13th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
I so know the feeling of that character tap. It’s why I write fan fiction (and well, too, if I do say so myself!) – these characters will NOT leave me alone. I’ve heard all the ‘respected authors don’t’ and ‘use a pen name, for God’s sake, if you do’ –
But I’m not ashamed. I love these characters, and that they trust me enough to let me see into their lives. I’m not gonna ignore them for personal gain…
I’m with you, too, on the vampire genre being crowded right now – but it seems to be choked with a lot of meh stuff. REAL vampires with REAL vampire issues, REAL vampiralities (I JUST made that up!)…now, those, we need more of.
Color me intrigued – and you can find me hiding behind the distinctly GREEN- blooded Vulcan lady!
May 13th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Yeah, no sparkles here. No falling in love with humans, either. Blood, sex, lots of fighting, great scenery, a fast-paced story and an interesting world… that’s what I’m aiming for with mine. Either people will like it, or they won’t. I need a little break from massive Fantasy novels before I get back to them. 🙂
May 13th, 2015 at 1:33 pm
I love the idea of exploring another species without humanizing them. And sparkling vampires – always thought that was rather ridiculous, myself.
Yours, though, sounds gritty, real, and just right! =D
May 13th, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Always a vampire fan ever since Salem’s Lot years ago. Not that there’s anything wrong with Nancy Drew, either.
May 13th, 2015 at 2:57 pm
Gotta love a titian-haired sleuth, amirite?
I learned so many words from Nancy Drew.
May 13th, 2015 at 6:46 pm
Ack… I’ve been trying to comment here most of the day (something is wrong with my laptop, I guess). Anyway… YAY! You’re back with sharp pointy teeth!
As for the snippet… Trixie has a lot to learn, doesn’t she? Not saying she needs to be all nicey-nice to humans, but… cattle can d ado stampede. And humans like to make sharp pokey things they can stick into soft squishy things that scream and bleed almost as much as they like to be taken care of and spoiled rotten…
She clearly has NO farming instinct.
May 14th, 2015 at 1:47 am
O fun, I think I do remember this WIP. Wow, time flies. 🙂 So excited things are still moving with Sworn too. Awesome!!
May 14th, 2015 at 9:38 am
Yay! I was one of the ones who loved this story—and I don’t much care for vampires. I’m glad there won’t be any human-vampire lovin’. I’m not against cross-species relationships, I guess, but they have to be done well and not “I actually want to eat you but I suppose I’ll just sleep with you instead.” Also, no sparklies.
May 14th, 2015 at 9:54 am
Yeah, no. I figure a 100+ year old vampire would have very little in common with a human of any age, never mind an angsty teenager. I find it creepy enough when 25 year old guys are dating fifteen year old girls.
*shudder*
May 14th, 2015 at 9:55 am
Oh my gosh, I need to have one of them wearing sparkly eyeshadow, though…
May 14th, 2015 at 10:10 am
Right on both counts—creepy relationships AND the need for sparkly eyeshadow. That would be fabulous.
May 17th, 2015 at 10:02 am
Good luck with your alpha readers!
I really like reading about vampires who view us the way we view cows and sheep — it makes a nice change from the “I love humans” stance! I’m looking forwards to reading more. 🙂