Words You Hate to Use but...

Currently I'm working on the next three installments of the Night Wars series, namely Ian, Simon and Jack's books, which will make up the next "trilogy" in the loosest sense. Ian's book delves into his start with the Chicago Special Police or Hellfire Boys, as well as the leprechaun situation and perhaps another story. It'll be a multi-story book. Sort of an anthology I suppose.

Simon's book will take place in his past and present, picking up about six months after the events of The Hellfire Legacy. It's his book that has me using words I hate. See, I'm introducing Simon's father, Ben Murphy, who is a homophobic asshole and... well there are a lot of words I don't use. Period. I have my line in the sand I do not cross it.

Except Ben Murphy doesn't have my line in the sand, and from both a character and impact perspective I have to use words I would never use myself.

With Jack's book, we have another character I'm not overly keen on. Xenophobic and a bit misogynistic, and again an older man. You'll meet Nico Proud, a Rom who holds an important place in Jack's past and his future.

Both of these men are hard for me to write with conviction, because neither one is really what I would call a stand up citizen. Nico is a product of his culture, and eventually he's going to start to come around, but Ben is pretty damn irredeemable. I don't typically have antagonists without redeeming qualities, but Ben Murphy is just... ugh. I don't like him. I don't want other people to like him. So for once, I haven't really delved into his history.

Though I'm sure his own upbringing was no picnic either, and that he has all sorts of backstory to explain his person I just--

We all have those moments when writing where we have to make a choice. We can underrepresent the character because of our own beliefs or we can show them for what they really are.

I've chosen to show these men as they are, with no sugarcoating and no attempts to curtail. I want to be honest when I tell a story, and sometimes that means you have to break a few rules you've set for yourself and use words you hate to use.

Visiting the Teahouse

Greetings all! You can find me over at Charlie Cochet's Purple Rose Tea House today talking about series!

Cheers,

Missouri

The Hellfire Legacy - New Release!

It's here, it's here, it's finally here! In honor of the release my blog's gone green!

The Hellfire Legacy : Night Wars Volume III

Everything has fallen apart. With the Night Shift HQ destroyed and supernatural murders spreading across Chicago, the Night Shift circles the wagons. Reeling from their losses, Fynn has to draw on every friend he has left to track down the monster responsible, a chase that will take his team far from home and the comfort of the world he thought he knew.

Questions about his family, an old feud and the Night Shift’s origins will bring Fynn closer to the truth, but he’s not sure he going to make it out of this one. He’s not sure he wants to. 

Ooh...I'm so excited. I promise, this makes up for the ending of the last book, and explains why that book had to end the way it did. It was not something I did lightly, I assure you of that. You can click on the cover image and you'll be taken straight to Torquere's buy page! 

Station House Six: Chapter Nine

My father’s blood, like the blood of all vampires, contained memories. In this case, those memories were ones I wished I didn’t have to see. But my anger at Jonah Swift brought them to the surface more sharply than any other, and in turn, sent me spiraling into my own recollections as the ritual continued around me.

Love Has No Boundaries Event

It's that time again, when M/M Romance group on Goodreads runs their Dear Author writing prompt! I didn't participate last year (I forgot) but this year I signed up bright and early and snagged an amazing prompt from Susan65.

"Forever young.
Forever beautiful.
Forever outcast.
Forever lonely.

Life as a deaf vampire is hard. It's seen as a flaw.
Being deaf is viewed as a weakness. They're foolish to underestimate me. Like Rudolph, I was never invited to play in any vampire games.

Then one foggy winters night, everything changed.

My beautiful Black Irish vampire has a difficult life, some angst, and strong emotions, but he gets his HEA. "


There's still time for everyone to sign up/request because you can do both! I didn't have anything I was jonesing for at the moment, but I still may go sift through and request something. It's a really fun event and the stories go up for free at the end in all sorts of formats so you can read on whatever device you have. 

I'm already bouncing along on this, and having a blast. 

Cheers, 

Missouri

Station House Six: Chapter Eight

The room we ended up in was furnished in a classroom theme. I rolled my eyes, but the other rooms were occupied. Raimes—Tobias, locked the door behind us. He gave me a smile that set my skin tingling.

“This—this is a bad idea.”

He shook his head. “You think too much. I think it must be because you don’t talk enough.” He grabbed me by the shoulders and gave me another kiss that promised a myriad of carnal delights.

Fuck it.

Fool Me Twice - Masks Off Too!

When I heard they were plotting this follow up I jumped aboard, after all, why be part of one version and not the other? Of course, I had to.

You can pick up Fool Me Twice by itself or as part of the anthology.


The Everglades have secrets, Professor Edmund Toussaint, the swamp’s lone vampire, knows this all too well. He’s lived there all of his life and hasn’t run into another of his kind since the fateful night he fed his maker to a crocodile. But things are changing, and another vampire might just be the only thing that will bring Edmund out of the swamp.


Sounds amusing right? Well, don't forget about all the other folks that participated in Masks Off Too!


Masquerade Balls and Vampires go hand in hand in these stories that combine mystery, love, and biting!
Sean Michael gives us Eternity: Is it really possible to die of ennui? Lukas is determined to find out. In Fool Me Twice by Missouri Dalton, botany professor Edmund Toussaint is a vampire who prefers alligator blood and keeps to himself. Up next is Sam Schooler's Scented: Ben Halloway: human, detective, so done with this serial killer vampire shit. Felix Whit: vampire, criminal psychologist, way too attractive. Ben's life is just fantastic.
Anne Hedley explores Perfection, where August is flawed in a world that values flawlessness. While Laylah Hunter goes an alternative route with Cultural Hospitality: Reluctant vampire Caram has sworn off dating, but planning a space-station-wide festival with his handsome alien co-worker is testing his resolve. In The Other Side of Midnight by G.O. Noce, Ash only wants revenge against the man who betrayed him two centuries ago, but when Gavin reappears, revenge isn't what’s on his mind.
In Passions Unmasked by Jade Astor, James is thrilled when a hot guy invites him to a party unlike any other he’s attended. And finally, Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga team up to bring us Super Juicy: Sometimes you want a good meal, but sometimes you want something super juicy.
So take a bite out of love with Masks Off Too!