February 19, 2023
Almost finished with Breaking News -the first in the Ghost Talkers series. I’m also about 2/3 of the way through the novellas for the Immortal Bloodlines series. These two will be in the Monster Hunters & Rejected by the Immortal anthologies. My editor (Donna A. Martz) has already yelled at me for the body count in “Luck of the Irish”, Saoirse’s story. Don’t worry, there is a love interest and a HFN (happy for now) ending.
There’s been a lot of research for the “And So It Begins” novella for the vampire series. Jo was turned in 1803, so there’s a lot of history to track as she sets up the Supernatural Intelligence Network alongside the start of the FBI and the OSS.
Yes, these come out in September of this year, but they are up for preorder and grabbing the 99c preorder helps out all of the authors involved. The money raised for those two, go to the American Red Cross, so it’s for a great cause.
I’ve also got two books in this giveaway and the anthology has The Chosen in it. Check it out and enter to win a bunch of free books.
And So It Begins
Chapter 1
1910, United States of America
Jo sat primly in the rail car as it rattled its way from Chicago to Boston. As she was officially a guest of Dr. Theophilus Wilder, she didn’t have to endure the stares of other passengers beyond Dr. Wilder and his research assistant, Edison James. A private rail car was her preferred way to travel, so when the doctor and his assistant had asked her to join them at Harvard in Boston, she had agreed and suggested they use her uncle’s rail car.
It was, in fact, her rail car, as her uncle only existed on paper these days. Being a woman meant one had to make concessions in order for society to accept that she had access to certain things. Uncle Sebastien had been useful in some ways, but when he’d taken it all a step too far, Jo had made sure he could never take that step again.
“If I could have your input, Mrs. Stephens,” Dr. Wilder said. “I would appreciate it if you could go over these last few pages of the presentation.”
“Of course, Dr. Wilder,” Jo replied and took the pages into her gloved hands, careful to avoid where the ink was still wet. She read the pages, then handed them back to the doctor. “I’d add that the successes of Scotland Yard since their founding in 1829 have been extraordinary. Their Criminal Investigation Department, a unit of plainclothes detectives, has been instrumental in stopping the Jack the Ripper murders.”
“They didn’t find the killer though, did they?” Edison James replied.
“No,” Jo said. “They did not. But they believe the person responsible was killed or confined somehow as a result of their investigations. In either event, the murders stopped.”
“No one ever did plainclothes detectives until Scotland Yard,” Dr. Wilder said. “And they keep impressive records. The federal level of law enforcement in the United States is, on the other hand, an example of a useless collection of political chaos and games of power. Hopefully, this presentation will encourage the creation of a more efficient way to handle law enforcement.”
“One can only hope,” Jo replied.
They went over the full presentation one more time, then Dr. Wilder smiled gently at Jo. “You should probably feed before we reach Boston, my dear. It’s going to be a hectic couple of days and we don’t want you feeling peckish.”
“Very true, thank you, Dr. Wilder.” Jo rose and smoothed her skirts, then folded her gloves and laid them on the table. She removed her coat and hat, and gestured to Edison to join her on the settee.
Edison removed his suit coat and rolled up a sleeve before he sat beside Jo and extended his arm. She gave him a gentle smile and lifted his forearm to her lips, and bit. It didn’t take much to sustain her, and the process wasn’t as uncomfortable for Edison as it could have been, since one of Jo’s gifts was the ability to charm him into forgetting any discomfort. Truth be told, she could’ve charmed him into forgetting the process altogether, but he was a willing participant and that made it convenient for Jo and Dr. Wilder.
The whole arrangement was highly unusual all around. Dr. Wilder was a witch, as was Edison, and Jo was a vampire. One of their other assistants was a wolf shifter who had stayed behind to handle the doctor’s classes while they traveled.
Most supernatural species were clannish – meaning, they kept to themselves and if they mingled with other supernaturals, it was to capture for study, or kill the others. Their little conclave was unique in its makeup and focus. Not many supernaturals bothered with human laws and legalities.
This meeting at Harvard was to present several new concepts in law enforcement to the human attendees. There was a lot riding on this presentation, as it would determine Jo’s future for the next couple of centuries – and all of their futures for the next few decades.