You guys may recall me mentioning from time to time, the M/M fantasy novel I was working on and turned over to MLR Press, TO THE OTHER SIDE. Well, it looks like it's found a home there. Hooray! Edits are going to start soon on it, and from what my editor said, we're looking at around June of this year for a possible release month. Don't have a specific day yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to post it!
I know a lot of folks don't know what to expect from this novel, because it's a different genre than my contemporaries with the Conquest series, my paranormals with the Instincts series, and even my historical with OF HONOR AND LOVE. So because it's a bit different, I thought I'd talk a little bit about it, and even share some inspiration.
A dear friend on Facebook mentioned one day that I should write a story with a witch. Almost as soon as she said that, a figure stepped forward in my head and I knew exactly who he was; he was my witch. I also knew, I would write his story. Along with him came another figure, his partner, and together, their story started unfolding in my mind. When I got the chance to start working on TO THE OTHER SIDE, it actually went very quickly. Well, for me since it usually takes me months to finish a first draft. But both characters were so strong, and along with them, they brought a host of other characters, humans and otherwise, and they carried me along through their tale.
By the time I reached The End, I had a story that extended across two worlds, our own modern world and a second world called Terra (a more traditional, medieval based fantasy world), that was a love story with an interracial couple since my witch, Bryson, is also Native American, and Garrett, his love interest, is Caucasian, and along with fantasy elements, contains an underlying environmental theme. All of these elements are interwoven in the story, but throughout it all, the love story between Bryson and Garrett remains at the heart.
Like I often do, I went searching for images of guys who could fit for what I imagined Bryson and Garrett to look like. Rarely do I find any real life images who look like my characters, but I actually scored pretty well for Bryson and Garrett. Sadly, these models won't be on the cover, since these aren't stock images. I don't even know who they are, but in these particular shots of these men, they look a lot like how I envision Bryson and Garrett appearing in the story.
My witch and Gatekeeper, Bryson Summers
My biologist and environmentalist, Garrett Evergard
And so, there you go! A little more info on TO THE OTHER SIDE! Hope it's all sounding good so far!