Traveling Writer

I have a very special guest on the blog today. My good friend, Alina Sayre, has just released the third book in her Middle Grade fantasy series, Voyages of the Legend. She’s being kept pretty busy bouncing around various blogs for her tour, and was kind enough to take some time to join us here and talk about some of the inspiration behind the book’s settings. So, without further ado…

“Traveling Writer”
Alina Sayre

Photo credit Alina Sayre

Travel is something I’ve always enjoyed (though I also enjoy coming home afterwards). As a writer, though, I don’t just take in sights and sounds when I travel—I also keep notes for future story settings. And in my latest book, The Illuminator Rising, some of those notes found a home. Three major settings in this book are based on real travels I’ve taken.

When I was twelve, my family and I traveled to the big island of Hawai’i, home to some of the most active volcanoes in the world. I remember trekking across the lava fields, the black rock sharp and shiny as glass, to a spot where fresh lava was flowing. The slow, viscous stream of orange, already turning black as it was exposed to air, was mesmerizing—an unfiltered experience with nature that struck me with both its beauty and danger. I remember watching the lava eventually pour off a cliff, clouds of steam rising as it hit the ocean waves. New land was forming before my eyes. It was an arresting experience, and one that eventually became a central setting for The Illuminator Rising.

Photo credit Alina Sayre

One thing that sets this book apart from its prequels is that the crew actually splits up and travels to different islands. One of these islands was based on a family roadtrip across the American Southwest a few years ago. Though deserts are not my favorite places (excessive heat makes me cranky), there was something alien and beautiful about the rocky landscape. One of my hobbies is photography, so I really enjoyed a stop at Antelope Canyon in Arizona. Though you can see very little sky from the bottom of the narrow slot canyon (my claustrophobia was going crazy), the light still filters in and ricochets off the sandstone walls, making these crazy, amazing patterns of light and shadow that change every minute. The vivid colors and textures of that landscape formed the basis for one of the islands in The Illuminator Rising.

Photo credit Alina Sayre

The other island was a blend of two places I’ve been. While studying abroad in college, a friend and I did a weekend adventure to southern Spain, where we saw architectural marvels like the Alhambra in Granada and the Real Alcazar in Sevilla. I loved the Moorish artistic influence, with its keyhole-shaped doorways, intricate tilework, and roofs like spun sugar. Blend that together with a trip to Istanbul, Turkey, and you get something like my other island in The Illuminator Rising. I especially fell in love with Turkish food and had tons of fun describing the banquets here! I even saw a baby tortoise half the size of my palm at an archaeological site. It was so tiny and adorable that I knew I’d have to put it in a book.

Of course, some aspects of every island in the book are purely fantasy. That’s one of the fun things about this genre! But experiences in real life definitely added color—and flavor—to the island landscapes in this book. I hope that reading the book gives you all the pleasure of taking your own travels!

 
Synopsis of The Illuminator Rising, Book 3 of The Voyages of the Legend:

Driven from their home island of Rhynlyr, Ellie and her friends must solve a riddle to find the survivors of the Vestigia Roi. But instead of a safe haven, they discover a hopeless band of refugees paralyzed by fear. Strengthened by new allies and new gifts, the crew of the Legend faces dangers like never before. Can they escape being shot out of the sky, falling over the Edge of the world, or being engulfed by urken armies long enough to rally the Vestigia Roi? And can they rekindle a fire from the ashes of the One Kingdom before Draaken takes over the world?

Advance praise:
“…a thrilling read…[Sayre] has a flair for being able to capture the interest of a reader and hold onto it.”
-Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

Get your copy on Amazon today!

Author bio:
Alina Sayre began her literary career chewing on board books and has been in love with words ever since. Now she gets to work with them every day as an author, educator, editor, and speaker. Her first novel, The Illuminator’s Gift, won a silver medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, and all three books in The Voyages of the Legend series have received 5-star reviews from Readers’ Favorite. When she’s not writing, Alina enjoys hiking, crazy socks, and reading under blankets. She does not enjoy algebra or wasabi. When she grows up, she would like to live in a castle with a large library.

Links:
Website: www.alinasayre.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alinasayreauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/AlinaSayre
Amazon: amazon.com/author/alinasayre
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7469870.Alina_Sayre

Catch up on the first two books, The Illuminator’s Gift and The Illuminator’s Test on Amazon.

COVER REVEAL: Dancing with Flames

Apocalyptic suspense mixed with dragons–both the man-eating kind and the ones that shapeshift into handsome hunks–this is a book to watch for. Also, I love this cover. Seriously, the author gave me permission to use it as my iPad screensaver. 😀

Credits to cover designers:

Cover design by Jeff Brown (background) and Claudia McKinney. Photography by Teresa Yeh with model Isabella Capri.  Typography by The Font Diva.

EXPECTED RELEASE DATE- June 24th, 2016

SUMMARY:

Four months ago, fire-breathing dragons invaded Earth from an alternate dimension, wreaking havoc on modern civilization. Bailey Monzac has been training to kill them ever since discovering she was impervious to their flames, but when some of the beasts begin targeting children, she can’t hold back any longer and must hunt them down.

Her ally, Aidan, would help, except the shape-shifter has his own troubles. His clan is battling for territory against the pure dragons and his father—their leader—is dying. As the shifters fight for the pendragon position, fierce rivalry takes over. Aidan’s own brothers aren’t above blackmail and murder if it will get them to the top. He must stay one step ahead if he is to survive and keep his clan safe from the pure dragons who threaten them all.

Bailey and Aidan may be natural-born enemies, but working together might be the only thing that saves them from the danger that lies ahead.

 

Add to your Goodreads TBR list here.

There’s also a huge giveaway happening over on Susan Illene’s blog with some pretty cool prizes. Check it out and be sure to leave a comment in order to enter the giveaway!

Coming Soon: Scorched Magic

Getting this book done had its grueling moments, so I am so happy it’s finally reached this stage. Major kudos to Shelley at Spittyfish Designs for another stunning cover.

Natalie West thought her ability to manipulate fire was a genetic aberration straight out of a Marvel comic. Orphaned at age three, she’s spent her life hiding what she can do. But like any secret superhero, she also uses her powers for good, investigating fires for the San Jose Fire Department.

When a series of arsons marked with pentagrams brings her into Andre Romero’s sphere, however, Nat discovers she’s not as alone as she thought. Who is this man who also wields fire? An ally? Or one of the arsonists? As Nat delves into a world of elementals, witches, and magic, learning more about her heritage in the process, she’ll have to watch her back or risk getting burned.

Release date April 18th 2016

Pre-order on Amazon

Newsletter subscribers will be getting an exclusive sneak peek of the first chapter later this week. So sign up if you don’t want to miss it!

Available for Pre-Order: Family Pride

Hey everyone! I know the blog’s been quiet, but even though I haven’t been writing here, there’s been plenty of words flowing behind the scenes. And my next work is now available for pre-order on Amazon! Get ready for a brand new adventure with shapeshifters and mobsters.

FBI agent Tracy Spears has worked undercover for months trying to gain the trust of the Davenport crime family. And now she’s finally gotten it. When the eldest prodigal son returns to Boston, Tracy is assigned to his protection detail. Ronan doesn’t want anything to do with his family though, so why is he back and willing to submit to an arranged marriage? One that is apparently putting him in danger?

After a failed hit, Tracy discovers the Davenport family secret—they’re werecat shapeshifters. With her life and investigation on the line, Tracy will have to tread carefully as she tries to navigate pride politics and help prevent a war. But the more time she spends with Ronan, the more her heart may end up as collateral damage.

Click here to pre-order for Kindle! Official release date is November 2nd.

Sneak Peek: Spliced Magic

Excerpt, Spliced Magic

I grabbed some coveralls from a cabinet and slipped into them, then rolled the tool cart over to the TIV, my baby. She was a cherry red Ford 350 Super Duty truck with four-wheel drive and a 6.7-liter turbo charged Diesel engine with propane and water injection. I’d take her home with me, if it weren’t for the modifications: aluminum, steel, Kevlar, and polycarbonate armor, hydraulic wind skirts on all sides, and stabilizing spikes. The TIV was a 14,000-pound tank that would probably scare most other drivers in Tulsa off the road. It was too bad I only ever got to drive her May through June.

I changed the oil, cleaned the cylinders, flushed the fuel injection system, and was about to move on to rotating the tires when my cell phone rang. My nerves were still wound so tight that I bumped my head on the elevated hood as I jerked up. Rubbing the sore spot with one hand, I frantically fished my phone out of my pocket with the other, not even caring that I was getting grease on the case. Preston’s name lit up the caller ID.

I swiped the answer arrow, then tucked the phone between my ear and shoulder so I could grab a rag. “Hey.”

“Hey, you at home?” There was a tightness in his voice that made me take notice.

“No, the garage.”

Preston sighed. “Mind calling me back from an office line?” He sounded a little put out by the request, which baffled me since it was coming from him in the first place.

“I guess, but why?”

He hung up without answering, and I pulled the phone away from my ear to stare at it in bewilderment. Shaking my head, I went to the sink and washed my hands before heading into the lab. I didn’t bother flipping a light switch, as there was enough illumination from the ten computers sitting on the right side of the large room. Their screen savers alternated between slideshow photos of our team and generic swirly rainbows. We left the computers on over the weekend because they were processing data and running simulations that couldn’t be interrupted. That also meant the air conditioning ran constantly, and the shades on all the windows were pulled down to keep the place cool.

I slumped into a rolling chair from one of the desks and picked up the landline telephone. Preston answered before the first ring had finished.

“You alone?”

I quirked a confused brow. “Yes. What’s going on?”

Preston made a disgruntled noise. “Josh called me.”

“What?” I lurched to my feet, sending the chair wheeling back to knock against another desk. “Is he okay? Where the hell is he? And why did he call you?”

“Before you get pissed, he only called me to pass on a message to you. He didn’t call you directly because he’s afraid your phone might be tapped.”

Preston snorted as though the idea was ridiculous. I, however, felt a chill down my spine. Would the SPA tap my phone? Maybe if they didn’t believe I hadn’t heard from my brother, or they thought Josh would reach out eventually. Which he had, finally, though I was going to ream him good for making me crazy with worry.

I took a deep breath. “What’d he say?”

“He wants you to meet him,” Preston said tightly. “Where—and I quote—‘you beat up Howard Minke.’ The first time.”

I blinked. Josh was using code? Was it because he was afraid the SPA was listening in, or because he didn’t trust Preston, even though Josh was using him as a middle man? I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was too much. At least I knew the place he was referring to, and it was only a twenty-minute drive with no traffic on a late Sunday afternoon.

A cold thought dropped a lead ball into my stomach. What if the SPA was watching me? I didn’t want to lead them to Josh, not without hearing his side first. My head turned toward the parking lot where my motorcycle had been sitting unattended for the past six hours. And before that, it’d been at my apartment while I’d walked to the café to meet Gage. What if Agents Ford and Romero had stuck a tracker on it? I snorted to myself; now I sounded paranoid. Still…

“Can I borrow your car?”

“Sylphie,” Preston said, tone warning. “Don’t get mixed up in this.”

“He’s my brother.”

“Then do what’s best for Josh and convince him to turn himself in.”

I gritted my teeth and said irritably, “I can’t very well do that if I don’t go meet him. And it’d be better if I drove him back in a car, not on the back of my bike.” I heard a scowl on the other end of the line.

“Fine, just…try not to get charged aiding a fugitive.”

“They’d have to catch me first.”

I wasn’t completely convinced the SPA would be on my tail, but if they were, they wouldn’t find me an easy target. I outran tornados for a living; I could certainly outrun them.

Spliced Magic is available for pre-order on Amazon. Release date August 3, 2015.

Sylphie Seaton’s life is about to get turned upside-down when her brother ends up wanted for murder. Framed and dying from exposure to a genetically engineered super serum, Josh turns to Sylphie for help clearing his name and finding a cure. But the conspiracy may go deeper than either of them ever imagined, and not even an acclaimed storm chaser can outrun this tempest.

Add on Goodreads

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COVER REVEAL: Spliced Magic

 

I am so excited for this release, particularly because there was a period where I thought the book might not happen. But at last it is finished and being prepped for publishing. And to start, here is the FANTASTIC cover.

Cover by Shelley at Spittyfish Designs

EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: August 3, 2015

Summary:

Sylphie Seaton’s life is about to get turned upside-down when elemental law enforcement agents show up on her doorstep looking for her brother Josh. He’s wanted for the murder of a colleague, but she’s convinced there must be more to the story.

When she finally hears from Josh, Sylphie discovers the situation is much worse than she feared. His coworkers were rogue elementals attempting to genetically engineer supernatural abilities, and Josh was accidentally contaminated. Now, Sylphie not only has to protect her brother from the law, but also find a way to reverse the unstable serum before it kills him.

On the run with no one to turn to, Sylphie will risk everything to save her brother. But the conspiracy may go deeper than either of them ever imagined, and not even an acclaimed storm chaser can outrun this tempest.

Add to your Goodreads list here

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Interview with Middle-Grade, Fantasy Author Alina Sayre

My good friend Alina Sayre just released her second novel this month, The Illuminator’s Test. As part of her release blog tour, she’s stopping by for an interview. So please welcome her!

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Thanks so much for hosting me, Angela!

My pleasure! Let’s start off with talking about writing. What is your ideal writing space?

I’m kind of a nomadic writer. I feel like if I work in one place for too long, I use up the inspiration of that space. But I find I do a lot of my first-draft writing in comfortable places—bed, couch, backyard—and a lot of my editing at the desk in my office. When deep focus isn’t too important, I really enjoy working at coffee shops and enjoying the people-watching, the productive energy, and of course, the coffee.

Change of scenery can definitely be inspiring. How about a change of genre? Would you ever consider writing something different?

Absolutely! While my two current books are middle-grade fantasy, I read a wide variety of genres, both fiction and nonfiction, from fantasy to historical fiction to fairy tales to poetry to theology to biography to psychology. I’d rather follow the range of my ideas than get pegged into one genre. In fact, I’m percolating ideas for a nonfiction book, a book of poetry, and several historical fiction projects as we speak.

Wow, busy, busy! So with all these projects simmering, are you a plotter or pantser?

Hehe, this is the evolving question. For my first book, The Illuminator’s Gift, I was a wholehearted pantser. I had no idea where it was going, and the book was a joyful journey of exploration, but it also took me five years and four complete reworks to write. Then I took a Jami Gold workshop on using “Save the Cat” beat sheets, and it helped me see that I could create a basic outline of my major plot points without taking away all the fun and suspense of pantsing. So I tried out a very skeletal beat sheet for my second novel, The Illuminator’s Test. Things didn’t always go as planned and plenty of surprises still popped up! (My characters have a stubborn habit of insisting on their own way.) But I was able to complete the first two drafts of the book within five months. While I may never be an exhaustive plotter, I do think a little plotting has helped me waste less time on plot holes and spend more time enjoying the characters’ personalities and the twists and turns of their journey.

I’m glad the partial plotting worked out so well! I’m a big proponent of it, especially because I firmly believe plotting and surprise twists aren’t mutually exclusive. What was your favorite part of writing this book?

I really enjoyed the day when I realized I had fallen in love with a character named Kai. He’s thirteen-year-old Ellie’s bodyguard, and he wasn’t even supposed to be in this story. He’s gruff and tough on the outside, but a total softie on the inside. Somehow he elbowed his way into the book, and I absolutely fell for him. I also had a lot of fun creating the island cultures that appear in this book—especially the part where I got to sit at Starbucks across from a mood board full of pictures and attract weird looks.

I love it when stuff like that happens! Now what was your least favorite part of writing this book?

Remember what I said about writing two drafts in five months? Yeah, not the best idea ever. I set out to publish Book 2 by the end of this year, and I’m pleased to say I succeeded. But not a lot of sleeping, socializing, or generally healthy activities took place in the meanwhile. I plan to take my next book a little slower and spend more time enjoying the journey.

Well, congrats on meeting your goal. That’s a huge accomplishment. So can we get a little peek of this book?

That night, Ellie found a beautiful blue velvet dress on her bed. It had a long skirt, lace at the elbows, and sparkling white gems swirling from the bodice to the left shoulder and sleeve. Ellie gasped and reached for it, but Kai held her back. He scraped the blade of one of his daggers across the gems, then checked the stitching on the inside. Finally, he swabbed the fabric with one finger and licked it. After a moment, he waved her forward.

“It’s all right.”

Ellie grabbed the dress and held it to her, spinning around and watching the skirt twirl. She hadn’t owned such a beautiful piece of clothing since the coat Nevin Beswick had given her when she was four. Suddenly she paused.

“Kai, what were you doing? Were you…tasting the dress?’

He shrugged one shoulder. “Checking for poisoned fabric. It’s happened before. Now that you’re involved with the Council, we can’t be too careful.”

Slowly Ellie draped the blue velvet over the back of the sofa, wiping her palms on her skirt. The dress was still beautiful, but now it seemed terrifying as well.

Ooh, both delightfully charming and suspenseful!

We all have favorite books, ones we nag our friends to read, buy our loved ones as gifts, and the biggie, the books we read over and over again. What books have you read more than twice?

I love reading, but I don’t often return to the same books, as there are too many new ones I want to discover. But a few oft-read favorites include The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, a couple of the Redwall books by Brian Jacques, Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing by Soren Kierkegaard, The Giver by Lois Lowry, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Do I like kidlit? Yes I do.

What is the geekiest thing about you?

I am a very, very geeky person, especially when it comes to words and books (don’t even get me started on etymology!). But in high school I spent my spare time learning to sew cloaks and speak Tolkien’s Elvish—both the Quenya and Sindarin dialects. Geeky enough for you?

Hey, we love geeky on this blog. *g* Is writing your only job?

Definitely not! I am pleased that writing is a part of my career that pulls its own weight. But, like many artists, I wear a lot of hats. Depending on the day, I also work as a private writing tutor, a freelance editor, and a speaker. I’m also a graduate student, just to keep things interesting.

Definitely sounds interesting! If you could have lunch with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

I would give a lot to sit in on a meeting of the famous Inklings, including Tolkien and Lewis, two of my literary idols. I love both of their theological imaginations and the way their work blends the concerns of real life with fantastical storytelling. I also love the camaraderie the Inklings had together.

Excellent choice! Well thank you so much for hanging out with us today. You guys can pick up your illustrated copy of The Illuminator’s Test on Amazon.

 Synopsis of The Illuminator’s Test:

As Ellie and her friends start new lives on the flying island of Rhynlyr, Ellie hopes she’s finally found a home. At the Academy, she learns to wield her gift of Sight and discovers her role in the war against Draaken. But Draaken also wants to control Ellie’s gift. With the help of a blind mentor, an elite bodyguard, and a hostile singer, Ellie must navigate a storm of danger and deception that threatens to cut her off from her friends and corrupt her very self. When disaster strikes, will she find the courage to fight for her friends and the future of the One Kingdom?

Author bio:

Alina Sayre began her literary career chewing on board books and is now the author of The Voyages of the Legend, an award-winning fantasy series for readers ages 9-14. Book 1, The Illuminator’s Gift, was a silver medalist in the 2014 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and has appeared at a number of schools and literacy events. On December 1 it was joined by Book 2, The Illuminator’s Test, now available on Amazon.com and at select bookstores! When she’s not writing, Alina enjoys photography, collecting crazy socks, and reading under blankets. When she grows up, she would like to live in a castle with a large library.

Website: www.alinasayre.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/alinasayreauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlinaSayre

E-mail: alinasayreauthor@gmail.com

The Illuminator’s Gift on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Illuminators-Gift-Voyages-Legend-Book-ebook/dp/B00GYNPIAE/

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NEW RELEASE: Supernatural Sleuth, Case Files 2-5

Now available on Amazon and B&N!

 

A collection of Supernatural Sleuth short stories.

Join Paige, Sean, and their vampire cat, Vlad, as they tackle some wild cases.

“Cupid’s Curse” — A simple job retrieving stolen property in a domestic dispute goes bad when the family heirloom has a powerful love curse on it…and Sean gets exposed.

“Let Sleeping Bats Lie” — The new vampire master of Seattle has a case for Sean and Paige: capture and kill a dangerous monster that escaped from Drake’s menagerie. But how does one go about trapping a giant cryptid bat with a hunger for human flesh?

“Missing” — When Paige’s friend doesn’t show for an important meeting, she sets off on a series of leads to track her down. Paige has to watch her step though, before she ends up missing as well.

“Trick-or-Tweet” — Some Halloween fun turns deadly when a cursed hashtag on Twitter starts killing those who tweet it.

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Sneak Peek: Storm Chaser

Excerpt, Storm Chaser

The Missouri River came up on our right, and sure enough, a wall cloud was slowly descending over the water. I floored the gas, bringing the TIV to sixty miles an hour as we skimmed under the edge of the rotating cloud. The rain lightened save for a few haphazard splatters, meaning we were beneath the rain-free base where a funnel would emerge.

“Sylphie, pull back a little,” Dad’s voice crackled. “The RFD’s kicking up.”

I’d felt it already, knew we were right alongside the clear slot. The buoyant rear flank downdraft had dried out the clouds and I could feel the warm inflow gusting around the truck. I followed my dad’s instructions and eased off the gas a bit. Our team would be hanging back at the moment, waiting to see not only if we’d get a cyclone, but if it would hit land, hopefully this side of the river as there’d be no point chasing it across a bridge. If it happened to shift its path, you didn’t want to be caught on an overpass.

I sensed the funnel before I saw it, a much smaller twisting of air descending from the center of the wall cloud. It connected with the river, exploding in a column of blue. I increased speed to keep pace with it, but stayed a good distance behind in case it decided to bank left and cross our path.

Gage’s camera clicked furiously. It wasn’t an extreme twister, probably an F1, maybe pushing F2 with wind speed approaching 110 miles per hour. But it was beautiful nonetheless, like an ice-blue snake bending and contorting in a vertical dance, head buried in the clouds as its jaws devoured lightning.

“Not bad, huh?” I said over the cyclone’s whistling.

Gage took a split second to flash me a grin before returning his eyes to the camera’s viewfinder.

“Sylphie,” David’s serious tone cut in. “You seeing that?”

I immediately pulled my focus back and scanned the air currents. Shoot, the thing was gaining speed.

“See what?” Gage asked.

“It’s getting stronger,” I said, tightening my grip on the wheel and watching for a signal it would change direction. At the moment, the waterspout seemed content just to coast up the river.

Gage tilted his head away from his camera, brow quirked. “How can you tell?”

“Experience,” I hastily replied. “Man, if the thing would just come ashore we might be able to get the probe out.” But even a low-level intensity tornado like this one was beyond our physical and mental limits to control, not unless we all pulled off the road, stood in a circle, and concentrated like a bunch of Wiccans chanting a spell. Minus the chanting.

Lightning whipped across the sky like fractured glass. A branch backlit the cyclone, filling it with a refracted glow that reminded me of a pale, buzzing, Jedi sword. Thunder cracked above our heads, rattling the bulletproof windows. More streaks cut through the clouds in rapid succession. I only had a split second to recognize one of the discharges was flashing straight down for ground contact, and even then I couldn’t stop it as the charge struck a power line several yards ahead on our left. Sparks exploded in a showering sizzle and a live wire suddenly whipped out, slashing across the road.

I swore and cranked the wheel right, slamming Gage and David against the far side of the truck. The TIV careened onto a side road—straight onto a small bridge.

“What the hell are you doing, Sylphie?” Dad’s alarmed voice shouted. He would’ve seen the abrupt turn on GPS, but not the reason for it.

“Sorry!” I exclaimed to my passengers before snatching up the radio to assuage my dad. “Wayward lightning strike, nothing to worry about.”

“Sylphie, it’s shifting!”

I jerked my attention out the driver’s side window at the twister I’d assumed would be leaving us behind. But the waterspout suddenly wrenched around, its top veering back while the bottom half took a twisted moment to switch gears and change direction. And it was heading straight for us.

“Oh.” Crap on toast. “Hang on.”

I jammed my foot on the brake, jolting everyone forward. Gage clutched his camera protectively to his chest with one arm while catching himself on the dash with the other. David thudded against the back of my seat with an “oomph.” The back tires squealed and started to slip. Pumping the brakes, I steered into the skid, focusing on keeping the truck steady. The buzzing cyclone was nearly on top of us.

As soon as the TIV came to a jerking full stop, I dropped the stabilizing spikes and wind skirts, nearly jumping out of my skin as my gaze darted between the twister bearing down on us and the slowly deploying hydraulics. The metal teeth hit the ground and dug in just as the truck started to wobble in the increasing wind speed.

The cyclone hissed and veered right in front of us, a sheet of water covering the windows and blinding visibility. Gage kept shooting pictures anyway. The truck lurched and tipped a few feet to the side and I let out an exultant whoop as the waterspout’s sheer power enveloped my senses in a wash of sensory overload. Twisting air currents, colliding temperatures, and the electrostatic discharge converging in a raging storm right over our heads sent my heart into overdrive and flooded my system with endorphins. I lived for this high.

Storm Chaser is now available for pre-order on Amazon! Release date October 16.

Air elemental Sylphie Seaton has the perfect job—chasing twisters. She’s excited for another season of tracking them until Eric Gage, an extreme photojournalist, shows up for a ride along. When he stumbles upon a pattern of unnatural storms and a shady corporation, Sylphie is drawn into a deadly conspiracy that could not only expose the supernatural, but cost the lives of everyone she holds dear.

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Cover Reveal: Storm Chaser

Elemental Magic Book Five is coming soon! I am very excited for this book, and I hope you all are as well. But for now, please give a drumroll for the astounding cover that the amazing Shelley at Spittyfish Designs created. She ROCKS!

Air elemental Sylphie Seaton has the perfect job—chasing twisters. Every year she and her team of elemental scientists hit the road during tornado season to track the elusive weather phenomena in order to collect new data.

Things are about to get complicated when Eric Gage, an extreme photojournalist, comes along for the ride. He’s human, and completely ignorant about the supernatural world. Sylphie can’t decide whether to find the man charming or infuriating, a tension that’s tested when they go up against one of Nature’s most volatile forces.

For something’s off with this season’s twisters. There’s an eerie echo in the wind, and the most destructive weather events seem a little too targeted. It’s impossible to control a tornado…or so she thought. But when Gage stumbles upon an unnatural pattern and a shady corporation, Sylphie is drawn into a deadly conspiracy that could not only expose elementals, but cost the lives of everyone she holds dear.

Storm Chaser will be released October 16, but you can pre-order your Kindle copy on Amazon now!

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