An excerpt

Hey y'all. Forgive me for squeeking by this week with an excerpt. My hubby is in ICU with pneumonia. I've been sitting with him, so I'm behind on my blogging. Hope you all had a fun St. Patrick's Day.  I forgot my green attire, but I've Irish blood in my bones so hopefully that was good enough. lol
Be blessed,
Beth
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LEAD IN- Devin is preparing to steal the Regent diamond for the Niccolo Gueraldi


Devin stood in the shadow of night, in front of the Louvre and waited. He enjoyed the anticipation of the act as much as the prize. He was after a great prize tonight. He might have come earlier, switched the jewels on his own with his magic, but he would have missed this part of it.Larceny, being somewhere you aren’t supposed to be, doing something you’re not supposed to do, was a thrill of its own. His team was already in place and waiting for his signal, each in black from hair to toe, so as not to be seen. Devin had his arm around Nicolette; except for the dark clothes they appeared to be lovers lost in the romance of Paris at night. They moved as a unit to a doorway. In mere seconds, she had the alarms down, and they were in.
It was he who whisked the diamond from its resting place. So complicated were the alarms, he actually had to use magic to do it. Replaced with its recreated copy, the Regent lay safely in a velvet pouch in his pocket. He could feel the power and history pulsing from it even now, but that was for later. There would be much to do later. They left as quickly as they came, without leaving a trace of their passing. Tomorrow he’d catch the first flight out and take Gueraldi his diamond.

Tonight was for magic.

Devin declined Nicolette’s invitation of her company for the rest of the evening. She wasn’t happy about it. Alone, he went to his room, and left her pouting in the hall. His team had their payment, and he owed them nothing more than that. He had learned not to get attached to people over the years, after he had lost friends and loved ones. He remained the same year after year, while everyone else withered and died with new lives being born to take their places.

He changed into a robe of black velvet that grazed the carpeted floor. His eyes were wild with sorcery when he cast his circle, a lion before the kill. It was time for his prize. He took the stone into his hands and used it as a looking glass. Devin absorbed the power of the emotions it had collected as old as time itself. As he did now and then, out of curiosity mostly, he sought her out.

“Show me she that is bound by three, Earth Air and Sea. As is my right, for I am her key. Hide me from her sight so that only I may see what destiny has in store for me. As I will so mote it be.” With eyes closed he held the diamond while it grew hot in his hand, and looked across the distance to the stone circle by the sea. He couldn’t see her yet, not just yet. Arianne was still the wind, but he felt her magic. He saw the spell cast again, saw her become the air. She was beautiful, desirable. He wanted her instantly and hated the sight of her all the same.

It was all he could see, for now, but something had changed. Time was shifting. He had essentially stayed the same since he had been trapped. He didn’t age, at all, not even by a day. His hair hadn’t grown, and if he cut himself he didn’t bleed. It was like he was caught in limbo, until this morning. He’d had to shave for the first time in a millennium. Proof that the spell was unraveling, even if ever so slowly. He didn’t know what was causing the change, but it meant this half existence would soon be over. It might be worth his while to find out what was causing it. He didn’t want her to be waiting for him when it was, but the spell itself would compel him to seek Arianne, compel him to lust for her. Love? Well, love couldn’t be ruled by magic.

Pets and Prose...

I think every story I've ever written had some type of pet in it, even Earth Enchanted did though you didn't get to see him. It wasn't practical for Liv's cat Moe to run from psychos along side of her and so he was left at home. You'll meet him in Wait for the Wind since Liv is (spoiler alert) at home on bedrest with twins for a lot of Ryan's story. Of course in Gypsy Moon, I used Ana's dog Taffy to drive some of the action in the opening scenes, giving Ana a reason to go out into the storm. Circe the cat also gave me the opportunity to show off Ana's magic with small mundane things that would normally go unnoticed.

I love animals, especially cats, so they tend to pop up in my writing without consiously thinking of them. Just there, to give comfort to the hero/heroine, protect, act silly, or whatever. I've always had a pet, usually several at once. Most were rescued from the side of the road where a careless owner had thrown them out or were just born strays. I take them in, feed them, treat for mange (there is a cure for the regular mange, if you need it contact me) and sometimes they just need love to forget the abuse they have suffered. Point is this. Pets stay with you in spirit, love you unconditionally, and devote themselves to making our lives richer. You can ask for a better friend than that. 

Be blessed
Brynna
(in memory of Panther (nano-kitty) It's been twenty years since I lost my best friend. I still miss you.)

Nice villians?

Truth be told, heroes aren't all they're cracked up to be. Have you ever stepped back and really looked at the whole hero scene? It's true they save people in dire situations. Noble, yes. Some have powers, some don't, but they are usually cookie cutter perfect. How boring is that? Where is the growth of character that makes them appealing?

Now villians are another story. Whether they are the actual antagonist or just colorfully bad secondary characters, villians bring a whole new aspect to the playing field. Unlike a hero, they are wonderfully flawed and sometimes unapologetically evil.  My favorite bad guy out of all the books, shows, movies, etc. is Sesshomaru (For those of you who don't watch anime, he is the older brother of half-demon Inuyasha in the anime Inuyasha)

Sesshomaru is a full demon and is his father's eldest heir. Violent, cunning and powerful he certainly gives his half brother no end of trouble, constantly trying to kill Inuyasha and his love interest time-traveling Kagome.  But he's not all bad.  After stumbling across a wounded little girl who had taken care of him when he was hurt, Sesshomaru decides to use the sword his father bequethed him to bring her back to life (the only thing the sword is good for). Ren becomes his only friend, following him on his travels and slowly changing him for the better.  He would kill for her and die for her, though normally self serving and evil. Point is this.  He feels justified in his actions and truly believes what he does is right. It all depends on which side of the coin you stand on.  What villians do you sympathize with? Why? What makes them special and how do you recreate that in your writing?
Be blessed,
Beth

Mixin' genres- (Sorry about this. Blogger didn't auto post it)

Most of you know I write paranormal romance, which is a mix of genres, but I like to add romantic suspense to the mix.  Then you have your light and dark paranormals with.  When it comes down to it, I guess my books are "mutts", but that's okay with me. 

Melissa mentioned growing up with pure breds, well I don't believe we every had a pure bred anything (unless you count the parakeets).  Growing up my mom let me drag home every stray dog and cat that came my way.  Most were in need of medical care or starving, so we fed them, loved them and found them homes or kept them until they died or ran off.  I still remember the first dog we had "Nasty".  Mom found him in a mud puddle when he was only a few weeks old.  It was very cold and she always guessed the mother had died or left him behind.  She fed him with a baby doll bottle until he could eat regular food.  As he grew, he began to look like a cross between a wolf and a golden retriever.  Of course we don't know what kind of dog he was, but he was loyal and fierce.  Keeping my one year old self constant company ( and out of trouble. I was a little demon spawn at that age *wink*)  Mutts are great.  I think that extends to books too.  So you want to mix 'em up?  Go for it.  What ever the result, its bound to be interesting.

On another note, I'll be guest blogging about Christmastime at "Dishin' it Out" Sunday with Ginger http://mizging.blogspot.com/ .   I'm also celebrating the December 7th release of Earth Enchanted with a contest.  For more info go to http://brynnacurrybriannaroarkebooks.webs.com/ and check out the "contests" tab. 

Be blessed,

Beth

Breathe...

Have you ever read a book where it seems as though the characters are someone you've met before? Do you feel like you know there life history, or should? Some writers have a talent for making their characters breathe, but how do they do it? Is it the deep point of view we hear so much about? Their emotional and physical encounters with each other? Their past? Their growth through the novel? Or is it simply an innate ability on the author's part, a talent that can't be taught? Maybe its a little bit of all of those things.

Nothing ruins a book more for me than flat characters. If I can't see, hear, and feel them and their emotions, how will they imprint the story in my mind?

I give my hero/heroine pasts and so much conflict it scares even me. Inner thoughts (innerds as one of my editors calls it) are a great way to see inside the character's mind.
On another note, I got the cover for Earth Enchanted in yesterday. It's a smidge racy so I won't post it up, but if you'd like to see it. http://www.lyricalpress.com/brynna_curry
Beth (who is going back to refinishing the dining room hardwood and laying down tile. yip. eee.)