Welcome Kharisma Rhayne Today

Hi everyone…I am absolutely thrilled to be here. Thanks so much to Dawn for allowing me to hang out today.

Today I want to introduce you to what I am calling my “accidental series.” Yes, that’s right. Accidental. (Side Note: Clicking on any of the links will take you to more specific details) Here’s how it happened:

I have a number of books, most of which are series books contracted through Rebel Ink Press and No Boundaries Press. I happen to have an 8 book Highlander series titled Highland Blades that I am working on for Rebel. Blurbs, of course, are written.

Thinking I had the perfect start for book 1 in the series, I went off typing the intro and even learning old Gaelic and common phrases to insert into the book. As I dove farther into the book, I decided that I should go back and reread the blurbs for the first three books. I wanted to develop characters that were going to take on more roles in upcoming books. So, I wanted to be sure I had it right.

You wouldn’t believe how wrong I had it.

I was writing the wrong book. Worse yet, it didn’t fit in with any of the blurbs for the series. Even worse news was that it couldn’t even be made to fit as book 1 (pushing the other back) or book 9 (adding an extra to the end).

By that time, I had fallen in love with my main character, Malisin McKeirney. I made up his name based on the word malice (which fits into the book and how I picture his character). I made up his last name, his entire clan, his castle name and so on. This was my Highlander clan that I was placing into early Scotland to co-exist with the other clans of that time (who are real clans of that time period).

After a few hours of panic, emailing my publisher and telling them I was writing the wrong book, and taking some very deep breaths and a bubble bath...I made a choice.

I will have two different Highlander Series’.

The castle name will be shown in Gaelic in some parts of the book, however, translated it means Dark Retribution. So, that also turned into the name of the series. Book one’s title was just voted on Wednesday – Rise of Malice.

This series has totally captured me, so much so, that I’ve hired an artist to bring my main characters, as I see them, to life by drawing them for the cover. I can’t wait to share it with everyone.

Of course, since I do have other contractual obligations, I invite you to check out the different links to find out more about this series as I can piece it together. I have about 8 books that need to be written first. So Malisin and Catriona are picking apart my brain while I try to do other work.

You can find me on my blog, at Kharisma Rhayne Books, on facebook (author page here) and twitter.

My books in print can be found here and the others can be found along the right side of my blog.

Here’s the unofficial Blurb:

Determined to save her clan....

Catriona Campbell will do anything to protect her father and brothers. After years of protecting her, she thinks she's found her chance to finally pay them back. In the middle of another fierce battle with the McKeirney's, she runs into the battle to save her brothers and father.

The most feared...

Clan McKeirney has long been the largest and strongest clan in the Highlands. Once Chieftain was handed over to Malisin McKeirney, they became unstoppable. An unstoppable killer, a deadly eye, a determined leader...there is little doubt "malice" was placed within his name by some greater power.

A life together...

Is Catriona simply doing her duty? Will she acknowledge her heart and if she does, will her father forgive her? Will Malisin allow someone to understand him? To love him? Will his relationship with Catriona turn into more than retribution against his enemy?

Unedited Excerpt:

            Malisin had been patient thus far, but relief and frustration were building. Hadn’t he had care for her innocence long enough? Were they to always play this cat and mouse game as though she were still a virgin?

            Never one for making love, it seemed that was all he’d been doing since marriage to the well sought after Catriona Campbell. After months, it still remained a marriage her father was not fond of, even though it granted him the largest army in the Highlands…and one that he was quickly fearing he would never be fully happy in.

            Pushing the door to his chamber open, he took a deep breath and focused on finding the words he needed to use to convince his prudish wife that fucking your husband didn’t make you a whore.

Making love was overrated.

****

            Catriona was sitting in one of the chairs in front of the fire brushing out her long blond locks. Malisin thought he could watch her forever. Indeed he had been far luckier than he once thought in gaining her during battle. Although, he still questioned her loyalty.

            He walked over behind her and ran long muscled fingers through her hair, feeling her intake of breath as he did so.

            “Catriona, we need to speak.” He knew his face was grim as he sat in the chair across from hers. “You’ve made it very clear that you will throw fits if I take a leman.”

            Malisin silenced her with a look and a raise of his hand as she went to speak. It was a protest and womanly chatter he had no wish to hear.

            “I have not taken another woman since our discussion, you have my word. I’ve only taken pleasure from your body. What you request of me is not in my nature. A man has different needs and it is his wife’s position to see them met. If it’s not her desire to do certain things, that is why many men have a leman. I have humored your behavior more than I should have. You are no longer new to Castle Dorcha Dìolaidh-Fiach.