To get us started can you tell us a little about what
you are working on or have coming out?
Right now, I'm working on several things, to be honest. First
and foremost is Retribution, the third and final book in the Secrets of
Socendor series I'm doing for Samhain Publishing. I'm also writing Someone
Like You, the third book in my Arcanum series, and Harbinger, book
two in a new series I've started called Shadowkings. Both of those are with
Torquere Press. Book 1 of Shadowkings (The Beginning) is aimed for a
fall 2013 release from Torquere, I hope. I'm also starting a new series that's
a spin-off from the Dark Reign books I have with Changeling Press. This new one
is Clutch Wars, and it involves dragon shifters. Book 1--The Reluctant Queen--is
slated for a November 2013 release, I believe.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Oh, that's easy. Wales. I have Welsh ancestry from my maternal
grandmother's side, and as a pagan, I follow a Welsh pantheon. Not to mention
that I think I was born in the wrong time and place. LOL
Where do you find the
inspirations for your stories?
All over, really, though music plays a
huge role in it. Songs can easily inspire characters, stories, or an entire
series. I've been meaning to list playlists on my website for various books.
What is coming up from you in 2013? Anything you want
to tease us with?
Well, I've had several new releases so far--Dragonblade
chief among them. I've added that excerpt below. As for others, the next
biggest one is probably my first solo novel and one that my readers have
(patiently) waited for: The Beginning, Lucca and Gabriele's story. They
are my vamp twins, and what was intended to be the story of how they became
lovers and vamps...turned into an entirely new series that went far beyond the
initial idea of historical. Now the Shadowkings books are a mix of paranormal,
historical, fantasy... LOL Finally, there's Modus Operandi, the final
book in the Coriolis series--my sci-fi stories with Changeling Press. I just
turned it into my editor, and we're looking at an early September release for
that one.
When you begin your stories, do
you go with the flow, or go with an outline?
While I have a plot idea, it's all
pantsing from there on out. When I write, I channel my men, so even I end up
surprised sometimes. I try to stick to the general plot line, but everything
else is completely a matter of going with the flow.
Is it hard coming up with titles
or characters names?
Not really. I'm incredibly picky
with names and naming conventions in my stories. Sometimes the guys will come
to me, completely named. Sometimes I have to hit the name generators at Seventh
Sanctum, and other times, I end up searching for name meanings at
20000-names.com.
Titles are slightly more complicated, and
there are times when I don't know a title until I'm done. I've also named books
using song titles if a particular song greatly inspired it. A good example of
that is my Spirits of Abaddon series with Changeling. Each book title is a song
that played prominently during the writing: Bad Blood (Ministry), Sanctified
(Nine Inch Nails), Darkness In Paradise (Candlemass), and Twilight of
the Gods (Bathory).
Is music a factor for you while you are writing? Do certain songs put you in the right frame of mind to write certain stories?
As I said above,
absolutely. I honestly can't write without music. Nearly every single story has
at least one song (and some have entire playlists) that puts me into the right
mood. Dragonblade, for instance, has a full playlist: 'Kings and Queens'
(Aerosmith), 'Man's Road' (America), 'The Skyrim Theme' (Lindsey Stirling &
Peter Hollens), 'Viva la Vida' (Coldplay), 'Perfect Strangers' (Deep Purple),
'Shadowkings' (Paradise Lost), 'It's My Life' (Talk Talk), and 'Clocks'
(Coldplay). Shadowkings 1: The Beginning had one song ('Shadowkings' by
Paradise Lost), and book 2 of that series (Harbinger) has one song:
'Rise' by The Cult. Book 4 of the Coriolis series (Modus Operandi) also
had a playlist: 'Blow Me Away' (Breaking Benjamin), 'Weltanschauung' (Immune
System), 'Cruci-fiction In Space' (Marilyn Manson), 'Decay' (Sevendust), and
'The Hangman's Body Count' (Volbeat).
About the Author
What do online gaming,
Spongebob, cooking, writing, and an unnatural addiction to Mountain Dew all
have in common?
Not a damn thing, which
is what makes Mychael Black an interesting bird indeed.
Born in north Alabama,
Mychael now resides on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Having run the gamut of labels
in regard to gender and sexuality, Mychael now shuns society’s views on
normality and embraces a poly-everything attitude. Call Mychael her or him—it
doesn’t matter. Just keep reading the books.
http://www.mychaelblackbooks.com/
Dragonblade by Mychael Black
Gay romance, fantasy
Samhain Publishing
Available at Publisher
Winning this battle requires a
faith stronger than steel…
Secrets of Socendor, Book 2
Legends tell of a dragon-forged
weapon so powerful, it possesses the ability to traverse time itself. Knowing
the havoc it could wreak, the dragons sealed it deep beneath the mountains.
No one was meant to find it, let
alone wield it.
General Kalen Ysindroc, leader of
the human king’s armies and the long-lost son of Socendor’s most feared
wizard-king of old, is in a race against time. His half brother, Braen, is
searching for the sword as a means to return their father from the grave. Kalen
must not let that happen. Joined by his elven lover, wizard Micheil Thierauf,
he sets out on a journey beneath the mountains to stop Braen from doing the
unthinkable.
As secrets come to light that test
Kalen’s faith in every way possible, including his trust in the man he’s loved
nearly all his life, the right path is as clouded as the murky,
dragon-blood-tainted waters of the Ebon Sea. And Kalen is forced to make a
decision that could very well be his last.
Excerpt
“Do we have any word from the
general?” Sorien asked.
“Not-” The throne room doors opened
and Vanya glanced up. “Speak of the devil.”
Micheil turned, shock holding him
momentarily still. Judging by Kalen’s grim expression, Micheil had the feeling
the general had pushed his horse hard to reach Seriete so fast. “What’s wrong?”
“Word arrived at the Pass from Andrion.
Sherie is missing.”
“What?” Micheil stood. “Do they have
any witnesses?”
“No. It’s why we’ve been summoned
back to Akuron Heights.”
“Who’s Sherie?” Vanya asked.
“Princess Sherie is the daughter of
the human king, Andrion,” Sorien explained. “She’s been obsessed with Micheil
for years, and has recently come under our scrutiny for a possible contract for
Kalen’s death.”
“Is she really that stupid?”
“Enough to trust lithings,” Kalen
answered. “Either way, Micheil and I have to return to Akuron Heights, no doubt
to lead a search party.”
“Don’t envy you that.”
“It beats leading a whole country.”
Vanya didn’t look particularly
amused. “When will you be back?”
“I have no idea,” Kalen sighed. “I
have a bad feeling about the whole thing.”
“Better you than me.” Vanya stood,
Sorien’s hand still clasped in hers. “Come on, Sorien. Let’s get this
coronation stuff over with. I have new archers to train.”
She led Sorien out of the room,
leaving Micheil and Kalen alone. Micheil chuckled when he noticed Kalen staring
after them.
“Don’t ask. Suffice it to say, I have
the feeling heirs won’t be an issue.”
Kalen shook his head. “Him? I knew.
But her?”
“Sorien has his own brand of charm.
I’ve seen him work others with it many times, but never as openly as this.”
“He must have taken lessons from you
then.” Kalen turned to Micheil, pulling him close. “The ride from the Pass
wasn’t quite the same without you in front of me.”
Micheil shuddered. He distinctly
remembered the one time they’d made the trek on his horse–together. Despite the
troubles looming, he felt himself growing hard at the memory. Kalen’s fingers
threaded through his hair and Micheil let the general pull his head back for a
kiss. Kalen smelled like the dust of the road, like leather and metal and male,
all wrapped into one.
“You must have run the poor horse
ragged,” Micheil muttered in between kisses.
Kalen smiled against Micheil’s mouth. “I had good reason.”
“Do we have to leave right now?”
Kalen tipped Micheil’s head farther,
lips blazing a trail along the arch of Micheil’s throat. “No.” A nip followed,
then Kalen drew back. “I need food, bed, and you.”
“Not in that order, I hope.”
“Feasting on you is my top priority,
sorcerer. It’s been a week since I’ve touched you.”
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