Friday, May 24, 2013

Reader's Choice: Pick My Next Series

Hey everyone!  As Taming Fire is coming to an end soon, and I have three different stories flitting about on my computer, I thought I would give you all the chance to decide what comes next.  Below I'm going to leave a short blurb and a preview of all three stories for you to choose from.  Leave me a comment in the comment's section below! You can only choose one. ;)

~xX Night

***

1. One Hundred Little Things

Pritch has led the perfect life up until now.  He's got a great job with an advertising agency.  He has a killer apartment and a sexy suit and tie wardrobe.   All of his life, things have been a little too perfect, too structured and planned and it's all his fault.  Pritch craves to know how the rest of the world lives.  He yearns to do all the little things he's never allowed himself to do because they weren't part of his life plan.  In short, he's boring and everyone knows it.  Everyone.

Leaving his job after a 'heart-to-heart' with his blunt secretary, Pritch finds his life plan crumbling and he's not so sure he was meant to be adventurous after all.  Jobless and falling apart, Pritch makes a list - one hundred things he wants to do before he dies of being too boring.

K.J. is a bike messenger, one of the city's finest.  Besides being a little blunt and uncaring of what others think, he can't help but be drawn to those in need of help.  The sexy, street smart courier gets a 'hot' pick-up at a swank ad agency and he finds himself wrapped around the universe's little finger when he ends up on Pritch's doorstep to deliver.

Through a series of discoveries, the two men embark on an adventure to see life for what it truly is...and maybe find each other in the process.

* Preview *


“Here.”  K.J. pulled a sandwich that he’d picked up at a stand on the corner out of the webbing of his shoulder bag.  He dropped it in the kid’s lap. “Eat something, then stop sitting on your ass and take a ticket from Mer.  You gotta learn your way around this jungle sometime or you’ll starve.  I can’t be feeding you twenty-four seven and you need a new bike.  That chain is ancient and those wheels are for sightseeing, you feel me?”

“You’re such a humanitarian, K.  Jesus, you’re pathetic.”  Tiny dropped her bag on the table in the corner.  “Mer just got a drop for you.  Give the kid his last meal and get your ass in gear.”

The kid bit his lip, scared to let anyone see how hungry he was.  He carefully unfolded the plastic wrap from his sandwich, staring at the food with hooded eyes.  K.J. ignored Tiny’s comment and crouched down beside him.  “Ain’t no one else gonna do you any favors.  It’s hard.  I know.  But you gotta let it roll off your back and toughen up.  Don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks.  If you do, you’re gonna be exactly who they think you are, and I know better.  You got it.  You just have to want it.  Ask Mer about the rider’s club.  You can get a little time in with some pros and once you get your legs about you…you’ll make more money.  I know you don’t want to sleep in that backroom forever.”

The rookie nodded once.  “Thanks,” he whispered, ducking his head.

“When everyone clears out, take the blue helmet at the bottom of my locker.  Yours is shit.  The last thing we need is for you to take a dive you don’t get back up from.”  K.J. patted the rookie’s knee then stood.  “Alright, ladies, we done gawking or ya gonna keep standing around and lose good money?”

The messengers made their comments before dispersing.  It was lunch time in the city, the busiest three hours of the day.  K.J. left the kid to eat and walked down the concrete hallway to Mer’s office.  Through the glass panes and bars of her windows, he could see Mer and her boyfriend taking calls and putting the ticket information through to the couriers, via radio.  He tapped on the glass and lifted his hands at her.

Mer waved him in, looking beat as hell.  Jackson, her boyfriend, grunted a hello as K.J. entered.  Jackson thought Mer had the hots for K.J. and that the two of them were having an affair behind his back.  The two men could never come to an understanding.  Even though K.J. had repeatedly assured Jackson he was gay.  Not that his sexuality deterred Jackson’s rampant imagination. 

Insecure prick, K.J. thought.

“Got a big one for you.”  Mer slid the ticket over her desk mid-call.  “No, sir, that wasn’t for you.  Uh huh.  By five?  Got it.  You, too.  Thanks.”  She hung up.  “Asshole.”

“You got a big one for me, huh?”  K.J. smirked.

Jackson shook his head, muttering under his breath.  Mer scowled at her boyfriend.  “Knock it off.”

“Didn’t say a word.”  Jackson flipped open the messenger log.  “Though, I’d like to.”

“Don’t have to, I can smell the cogs turning and burning in your head.”  Mer rolled her eyes.  “Anyway, K, as I was saying, I’ve got a hot run on fifth.”

“Dammit, Mer, that’s gonna be hell.”  K.J. put his hands on his spandex covered hips.  He caught her staring at his groin and put his hands in front, giving her a warning look.

She straightened.  “This is me caring.”

“You’re such a doll.  How hot?”

“An hour?”  She smiled sweetly.  “West 55th to 5th Ave, quick right, two blocks.  Easy.”

“Where’s the drop?”

“East 50th and Park?”

“Ah, hell, Mer, you know Reggie took it hard there last week with that construction, swam right into a pothole the size of middle earth.”

She leaned back, putting a call on hold.  “Am I asking Reggie to take this?”

“No.”

“I’m asking you because you’re the best and our lovely client requested the best.  Even paid double for insurance purposes, which filters down to you getting double, am I right?”

“I guess.”

“Big tips on both ends, I suspect.”  She raised her brows.  “In or out?  Can’t have this going cold or it’s my ass.”

“It’s always about your ass.” K.J. swiped up the ticket.  “Cool your jets, Jackie boy.”  K.J. shot her boyfriend a look.  “I don’t want it.”

Jackson sneered. “Fucker.”

“The feeling is mutual.” 

K.J. walked out of the office, slamming the door closed.  Construction.  A lot of it.  Traffic, he could deal with, but a whole two blocks being repaved by street and by sidewalk was a messenger’s worst nightmare.  He could always go around, but it would cost precious time he didn’t have.  The money would be worth it.  He always needed money.  Who the hell didn’t?  Though, unlike most people, he needed it for his bike which was hurting in a bad way.  Bad bike, no cash, he thought.

He shoved his Bluetooth in his ear, turned on his radio for dispatch, and strapped his bag around his chest.  His bike came free of the hook and he hoisted it on his shoulder for the trek to the outside world.  “Later, kid.”

Not rookie.  Not newb. Just kid.

The other messengers heard the same and stared at K.J. like he’d lost his mind.  However, the kid beamed back at him, sparking something inside that no one had given him before.  K.J. didn’t stick around to see what the kid did with his newfound magic.  He set his tires on pavement, mounted his bike, and turned on his GPS.

He had a run to make, a really hot one.
 
 
2. Meteor Mavericks Series
Meteors keep falling from the sky, in the middle of the night, in little places all over the world. Doc Granger and his best friend Isaiah were first to see the meteor fall from the sky.  Just boys, and very curious, Doc and Isaiah touched the rock that life-changing night.  Unbeknownst to them, the meteor carried two brands of alien DNA, one good and one evil.  In a war for planet earth, the alien races had come to a shaky agreement. 
They would send their life essence out into the human race and let the mortals battle it out for them, with special abilities, of course.  Their first warriors were Doc and Isaiah, pit against each other until one could kill the other.  Isaiah's race would need to take back the meteor energy Isaiah had been tasked to guard until it became powerful enough to kill.  If Isaiah succeeded, he would end Doc.  If Doc collected the energy he needed, he would kill Isaiah first.
But something went wrong, an unforeseen glitch in the alien war.  A child became involved.  A child born of both alien and human DNA.  Doc became a father...to little Tuck.
Doc Granger had been everything to Tuck.  His father might have been a little eccentric and always hid his true abilities behind his healing skills, but Tuck had looked up to the man since the day he was born.  Twenty years after his father's death, Tuck lives with Doc's legacy, following in his footsteps as a doctor by day and a Maverick by night.
Charged with protecting his father's meteor - Tuck's means of survival - Tuck knows his father's murderer still roams the earth, waiting for the day he gains enough energy to kill Tuck too.  With the help of his butler, Landry, a runaway Maverick, Tuck begins the hunt for his father's opponent to end it once and for all.
When higher powers begin to take notice of him... all bets are off.
 
*Preview*
 
“One night, many moons ago, a meteor landed on earth.” Doc Granger pointed out the window at the night sky.  “It was a summer night just like any other.  It was real hot inside, so two boys had been camping out by the river to cool off.  They were the best of friends, a bit competitive with each other, but what boys aren’t at your age?  When they saw that light falling from the sky, they raced each other to see who could find it first.”
Seven year old Tuck sat up, wide eyed.  “Who found it first, daddy?”
Doc ruffled his son’s dark hair, smiling wide.  “I did, of course.”
Tuck gasped.  “Was it aliens, daddy?”
“Boy, you got some imagination.” Doc’s crystal blue eyes twinkled.  “Well, I don’t rightly know where the rock came from, the sky I suppose as that’s where meteors come from, but it was glowing something fierce when we got close enough to touch it.”
“Glowing?  Did you touch it?”  Tuck pulled the blanket up to his chin.
Doc curled into his son’s side, soothing his fear.  “Sure did, and as you can see, I’m just fine.”
“Good.”  Tuck put his small hand on his daddy’s big one, grabbing a finger.  “What about your friend?”
“He’s alive.”
“Is he okay?”
“Depends on your definition of okay…”
“What happened, daddy?”
Doc hugged his son, staring out at the night.  “I’ll always wonder where that rock came from and who sent it here.  I do know, after a lot of looking into it, that rock wasn’t the first of its kind, seems as though when one of them rocks falls from the sky, it carries energy inside of it, like magic.  When that energy releases…you following me?”
Tuck nodded eagerly, rewarded with a kiss to his hair.
“Like I was sayin’, when that energy releases it tries to find a home inside of whoever is closest to it, it being the meteor.  But just like with anything on this earth that energy splits up into two separate parts, one side good and one side bad.  Being on earth is too much for the magic to stay together, as opposed to outer space, I reckon.”
“Daddy, magic ain’t real.”  Tuck squirmed around until he could see his daddy’s eyes.  “Is it?”
“Tuck, if you had magic inside of you, what would you do with it?”
Frowning, Tucker sat up.  “Daddy, you’re scaring me.  I’m not magic.”
“Ain’t nothing to be scared of, boy.  It’s just a question.”  Doc pushed Tuck’s hair away from his fearful eyes.  “What would you do, son?”
Tucker hugged his pillow to his chest, casting his eyes to his lap.  “Like a special wish?”
“If that’s what you want to call it, sure.”
Looking at his daddy, Tucker sniffed.  “I’d bring mama back.”
Doc swallowed and shook his head.  “You can’t bring people back from the dead, sugar.”  He pulled Tucker to his chest.  “No matter how much magic or love we have.”
“Then what can I do, daddy?  I miss her so much.”  Tucker’s watery eyes met his daddy’s.
Doc brushed the tears away, hiding the shock behind his gaze.  Tucker’s blue eyes burned like twin beacons against the dark window.  It was time.
“Instead of bringing mama back, you use that magic to protect innocent people from those that hurt her.”
“You mean heal them like you do, daddy?”
Doc gripped his son’s shoulders carefully.  How did he tell a seven year old about his life so far?  How did he tell Tuck that the meteor was their means of survival?  How did he tell his son that if his meteor fell into his enemy’s hands, they would be finished…if not before?  If he couldn’t protect them until Tuck was strong enough to protect himself…
“Yeah, sugar, you heal them all.   If that’s what you want to do with your magic.”
“But magic ain’t real, daddy…”
With no other choice, as Tuck’s abilities were starting to show, Doc lifted his son out of the bed and went to the old vanity mirror.  He took a deep breath and turned around for Tuck to see. 
“Magic is real, sugar.  Very real…”
Tucker’s scream in his ear was a noise Doc would never forget, not even in death.
***

3. The Other Side of Royalty Series (Vampire Guardian Spin-off)

This one doesn't really have a blurb because I intend for it to be a series of multiple short stories, but I do have a preview of the first one.  Here you go!


Preview:

Trey hugged himself, fidgeting in front of the clinic front desk.  His threadbare coat was too short in the arms, leaving at least six inches of his skin exposed to the chill wafting in from the closing double doors.  He knew he looked like shit.  He knew he smelled too.  But he was desperate at this point.  He needed somewhere safe to sleep; somewhere away from the dealers after him.  And he was starving.  The nick he’d stolen from another dealer had fallen out of his pocket on the subway.  Right now, he was fucked.

“Can’t you just give me one?  Look, lady, I’m desperate here.”  He chewed on his lip, watching her glance up at him.

“Sir, I’ve told you twice now, you need to fill out a Second City Insurance form before I distribute a blood testing device.  It’s the Queen’s law, enforced by the Prince and his mate, Daniel.”

He gripped the desk.  His hunger surged.  “I’m trying here.  I don’t have a place of residence.  I don’t have any ID.  And I don’t have a place of work.  The shelters are all booked up, too.  Please,” he begged.  “I’m… I’m hungry.”

The receptionist frowned compassionately.  She glanced over her shoulder, making sure none of her co-workers were in ear shot before looking back to him.  “I’m not supposed to do this.  I could lose my job.”

“Please,” Trey repeated softly.

“If you didn’t remind me of my own son… God, you look so much like him.”  She rubbed her nose and sighed.  “There’s a shuttle leaving for a Soho shelter in ten minutes.”  She nodded at the lobby full of waiting vamps.  “They’ll give you something to take the edge off when they arrive.  Clean donors will be waiting at the facility when you get there.  I’ll push through some forms to make it happen, but if my boss catches on, I don’t know you.  You’ll be on your own to explain.”

Taken aback by her kindness and her willingness to ease his suffering, he put his dirty hand on hers.  “I won’t forget this.”

She snatched her hand back as the doors behind her opened.  “Go.  Have a good night… Alex.”

Trey caught on quickly.  He pulled his coat tighter around him and sat in the lobby with the other homeless vamps.  He was no longer a Trey.  He had been forced to become an Alex.

***

Jaska cut the engine of the fifteen passenger van and waited for Greg to pull up behind him.  He radioed inside for a heads up. “Missy, spot any trouble tonight?”

The clinic receptionist radioed back, “All good in here, mostly women and children. One widow, though.  She seems a bit… emotional. Are you boys out front?”

“I am.  I’m just waiting for Greg.”  Jaska spotted Greg’s car pulling up behind him.  “He’s here.  I’ll bring the bags inside.”

“I’ll notify staff.”

“Thanks, Missy.”  Jaska got out, meeting Greg at the trunk of his car.  “How was dinner, man?  Any luck?”

Greg woefully shook his head.  “He talked the entire time.  I didn’t get a single word in except for hello.  I think I’m just going to hang up my hat for now on the whole dating thing.  Not all of us are so lucky as to have a built in mate.”

“Sorry to hear that.”  Jaska rubbed Greg’s shoulder.  “Did you at least…”  Jaska grinned at Greg’s scowl.  “Never mind.”

Hefting the locked trunk from Greg’s car, Jaska went into the clinic with his arms full.  Greg followed him in, checking the streets for any stray security issues.  Seeing nothing out of sorts, he went inside.  The moment he stepped foot into the clinic, he scented the perfume of the city people.  A pungent, garbage-like odor assailed him, but he kept a straight face.  Some of these vamps had never had a chance.  From what he could make of the group, at least eighty percent of them were human turned, most of them not by choice.

“Listen up.”  Greg accepted a clipboard from Missy at the front desk.  “This is how it’s going to go.  You’ll be transported to the Soho shelter for a temporary stay with a seven day max on your room.  If you fail to file the proper paperwork once we arrive, you’ll lose the chance to be placed in our trade program, school for your children, and also a permanent residence.

“If any of you fail to uphold our rules, you will be banned from the shelter and put on a black list.  The rules are as follows.  No drugs.  No weapons.  No fighting, including raising a hand to the staff or each other.  No visitors of any kind.  You will not be allowed to leave the premises unless authorized by a staff member, with a staff member.  All feedings will be supervised by me or Jaska here.”  Greg pointed to Jaska.  “And last but not least, you will bring no outside materials, blood bags, terrorist paraphernalia as deemed unacceptable by our Queen, or technological devices.  All personal belongings will be searched and approved before we transport you to the shelter.  Are there any questions?”

Every vampire remained still.  No one raised a hand, but the nervous twitch of a young, vampire male’s eyes caught Greg’s attention.  As soon as the man lifted his jade stare to Greg, everything else seemed to fade away.

“Uh, Greg?”  Jaska kneeled next to the trunk he’d brought with him.

Greg cleared his throat, but not before he got a whiff of something the opposite of garbage.  And every sweet delicious note was wafting off the green eyed man in the corner.

“Yeah, man, let’s do this,” Greg grunted and went to the door. 

He caught his breath with his back turned to the small crowd.  He desperately searched the clipboard roster for a name to go with the face, only to realize he’d have to ask the fucking guy what his name was in person.  One thing Greg was sure of, even without a name, that mystery man was trouble… a whole lot of trouble.  He could smell it.
 
****
 
Okay, folks, it's your choice what comes next.  I have a sneaking suspicion what you guys are going to choose, but for now I'll keep that to myself.  I hope I'm right because I'm dying to write it.  *rubs hands*  Leave me a comment and let me know!!

48 comments:

  1. Vampires all the way :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What about Gabe and Ghost?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I won't be putting out anymore Guardian tales on the blog. Those will be solely for publishing. I don't want to give away every ending. :) I promise that I'm working very hard on pushing out Cade right now. It's my first full length novel, so it's taking me a while to learn the ropes. But thank you for reading. I appreciate it. ♥

      Delete
  3. this is DEFINITLY a no-brainer......VAMPS , VAMPS , and MORE VAMPS need more VAMPS been having withdrawls...LOL
    1brokNangel

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Vampires," says Vampwriter. Natch.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Vampires!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I know I'm going against the grain here, but I really like the sound of One Hundred Little Things :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. The first one sounds like "The Bucket List" meets "Jerry Maguire," and I'm not too interested. The second one sounds very "Superman"ish, and I'm not in the mood. The third one is appealing, I think, because it's got the appearance of characters we know and have missed. I was hoping for Ghost and Gabe's story as well, but I'm ok with buying it one day.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Definitely the vampires!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, spoiled for choice! They all sound good, but the idea of a hunky, adrenalin version of "Premium Rush" done by Night sounds very inticing... So think it's A Hundred Little Things for me... But revisiting the vamp world will always be pleasure, and the second one sounds a little slower but no less enticing... Very hard to choose!

    - Faolin

    ReplyDelete
  10. All!!!! but I think i'd like to read "One Hundred Little Things", two different men on an adventure together

    ReplyDelete
  11. One hundred little things to be sure!!! But I was really looking forward for when Banshee would come out...any news??

    ReplyDelete
  12. My first instinct was to choose the Vampire one but after reading One Hundred Little Things again I'm most definitely intrigued! It sounds really interesting and now I'm conflicted. I want Vampires and Little Things both. I know it's not possible but I'm hoping!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm on the Meteor Mavericks and Vamps side. With a strong lean on the vamps. Kinda miss 'em. :) They're what brought me to your blog in the first place no matter how much I enjoy the rest.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Honestly, I get so confused with all the Vamp characters without more in them!

    It has to be One Hundred Little Things :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. One Hundred Little Things! (Love the vamps, but I love it when you spread your wings into new territory! You always surprise me with fantastic, absorbing, unexpected plots - think: Heart for Trade, which I adore.)

    But you know I'll read anything you post lol. :-)

    Thanks for letting us chime in on your decision!!

    --Coleman

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love a good vamp story... and the spin off series sounds wonderful, but I'm going to go against grain with a few others and say 100 little things. Even tho its almost exactly like in the New Year's Eve movie (with the lady who quits her job and ends up doing her 10 things with sexy bike messenger Zac Effron... and damn if he wasn't super creative!). I loved the premise of the story :) So I vote that one!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. The first impulse for me is the vamps story(which I really really want you to post as well!!!) But the other two look good too! If I had to pick, the 100 little things seems to be my choice.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Meteor Mavericks Series

    ReplyDelete
  19. Im very interested in reading one hundred little things! :) it sounds like my kind of story

    ReplyDelete
  20. Like most of your readers, I'll read whichever one you write. But my vote is for One Hundred Little Things.

    ReplyDelete
  21. One Hundred Little Things, please. I have to tell you I'll read anything you write. I love your stories. Thank you for sharing them with us.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I've loved everything you've written so I'm sure it won't matter which you choose but I'm torn between the Meteor Mavericks and the Vampire spin off. I love your vamp stories but I'm a sucker for supernatural battles with some gay love too.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I was leaning towards 3, but think 1 would be awesome. I know I will most likely be out voted, but wanted to get my 2 cents out the. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Since you're offering vampires, I'll take you up on that offer.
    Though 100 little things sounds interesting, and I won't be too disappointed if that one wins.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Welll... since you write really greaaat stories and i reallyyy have a hard time choosing just ONE.... but you already know so why bother? It's gonna be three. I mean.... seriously..... :D:D:D

    ReplyDelete
  26. Vampires are always amazing when you do them but the meteor mavericks story sounds really interesting so I'm split in my vote.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Okay it was a toss up between Meteor Series or Vamps. So vamps it is hopefully you'll do the meteor series after

    ReplyDelete
  28. LOL Night this is easy - the Vamp spin-off... You are an extremely good writer and I love all your work but Vampire stories trump everything else.

    ReplyDelete
  29. VAMPIRES por favor!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I've been in vamp w/d all these long months. Please pick the vamps. Just a little something to take the edge off till we get to read the new Cade. So excited now!

    -Katie

    ReplyDelete
  31. Vampires please :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for giving us the option of helping you decide on your next story Night.
    I love all 3 options.....so hard to choose just one for now.
    I guess I would have to go with 2),the Meteor Mavericks story.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Silly me thinking I'd have a clear choice! Loved the concept for the first one...and then you try to seduce us with Vamps???? Twas never a fair fight! I would be glad to see the first one come further but I, like the masses, must cast my vote with the Vamps!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Vampires for sure(:

    ReplyDelete
  35. You're going to end up doing the vampire one, I'm aware,
    but I kind of wanted an actual story, not a bunch of short ones. (Anyway, Cade&Micah, Rowen&Dan, and Knox&Isaac were enough vampires for me; I'm a werewolf person.) I'm really, really curious about #1. I'm One Hundred Little Things all the way.(:
    Hopefully we'll get to see it, even if it's not the one to win?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Definately want the Vamps back!!! Miss them so much... U would swear they were actual people, that's how AWSOME u r!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. All the choice are really good and sound like great stories, hopefully in the future you will write all three stories :), right now my favorites are One Hundred Little Things and Vampires but since I can only choose one for right now I choose......Vampires followed closely by One Hundred Little Things...hopefully in the future you can write the other one to.....Thanks for all you do and keep writing your storie are amazing
    -PAM

    ReplyDelete
  38. HA Night! You know me, vamps all the way. I would find it interesting to see that world again but through different eyes, get to see the Royals at a glance form the outside. But if any of the other should win I would be just as happy since I see no reason you couldn't insert short stories along the way between postings ;) Best of both worlds! Ha! Ha! Talk to you soon.

    Kym

    ReplyDelete
  39. Well I really like the sound of 100 lil things but would be happy with anything you wrote. Can't wait to buy the all the royals series when you publish them. Love your work keep it up!!!

    ReplyDelete