Bonds of Death - Cover Reveal and Blurb

As promised, I'm revealing the cover for Bonds of Death today!  And oh man, this one is a little.....  I don't have words.

After the preliminary sketch, I mentioned on Twitter that the idea for the cover seemed much less suggestive in my head than it did once I put it on paper, and that's still the case now that the image is complete.  It's definitely the most suggestive cover I've done so far.

Like the Art of Death cover, I found inspiration in Male Nude Known as Hector, by Jacques-Louis David.  Unlike Art of Death, where Riley's eyes were in shadow, I wanted them to be highlighted on this cover.

So anyway... here's the cover and the blurb!

Fresh out of a messy breakup, starving artist Riley Burke has found happiness with Westwood, his new undead lover—enough happiness that when his friend Porter warns him that the undead only see humans as flashy playthings, Riley looks the other way. After all, he only wants a bit of fun. It's not like he's asking Westwood to put a ring on his finger.

Once a brutal and violent criminal, Westwood now atones for his past by punishing the undead for crimes against humans. But his job doesn't make him popular with his undead brethren—and someone has a thirst for revenge.

That someone has uncovered Westwood’s weakness and is on the hunt. To withstand an attack, Westwood must bolster his strength by taking on a human worshipper. He turns to Riley, but Riley is terrified of the bond Westwood's ritual will create. He would rather risk his life pursuing Westwood's attacker than risk opening his soul to a man who doesn't respect him. But time is running out, and if Riley and Westwood can't come together, one of them might pay the ultimate price.

RELEASES 10/19 FROM DREAMSPINNER PRESS

New Christmas Novella Accepted!

I made a brief mention of this on Twitter, but I didn't make any sort of official announcement, so I figured now would be a good time before I forgot.

First thing Monday morning, I got the news that my new novella, "Lucky," had been accepted into Dreamspinner Press's advent calendar anthology for this December.  That means that it'll be sold as part of the package of 30 stories, and it'll also go on sale individually with its own cover (and I know exactly what I plan for the cover already).  It'll be in ebook format.

I'm excited about this story because it's my first contemporary m/m romance.  It's also quite a bit less risky/controversial than the Undead Series or The Dragon Tamer.  Granted, I love writing risky stories, but if a low-risk story happens to inspire me, then I take it and run with it.

There are a few layers to "Lucky," but on its surface it's a sweet, fun holiday story about a guy who desperately needs a date to his company's Christmas party, but ever since he got his lucky dreadlocks cut off, he finds himself striking out left and right.

As we get closer to the release date, I'll share an excerpt or two.  In the meantime, I think I'll just sit here and do my happy dance. :)