Thursday, July 16, 2015

Maidenhead

I'm all about the Dark Fairy Queen, so when she announced a Midsummer contest for flash fiction I dove in. Many thanks to the DFQ for dreaming up the challenge; I had a blast re-imagining a certain Scottish ballad as a modern business takeover.


Maidenhead

Janet marched to the door of Carterhaugh Inc. and swiped the entrance portal with the pad of her thumb. Naturally, it didn’t work, so someone had already changed the master code.
However, they didn’t know about the hack she had hidden in the program years ago. Janet keyed in SERPENT, and a series of doors whispered open to allow her entrance.
Her quick, angry footsteps echoed in the hallway. Janet was spoiling for a fight. She was rewarded by a dark figure holding a long object resembling a sword although, when she approached, she saw it was a laser pointer.
“Castlehaugh is mine,” she announced. “Get out, and take your cronies with you.”
“Fae Enterprises took over 51% last night…” the shade began.
“Yes, under hostile conditions. I already filed papers to remove the lines of text you added after the contracts were signed.”
He tilted up his chin. The light revealed a severe jaw and long, black hair. “I serve Fae in all respects,” he said. “Take your generous payout and leave.”
Tam Lin by Jill Karla Schwarz 
To be honest, it wasn’t bad advice. No one went up against Fae and survived the encounter. The rumor was Fae was in bed with Hellbore, the controlling interest behind the new, lightning-quick Aethernets.
“I’ve opposed company dogs before,” she smiled. “We have recordings of your company’s process.” Janet’s invention, installed secretly in the long meeting chamber, monitored blood pressure, heart rates, and breathing patterns of Fae’s CEO and COO. She also had bargained with the lawyers so those recordings could be used in court.
“You’ll never win against Fae…” The man’s gaze flickered.
Janet prepared for her final attack. “The Halloween Ball this weekend is still on,” she said. “I’ll pick you up. White car.”
A rumble erupted from his chest, the purr of a deadly lion. “You plan to offer me your maidenhead, perhaps?”
She grinned at the old-fashioned word and his lapse of judgment. “Long gone, I’m afraid.”
“White car,” he repeated, and she knew she had him.
“You never told me your name,” Janet said.
“I think you already know who I am.”
She couldn’t hold back her laughter. “I do. Until Saturday night, Mr. Lin.”


Friday, July 3, 2015

Frost by Erin Latimer - #CoverReveal



Frost Front Cover
Frost by E. Latimer
Expected: August 25, 2015 by Patchwork Press
Book Description: Megan Walker’s touch has turned to ice. She can’t stop the frost, and the consequences of her first kiss are horrifying. When her new powers attract attention, Megan finds herself caught up in an ancient war between Norse giants. One side fuelled by a mad queen’s obsession and an ancient prophecy about Ranorak, the other by an age-old grudge. Both sides believe Megan to be something she’s not. Both sides will stop at nothing to have her. Fire or frost. It’s an impossible decision, but she’ll have to act soon, because the storm is coming.  
 
Pre-Order Links:
About E. Latimer: Erin Latimer is a young adult fantasy writer who currently resides in Vancouver, BC. She writes books, makes silly vlogs about writing with the YA Word nerds, and reads excessively. She has had an article featured in Chicken Soup For the Soul, and another in the Dear Teen Me online anthology. But mostly she writes about murderous queens and the magical teens who fight them. You can find her online at elatimer.com/
This Cover Reveal was organized by Patchwork Press.