Brute blurb

My NaNoing is going very well--I just passed 31k last night.  I've been trying to get ahead because today I'm off for a mental health weekend with some friends. I often hit a sort of slump in a novel at about this point, but that hasn't happened yet with this one. Chris and Dylan are keeping me so busy, I'm even dreaming about the story!

In other news, it looks like I'll have an early December release date for my newest novel, Brute. I'm really excited about this one. I think it would make an excellent holiday gift for everyone you know. *g* Here's the blurb:

   

Brute leads a lonely life in a world where magic is commonplace. He is seven and a half feet of ugly, and of disreputable descent. No one, including Brute, expects him to be more than a laborer. But heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and when he is maimed while rescuing a prince, Brute’s life changes abruptly. He is summoned to serve at the palace in Tellomer as a guard for a single prisoner. It sounds easy but turns out to be the challenge of his life.
Rumors say the prisoner, Gray Leynham, is a witch and a traitor. What is certain is that he has spent years in misery: blind, chained, and rendered nearly mute by an extreme stutter. And he dreams of people’s deaths—dreams that come true.
As Brute becomes accustomed to palace life and gets to know Gray, he discovers his own worth, first as a friend and a man and then as a lover. But Brute also learns heroes sometimes face difficult choices and that doing what is right can bring danger of its own.

I just got the galley proofs last night, which means that in addition to everything else I have going on, I need to quickly read over 90k words for typos and other minor minstakes. Paul Richmond is doing the cover art and it looks fantastic.

I am also very pleased to announced that I signed a contract with Dreamspinner for a novella this week. Night Shift will come out in April or May.