Ooh, it’s been ages since I stretched my legs at Bitten By Books!

Last time I did, actually, was to discuss whitewashed cover art for my Negotiator Trilogy (aka the Old Races books), and indeed, I’m back today to talk more about the Old Races.

It happens that that trilogy was extremely difficult to write. I mean, like, between three books I rewrote them something like seventeen times, and I must have written close to a million words for what ended up as 375K worth of story. You will not, then, be surprised that I swore I was never going to write another book in that world. And so far, I haven’t.

I *have*, though, been committing short stories and novellas over the place. I didn’t really mean to. It’s just that—well, sick to death of the world or not, I knew I hadn’t gone anywhere near telling all the stories in it. There were three in particular I’d always known about: the story of London burning, the story of Chicago burning, and Grace O’Malley’s story.

Over the past few years, I’ve told two of those stories at novella length: Year of Miracles is the story of London burning in 1666, and HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT is the story of the Great Chicago Fire. (KISS OF ANGELS, Grace’s story, is still in the works.)

One of them—HOT TIME—is being traditionally published by Subterranean Press in this month’s release, BABA YAGA’S DAUGHTER, along with nine other stories that fill in the background and some of the future of the Old Races world.

The other, though, I’ve plunged into self-publication with, and it’s been an utterly fascinating journey.

First off, one of the huge advantages of self-publication is that I’ve got total control over my cover art. And I am, let me tell you, very picky about self-published cover art, because this is my job. I’m a professional. I need to present myself to you, the reader, professionally every single time, whether it’s a traditionally published piece or an experimental e-release. So I worked with a cover artist for all three of the short story collections I’ve done, and the coolest part, hands down, of these covers, is finally getting to represent my main character, Margrit Knight, accurately:

I love the cover art for the other two collections as well, but actually seeing Margrit as a black woman is just so exciting that Icannot get over it. This is so much more how I envisioned her, and I so wish my original Negotiator cover art could have represented her more accurately.

But that’s only been one aspect of the fun of all of this. The Aftermath collection is entirely stories set after the Negotiator Trilogy. The other two, Origins and Year of Miracles—well, Origins sometimes really does tell origin stories, but as often it’s just setting pieces into play for things that happen in the trilogy.

I realized as I was writing them that many of them are a little tragic…but then, they’re set in a time when the Old Races are dying, and have no real hope for a future. I like to think they carry some power because of that.

And, well, Year of Miracles is the Old Races’ greatest love story, so delving into it and learning its details as the writer was quite wonderful. The fact that I’m able to write them and share them through e-pub these days is really incredible to me—they’re stories that really might not have been told, otherwise. So I’m excited to have them out there, and I hope people are excited to get a chance to fill in some details of the Old Races world!

I’m almost certainly going to be revisiting the world of the Old Races with more stories in the future, so tell me—if you’re already a reader of the series, whose stories might you like to see?

If you haven’t read them yet, I’ll be giving away a copy of each of the e-collections to commentors on this blog, so this is a great time to be introduced to the Old Races!

And if you just can’t wait and must go buy the stories right away, this link brings you to my website, where links to Amazon, B&N and Smashwords are all available!

Looking forward to talking with you all in comments! Please, if you have any questions about the Old Races world, or comments, or anything, fire ‘em at me! I’ll be around all day to answer!

-CE Murphy

Author Bio:

According to friends, C.E. Murphy “is a thin veneer over a woman who is constantly moving and shaking. In between walking to Mordor and back, swimming, dancing, and attending Bon Jovi concerts, she squeezes out a book or two every three days.” Also according to friends, she began her writing career when she ran away from home at age five to write copy for the circus that had come to town. It is clear to her that she should let her friends write all of her biographies, because they’re much more interesting that way.

Her own recollections suggest she began writing around age six, when she submitted three poems to a school publication. The teacher producing the magazine selected (inevitably) the one she thought was by far the worst, but also told her–a six year old kid–to keep writing, which she has. She has also held the usual grab-bag of jobs usually seen in an authorial biography, including public library volunteer (at ages 9 and 10; it’s clear she was doomed to a career involving books), archival assistant, cannery worker, and web designer. Writing books is better, and she now has close to twenty in print. In her down time, she writes comic books and short stories, which may be why her editor and agent independently suggested she get a hobby that *wasn’t* writing.

She was born and raised in Alaska, and now lives in her ancestral homeland of Ireland, which is a magical land where it rains a lot but winter never actually arrives.

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Readers, learn more about C.E. Murphy here:

Read the Bitten by Books reviews of the author’s work here.
Newsletter : http://groups.google.com/group/cemurphy-announcements
Blog : http://mizkit.com/ or http://mizkit.livejournal.com/
http://cemurphy.net
http://twitter.com/ce_murphy
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CE-Murphy/46086704983

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

From the moment I finished the Negotiator series, I *had* to know about Janx and Daisani’s past. The love, betrayal, heartache, and hope were too much for me. With the release of The Old Races: Year of Miracles, I finally have my answers!

Sarah Hopkins is a daughter of the slaughterfields. She’s a hardworking woman not afraid to get her hands bloody. It’s a necessity to live alone on the outskirts of London. Produce or perish, that’s her life. It’s no wonder she’s hesitant to believe the handsome, dapper stranger who shows up on the wrong side of the tracks claiming she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. Is it a joke? A bet between he and his wealthy friends? Sarah takes a leap of faith and follows her heart into the home of a man who just might be able to rescue her from the slaughterfields once and for all.

Year of Miracles is one of those rare stories that allows three people to love each other unconditionally without stepping over the boundary into erotica. We have Sarah, our heroine, a poor human girl who finds herself in the midst of a world full of fairy tale creatures. We have Janx, the dragon lord, full of fire and passion. And last, but certainly not least, we have Daisani, the calm and cool vampire. These men are responsible for several of the mythological stories we grew up with and they’re responsible for one of the most powerful romances I’ve ever read. You see, as part of the Old Races, Janx and Daisani are forbidden from telling their secrets to mortals. Sarah realizes this and what it would mean for the men she loves if the others discovered their relationship.

I knew my heart was going to break before I ever started Year of Miracles. Being a huge fangirl of this world, I knew the outcome and tried to prepare myself as much as possible. It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. CE Murphy had to rip out the hearts of three characters to create this novella; there was no other way, and I praise her for having the guts to do so. In the end, I was left with a smile on my face and an understanding of what true love is. THIS is how romance is meant to be written.

On a side note, I wanted to give my own thanks to CE Murphy. It gives a reader a special feeling when you see your name in the acknowledgements. : )

Book Stats:
e-book, digital format
Publisher: Miz Kit Productions (June 25, 2012)
Language: English
ASIN: B008EXH70Q

Purchase a Kindle copy of Year of Miracles from Amazon

Books about the Old Races:
Origins
Year of Miracles
Aftermath
Baba Yaga’s Daughter & Other Tales of the Old Races

The Death of Him
Eoin broke one of the covenants of the Old Races: he told a human what he really was. Somehow, his selkie genes mixed with those of a woman, Roisin, to make new life. Instead of giving up a rare child of the Old Races, Eoin broke from his fellow selkies and made a life with his new family. Several female selkies followed in hopes of mating with the human men. Children were rare for the selkies; the younger generation was desperate to keep their species alive. The older generation had different, deadly ideas.

It is a rare day indeed when I genuinely tear up over a story. Sure, there are those mushy, “Awww” moments we all get when we place our hands on our hearts and cock our heads in the classic “that was so sweet/sad/inspiring” pose. But I’m talking honest-to-god tear-welling emotion here. In a few short pages, Murphy made me feel the joy, the surprise, and the loss of love and war.

Saint George and the Dragons
He is Quirinus, he was Perseus, Marduk, Tahrun and Thor; and his dragons Cetus, Tiamat, Illuyankas and Jormungandr. He has slain dragons for a thousand years, and will slay them a thousand more.

The opening/closing lines of this short story sum up the story better than I ever could. Janx has always been one of my favorite characters in the Negotiator series. He’s honorable and wicked and could eat you whole without chewing. Watching the slow destruction of his kind through his eyes was just what I needed to fill in certain pieces from the series!

Salt Water Stains the Sand
Tahira Firaz Galia al-Shareef di Nazmi al-Massri is a member of the dwindling race of djinn. This story is the first occasion we are allowed into their world for more than a few cursory interactions. Their social structure is similar to that in the middle east – while outside of the home, the women are not treated as equals, but inside the home, they are revered. Tahira finds herself engaged in an arranged marriage to the dirty-dealing leader of their tribe. “Salt Water Stains the Sand” isn’t about action or love – it’s about honor and the destruction of a proud people.

Legacy
This story should be called Alban Finds His Dream Home. It’s the tale of how Alban came to have a home of his own below the church. I loved his interactions with Upjohn, the architect of his church. Alban’s status as a gargoyle is secondary to the friendship he and Upjohn build.

Falling
We get another look into the gargoyle world, only this time, from Biali’s perspective. If you haven’t read the Negotiator series, Biali is basically Alban’s nemesis. They were in love with the same female gargoyle, and she picked Alban. “Falling” fast-forwards a few centuries. Biali is a prize-fighter in New York when he meets Isabel, a Spanish woman looking for love.

All the usual suspects come together for “Falling”: Daisani, Janx, Alban, and a character who shall remain nameless lest I ruin the story. That surprise and the epilogue-esque “coda” wrap up the series of short stories with a nice, ironic twist.

The Old Races: Origins is everything a fangirl could hope for and more. Janx is his slithering self; Alban is stoic as always; Daisani slimed his way back into my heart; and, somehow, I learned to feel sorry for Biali. I can’t wait to read the other shorts about the Old Races!

Book Stats:
e-book, digital format
Publisher: Miz Kit Productions (May 31, 2012)
Language: English
ASIN: B0087YP1GO

Purchase a Kindle copy of The Old Races: Origins from Amazon

Books about the Old Races:
Origins
Year of Miracles
Aftermath
Baba Yaga’s Daughter & Other Tales of the Old Races

I’m coming a bit late to this particular topic–it raged around the blogosphere about a year ago, when Justine Larbalestier’s LIAR, a book about a young black female lead, was set to be published with a young white female on its cover. You can go read all about that http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/07/23/aint-that-a-shame/ over here if you like, but I’m going to talk a bit about my own experience with the same scenario here today.

My Negotiator Trilogy is about Margrit Knight, a New York City lawyer who falls in love with Alban Korund, a four hundred year old gargoyle. She’s also a black woman.

Now, I am none of those things: not black, not from NYC, not a lawyer, not in love with a 400 year old anything, much less gargoyle. Margrit is black not because I thought “Oh hey, I should create a character of color,” but because as a character she leapt fully-formed into my head one morning as a black woman lawyer who ran through Central Park at night as a way of releasing herself from the strictures of her daily life.

This created more controversy than I expected. My publisher was concerned about me writing a black character. I said, “Look, Margrit is Halle Berry colored. She’s from a wealthy family, she grew up in a
wealthy neighborhood, went to private schools–there are people who would call her an Oreo. I’m not trying to write somebody from the ‘hood, which I will grant you I would probably do badly without a
whole lot of research.” (But then, I couldn’t write a white girl from the ‘hood well without a whole lot of research, either, so.)

The bit they focused on was “a Halle Berry type”, and when I turned the manuscript in with Margrit still defining herself as a black woman, they said, “I thought we agreed she would have one white parent.”

I said, “Um, no, and even if she did, Margrit self-identifies as black. She can’t pass, nor would she want or try to.” As far as I can tell, one white parent meant a white woman writer couldn’t “get it wrong” in terms of authenticity. Presumably this is the same logic behind it being okay for me to have written Joanne Walker, who is a half Irish, half Cherokee shaman, two-thirds of which is as far outside my purview as Margrit’s heritage and job are.

When it became clear I wasn’t going to budge on Margrit’s parents both being black–and come on, we’re talking about America here: a huge percentage of black Americans have white blood, and it’s hardly a stretch for two people who self-identify as black to have a daughter who’s Halle-Berry-colored–when I wasn’t going to budge, they said to me, “Maybe you could write a “Dear Reader” letter that says one of the themes of these books is racism.”

I said, “…don’t you think the readers are going to figure that out for themselves?” Nevermind Margrit’s ethnic heritage: this is a series which is nicknamed “The Old Races”. It is literally about racism, not ethnicities or cultures, because there are gargoyles, dragons, djinn, vampires and selkie in it. Margrit doesn’t have to be black for one of the themes to be racism, for pity’s sake.

I didn’t write that “Dear Reader” letter, either, and I knew perfectly well I was facing an uphill battle on the topic of cover art. I let the art department know Margrit was black. I referred to Halle Berry, to Kerry Washington, and I sat back and held my breath.

Here are the covers for the Negotiator Trilogy:

Don’t get me wrong. I love my covers. I really do. They’re sexy and alluring and sell books. But when I got the first one, my reaction was: Well, she isn’t blonde. As far as I’m concerned, that’s a win.

Was that callow of me? Almost certainly. Did I cringe when a reviewer referred to the first direct mention of Margrit’s ethnicity as “a bombshell”? Like you wouldn’t believe. Did I think it was a fight I could win?

Not even for a moment.

So tell me, readers: would a black protagonist on the cover of an urban fantasy novel stop you from buying the book? Would you think about it much? Would a black heroine seem any more or less relatable
than the hot-bodied babes featured on most UF covers? Share your thoughts on the whole topic here. I’d like to hear what you have to say.

I’ll also be giving away 3 complete sets of the Negotiator Trilogy to random commenters; I’ll draw names from a hat on October 18th, a week after this blog is posted. Open to readers worldwide. And in the meantime, if you want to follow
me elsewhere, these are the places you can find me at on the web:

Newsletter : http://groups.google.com/group/cemurphy-announcements
Blog : http://mizkit.com/ or http://mizkit.livejournal.com/
Website : http://cemurphy.net
Twitter : http://twitter.com/ce_murphy
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/CE-Murphy/46086704983

Books in the Negotiator Trilogy in the order they should be read:
Heart of Stone
House of Cards
Hands of Flame

PLEASE NOTE: The contest portion of C.E. Murphy’s event is now closed. The winners will be chosen at a later date and contacted via email.

BBB: Why do you think urban fantasy had become SO popular?

C.E.M: Oh, I think too much of the magic and unknown has gone out of
our daily world, and that urban fantasy fills a desire we have to see
that reappear. Also, we all watched too much Dark Shadows and Beauty
and the Beast as teens and it warped us. I’m open to other theories, though: hit me with your best shot, readers! Why *is* urban fantasy so hot right now? What brings you to it?

BBB: How does living in a beautiful country like Ireland inspire your writing?

C.E.M: Actually I promised a friend I wouldn’t get all Hiberiancentric when I moved here, so I don’t know that it’s inspired me (or not) any more than living anywhere else has. The Irish folklore and legend I use in my books is from a strong connection to my Irish heritage because my Irish-born grandfather lived with us when I was young. (Could I use “Irish” any more in one sentence than that? Sheesh.)

BBB: Do you work on multiple series at the same time, or do you finish a book in one first before moving on to another?

C.E.M: As a rule, I work on one series at a time, though once in a while, during times of great need, I’ll work on two. It’s less difficult than you’d think. Different brainspaces.

BBB: If you could have been the heroine in any movie, which one would you pick and why?

C.E.M: Maybe Geena Davis in Long Kiss Goodnight. That was fun. Well. Or, y’know. Rogue in the X-films, except with a better script. Poor Anna Paquin got robbed in those movies.

BBB: In the Inheritor’s Cycle, you do an excellent job of making Belinda sympathetic. What challenges did you face in creating such a unique character?

C.E.M: Well, the whole idea with Belinda was making an unlikeable character _intriguing_. I wanted her to be compelling, so I think I put more rigid structures in place while writing her than I usually do with characters. She had a real code, a real ethic, that I think is the only thing that makes her sympathetic in the first book. Things get more complicated in the second…

BBB: Which of your series or books have you received the most mail from readers about?

C.E.M: *laughs* There’s a particular scene in the fifth Walker Papers book, DEMON HUNTS, which has far and away generated more mail and commentary than aaaaaaaaaaanything else I’ve ever written. Aside from that, though, the Walker Papers and the Negotiator Trilogy generate about the same amount.

BBB: Is there another historical period, or alternate version of one, that you would like to set a story in?

C.E.M: The Crusades, maybe. Something centered around Eleanor of Acquitaine, who is just about the most fascinating female in history. Did you know she lived into her nineties, surviving all her husbands
and most of her children, and regaining the political power she’d lost for over two decades?

BBB: Lara is much different than most of your heroines – she isn’t weak, but she definitely isn’t a force to be reckoned with in the beginning. Did you water her down to allow her more room for growth? She’s actually kind of perfect. I loved that she wasn’t automatically a no-holds barred character.

C.E.M: A friend challenged me to write a non-forceful character. Lara’s my answer to that. I don’t think she’s watered down at all, just not in-your-face!

BBB: Do you have any favorite Irish writers, classic or contemporary?

C.E.M: This is one of those questions where I’m inclined to say “Yes!” and just leave it at that. But who doesn’t love Oscar Wilde?

BBB: I know Dafydd has a special relationship with lightning. Is that why he chose to be a Weatherman? Are elves prone to weather forecasting, or am I looking for hidden meaning where there is none?

C.E.M: Wow. You are *totally* looking for hidden meaning.

BBB: Does music inspire you when you are writing? What is your favorite type of music?

C.E.M: I can’t listen to music and write. The music supercedes the writing and I end up either just listening or typing lyrics. But I’m pretty catholic in my music tastes: rock, blues, jazz, a bit of classic, whatever’s on, really. I’m easy.

BBB: What character has been your favorite so far to write?

C.E.M: That’s not a question I’ll answer. Y’all, however, can tell me who *your* favorite character is, ’cause I love to hear who’s won peoples’ hearts.

BBB: If you could have lived during any time period, which would you choose?

C.E.M: Right now, or possibly the future, because last I checked, I was a woman and this is by far the best time to be a woman. Also, modern plumbing. If I had to choose a different era, though, I’m a real sucker for 1920′s fashions, though 40′s fashions look much better
on me.

BBB: Are you a plotser or a panster? or a Planster (a combo of both – lol)

C.E.M: Plotster, these days. I’ve found it’s a lot more efficient. But I don’t detail things out to scene level, just do big scale plots and fill in as I go along.

BBB: Do you have an EReader? If so which one and where to you think the future of ebooks will go?

C.E.M: I don’t, but I’d probably get a Sony because they support the .epub extension, which I believe will be the default type like MP3 is for music.

BBB: Where is your most favorite place to read?

C.E.M: Anywhere I can.

BBB: How long do we have to wait for your next book, and what is it going to be about?

C.E.M: Book six of the Walker Papers, SPIRIT DANCES, is out in April 2011. There are, if I do say so myself, some great moments with Jo and Morrison while Jo deals with the fact that one of the things she insists can’t possibly happen…happens to her. I said cryptically.

BBB: Do you have any upcoming appearances? If so where can our readers find you?

C.E.M: I’ll be at Octocon, the Irish National Convention, in Dublin on October 16th & 17th this year, and at P-Con in March of 2011. Beyond that, nothing specific planned yet, I’m afraid!

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Readers, learn more about C.E. Murphy here:

Read the Bitten by Books reviews of the author’s work here.
To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

Newsletter : http://groups.google.com/group/cemurphy-announcements

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/CE-Murphy/46086704983?ref=mf

Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/ce_murphy

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CONTEST INFO: Open to readers WORLDWIDE

Prize 1: An Irish care package with some yummy goodies and a copy of Truthseeker.

Prize 2: A copy of Truthseeker.

READ THIS ~ READ THIS ~ READ THIS

The Contest Entry rules have changed so read them carefully

1. LEAVE YOUR FIRST NAME AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME AND YOUR COUNTRY in your comment/post so we can give you the proper credit for your entries. Mandatory, if you don’t leave this, none of your entries will count. It is NOT mandatory to make a purchase to be entered into the contest.

2. Answer C.E.’s questions and ask her some questions please make sure they aren’t duplicates. Good for 10 + entries per question. (Max 3 good towards entries)

3. Order copies of C.E.’s new book Truthseeker by using the links below.

To purchase a print copy of Truthseeker from Amazon click here.
To purchase a Kindle copy of Truthseeker from Amazon click here.

To purchase a print copy of Truthseeker from Barnes & Noble click here.
To purchase a Nook copy of Truthseeker from Barnes & Noble click here.

To purchase an eBook copy of Truthseeker from OmniLit click here.

Good for 150 + entries per book you purchase by using the links above. Email your receipt to the prize Goddess here bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Not valid on past purchases.

OR you can use the Barnes & Noble link HERE to make your purchase of ANY kind of merchandise during the contest. You can also use the Amazon link HERE to shop as well. Good for 100 + entries to the contest for EACH item you purchase. Not valid on past purchases.

4. Make an actual blog POST on your BLOG and invite your readers to this event and use this is the live link to link back to this event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=30702 and this cover of the book. Come back and tell us where you shared. This REALLY Helps the author spread the word about their new book, so give a hand and help them out by talking about it on your blog!!! + 125 entries

5. Twitter this phrase exactly: PzRT: @ce_murphy Interview/Chat/Contest LIVE NOW: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=30702  #BBBTruthseeker  #books #giveaway

10+ Entries per tweet (max 3)

6. Attend Maria V. Snyder’s event/contest today here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=30706 + 25 points

Attend and enter  author Lucienne Diver’s 8GB Nano Contest event (until 9/18): http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=30613 +25 points

7. Other fun stuff to do while you are here today! +5 entries for each of these you do.

Check out the awesome new Vampire Academy Jewelry Line and pick up your DISCOUNT CODE here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=30605

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Attend and comment at the Weekly Book Chat
http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=30505

Attend and comment at the Weekly Poll
http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=30487

Attend and comment at Screen Bites
http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=30474

Off the Fang Column and Contest
http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=30470

8. Tally Your own points total 1 + Entries

That’s it!

Also be SURE to check out our amazing line up of other author events this month here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=4

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The contest ends on 9/18/10 at 11:59 pm Central and the winner will be contacted via email. You will receive your prize directly from the author. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME AND COUNTRY as well as a valid email where we can contact you. REMEMBER the more things you do, the more entries, the greater the chances of winning. PLEASE ALLOW THIRTY DAYS to receive your prize BEFORE EMAILING US.

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8. By entering this contest you are agreeing to our terms of entry.

Lara Jansen is not your typical Urban Fantasy heroine, and there is no doubt that Truthseeker by C. E. Murphy, the book Lara stars in, is pure Urban Fantasy. There are Seelie heroes, Unseelie royalty, creatures from your nightmares, all set in Boston and the Barrow-lands.

When we first meet Lara, she’s meek, but internally strong, surrounded by a core group of friends who accept her “oddity”. Lara, it seems, cannot tell a lie, nor can she stand to hear lies, or even half-truths. They resonate in her body as wrong, setting off a musical alarm. When she meets Weatherman David Kirwen, she notices two things – he’s extremely attractive, and he’s living a lie.

David is in fact Dafydd ap Caerwyn, a prince of the Seelie court. He’s lived in our world for a century, searching for a means to uncover his brother’s murderer, and Lara is just what he’s looking for. It seems she’s a Truthseeker, a rare talent for a mortal to possess, and she may be the key to more than a murder. She has the ability to unite the fae — or incite a war that could destroy the Barrow-lands.

Truthseeker is far removed from the other books I’ve read by C. E. Murphy. It still holds the fantastic worldbuilding and lovable characters, but it’s a much lighter read. Not light as in lacking substance, but it reminds me more of a moonlit walk on a sandy beach than a battle to the death under a scorching sun. The romance is an integral piece of the plot, but it’s overshadowed by Lara’s journey of discovery and her realization that she is much more than a person who can hear a lie—she holds the power to break worlds, or mend them, depending on which decision she makes. This makes her more powerful than any gun-wielding heroine, and it instantly endeared her to me.

I recommend Truthseeker not only to fans of Murphy’s other work, but fans of fantasy novels in general. You have an unlikely heroine, a witty sidekick, and an honorable hero who is in need of a good rescue.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (August 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345516060
• ISBN-13: 978-0345516060

To purchase a print copy of Truthseeker from Amazon click here.
To purchase a Kindle copy of Truthseeker from Amazon click here.

To purchase a print copy of Truthseeker from Barnes & Noble click here.
To purchase a Nook copy of Truthseeker from Barnes & Noble click here.

To purchase an eBook copy of Truthseeker from OmniLit click here.

Hi everybody!

I am so VERY excited to share this information with you today. You MUST ACT FAST because there are only a few days left to get this exclusive story. I just pitched in $20.00 bucks (that’s just 4 measly lattes folks), because I think it is awesome idea, and I for one want more Old Races stories!! What ever you decide to contribute, be sure to let C.E. know you heard about it here and get a move on time is a wasting! SHARE THIS POST!! PUT it on your blogs, facebook and everywhere! We want more Old Races!!

Revisit C.E. Murphy’s world of the Old Races
and learn how it all began…

Four hundred years ago, the master vampire Eliseo Daisani and the
dragonlord Janx fell in love with a human woman during the Year of
Miracles –the year London burned.

This is her story.

Several times a month I get email asking if there will be another book
in the Negotiator Trilogy. I’m always a little sad to tell them that
Margrit and Alban’s story is finished, and that I won’t be writing any
more full-length novels set in the Old Races universe for some time
yet. But let me whisper something in your ear.

I am writing short stories and novellas set in the Old Races
world. Furthermore, I’m writing them for an exclusive online audience:
you.

Lots of you may have heard of ‘crowdfunding’ (or lots of you may not
have). Crowdfunding is essentially Internet-era patronage: you the
reader taking the opportunity to directly support the writers you
like, in exchange for which you receive exclusive material. In this
case, the material is “Year of Miracles”, a new novella of the Old
Races, set four hundred years before the Negotiator Trilogy. A taste
of that, before I go on:

“I can’t.” Sarah held back, breaking her grip on Eliseo’s
hand. “I can’t.”

“Of course you can.” He stopped and turned back, a gentle brightness
in his eyes. He gestured at himself, a motion that invited her to look
at him as though she’d never seen him before. Dapper: that was a word
she’d learned from the two extraordinary men in her life; from the
slight and swarthy man before her and from beautiful, outrageous Janx.

And that was the trouble, whether Eliseo Daisani wanted to see it or
not. He suited the fine clothes, the expensive shoes, the
distant music and the wealthy crowd who attended such matters as balls
and courts. He was not handsome, but his aspect, the part of him that
was more–and less–than human, gave him a gravitas and a compulsion
that drew people to him. He belonged where she did not. Even dressed
in silks, even with the slaughterfields cultured from her voice, she
was a daughter of blood and guts and gore.

This is the second Old Races novella I’ve put up for crowdfunded
patronage, and I’m finding writing for a direct market audience to be
huge fun. By going directly to my readers I’m getting an
opportunity to write stories that would otherwise never exist. Five
years ago I’d have never dreamed that was a possibility, so I’m full
of excitement and enthusiasm for the projects I’m pursuing this way. I
hope you will be too!

“Year of Miracles” is for sale until midnight Pacific Time on July
31st. You can read longer excerpts and become a patron at
http://cemurphy.net/excerpts-short-stories/year-of-miracles

cemurphy.net!

This exhilarating sequel to The Queen’s Bastard begins with a breath-taking surprise and continues the story with a narrative that satisfies on every level. Belinda, after escaping prison in Gallin, appears unannounced at her mother’s court. The two women use the rare opportunity of a private meeting to size each other up. Queen Lorraine sends Belinda to a convent, not explaining her reasoning, and while there, Belinda comes under the tutelage of Dmitri, a courtier from Khazar, who, like Belinda, Javier, and Robert, has his own form of magic, or witchpower. Meanwhile, Javier, reeling over the death of his mother, prepares for war against Aulun and Lorraine, primarily out of vengeance. Both Rodrigo, Javier’s uncle and Tomas, a priest, happen to be present when Javier uses his magic and they must all work out for themselves how they choose to interpret his power: whether it is God-given or from the Devil.

Once war seems imminent, Lorraine acknowledges Belinda as her heir, producing papers of a marriage between herself and Robert years ago, before Belinda’s birth, so legitimizing her in the process. Lorraine states that Belinda has been sequestered in a convent over the years. During the gathering where Lorraine makes her declaration, Belinda searches the memories of Lorraine, Robert and Dmitri and discovers a devastating truth that drives her ensuing actions, motives, and the narrative itself from that point on.

Murphy skillfully weaves the myriad threads of plot, characters, political machinations and action in a tale that combines fantasy, science fiction, and rousing historical fiction, resulting in a truly impressive reading experience. A more sympathetic character this time out, Belinda continues to intrigue the reader, with the added advantage of now being someone we feel it is acceptable to root for. Developing the alternate history setting even further than in The Queen’s Bastard, the author adds another element that enriches the story enormously, which this reviewer will not spoil here. A book that reads like alternate historical fiction with an epic fantasy feel, The Pretender’s Crown will thoroughly satisfy readers of both genres.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345494652
• ISBN-13: 978-0345494658

To purchase a print copy of The Pretender’s Crown from Amazon click here.

To purchase a print copy of The Pretender’s Crown from Barnes & Noble click here.
To purchase an eBook copy of The Pretender’s Crown from Barnes & Noble click here.

Books in the Inheritors’ Cycle series in the order the should be read:
The Queen’s Bastard
The Pretender’s Crown

The fate of the vampires, the lineage of the dragons, and the life of one human caught in the middle are determined in the third installation of the Negotiator series, Hands of Flame.

After clearing a gargoyle’s name of murder, saving a dragonlord, and surviving the ministrations of the selkies and djinn, Margrit Knight thinks she is up for anything. What she doesn’t expect is an outright war between the Old Races which she may have caused that spills into the human world after the races vie for prime territory.

Now Margrit, dubbed the Negotiator, must face her most terrifying foe: a gargoyle tribunal assembled to determine the fate of Alban, her gargoyle lover. The ramifications of what the tribunal uncovers affects all the races, revealing secrets long kept and stirring a rivalry amongst two powerful men.

Never before has a series hooked me so completely that upon reading the last line of the book I yelled, “This can’t be the end! There has to be more!” With every previous question answered in this novel, three more are left open. Unlike most novels where the reader feels cheated by the lack of finality, this novel leaves a smile on the face and the feeling of hope that maybe a happily ever after will, when the time is right, be possible.

I didn’t think C.E. Murphy would be able to top the first two books in the series, but this is by far the best. As the inhabitants of this world have grown, I have made assumptions about their character, how they would react in certain situations, and what boundaries they would refuse to cross. All preconceived notions about any and all characters were blown away, leaving a beautiful disaster of success and loss, love and betrayal, life and death.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Luna (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373802706
• ISBN-13: 978-0373802708

To purchase a print copy of Hands of Flame click here.

Books in the Negotiator Trilogy in the order they should be read:
Heart of Stone
House of Cards
Hands of Flame

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

Book one of The Inheritor’s Cycle begins with glimpses of the lives of two queens, both of whom will do whatever is necessary to hold on to their position and power. As a child, Belinda Primrose realizes that she is the illegitimate daughter of Lorraine, queen of Aulun, and the queen’s close advisor and spymaster, Robert Drake, though she is not acknowledged. At the age of ten, Drake recruits his daughter into his service, and she exceeds his expectations with an act that will shock the reader. Not only does Belinda become a spy, but an assassin, as well. At the tender age of twenty-one, Belinda takes on the persona of Beatrice, a minor noblewoman, for the express purpose of rooting out any threats against Lorraine. This assignment requires infiltration of the close-knit group of friends of Prince Javier, son of rival Queen Regent Sandalia. The task requires more of her than Belinda initially expects, and in the process of meeting the challenges presented to her, she discovers her magical ability, her witchlight. This discovery and Belinda’s response to it fuel the actions of the rest of the story.

The world of The Queen’s Bastard resembles an alternate history version of Renaissance Europe. Women rule the three kingdoms that are the focus of the story, and each of them hides a secret regarding heirs. Each of the women, though distrustful of one another and in fact would like nothing better than the demise of the others, refers to the other two as her sisters. Parallels may be made between Lorraine and Elizabeth the Great, even a sister who slaughtered her own people over religion. Aulun is a Reformist nation, standing alone against two others with Ecumenic rulers. Murphy explores the great irony of three women rulers in a male-dominated society. Interestingly, she chooses Robert to reflect upon the issue, regarding those who feel the three women are, “unnaturally masculine. The idea that they are wholly feminine and wholly capable doesn’t appear to have occurred to anyone, or, or if it has, they’ve found it such an appalling and frightening thought as to put it away again and never let it see the light of day” (167).

Murphy handles characterization skillfully, from major to minor players. In the case of Belinda, she creates a character one would typically perceive as an unsympathetic protagonist and makes the reader care about her, even when her actions horrify. This achievement deserves accolades. Belinda has spent her whole life doing the bidding of others, no matter how distasteful. As she comes into her power and learns how to harness it, the reader willingly goes along for the ride.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (April 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345494644
• ISBN-13: 978-0345494641

To purchase a print copy of The Queen’s Bastard click here.

Books in the Inheritors’ Cycle series in the order the should be read:
The Queen’s Bastard
The Pretender’s Crown

Read the Bitten by Books reviews of the author’s work here.
To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

After battling dragons and djinns and gargoyles, oh my! Margrit Knight thinks she is up for any challenge, even convincing her former gargoyle protector to step out of the shadows and back into her life. It is not an easy task – more difficult even than battling the powerful Eliseo Daisani. If only she could stumble into a dangerous situation and prove just how vulnerable she was…

Opportunity knocks on several fronts. If a death at the workplace, a new career opportunity with a mysterious and deadly employer, and a debt owed to a dragon weren’t enough to send Margrit running to a land far, far away, the reemergence of a race formerly thought to be depleted just may do the trick. With this new discovery comes an upset in the balance of the Old Races, an upset that Margrit inadvertedly caused. Now Alban, the gargoyle whose name she cleared from murder charges, has no choice but to swoop back into her life and do what he can to keep her safe. With so many lives hanging in the balance, how can he hope to defend one lone human from the coming civil war among the Old Races?

Rarely do I encounter a sequel that not only lives up to but also exceeds the expectations created by the first book. House of Cards pleasantly shattered those expectations and raised the bar to an unreachable height. It was gritty, dangerous, sensual, and thrilling from page one to its startling conclusion. C.E. Murphy outdid herself when creating this magical world in which the characters must struggle to survive by any means necessary.

Admittedly, I tend to root for the bad guys. They do, after all, propel the plot and force the protagonist to grow and succeed or remain static and perish. In the Negotiator trilogy, it is difficult to pinpoint who the bad guys really are. Daisani, a ruthless killer in his own right, hides secrets of opportunities lost with a mortal woman. Janx, not one to hide his own ruthless nature, has indeed built a house of cards. Unfortunately, it is one easily tumbled. In its fall, his outer shell is shattered and the dragon within released. Both beings have shown their extent of influence and their ability to exact revenge if necessary, but they do so under a code of honor that supersedes human understanding. Margrit herself, driven by a need to right all wrongs and protect those she doesn’t think can protect themselves, does more harm than good in her meddling.

There are so many unanswered questions following House of Cards that I’m anxious to have explained. The fate of the Old Races, with whom Margrit will end up, and the backlash from the attempted overthrow of Janx’s domain will all be decided in the final installment of the Negotiator trilogy, Hands of Flame. I don’t want the journey into this world to end, but if it must, I’m sure I will be blown away in the aftermath.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Luna (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373802633
• ISBN-13: 978-0373802630

To purchase a print copy of House of Cards click here.

Books in the Negotiator Trilogy in the order they should be read:
Heart of Stone
House of Cards
Hands of Flame

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

Margrit Knight likes to tempt fate. An attorney for legal aid, she represents those who can’t represent themselves, whether they are innocent or not. At night, she loses herself in the danger of running through Central Park, trusting her instincts to warn her of any danger and silently daring the world to test her.

The test comes in the form of Alban Korund, a pale, beautiful creature accused of murdering a woman in Central Park. He has been watching Margrit run for years, has protected her for just as long, but now he needs her to protect him.

Alban is a member of the Old Races: dragons, djinns, gargoyles, selkies, and vampires being the only five groups to survive into the present. Humans place these beings in their mythology instead of their reality, allowing them to live on the fringe, like the gargoyles, or in the midst of the action, like the vampires. Imprisonment would risk bringing Alban’s existence into the light, something neither he nor his people are ready for. Margrit is drawn to the honor in the gargoyle, intellectually challenged by his predicament and emotionally attracted to his gentle strength and tenderness.

One wronged gargoyle isn’t the only creature Margrit must worry about. Eliseo Daisani, a powerful businessman, and Janx, an underground drug lord, vie for her loyalties in a game they’ve played for centuries. Neither are what they seem, but both are strangely honor bound to deceive Margrit as little as possible. Pulling her in yet another direction is Tony, an on again, of again boyfriend who is lead detective in the case against Alban. If she is to help her gargoyle, she must deceive her detective. If she helps her detective, she may damn the Old Races. No matter which choice she makes, Margrit’s actions will change the course of the lives of all those she holds dear.

I have never found gargoyles particularly attractive, preferring the quiet danger of a vampires stalking his prey or the fierce fire a dragon stirs, but Alban was written with the right mixture of old world charm and loneliness that I fell in love him, rooting for him to clear his name and get the girl even though my heart broke for Tony. A choice between the two wasn’t made in the novel, but the outcome was clear in my hopeful mind.

Heart of Stone is the first in the Negotiator trilogy by C.E. Murphy, a series that centers around a human caught in the ploys of the Old Races. Every character, from the protagonist to the many antagonists to a side character in a bar is illustrated in such detail that I felt like I was directly in the action, watching the plot pan out. It is rare to find such a flawless novel, both structurally and in its ability to rope you into the emotion and make it a part of you.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Luna (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373802927
• ISBN-13: 978-0373802920

To purchase a print copy of Heart of Stone click here.
To purchase a Kindle copy of Heart of Stone click here.

Books in the Negotiator Trilogy in the order they should be read:
Heart of Stone
House of Cards
Hands of Flame

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

Margrit Knight is out running in Central Park late one night, when she is approached by a mysterious stranger. She later finds out on the evening news that this man is suspected of a murder which took place in the park shortly after their encounter. Alban Korund is the suspect and a shapeshifting gargoyle, one of the old races. Grit, as her friends call her, is a legal aid attorney and Alban asks for her help as he claims he is being framed.

She is also approached by a Selkie whose apartment building is about to be demolished and while trying to stop it, becomes involved in much more than she bargained for by discovering more of the old races with their own politics, grudges and a social structure that is hidden from the rest of society.

While Heart of Stone is full of action from the get go, there are a few pacing issues that bogged it down along the way. Mostly due to Ms. Murphy’s thorough world building which sets up a well structured platform for a series with lots of juicy possibilities. There was quite a bit that was left unresolved in the form of favors owed and love interests in this first novel of the series, so I am looking forward to see how the next book, House of Cards, takes the story forward.

Heart of Stone is a satisfying read with a unique take on some existing paranormal races and, of course, gargoyles – how cool is that?

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Luna (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373802927
• ISBN-13: 978-0373802920

To purchase a print copy of Heart of Stone click here.
To purchase a Kindle copy of Heart of Stone click here.

Books in the Negotiator Trilogy in the order they should be read:
Heart of Stone
House of Cards
Hands of Flame

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.