It’s been almost a year since my father passed away. He had a wonderful imagination. As a child, I would sit rapt as he told stories of jungle adventures where a combined Indiana Jones/Tarzan hero climbed mountains, escaped quicksand and crocodile infested waters, or others who fought dragons, dinosaurs, and assorted monsters. He was also quite willing to tell ghost stories, too.
In 2019, before the fall that led to his untimely passing, Dad and I had discussed a different kind of book series. He loved all of my suspense novels, On His Watch, and the Harvester Files his favorites, but he also had a keen interest in the paranormal. Given the number of such series taking the television world by storm, I decided I should try my hand at writing something like that. I’d just fleshed out the idea when he fell.
While he was lucid, which happened less and less given the pain he was in, we began fleshing out a novel, tossing out ideas, trying to figure out how to connect them and make them work. There were so many novels out there in this genre, how could I create something unique?
As I always did, I brainstormed and researched. My grandchildren were great fans of the Marvel universe heroes, and I knew the Norse mythology was as full of colorful characters as the Greek one, but I wanted the main character of the first book in the series to be a kick-ass shapeshifter, but not your run-of-the-mill werewolf. As I delved into different mythologies, I found what I wanted.
Rakshasa are the shapeshifter vampires found in some of the Eastern religions. Considered evil creatures, just as werewolves and vampires used to be, I thought I could spin her into a creature of the light and make her a defender of the righteous, a punisher of those who pursue evil. Since I love Norse mythology, I sought my source of evil there, and while I was at it, I found the perfect hero for my heroine. Thus was born the Punishers series, with The Tigress as the first book.
Melinda De Ross outdid herself on this cover and Dad would’ve loved it.
Here is the book blurb:
Paranormal Detective Ellie Taggart, a rakshasa capable of assuming the shape of a tigress, has always worked alone, searching for those responsible for her mother’s murder. When an investigation results in the death of a close friend and vampire, she’s forced to partner with handsome and mysterious peredhil, Steve Cassidy.
Like her, the half-human, half-elf uses his special talents to fight evil wherever it exists. Rogue vampires, shapeshifters, zombies, practitioners of black magic, poltergeists, ghosts—none of them can beat him. That is until someone or something no longer plays by the rules. There’s a new villain in New Orleans, one who threatens both the humans and non-humans who make the city home.
Is the enemy Draug, the wizard who murdered Ellie’s mother centuries ago? Is it someone from Steve’s shrouded past intent on revenge? Or are they facing a new enemy with an agenda all his or her own? As the tigress and her partner search for answers, trying to prevent the bodies from piling up, they have to manage conflicting emotions and desires that threaten to overwhelm them. Can two such different creatures of the light join forces to defeat the darkness, or will the powers of evil triumph?
The Tigress was released on October 30, 2019 as an e-book, free to read on KU. You can pre-order your copy today from all Amazon outlets. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z5F4VNZ.
Now, I’m hard at work on Book Two of the Punishers, The Guardian.
Ellie and Steve thwarted the enemy last time, but the cost was high. Now, barely recovered from the encounter, they and the rest of The Punishers face a new enemy.
Eight coeds from Tulane University have gone missing. The sorority sisters were out on a day cruise, but the boat was found adrift with nothing on it but heads of the captain and two crewmen. Where are the others?
Normally, a case like this would belong to one New Orleans’s regular police units, but when the list of missing includes five humans, a vampire, a shapeshifter, and a Dark half-elf entrusted to his protection, it becomes a job for the Punishers. Is someone trying to settle a score with Steve, or do they have something even more devious in mind–something that could ruin any chance at happiness for the Peredhil and his Tigress?
Where are the girls? It’s up to the Guardian to find out before this leads to a war that may well destroy Earth along with one of the Nine Realms.
What for The Guardian’s cover soon.
Living the Dream 