C. L. Kraemer, RoguePhoenixPress

Dragons, mass murders and motorcycles... almost sounds like a rock group or new movie, doesn't it? That's the lineup of my book releases for 2011. 

Dragons Among the Eagles was released in June to a welcome from devoted readers. [Thank you very much!] The story picks up the Aleda and Cyre tale where Dragons Among Us left off. We discover now Aleda is aware of her ability, the knowledge doesn't make life any easier--just the opposite. She's very attracted to her new friend and full blood dragon, Cyre Drake, and the closeness they share is fogging her decision compacities. Add an increase in unexpected shapeshifter changes, a secret organization determined to keep shifters a secret and you get the idea of the craziness going on in Aleda's world. 

Just released August 5, 2011, Shattered Tomorrows, follows the story of Lucy Daniels who's suppressed a thirty year old memory since the date it happened. A visit with her best friend to an important location from her past shakes up the thoughts surrounding the May 7, 1981 shooting at the Oregon Museum Tavern where three people died [a fourth on the way to the hospital] and twenty were wounded. Cassie, Lucy's friend, pushes her to recall the memory and learns about an incident that changed not only Lucy's life but the life of everyone in town at that time.

While I do have a new dragon book scheduled for release in June 2012, Dragons Among the Ice, I'm thinking the date will probably be pushed a bit farther back to provide me the time to write the story with care.

Joker's Wild has been put on the back burner as my muse for the story has gone silent. When I can coax her into the open, I'll start writing on the story again.

Spring has arrived in the great Northwest in wet fashion. The meteorologists have glumly announced this to be one of the five wettest Marchs in the state's history. Whohoo! In between working the day job to pay the bills and trying NOT to float downstream, I helped to host a successful book signing on St. Patrick's Day. Nothing quite beats leprechauns, green beer and corned beef.

Everything was moving along swimmingly until my muse decided to take a vacation--little wench. I've just taken up my writing again and hope my absence won't damage the stories I was creating. Time will be the litmus test.

I'm looking forward to the release of the second dragon book, Dragons Among the Eagles, in June. I'll keep you posted on the progress. I'll be signing off to put fingers to keyboard. Until next time...

New Year, New Books

With the start of the new year comes a clean slate. Last November I challenged myself by entering the National November Writing Month. The idea was to write a book in a month. Well, I came close. I finished three quarters of the second Dragon novel, Dragons Among the Eagles book. On February 12, 2011, I sent off the manuscript [via email] to my editor for the red-pen treatment. I also finished the prequel to the faerie story in the St. Valentine's Day Anthology of 2010. It's titled Meadows of Gold and will be released on St. Patrick's Day in another book titled A St. Patrick's Day Tale.

I'm taking a short break then will dive into two stories. One is loosely based on the mass shooting that occured on May 7, 1981, in a tavern in Salem, Oregon. Long before young people started using guns to express their anger at being "picked on", a young man of 25 took his Browning 9mm and killed four and wounded nineteen. In my story Shattered Tomorrows, I try to make sense of insanity. Hopefully I have the writing chops to do it.

The second story is about a motorcycle "poker run" titled Joker's Wild. I've done runs on our Harley in two completely different locations and hope to entwine my experiences into a must-read story. Stay tuned.  

New Challenges

Dragons Among Us was released the first week of August. I received my order of books the day after my scheduled book signing which turned out to be a lesson in patience. So many other events were happening in Portland, Oregon, that day that our great location couldn't bring in foot traffic. 

I have a book signing on August 21 at a local watering hole. They have an annual "end of summer" bash with food, drinks and a band. When I asked the owner about having a signing at his place he suggested we combine the two events. Why not? He's paying for the good stuff, I just have to provide the sun screen and my smile. Sounds like a winning combination to me.

Enjoy the approaching Indian summer. 

IT'S OFFICIAL!

As of Saturday, July 3, 2010, my book "Dragons Among Us" was finished and sent off to the publisher. I've been told the release date is to be the first of August. Whohoo! 

Now I've only got 39 books in the queue to write!

Check the "What's new" page for a taste of the book's contents and a peek at the cover. I've got to give credit where credit is due. I couldn't have created the cover I wanted without the artistic talents of G. M. Cooper and graphic skills of Designs by G. Valleau. Many thanks to the both of them for the amazing creation.

 It is now April, 2010, and I'm still plugging away on the dragon book. In December of 2009, I found permanent work and was taken away from my keyboard to earn money to pay bills. I also encountered myriad health problems which delayed my writing. 

However... I've streamlined my outside activities to concentrate on improving my life and concentrating on my writing. I have too many stories I wish to write to be ill.

I hope to complete the Dragon story and see it released by summer 2010. 

Healthy Homicide

Alexa Bond Culver has less than a month in office as mayor of Palmdale, California. The last thing she needs is trouble but it rears its ugly head in the form of murder in the Vitamin Verandah of her favorite day spa.

Why would anyone murder Vonnie Spencer? Sure, she's irritating but not enough to murder. There is something else behind the heinous act. When another body is found in the Vitamin Verandah, within the week, the community is in an uproar.

Alexa decides to call in an old friend to help her uncover the nasty business at the spa. She has no intention of ending her political career under a cloud.

What is so important two people had to die?

Healthy Homicide will be coming out in October 2008.

The brilliant cover below was designed by myself and, thankfully, photographed and perfected by Artist and Photographer Molly Hauxwell. Her boundless energy, attention to detail, and goal of perfection made this cover the work of art that you see.

I'm hoping to work with her again for other covers of my books.  

This is a work in progress. 

 Dust in the Wind