It's been a busy year, and I didn't realize until I wrote the title quite how many books I've had released in 2008! No wonder it seems as though time has just flown by. I've been so busy writing, re-writing, editing, and meeting deadlines that it's a miracle I have anything but nubbins left of my fingers.

The latest release is Emerald City, from Red Rose Publishing. I'll post a short excerpt here next.

Hate to say it, or maybe I should be happy, but next year looks just as busy. This year, In Flames, ErRatic, The Hollowing, GlassWorks, Of Dragons, and Emerald City were released. Next year, it's Gray Beginnings, BoneSong, BloodWorks, Relic, Sqweams, Elementals: Fractals, A Kiss For Luck, Star Fire, A La Wolf, etc. Lots. And lots. And heaps, even.

Here's Emerald City. I'm working on making a book trailer for it when I have time.

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EXCERPT:....

It was midday on the second day when it happened.According to her map, and her sources, there was a small town a mile or sooff-road, which the mine workers had once inhabited. No one had done much morethan note its existence, and Claudia felt the thrill of discovery. Who knewwhat a place like that might hold? Other Mons Smaragdustowns had yielded pottery and metals, low grade gemstones, and a variety ofother, more homely items. There were sure to be buildings, if the place hadbeen impressive enough to be noted on the map. Gooseflesh danced down her back.The wadi region was laden with small piles of rubble -- the remnants of ancienthuts. This township held the promise of oh, so much more.....

She readjusted her hat, conscious of herthirst. It seemed she was always conscious of her thirst in this wretched heat!She sucked on her canteen then mustered ahead. No track, so she'd just have tomake her way. A couple of times she glanced back at the truck, even climbingone of the little hills to make sure it was still within sight. It was only onthe last check that she saw it had disappeared, but that was what she expected.This was hilly country, after all, and the town should be just ahead. ....

Only, it wasn't, nor could she find thetruck. She tried tracing her own footsteps, but this area was rock, rather thansand, and it was no use. Her compass was erratic, due to magnetic deposits,leading her nowhere. Two hours later, dragging her body through the heat,Claudia had to admit it -- I'm lost. Lostin the damned desert. Her water bottle was dry, but she refused to panic. If I don't check in, they'll come looking.....

The sun had never been so hot, and Claudiaknew she should have been resting midday away instead of hiking. But it was toolate -- too late for anything. She rooted around in one of those piles of rockydebris, picking up rocks that burned her hands to pile them into a wall thatmight offer her partial shade -- if it didn't fall on her head first. Shedidn't possess the building secrets of the ancient Romans or the Bedouin. Andher blistered hands were shaking so badly she didn't know how she'd survive thenext few hours. ....

It was then an icy chill came on her,colder than death.....

Nigel!....

            Shedidn't speak -- she didn't have to. He was there…for her.