Um...what are you waiting for? Get your copy of Outlaw so that you know who I'm talking about here! I've lived with these characters for a very long time, and I'm excited that their story is finally out there!

You need to know about my bad guy, Jasen Carver. Inspired by a real-life someone I once used to know (yes, what they say about not making authors angry is true!), Jasen is a constant thorn in the flesh. While he is the exact opposite of Britt, they started out very similar. Jasen just chose a different, less honorable path.

The Not-So-Bad Guy is probably the most noble character of all, despite a few minor character flaws. Zak Sinclaire is a Progressive Legacy starship captain you'll meet later in the story. He, too, makes an appearance in Asylum. He believes in what the Legacy could be, but also sees it for what it is. He sticks to his principles, regardless of what the majority says.

As fun as the main characters are to play with, the secondary characters provide depth and meaning to the plot. I love how Jasen crept into the different scenes, even when I originally intended for him to go away after the first few. And Zak added an intriguing dimension to both Laney's and Britt's character development.

So...enough about these guys. Go read their story!

When I first came up with the title Outlaw, I meant for that description to encompass all three main characters. But the more I think about it, the more it really only applies to Britt.

Britt Lockhart is the heart of this story. Some people may think I got the name from the egocentric Gilderoy Lockhart of Harry Potter fame, but that's not the case. I borrowed the last name from the handsome and perhaps lesser-known Robber Bridegroom (Eudora Welty) Jamie Lockhart. (We did the musical in college and loved Jamie's every heart-stealing moment!) There's a little of Jamie's character in Britt.

Born to a wealthy Elite family, Britt has gone along with the demands and expectations his parents placed on him, but he leads a secret life. He's become a master Ruli player (think poker on a different level) and can hustle the best of them. Quite a reputation follows him, but he ignores it. He can't be bothered with what other people think of him, although he would like to be thought of as honorable.

And when the opportunity presents itself for him to do something noble, he jumps on it. Which is how he meets Laney and Cole.

He has a strong sense of what is right and sees the injustices of the Progressive Legacy. Because of that, he launches an all-out war against them in his own, quiet way. He's a dreamer and a schemer, sometimes to a fault. When situations arise, he is quick to believe he can handle it himself. He learns to lean on others throughout the story.

If you couldn't tell, Britt is one of my favorite and most complex characters. I envisioned Peter Krause (from his Lost Room days) when describing him. I also have plans to explore a different angle with him in an upcoming Crown's Call tale.

And now, you can meet Britt for yourself. Outlaw is available on Amazon, both as an e-book and in paperback. (Click on the version you'd want to go to the Amazon page). And let me know what you think! Writing a review is a great way to support an author!

Outlaw is Laney's story. She's the character with the most to lose and the one that experiences a full transformation. Throughout the story, she's learning to stand on her own two feet, despite the bumps and bruises along the way.

Truth be told, there's probably a lot of me in her. She has a feisty, snarky streak, but she's uncertain of herself. Even when she finds ways to prove her capabilities, whispers of doubt extinguish her pride. She struggles with her own self-worth. But she's determined, competent,  clever, and tougher than she realizes.

Her full name is Leland Rose, but she's gone by Laney since she was a kid. She has unruly brown curls and ordinary brown eyes. Her brother Cole is three years older and has taken care of her as long as she can remember. She has no idea where she came from or who her parents were.

As the story progresses, Laney poses as Lady Stasia Harrington. She's the exact opposite of Laney in every way. 

I like to "cast" my characters so that I have a clear description in my mind. Laney's model was actress Alison Lohman as a brunette (Flicka). Because I have the two facets of the same person, I wanted to find someone who pulled off a different look, so Stasia is the blonde version of Alison Lohman (Big Fish).

As with most main characters, Laney goes through a lot in this book. She slowly learns to rely on herself and discovers she has what it takes to make things right. I really love her character arc and where she ends up.

Get your copy of Outlaw​ on Tuesday and read more of Laney's story! I'll post links as soon as it's available!

As you're wildly anticipating the release of Outlaw, (and I know you are. Don't deny it!), I thought I'd introduce you to a few of the characters that live rather vividly in my imagination.

Driscoll "Cole" Rose is a young man who is caught between what is good and what is right. It's a very fine line. He struggles to maintain order, trying to guide those around him to play it safe and not cause trouble. If only they'd listen to him...

Although not much is known about their origin, he has a strong sense of duty to his sister, Laney. He's older by three years. Since they were children, he's watched over her. He's fiercely loyal and will do whatever it takes to protect those he loves.

He has many secrets, and he's good at keeping them. He'll only tell you what you need to know. Throughout the book, he becomes a master of disguise and learns to trust others to accomplish the bigger goal.

Physically, I modeled the character after Michael Trucco. Tall, with dark hair and dark eyes (even though Mr. Trucco has blue). He's intelligent, but also good with his hands.

Cole hasn't changed much since the original concept. His first name comes from my love of strawberries. I wanted him to have an unusual name that could be shortened to something more mainstream (just like his sister, who I'll tell you about tomorrow.) I chose the last name Rose because I wanted this to have a streak of that "wild west" flair, given the title, and that sounded old-fashioned to me.

​I know you're going to like Cole as much as I do!

Outlaw is releasing on November 1st!

I started writing this story nine years ago. Yes...nine. Crazy, huh? I love looking back at my old notes to see how much the story has evolved. From character names to plot points, so much has changed, although the basic structure is still the same.

This is the story of Britt Lockhart and Driscoll and Laney Rose. They made an appearance in Asylum and have minor roles in other Crown's Call stories. From two very different backgrounds, unusual circumstances bring them together and form a lifelong bond. With the volatile Circeae system as its backdrop, they take on the iron-handed Progressive Legacy in their own way.

I've long been a fan of the classic stories The Count of Monte Cristo and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Books, movies, musicals...I can't get enough! (Jim Caviezel as the Count and Anthony Andrews as the Pimpernel can't be beat.) Outlaw embraces elements from both stories, weaving an explosive, romantic adventure you won't be able to put down. Oh, and it's all set in a totally different universe with spaceships and advanced technology. Loads of fun!

Look for a cover reveal soon! And get your copy from Amazon (print or e-book) next Tuesday!