R. Cooper's Blog - Posts Tagged "familiar-spirits"
a new release at last! Holly and Oak
If you are in the mood for a short about ridiculous pining witches (and ice cream) set around the Winter Solstice, you are in luck--I wrote a thing.
Set in the same universe as A Little Familiar, which makes that officially a series, so I gave it a series name. A Little Familiar and the new Holly and Oak are both part of the Familiar Spirits series. (*muffled excited screaming*)
Once a year, the town of Ravenscroft celebrates the winter solstice by watching the Oak King symbolically slay the Holly King to ensure the death of winter. To most people, it’s a pagan ritual that has lost all meaning in the modern world, harmless fun during the week of Christmas. To the coven who founded the town, it’s a magic so important they entrusted it to the two strongest witches in generations.
Will Battle and Chester Sibley are opposites in every way, or so Ravenscroft residents insist. Quiet, polite Will is the town’s beloved adopted son, popular and admired. Defiant, outspoken Chester is disliked and avoided despite being a direct descendant of the town’s founders. It’s no wonder Will is the embodiment of spring and life as the Oak King and Chester was given the cold, dark Season of Holly. No one in town seems to realize their nice, well-mannered Oak King has iron at his core and their fearsome Holly King only wants to make people happy. Perhaps that’s also why not even the other witches suspect that Chester has been in love with Will for almost his entire life.
That’s how Chester wants it. He might dream of Will, but he’s learned to keep his dreams to himself. The trouble is Will. For all that he smiles and nods, Will has started quietly rebelling against both the town and the coven. With only days until the winter solstice, he issues Chester a challenge—to finally ask for what he wants. If Chester tells the truth, he risks losing Will and upsetting the ritual that has made the town prosperous. But there is more between them than magic, no matter how powerful or ancient, and Chester would do anything for Will, even, just maybe, coming in from the cold.
Holly and Oak now available on Amazon and Smashwords as well as iTunes!
Set in the same universe as A Little Familiar, which makes that officially a series, so I gave it a series name. A Little Familiar and the new Holly and Oak are both part of the Familiar Spirits series. (*muffled excited screaming*)
Once a year, the town of Ravenscroft celebrates the winter solstice by watching the Oak King symbolically slay the Holly King to ensure the death of winter. To most people, it’s a pagan ritual that has lost all meaning in the modern world, harmless fun during the week of Christmas. To the coven who founded the town, it’s a magic so important they entrusted it to the two strongest witches in generations.
Will Battle and Chester Sibley are opposites in every way, or so Ravenscroft residents insist. Quiet, polite Will is the town’s beloved adopted son, popular and admired. Defiant, outspoken Chester is disliked and avoided despite being a direct descendant of the town’s founders. It’s no wonder Will is the embodiment of spring and life as the Oak King and Chester was given the cold, dark Season of Holly. No one in town seems to realize their nice, well-mannered Oak King has iron at his core and their fearsome Holly King only wants to make people happy. Perhaps that’s also why not even the other witches suspect that Chester has been in love with Will for almost his entire life.
That’s how Chester wants it. He might dream of Will, but he’s learned to keep his dreams to himself. The trouble is Will. For all that he smiles and nods, Will has started quietly rebelling against both the town and the coven. With only days until the winter solstice, he issues Chester a challenge—to finally ask for what he wants. If Chester tells the truth, he risks losing Will and upsetting the ritual that has made the town prosperous. But there is more between them than magic, no matter how powerful or ancient, and Chester would do anything for Will, even, just maybe, coming in from the cold.
Holly and Oak now available on Amazon and Smashwords as well as iTunes!
upcoming releases!
First things first--CLEMATIS!
Dreamspinner has announced the release date for Sweet Clematis, Book Nine in the Being(s) in Love series. November 27th, that pretty fairy is all yours, though you can pre-order now.
Cover reveal should be in September, but you can still put in an order without that.
Can a curse be a blessing?
Clematis works hard to embody every fairy stereotype. He can be a sulky prince or a submissive flirt, slutty and arrogant or silly and soft. He makes himself into whatever causes someone to want him. Combine that with beauty that’s incredible even for a fairy, and everyone wants him sooner or later… just not for long.
Well, everyone except the fairy Clematis secretly adores. But then, he’s never expected happily ever after, not when he’s spent years burying his emotions and making himself unlovable to push people away and protect his heart.
But his curse changes all that, and Clematis can no longer prevent his feelings from rising to the surface. He’s terrified that when his few friends see him for who he really is, they’ll abandon him, just like his parents did.
It’s hard to imagine friends who see past his act to the sweet person within, but maybe happiness has been in front of him the entire time, waiting for the real Clematis to break free and blossom.
Sweet Clematis
If you need something a little sooner than that, don't worry, Book Three of Familiar Spirits will be out at the start of October on both Smashwords and Amazon.
Nothing More Certain
Emery Elward returned to Trinity Creek with no intention of doing anything but repairing the farmhouse he grew up in, starting a business, and tending to the graveyard linked to his family’s property. He has no interest in renewing past friendships. But one old friend is determined to get Emery out from behind the cemetery’s iron gates.
Crafty, delicate Ezra Bell, who tailors his coal-black suits, knits gloves to warm his cold hands, and couldn’t make a plant grow if he tried isn’t someone Emery can ignore. Ezra was Emery’s best friend all through school, his first crush, and his first kiss. Then Ezra stepped back without ever acknowledging that anything happened between them and Emery left town. But now Ezra is free to tell Emery the secret that kept them apart—the town is steeped in magic, the old families are witches, and some of them, like Ezra, are a little bit more.
Amid gray skies, falling leaves, and the paper cut-outs of skeletons that decorate the town in anticipation of Halloween, Ezra is going to woo Emery back to land of the living. If anyone can convince Emery that he is wanted, that Ezra still loves him, and that magic is real, it’s Ezra. Emery may be stubborn, but he is about to discover that nothing is more certain than Ezra.
!!!!!!
And now, I'm off to work on the next thing. *whew*
Dreamspinner has announced the release date for Sweet Clematis, Book Nine in the Being(s) in Love series. November 27th, that pretty fairy is all yours, though you can pre-order now.
Cover reveal should be in September, but you can still put in an order without that.
Can a curse be a blessing?
Clematis works hard to embody every fairy stereotype. He can be a sulky prince or a submissive flirt, slutty and arrogant or silly and soft. He makes himself into whatever causes someone to want him. Combine that with beauty that’s incredible even for a fairy, and everyone wants him sooner or later… just not for long.
Well, everyone except the fairy Clematis secretly adores. But then, he’s never expected happily ever after, not when he’s spent years burying his emotions and making himself unlovable to push people away and protect his heart.
But his curse changes all that, and Clematis can no longer prevent his feelings from rising to the surface. He’s terrified that when his few friends see him for who he really is, they’ll abandon him, just like his parents did.
It’s hard to imagine friends who see past his act to the sweet person within, but maybe happiness has been in front of him the entire time, waiting for the real Clematis to break free and blossom.
Sweet Clematis
If you need something a little sooner than that, don't worry, Book Three of Familiar Spirits will be out at the start of October on both Smashwords and Amazon.
Nothing More Certain
Emery Elward returned to Trinity Creek with no intention of doing anything but repairing the farmhouse he grew up in, starting a business, and tending to the graveyard linked to his family’s property. He has no interest in renewing past friendships. But one old friend is determined to get Emery out from behind the cemetery’s iron gates.
Crafty, delicate Ezra Bell, who tailors his coal-black suits, knits gloves to warm his cold hands, and couldn’t make a plant grow if he tried isn’t someone Emery can ignore. Ezra was Emery’s best friend all through school, his first crush, and his first kiss. Then Ezra stepped back without ever acknowledging that anything happened between them and Emery left town. But now Ezra is free to tell Emery the secret that kept them apart—the town is steeped in magic, the old families are witches, and some of them, like Ezra, are a little bit more.
Amid gray skies, falling leaves, and the paper cut-outs of skeletons that decorate the town in anticipation of Halloween, Ezra is going to woo Emery back to land of the living. If anyone can convince Emery that he is wanted, that Ezra still loves him, and that magic is real, it’s Ezra. Emery may be stubborn, but he is about to discover that nothing is more certain than Ezra.
!!!!!!
And now, I'm off to work on the next thing. *whew*
Nothing More Certain
Nothing More Certain (Familiar Spirits Book Three) is up for pre-order on Amazon and Smashwords. Release date is October 1.
Emery Elward returned to Trinity Creek with no intention of doing anything but repairing the farmhouse he grew up in, starting a business, and tending to the graveyard linked to his family’s property. He has no interest in renewing past friendships. But one old friend is determined to get Emery out from behind the cemetery’s iron gates.
Crafty, delicate Ezra Bell, who tailors his coal-black suits, knits gloves to warm his cold hands, and couldn’t make a plant grow if he tried, isn’t someone Emery can ignore. Ezra was Emery’s best friend all through school, his first crush, and his first kiss. Then Ezra stepped back without ever acknowledging that anything happened between them and Emery left town. But now Ezra is free to tell Emery the secret that kept them apart—the town is steeped in magic, the old families are witches, and some of them, like Ezra, are a little bit more.
Amid gray skies, falling leaves, and the paper cutouts of skeletons that decorate the town in anticipation of Halloween, Ezra is going to woo Emery back to the land of the living. If anyone can convince Emery that he is wanted, that Ezra still loves him, and that magic is real, it’s Ezra. Emery may be stubborn, but he is about to discover that nothing is more certain than Ezra.
Just in time for fall, which I am SO ready for!
(And after that, Clematis in November, and then a short fluffy fantasy thing I am working on. release date tba)
Emery Elward returned to Trinity Creek with no intention of doing anything but repairing the farmhouse he grew up in, starting a business, and tending to the graveyard linked to his family’s property. He has no interest in renewing past friendships. But one old friend is determined to get Emery out from behind the cemetery’s iron gates.
Crafty, delicate Ezra Bell, who tailors his coal-black suits, knits gloves to warm his cold hands, and couldn’t make a plant grow if he tried, isn’t someone Emery can ignore. Ezra was Emery’s best friend all through school, his first crush, and his first kiss. Then Ezra stepped back without ever acknowledging that anything happened between them and Emery left town. But now Ezra is free to tell Emery the secret that kept them apart—the town is steeped in magic, the old families are witches, and some of them, like Ezra, are a little bit more.
Amid gray skies, falling leaves, and the paper cutouts of skeletons that decorate the town in anticipation of Halloween, Ezra is going to woo Emery back to the land of the living. If anyone can convince Emery that he is wanted, that Ezra still loves him, and that magic is real, it’s Ezra. Emery may be stubborn, but he is about to discover that nothing is more certain than Ezra.
Just in time for fall, which I am SO ready for!
(And after that, Clematis in November, and then a short fluffy fantasy thing I am working on. release date tba)
Fall update!
We are still in the middle of what we call Fire Season here in California, but it's Autumn to many of you, just the time for a witchy boys update. And, frankly, time for something calming to escape into for a while, if you can.
For that reason, as a small, nice thing, I worked with Findaway Voices (and my helpful and wonderful narrator Joshua Macrae) to release an audiobook of A Little Familiar.
It will be distributed throughout many platforms, including Chirp and Audible. I'd give you an exact release date, but none of those services do that. The best I can tell you is that it will be out sometime this month!! Bartleby! Piotr!! Yearning over pumpkin carvings and spells and cider!!!
Hopefully, some of you get to listen to it in the rain. Talk about mood!!
In other news, the re-release of Play It Again, Charlie is finally happening. I am a little embarrassed by this story now--not for Charlie or Will themselves, just for my earlier writing. But ah well. It is out, with a new cover and a small epilogue, on November 2, in ebook and paperback.
The Beings paperbacks are ready to go as well, as soon as I have a few moments to sit down and fuss with them all. I will have them out likely before December, but this month, I might get distracted by whatever short story I do (if I decide to) for my birthday. I like to do a small thing for my bday each year if I can (if I can destress enough this year. ugh). We shall see!
I hope everyone is well, and getting some moments of calm and happiness in a hellish year. Stay strong! <3<3<3
For that reason, as a small, nice thing, I worked with Findaway Voices (and my helpful and wonderful narrator Joshua Macrae) to release an audiobook of A Little Familiar.
It will be distributed throughout many platforms, including Chirp and Audible. I'd give you an exact release date, but none of those services do that. The best I can tell you is that it will be out sometime this month!! Bartleby! Piotr!! Yearning over pumpkin carvings and spells and cider!!!
Hopefully, some of you get to listen to it in the rain. Talk about mood!!
In other news, the re-release of Play It Again, Charlie is finally happening. I am a little embarrassed by this story now--not for Charlie or Will themselves, just for my earlier writing. But ah well. It is out, with a new cover and a small epilogue, on November 2, in ebook and paperback.
The Beings paperbacks are ready to go as well, as soon as I have a few moments to sit down and fuss with them all. I will have them out likely before December, but this month, I might get distracted by whatever short story I do (if I decide to) for my birthday. I like to do a small thing for my bday each year if I can (if I can destress enough this year. ugh). We shall see!
I hope everyone is well, and getting some moments of calm and happiness in a hellish year. Stay strong! <3<3<3
End of the Year fun stuff
Happy holidays, to anyone who celebrates anything this time of year. Happy New Year as well, when that time comes! Though you don't have to wait to start new stuff, or to reflect on the past, or to have a little bubbly. Whatever. <3
For the end of the year, I have a few things going on. A new story coming out. A paperback collection of the Familiar Spirits is now available. And I am back to working on the Beings. (Yay finally!)
The new story is called Ravenous. It's a little historical fantasy novella, with some monsterfucking. But mostly two dorks being dorky, as is my usual trend. :)
----
Those who come back from the mysterious place known as the Realm, if they come back, are changed. Some return haunted. Others with knowledge of themselves that they will not share, and the magic of the Realm at their disposal. The peculiari, as these few are called, are tolerated at best, feared at worst.
Nicodemus isn’t anything like one of the exceptional, adventurous peculiari. For the most part, he’s content to keep house for the peculiari of the Arawn Agency and rarely ventures outside of the manor they all call home. As an asterion, one of the unwanted, monstrous children of the Realm, Nicodemus is human in appearance except for the ram’s horns growing from his head, and prefers the company of those who don’t judge him. There’s just one hitch in his otherwise safe and orderly world. One awkward, inconvenient, twice-a-year problem in which Nicodemus goes into what can humiliatingly only be called a rut.
It’s a secret he keeps from the others. But this year, unable to stand the thought of spending his rut alone, he ventures out in search of company—only to run into Bel, the one person he hopes will never discover his secret. Bel is powerful enough to make even other peculiari wary and far more experienced than Nicodemus in the ways of the world. But tonight, Bel isn’t out seeking pleasure. He’s on the hunt for a true monster that has slithered from the Realm to hurt people, and he seems to think Nicodemus is especially in danger. The Realm, and this creature, are drawn to people who want, and sheltered, lonely Nicodemus, with his rut approaching, is nothing but want.
According to Bel, the best way for anyone to stay protected from the temptations of the Realm is to indulge themselves enough to make their desires manageable. Alone with Bel for the first time after Bel vows to keep him safe, Nicodemus starts to wonder what it is that he really wants, and why Bel understands the appetites of a monster so well, and if perhaps Nicodemus should follow Bel’s advice and indulge some desires of his own.
Ravenous up for preorder now, but available December 26th!
The paperback of the Familiar Spirits is out now, for those interested. It has all three stories and a few short bonus stories, plus a pretty new cover. <3 <3 <3
And now I am back to working on Beings! I'm so happy! Fingers crossed it goes well.
Take care, and be gentle with yourselves as December rolls on.
For the end of the year, I have a few things going on. A new story coming out. A paperback collection of the Familiar Spirits is now available. And I am back to working on the Beings. (Yay finally!)
The new story is called Ravenous. It's a little historical fantasy novella, with some monsterfucking. But mostly two dorks being dorky, as is my usual trend. :)
----
Those who come back from the mysterious place known as the Realm, if they come back, are changed. Some return haunted. Others with knowledge of themselves that they will not share, and the magic of the Realm at their disposal. The peculiari, as these few are called, are tolerated at best, feared at worst.
Nicodemus isn’t anything like one of the exceptional, adventurous peculiari. For the most part, he’s content to keep house for the peculiari of the Arawn Agency and rarely ventures outside of the manor they all call home. As an asterion, one of the unwanted, monstrous children of the Realm, Nicodemus is human in appearance except for the ram’s horns growing from his head, and prefers the company of those who don’t judge him. There’s just one hitch in his otherwise safe and orderly world. One awkward, inconvenient, twice-a-year problem in which Nicodemus goes into what can humiliatingly only be called a rut.
It’s a secret he keeps from the others. But this year, unable to stand the thought of spending his rut alone, he ventures out in search of company—only to run into Bel, the one person he hopes will never discover his secret. Bel is powerful enough to make even other peculiari wary and far more experienced than Nicodemus in the ways of the world. But tonight, Bel isn’t out seeking pleasure. He’s on the hunt for a true monster that has slithered from the Realm to hurt people, and he seems to think Nicodemus is especially in danger. The Realm, and this creature, are drawn to people who want, and sheltered, lonely Nicodemus, with his rut approaching, is nothing but want.
According to Bel, the best way for anyone to stay protected from the temptations of the Realm is to indulge themselves enough to make their desires manageable. Alone with Bel for the first time after Bel vows to keep him safe, Nicodemus starts to wonder what it is that he really wants, and why Bel understands the appetites of a monster so well, and if perhaps Nicodemus should follow Bel’s advice and indulge some desires of his own.
Ravenous up for preorder now, but available December 26th!
The paperback of the Familiar Spirits is out now, for those interested. It has all three stories and a few short bonus stories, plus a pretty new cover. <3 <3 <3
And now I am back to working on Beings! I'm so happy! Fingers crossed it goes well.
Take care, and be gentle with yourselves as December rolls on.
A Little Blessing: Familiar Spirits Book Four
Surprising even myself, I've added another book to the Familiar Spirits series. I just wanted some coziness, and comfort, and good food, and the sort of care only Lucas Greysmith can provide to one fussy little Robin Blessing.
<3
A Little Blessing
Familiar Spirits Book Four
Yule is the start of the new year, the midwinter festival for the solstice and the days afterward. Traditions are to burn logs and light candles to welcome the return of the sun, to celebrate with food and cheer and family, and to remember connections with the past.
Robin Blessing never felt much need for that last part; he lives in his family’s old farmhouse with the ghosts of his long-dead relatives. Anyway, he has no time for Yule. Alone, overworked, and ill, the holiday and any coven obligations that go with it are the last things on his mind.
So he is not pleased to open his door and find Lucas Greysmith on the other side. Lucas is a legendary figure in Ravenscroft; marked by great magic, part of a powerful family, annoyingly tall and good-looking, and yet always asking after Robin when Robin is fine, thank you very much. Someone as important as Lucas should have better things to worry about than one little witch who won’t use his Sight, and Robin usually wouldn’t hesitate to tell him so.
Instead, Robin faints right at Lucas’ feet.
When Robin wakes up, it’s to find that the Greysmiths have decided that Lucas will stay with Robin for the duration of the Yule season to help him recover, and Robin is in no position to protest. The more rest he gets, the more he realizes that he’s been lonely, that he needs the help, and that there might have been a reason Lucas has been asking after him all these years. If Robin had used his gift, he might have seen what Lucas has been patiently waiting for.
Yule is both an end and a beginning, and for first time in years, Robin looking forward to what the future might bring.
Out on December 9th on most platforms!
A Little Blessing
<3
A Little Blessing
Familiar Spirits Book Four
Yule is the start of the new year, the midwinter festival for the solstice and the days afterward. Traditions are to burn logs and light candles to welcome the return of the sun, to celebrate with food and cheer and family, and to remember connections with the past.
Robin Blessing never felt much need for that last part; he lives in his family’s old farmhouse with the ghosts of his long-dead relatives. Anyway, he has no time for Yule. Alone, overworked, and ill, the holiday and any coven obligations that go with it are the last things on his mind.
So he is not pleased to open his door and find Lucas Greysmith on the other side. Lucas is a legendary figure in Ravenscroft; marked by great magic, part of a powerful family, annoyingly tall and good-looking, and yet always asking after Robin when Robin is fine, thank you very much. Someone as important as Lucas should have better things to worry about than one little witch who won’t use his Sight, and Robin usually wouldn’t hesitate to tell him so.
Instead, Robin faints right at Lucas’ feet.
When Robin wakes up, it’s to find that the Greysmiths have decided that Lucas will stay with Robin for the duration of the Yule season to help him recover, and Robin is in no position to protest. The more rest he gets, the more he realizes that he’s been lonely, that he needs the help, and that there might have been a reason Lucas has been asking after him all these years. If Robin had used his gift, he might have seen what Lucas has been patiently waiting for.
Yule is both an end and a beginning, and for first time in years, Robin looking forward to what the future might bring.
Out on December 9th on most platforms!
A Little Blessing
