Andromeda Rising

I should have been paying attention. Growing up on the run from religious fanatics gave me more than a few good reasons to be careful, but I was just too tired to be as vigilant as I should have been. My mind was occupied with my latest case—a missing nine year old girl. I was usually good at my job, but sometimes I needed a little extra help from magick. I always managed to track down a cheating spouse or the occasional runaway, but now it seemed more children were missing from the streets of Seattle and nothing I did worked.
A cat jumped on my shoulder and jerked me from my exhaustion induced stupor. I spun into a defensive crouch only to see the cat had landed on the sidewalk behind me.
Time seemed to stop for a moment when the cat spoke.
“RUN!”
My name is Jocelyn Matthews and if I live through tonight, I’ll tell you all about my life as a witch.

<<>>

For the past ten years, Jocelyn has been living as a closet witch in Seattle. When the Inquisitors that have been after her from the time she was nine finally manage to find her, Jocelyn is thrust into a world she never guessed existed. From talking cats to dark elves, she'll have to do something she's never done before: trust someone other than herself. If she wants to find the children that have been going missing all over the city, she'll have to open her eyes to the bigger picture and find her place, not only for her safety but for the city as well.

<<>>

Hope you all are up for following me on a new adventure. Andromeda Rising is only the beginning...

James Ramsey

Andromeda Rising - Blog Tour

Hi All!

I am excited to announce that the virtual book tour for my first novel Andromeda Rising is now open for booking.

Visit the booking page at Pure Textuality PR if you are interested in hosting a tour spot. The tour is running from May 27-Jun 9 and there are only thirteen spots left. Tour stops are filling up fast so don't hesitate to contact Jena to book.

Thanks to everyone who has already signed up. The support has been overwhelming and I can't wait to hear your feedback.

James Ramsey

Title Announcement

Introducing Andromeda Rising!



I am incredibly proud of this story and can't wait to offer it to you all. The release date is TBA but here is the cover to tide you over.

I have also launched my own website which will be the main place to find information on reviews, blog tours, release dates and the retailers offering it for sale.

I hope you will join me on this new adventure as many of you encouraged me to walk my own path after the success of Insecurities. Stay tuned for the summary coming soon.

James

Original Work of Fiction

Well my friends, I have made mention before that I was working on my own original work of fiction. It's happened. After three years of creativity, endless researching, and a few tears I have completed my first full length novel.

While I have had endless fun in the fanfiction world, and will continue to play in that particular sandbox from time to time, there was a character and a story that demanded (poking, prodding, kicking and screaming)to be told. As I got more and more into it the story got bigger and bigger. The world I was living in started to expand beyond what I ever expected. Suddenly the plot-line was too big for just one book. So while the first book is a completed work and now in the capable hands of my editor, there are still many stories to be told.

For those of you who like to read paranormal fiction, (and let's face it, if you're reading this blog it's because you have an unhealthy addiction to all things vampire and werewolf) then hopefully my new book will be right up your alley. While it doesn't have any vampires or werewolves (yet), it does have a witch. Her new best friend and unexpected familiar is a protective, sarcastic shifter who is about to drop the bombshell of a lifetime on her.

Stay tuned for teasers and a release date. Hopefully it's a new journey you'll be willing to take with me after all the support you've shown me in the fandom.

James Ramsey

Learning to Live Again Update

So here I sit looking at the screen and wondering where to start.

I have recieved many nice (and some not so nice) inquiries into why I haven't updated Learning to Live Again in months. It was never my style to write a story and not update regularly and commit to finishing it, but this time fiction and reality have overlapped rather closely.

For those of you that followed the story, at the end of the last posted chapter the adorable Miss Sophie was in danger of losing her beloved Miniature Horse, Daisy. While this was only a small plot device to show how truly calous and self-centered Alice was, the reality of having a sick pony hit me hard.

A few years ago I rescued a Mini of my own who I named Sophie after a particularly soapy bath to get rid of the dirt and pests covering her. And while she was a grey ball of fiery attitude, she was still adorable. At 44" tall she had more personality than some horses three times her size. She was the rock that kept my nervous gelding grounded, the babysitter for the youngster and a fun pony to feed when my nephews came to visit. She was never supposed to be more than a companion animal for my older horses, but she turned out to be so much more. Finding out that she was broke to ride and drive a cart were unexpected joys and her last years of life were probably the best she had ever had.

My little girl was an emaciated bag of bones when I found her. She probably wouldn't have lasted through the winter. Poor diet and a complete lack of any kind of equine dentistry left her with horrible mouth sores and a complete inability to chew her food. It took a year of expensive vet visits for her to come back from the brink, but she did it with a quiet determination and a ball-busting attitude that wouldn't allow for anyone to disturb her meals.

Last year she developed a new problem. After repeated and expensive trips to the vet for cronic choking I lost my little girl in March, only weeks after posting the chapter about the fictional pony that was based on her.

Then, not a month later, on Mother's Day I was forced to put down my best friend and long-time companion of 13 years, Casey. My German Shepard and I had spent almost every day together and had competed in dog sports for years before she retired. Her death was just as unexpected as Sophie's and left me sad for a long time.

The empty stall in the barn I go to three times a day and the empty bed beside mine have left a HUGE hole in my life. I have tried to pick up the story, as I still have all the ideas and scenes written down and planned out, but every time I try to write the next chapter in the story I get choked up. Now isn't the right time.

I have not and will not abandon the story, but for now I feel I have to break one of my own rules and put it on permanent hold.

I have other stuff in the works. In a matter of days I will be posting the first chapter in a three part mini fic that I was blackmailed into writing by Cris (aka @judo_lin) in order to get her to stop tweeting me horrificly terrifying pictures of spiders. It sounds rediculous, but the woman made me scream in the middle of a traffic jam. Getting a pic like that while you are at a dead stop in a topless jeep and scaring the guy in the car next to you with your shrieks is embarrassing. Something had to be done to stop the menace she was becoming.

The first story in a two part full length fiction is also close to being ready to start posting. It will be a new genre for me to post in the Harry Potter fandom but I am looking forward to it.

Also my first full length original novel is almost done. I have been told by a reliable (and unbiased) source that I should pursue getting it published so I will keep you posted on how that goes.

Well that is my fic life as it stands now. I know I may not be popular for making the decision to pull 9 of the 10 posted chapters of Learning to Live again and putting it on hiatus, but it is the only option for now. I will not apologize for loving my animals as if they are children, because to me they are. I need to be in the right head space to write something of quality and the subject matter (and my own sense of pride) will not allow me to post anything less than the best I am capable of.

I hope you will understand but if you don't, well I'm sorry you feel that way.

Until next time,

James Ramsey

Learning to Live Again

Hello All!

Well the first five chapters of my new story have been posted and to date 205 of you have left reviews.

LTLA has had a very emotional impact on many of you, moreso than I ever imagined it would. Reading many of your reviews choked me up and I am so very awed at the courage so many of you have. Many of you are the family or friends of service men and women, and for many of you this story hits close to home. When I started to write this story I honestly didn't think of the impact it might have, it was just a plot line that refused to leave me alone until I started writing.

As I get farther and farther into the story, and Jasper reveals more of the circumstances surrounding the roadside bomb that sent him and Peter to the hospital, I find myself more and more aware of the sensitivity of the subject matter.

It seems that chapter 6 is shaping up to be one of the most emotionally gripping chapters I have ever written. I will be having someone who used to be in the Army pre-read it for me and offer her opinion. I will also be prefacing the chapter with a strong warning that I hope doesn't get ignored.

The next chapter should be up in a few days.

Learning to Live Again

Hello All!

Well as I have said I've been working on something new lately. I know I told you all it was a Harry Potter Fic pairing Hermione and Draco together, and I have been working at it. However, something new popped into my head that demanded to be written.

Yes, Jasper is a demanding one. He has been knudging me for months on this one and finally wouldn't take no for an answer. So I give you "Learning to Live Again".

This is an all human fic that finds a traumatized Jasper returning from being wounded in Iraq only to lose everything that he was holding on to. Where does he go from here? Can he make his way back or will his memories destroy him.

Here's a glimpse.

***

My dreams were haunted by the faces of my men as they died screaming, begging me to save them, crying out for their mothers or wives. There had been nothing threatening about the day that we were blown to hell; no intel about insurgents so close to the base. It was a leisurely drive through the desert, nothing more than returning to base after a routine low risk recon mission. The roadside bombs had been unexpected.

All three of the cars in our convoy were hit. One minute I'm laughing with Garza and the next my world was fire and screams.

***

Check it out and let me know what you think. A huge thanks to KareBear1965 for giving me a crash course on Army terminology.

Until next time!

James

Update

So I have been told that I have been too quiet and I need to update you all on how the writing is going. Hmmmm... Well it is going. Slowly. But I am still working on the Harry Potter fic starring Draco and Hermione that I blogged about previously. The first 10 chapters are being preread and it's looking like it's going to be a longer story than I thought. Possibly needing to be split in to two separate stories by the look of the plot.

Real life has been literally kicking my ass lately between trying to sell our house and move, my sister passing away at 31, going back to work for my husband after he had to fire two of his employees, getting another job (bringing the grand total up to 3 for those of you that are counting) and still dealing with the day to day crap that everyone has. This means that I have been reluctant to publish anything because I would hate to leave a story hanging.

Time to write is at a premium right now but stuff IS getting written. Initial feedback on the HP fic is positive. I have also been working on a couple other things including an original story and a Chronicles of Riddick fic (don't ask where that one came from - cause I got no idea).

But rest assured stories are in the works and will be posted eventually.

Thats it for now. I'm being called back to work. Later!

James

Upcoming Fic

Hello all! I have no idea if anyone reads this or not but I thought I would post my thoughts.

I've been hard at work on a new story that has me pretty absorbed. However it's not my usual and beloved Twilight fandom so I'll completely understand if none of you want to read it.

I've ventured into the world of Harry Potter. Now before you make that disgusted sound and go back to Jasper worshipping (I mean who doesn't), you have to remember that I hate the usual pairings and canon is never really for me. Couple that with my obsession for the bad boy, and you have a story that pairs Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. Yes, it was a challenge.

I loved the books but hated the epilogue. So in true James Ramsey fashion, I have rewritten it the way I wanted to see it. I'm currently 8 chapters in but intend to write a few more before I start posting.

Here's the summary,

It's two years after the Battle of Hogwarts. Hermione and Harry work at the Ministry fighting a new war against former Death Eaters who've fashioned a New Order, following in the footsteps of the fallen Voldemort. Leaving the Ministry late one night, Hermione is abducted. Who will be there to save her?

Fic is fated M and has dark themes. Mentions rape, torture and slavery.

I hope you Twihards out there will give it a chance and have take a read.

Insecurities - Chapter 32 Teaser

The door to our room, burst open with a bang; a small black haired vampire exploded into the room.

My shield slammed up and I spun to kneel over my wounded mate, snarling at the intruder. I could feel the blood running out of my mouth and down my chin mixing with the venom that was pouring out.

“Bella, what?” Her eyes focused on Jasper and a hand went to her mouth in shock. “Oh My God, Jasper,”

She took a step forward towards the bed and my injured mate. I roared out my anger, at her looking at him, he was MINE!

I could hear deep growling across the hallway from a male vampire and the sounds of a woman trying to calm him. The sounds increased my anxiety and anger.

A blonde haired woman appeared in the doorway behind the black haired intruder. She was looking at the ground and had her hands relaxed in front of her. She was no threat. “Alice, you need to stop looking at Jasper and back slowly out of the room.”

“No, I want to see Jasper.” The black haired one said, “Bella, what are you doing?”

She leaned forward as if to take another step, and I shifted my weight; prepared to spring if she so much as looked at him again.

“Alice. Now!” The blonde’s voice was firmer and my growls rose in pitch. She reached out and grabbed a hold of the intruder and dragged her from the room.

“But she’s my sister,” the black haired one protested from the hall

“Not right now she’s not.” Was the reply.

Outtakes

The new outtake to Insecurities is now posted.

Meet Alice's mate and learn about how they met.

I hope you all enjoy it. We will hear more from this new character when Insecurities continues.

Don't forget to vote in the Everything's Bigger in Texas Awards on the Jasper's Darlins website. Only 2 days left to vote for Insecurities in one of the five categories that it's nominated in.

Insecurities

Chapter 31 of Insecurities is now posted on FanFiction.net! The new outtake will be posted soon. As usual I bow down to the awesomeness of my beta NCChris for taking the time to look over my chapters.

Insecurities Outtakes

If you haven't added me to Author Alert on FanFiction yet, you should. There is already an outtake posted as a separate story to Insecurities. Soon there will be another. The new outtake will be introducing Alice's mate and shedding a bit of light into his background.

True Twihards may recognize the name and I am interested to see who figures it out. Hopefully you won't have to cheat to guess.

Stay tuned people, the action is heating up!

Contest Nomination!!!

Insecurities has been Nominated!

That's right people; someone, somewhere thought that this little story of mine was deserving of some serious recognition. It has been nominated in 5 different categories for the Everything's Bigger in Texas Awards on the Jasper's Darlins website!

If you love Insecurities then please, click on the link and Vote!! There are some amazing stories up for awards so by all means please vote for the one you love best. I am completely honoured to be in the same company as many of the other authors as they are vastly more talented than me.

Thank you to whoever felt that Insecurities was good enough to be mentioned for an award. This is the second year that the Darlins have done this contest and it is HUGE!!

SO Go! Vote!!!

Insecurities - Chapter 31 Teaser

I clutched my mate closer to my chest, needing him to reassure me that everything would be okay, that somehow we would get out of this. I needed his arms around me but one of them was laying six feet away and the other was torn half off. He was missing one of his legs and there was a huge hole where his neck should have been. We were both covered in is venom and he was moaning in pain.

I didn't know what to do. I hadn't been able to save my mate or my sister, and now we were all trapped. I managed to expand my sheild enough to gather my mate's missing limbs. I didn't want our captors to burn them like they did the monster's, but I didn't know how to help him. I screamed in anger and despair as the large one came back and gathered my sister up in his arms, taking her away from me.

I cried into my mate's chest as the other two discussed what to do with us. I needed him to tell me what to do. I was so confused, so scared.

Once again we were approached, but this time it was the female.