• Home
  • Blog
  • Books
    • HOUNDMASTER
      • The Wilds Duology
        • HAUNT OF THE WILDS
        • SONG FOR THE WILDS
      • PUP GAMES
    • The Ocean’s Aviary
      • LOST ISLE
    • DaSunder Chronicles
      • SHATTER BY GLASS
      • MURDER IN COLOR
    • BRIDLE THE UNICORN
    • DEADLY HOLIDAYS
      • THOSE BLOODY CHRISTMAS ELVES
      • RISE OF THE SNOWMEN
    • Curtain Chasers Trilogy
      • ALLEY
      • GRAVE
      • DREAM
    • DARK PHOENIX
    • SIREN SONG
  • Free Sunday Stories
  • Poetry
  • Bibliography
  • Newsletter

Emmi Lawrence

~ MM Fantasy Romance Writer

Emmi  Lawrence

Tag Archives: Challenge

Haunt of the Wilds (Chapter One Excerpt)

09 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by Emmi Lawrence in Excerpt, Teaser

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A-Z Wild Duology Challenge, adventure fantasy, Challenge, fantasy romance, Fiction, gay romance, LGBT, Love, M/M, Novel, Romance, Series, Short Fiction, Writing

Haunt of The Wilds eBook CoverI went the easy route for H in my A-Z Challenge since the first novel begins with Haunt :) I’ve been doing teasers for my upcoming novel duology during the month of November and today marks the day I give you the actual first chapter from Book 1.

It’s a little over 5k words, but introduces both main characters and A LOT of dogs. I won’t blame you if you don’t remember all the dogs’ names. I only put them in the first chapter because 1, they’re vastly important to De’vii and 2, because I wanted my readers to know I was referring to a dog when I mentioned them again.

That’s also the reason why I have different naming techniques between houndmasters and dogs, to make it easier to know which I’m introducing/talking about during the story. It’d be weird to be reading along and suddenly having someone you thought was humanoid to be barking or butting their head into your crotch, etc. You know, things we all do normally :P

Haunt of the Wilds: Chapter One

He’d been out of the scene for a few months—running hard down trails past the Braken getting his pack prepped and practiced with the two new pups—so when he arrived back in the biggest doghouse in Crafton looking for a job, he’d anticipated being met with excitement. Not annoyance. And certainly not from Mi’saa.

“De’vii, De’vii.” Her voice was deep for a woman, but it fit her well, accentuating the corded muscles that ran from her neck to her calves. She kept her hair cut short, a leftover lesson from when she’d caught it on one job and almost had her scalp ripped off. She was lounging on the low couch, one of her dogs stretched out beside her, another two curled up on the floor and three more circling the area in guard positions. “You little shit.”

“Good to see you too, love. May I introduce the two newest members of my pack.” De’vii flicked his fingers, although it wasn’t necessary for Wit and Ens came forward with just an encouraging thought.

Mi’saa barely spared them a glance, narrowing her eyes up at him. “You cut out on me.”

Damn her rudeness. De’vii stroked Wit’s neck, sending comforting thoughts the dog’s way, making sure he knew he hadn’t done anything wrong. Ens was a different matter altogether. He sat glaring at Mi’saa and likely would have snarled had most of his bad behavior not been bitten out of him by Fel, Kat and Sou during the last months. He was still chafing, De’vii knew that, but he was better in public now. Especially at a doghouse where the fur flew and the scents of blood and fury permeated the air, promising a dogfight for good behavior. And any houndmaster or nocturn hound worth their weight didn’t just relish a fight, they lived for it. Continue reading →

Games Survival Kit

08 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by Emmi Lawrence in Teaser

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A-Z Wild Duology Challenge, adventure fantasy, Challenge, Fantasy, fantasy romance, Fiction, gay romance, LGBT, Love, M/M, Novel, Romance, Series, Short Fiction, Writing

google plus 1080x608For G in my A-Z Wilds Duology Challenge, I created instructions for a Games Survival Kit. For a good long while, an annual event was held in between the territories of wild and civilized houndmasters and dogs. They were called the Lo’fel Games and were focused on mending the violent hatred between the two groups.

This story is a teaser for my upcoming novel, Haunt of the Wilds, on pre-order now for only .99c.

Games Survival Kit

CONTENTS

1 bark-made map
1 schedule of events
1 large bag of dried jerky
2 small bones
2 bottles of Runner’s Heart alcohol
2 pouches of ilarm pollen powder
1 blindfold
3 packets of unscented oil

These kits are meant to help you navigate your way through your time at the Lo’fel Games, especially if it’s your first time. If you need further help, please look for one of the volunteers. They will be wearing thick strands of blue-painted blackflower vines around their arms.*

The front side of the map shows the main staging area for the Lo’fel Games. The pup grounds have been moved into the center to help keep the pups protected. The sands to the far west are for only those houndmasters and dogs who have qualified in preliminaries. We don’t want too many bloodbaths here and equal fights are always longer and far more fun to watch—if you’re not as good, keep to the east sands where you damn well belong.

The back of the map shows the runner paths that extend into the lower mountains. We have a handful of volunteers along the foothills, but will only be sending one late-night med-team through the paths to pick up anyone who has fallen or become too hurt from random fighting to continue during that day’s races. Race at your own risk. Continue reading →

Animal Instincts

01 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by Emmi Lawrence in Fantasy, M/M, Short Story

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A-Z Wild Duology Challenge, adventure fantasy, Challenge, fantasy romance, Fiction, gay romance, LGBT, Love, Novel, Romance, Short Fiction, Writing

Today kicks off my A-Z Wilds Duology Challenge! Since it’s also the first Sunday of the month I wrote a short story for the letter A.

Because I didn’t want to go into spoiler territory, most everything I publish through the month of November will either take place before the beginning of the duology or will be irrelevant timeline-wise.

Animal Instincts takes place when De’vii (one of the leads in the novels) is about fourteen. De’vii and his two dogs, Fel and Sou, are mainstays in the duology. Te’iil is De’vii’s immediate cousin and is a minor character in Song for the Wilds (Book II). Si’raa is a new character I made up specifically for this story…so don’t get attached.

So without further ado, I give you…

Animal Instincts

The hunt never felt so good as when he ran with those he trusted. With his dogs, Fel and Sou, that trust had been implicit since they’d been gestating within their dam. With Te’iil, the trust stemmed from years of growing up together, knowing and believing Te’iil and his pack would come to De’vii’s aid if necessary. And knowing just as surely Te’iil would attempt to steal the kill right out from under De’vii’s teeth.

With Si’raa though… Si’raa was a different matter altogether. One De’vii hadn’t yet figured out.

The fresh scent of the underbrush filled the air. The lightly dripping leaves, drooping from the heaviness of the last dredges of the rainy season, brushed De’vii’s shoulders as he ran. His small pack—the steady Fel and the bloodthirsty Sou—ran to his either side, Sou slightly ahead, his eagerness an aphrodisiac affecting De’vii’s mind.

Si’raa and his three dogs trailed behind. His footsteps heavy on the dirt. His breathing harsh within the light pattering of droplets falling from the canopy. De’vii’s concentration split between the scent of the spindleleg they hunted and the need to know exactly where Si’raa was at all times. He chalked it up to that lack of trust, a burden during the hunt, forcing him to watch his back. Continue reading →

A-Z Challenge for The Wilds Duology

28 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by Emmi Lawrence in Announcement

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

adventure fantasy, Challenge, Fantasy, fantasy romance, Fiction, Love, M/M, Novel, Romance, Writing

So I know technically this is the wrong month for it since November is usually reserved for Nanowrimo happenings, but I thought it would be a fun idea so I’m doing it anyway.

For the month of November, I’m going to do the A-Z challenge where I post every day (except Saturdays) with the topic of the post starting with the corresponding letter.

Haunt of The Wilds eBook CoverHowever, I’m doing it with a twist. Every post is going to be some sort of teaser for my upcoming novel publications. I’ve got short stories, poems, character interviews, (fake) book excerpts, (real) book excerpts, photos of my (admittedly crappy, but useful) maps, character diary entries, letters and even a quiz (because Q…) If that doesn’t excite you, I’m using the word Zombify for Z.

Basically lots of free fun wordage :)

Haunt of the Wilds, Book I in The Wilds Duology, is a gay romance/adventure fantasy novel coming out on December 3rd. It’s on preorder now on Amazon for .99c.

Newer posts →
Follow Emmi Lawrence on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,957 other subscribers

Social

  • View @EmmiLawrence’s profile on Twitter

CANVAS BLUES
Vignettes Regarding the Artwork of Brendon Kotes

A serialized novel begun Jan 29th 2020. Here you can find links to the beginning and the most recent additions.

I: Prologue
II: Present
III: Yesteryears
IV: Yesteryears
V: Present

……….

L: Present
LI: Yesteryears
LII: Yesteryears
LIII: Present
LIV: Yesteryears

New chapters published every Wednesday!
Next up: Jul 7th 2021

FREE SHORT STORIES

THE BAYWATER & THE HURRICANE
(fantasy M/M)

WHAT SECRETS MIGHT REMAIN
(fantasy M/M)

TALL, DARK & HANDSOME
(contemporary M/M)

THE IMMORTAL LOVER OF LAKE PHANTA
(fantasy M/M)

ACROSS THAT OCEAN OF SAND
(fantasy M/M)

MY LIFE, HIS BREATH
(contemporary M/M)

POET’S BANE
(fantasy M/M)

What’s Up!

  • Canvas Blues – XCV: Present
  • Canvas Blues – XCIV: Present
  • Coffee & Conversation: How to keep your plots/stories from being repetitive?
  • Canvas Blues – XCIII: Yesteryears
  • Coffee & Conversation: How to critique someone else’s work?
  • Canvas Blues – XCII: Present

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Find me on Facebook

Find me on Facebook

2021-0963-emmi-lawrence-b01-2


All stories on site are copyrighted © Emmi Lawrence

Avatar copyrighted @karrakon

Haunt of The Wilds eBook Cover
Song For The Wilds eBook Cover

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Emmi Lawrence
    • Join 320 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Emmi Lawrence
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...