Three witches take on the ancient lineage of the Coven, witches tasked
with fighting supernatural forces. The Coven grows and so do their problems.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first? What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Personally, I don’t bother with outlines. I will never stick to them. The only thing I do at the beginning to work out the main characters. I find a name, figure out what they look like and their personality. Maybe a bit of conflict then I start writing. I don’t set goals for the length of a story and while I have a plan when I start, it almost always changes.
The most common trap I see for aspiring writers is the desire to be the next big author, i.e the next J.K. Rowling. That doesn’t work. Be yourself. Write for yourself first. And when you release a book, don’t describe it in any way like, “Harry Potter meets Twilight.” You set yourself up for failure when you compare your book to big sellers like that.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Typos are the devil. That’s my biggest problem. Fortunately my editor knows me well enough to not only spot them but figure out where I’m trying to go.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I prefer to be original. It’s too hard to try to cater to readers so directly.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Write more often. Write more poetry, write more short stories. Write more novels. Just write.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
We work a little differently emotionally. Also, sex is difficult to write out if you write from her point of view. For my part, I’m used to writing alpha male type of characters. Most say really raunchy and blunt stuff that isn’t always characteristic of a lady.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Used to be about six months. However, this is my first book in about three years
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Yep, and it sucks. That’s why it’s been so long between releases for me.
Bewitched Souls
The Coven Book 1
by Drako
Genre: LGTQ Paranormal Romance
The Coven is a special group of witches given charge of the manor on
Genum Island, and Talis is considered the head and strongest of it. Joined by
his sister, Teryn, and her husband, Cian, they protect their magic based home
from the forces of darkness who seek the mysterious power of their home. It’s
all routine, until Talis’ old crush shows up with a strong desire to take the
head witch for himself.
Dion has come to terms with what he wants, and that’s Talis. He has a lot to
make up for, but with him comes trouble. Hot on his tail is his ex-girlfriend,
and with her is a demon who has a craving for souls and a rise to her former
glory.
The Coven has no choice but to stand against the greatest threat they’ve ever
faced. How far will they go to save a soul?
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One
Genum Island, off the coast of South Carolina, March 2014
Nightfall was a beautiful time on the island. It was quiet and most were in their homes, tucked in for the night. It almost seemed like a normal town. It wasn’t even close, at least to those who knew the truth. The island was a haven for witches. It was a source of power. And while normal humans stopped in occasionally and maybe even made their home there, this island was meant for magic. Power attracts all manner of beings on either end of the spectrum. Some understood this better than others.
Talis walked alone, a black leather jacket keeping him warm against the slight chill of the night. He was of average height, about 5’9” tall and slender in frame, but not outright skinny. Light brown skin glistened a bit under the light of the full moon. Hazel brown eyes scanned the area, alert and on guard. His long dark brown hair, which hung past his shoulders, was tied back so that nothing would escape his line of sight. He was on the hunt.
Talis was a witch, and no, that’s not a mistake in labels. A male witch is a witch, and he was quite proud of it. He was part of a coven of three. The other two were his younger sister, Teryn, and her husband, Cian. They were out as well but the three had separated on purpose. A demon was in their midst and they were going to get rid of it. It was a common occurrence on Genum Island. The forces of darkness would certainly love to gain control of the power of the island, specifically the power that resided in their home.
Talis spotted movement on the side of a nearby house. That was going to be a problem. Banishing a demon wasn’t easy and he wanted to avoid damage to anyone’s home. Fellow witches might understand but humans lived there too and weren’t so understanding, even if they knew of the magic that surrounded them. Talis could only hope Teryn and Cian spotted the movement.
As he thought this, he noticed a cloud come overhead. He felt the familiar energy of his younger sister as rain began to fall. He heard a high pitched squeal before a shadowy figure darted away from the house. Cian’s energy joined that of his sister and the ground quaked enough for the figure to stop. It looked like a large red lizard with black eyes searching frantically around it. Talis let his own energy flow to his fingertips, a warm sensation that he always enjoyed. Raising his hand, a bolt of lightning shot out and incinerated the demon. It gave a screech before it was reduced to ash and silence descended. As quickly as the rain started it stopped. Talis scanned the area as he sensed a familiar presence from his past that shouldn’t be there. His heart raced and he took a deep breath before he began to walk, trying to convince himself that he’d imagined the presence. Before long, he met up with his sister.
Teryn was several inches shorter than him with much lighter skin and lighter, sandy brown hair. Her eyes were the same as his, a trait passed down from their mother. She wore jeans and a long sleeved shirt, both fairly form fitting.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as she saw the frown on his face.
“I thought I sensed someone from back home, but there’s no way he could be here,” he answered.
“You’re normally right about these things. Who is it?”
“Just an old friend.”
“One you’re really close to if you can sense his presence.” Cian fell into step with them. His bright blue eyes were always piercing, as if he could see into your very soul. His dark hair was cut short and he wore square, thin framed glasses. He was an inch or two taller than Talis and quite a bit more level headed.
“We were close at one time,” Talis admitted. “I haven’t seen him in four years. I didn’t expect to ever see him again.”
“It sounds like he’s more than a friend. I’d wager you always have a sense of him and where he is.” Cian smirked at him.
Talis scowled. “Are you sure the goddess didn’t bless you with telepathy?”
“I’m positive, but I know you. I’d love to meet this person.”
“I don’t need you playing overprotective brother in law. It’s not that serious. He’s just a friend I’m linked to spiritually and even if he’s here, he’ll go away. It’s not a big deal.”
“It sounds like it is,” Teryn replied. “Maybe you should go see him.”
“No chance in hell,” Talis said fiercely. “With any luck, he’ll leave soon and doesn’t know I’m here.”
“You know it doesn’t work that way,” Cian warned.
“Yeah well a guy can dream.”
Sunder
The Coven Book 2
The life of a witch is ever changing.
After the greatest test the Coven has ever faced, Talis and Dion settle
in happily married life. But Talis is the head of the Coven, and his life will
never be simple. He has responsibilities far above and beyond what he had
anticipated and ever increasing powers to master.
With all this, there is the certainty that darkness never sleeps, and
now comes a true test of more than just ability, but the strength of his will.
As Teryn and Cian prepare to welcome a new addition to the family, Talis and
Dion’s work just begins as insecurity and outside forces come together to
threaten their marriage.
Beneath it all is a sinister force older and more powerful than any
ever known, threatening not only to tear them all apart but the world as they
know it.
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By the time they got to the fourth movie, after skipping the third one, Talis had actually dozed off in Dion’s arms. Dion was awake and smiled as he smoothed Talis’ hair back from his face. He knew Talis was tired; he could feel the exhaustion when Talis walked in the door. The real reason he’d taken off early was to cater to Talis. It was in his husband’s nature to work harder than everyone else and to take on the heaviest burdens. He didn’t know how to slow down.
Talis’ arms were wrapped around Dion’s waist and tightened slightly, pulling himself closer. His head was on Dion’s chest and he sighed quietly but didn’t wake up. Dion returned his gaze to the movie. It was easy to let Talis sleep this way and reminded him how much he meant to him. Not that Dion needed the reminder. Talis had gone to hell and back for him, literally. If Talis needed a little cuddling instead of sex, who was Dion to argue?
A scream in the movie jolted Talis awake and he sat up, look around frantically until Dion laughed.
“It’s just the movie, babe,” he assured Talis.
Talis relaxed and lay down again. “How long was I out?”
“Not long and if you’re tired you can go back to sleep,” Dion told him.
“I’m good but I want to lay here for a while. Are you ok with that?” Talis asked.
Dion ran his fingers through Talis’ hair. “Any time I have with you is great. You need rest, so rest.”
“I’m fine, really. I didn’t think I was that tired.”
“You never do but part of that is my fault.”
Talis turned to look up at him. “How so?”
“I know we’ve had a lot of sex. My drive is insanely high. It’s wearing you out.”
“Best form of being worn out ever.” Talis smiled. “You worry too much.”
Dion’s mouth twitched, fighting back his own smile. “I’m serious. I’m not completely blind, Talis.”
“I never said you were but I’m fine,” Talis told him calmly.
“Are you really?” Dion asked. “Or are you worried that my incubus nature will take over and lead me astray?”
Talis frowned. “I’ve never thought about it but I only have basic knowledge of your incubus nature. Are you worried?”
Dion shook his head. “I feed off of sexual energy but I don’t crave sex with anyone else. But I am worried that I’m hurting you.”
Talis raised an eyebrow. “You know I’m a half breed too. I’m not fragile.”
Dion smiled. “No, you’re too strong for your own good. You wouldn’t know how to show weakness. That worries me.”
“You’ve seen me in weakened moments and you’ve helped me through them,” Talis reminded him. “Stop worrying.”
“That’s not possible as long as you overwork yourself.” Dion kept absently playing with his hair. “I know it’s in your nature and it’s in mine to take care of you when you won’t take care of yourself. So keep resting.”
Talis smiled again. “I am resting. I’m content to lay here with you all night and watch movies.”
“So am I, babe.” Dion returned his attention to movie again.
Reunited
The Coven Book 3
It’s been several months since the noble sacrifice of Talis to save his
family and the world. Dion, his husband, has been contemplating changes. It’s
painful to be in his husband’s home with his family while he isn’t there to
enjoy. He’s done as he was asked and taken on a lead role in the Coven
alongside his sister-in-law, Teryn, and her husband, Cian. But without Talis,
the world just doesn’t feel right. Little do they know, this isn’t the end at
all.
The threat of the same Dark God rises again, and with it, the Coven
needs their leader back. Talis returns to the land of the living thanks to
untapped and unexplored magic from the Fair People to find that not everything
was as he’d left it. It’s time to venture to the land of the Fair People,
Albion, to make one more stand against the very force that cost him his life
before. This time, he’s not fighting alone. The Coven gathers to fight back the
darkness and to keep their fearless leader with the other half of his
soul.
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Genum Island, August 2017
Funny how even the nicest of days could sometimes feel so monotonous and boring. Dion walked around on his patrol instead of driving, hoping the fresh air might lift his mood. To be honest, he had no idea why he was so particularly uneasy. It was an average day. Th esun was high in the sky, the weather warm with the lightest of breezes blowing. The undercurrent of magic that made the island was comfortable.
Yet he wanted out. It had been six months now. Six months of sleeping in the bed alone, waking up alone, and aimlessly wandering through life. Six months of being without the greatest love he’d ever known.
He found himself on the beach and knelt next to the water. Children were playing a short distance away. They waved and he waved back. He wasn’t sure who they were but everyone on the island knew him. He was the sheriff after all, which mainly consisted of breaking up occasional bar fights and dealing with tourists. He hadn’t minded the job before but now it was just another tie to this place.
He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the water. It wasn’t as clear, but he knew what everyone else saw. A dark-skinned man with dark brown eyes and a low haircut, perfectly groomed with a goa tee framing thick, full lips. He couldn’t be sure if anyone else noticed that he’d lost weight in the past few months, but he knew it. Likely, he appeared to be the same chocolate-skinned Adonis that he’d always been. If only he felt that way. He needed to hit the gym and get more than three hours of sleep a night. The very thought made him sigh.
His phone went off and he pulled it out. Teryn, his sister-in-law was calling.
“Yeah?” he greeted gruffly.
“Why do you always sound like it’s the end of the world?” she asked.
Dion sighed. “I do not. What do you need?”
“Just checking on you since you’re not in the office. Need to talk?”
“No,” Dion answered shortly.
“I think you do,” Teryn pressed.
“Fine, but not over the phone,” Dion relented. “I’ll come by the shop after I stop by the grave.”
“I’ll meet you there.” Teryn hung up.
Dion put his phone away, shaking his head. Being around Teryn, he couldn’t hide emotions. She was an empath, the same as her brother had been. He sighed and made his way to the graveyard.
Drako was born
in 1987 in St. Louis, Missouri. He is mainly a fantasy writer, though he also
writes some poetry and general fiction. He is very active on Bluesky these days
as his primary social media. When he isn’t writing, he’s busy with hobbies in
reading and playing video games. He has his own podcast and also works an
editor/proof reader and a tarot reader.
The worldbuilding sounds intriguing!
The series sounds good. Thanks for sharing.