Skyla Dawn Cameron

Jun 08 2021

Paperback Release: Season of the Bitch

Late last year/early this year, I serialized an Elis O’Connor prequel novella over at Patreon. It was supposed to be a longish short story for Halloween but, well, you know how I write–so I ended up with a novella that took some months to complete.

It’s been through revisions, editing, proofing, and it’s now available in paperback. The ebook will be made available to all patrons on July 1 (the day before the next full-length novel, Witch Hunt, starts serializing).

Anticipating some FAQs here!

[Read more…]

Jun 06 2021

Soundtrack Sunday – YAMPELLEC’S IDOL

It’s here! The latest Livi novel came out this week, so here we have the full playlist.

2WEI – “In the End” (cover)
I talked about this one in more detail here–it’s the epic trailer theme song for the book.

Jonatha Brooke – “Inconsolable“
Livi POV

Orelia Has Orchestra – “Suggestions“
Livi POV
It just takes a second for my world to come crumbling down//Oh I’m sure in the distance you can hear that awful sound//Oh I plead for an answer, plead for an answer from you//But if you give me an answer, that just makes no sense then what’s the use//And just like that my life is broken//I can barely breathe

A Great Big World feat. Christina Aguilera – “Say Something“
I talked about this one in more detail last week; it’s the first big confrontation scene song.

Christina Perri – “Jar of Hearts“
Post-confrontation as Livi spirals.

Katelyn Tarver – “You Don’t Know What It’s Like“
Livi…has a lot going on and mostly wants to be left alone. So this whole song.
So let me just give up//So let me just let go//If this isn’t good for me//Well, I don’t wanna know//Let me just stop trying//Let me just stop fighting//I don’t want your good advice or reasons why I’m alright//You don’t know what it’s like

Corey Taylor – “Wicked Game” (cover)
It’s not quite how I hear Iluka’s voice–his is a little huskier–but it’s close, and it’s an Iluka POV song.

Brian D’Oliveira – “Overture“

Correatown – “Believe” (cover)
The chapter titled “Life After Love”, the quiet moment after sliding down the muddy hill.

Imagine Dragons – “Believer” (both original and acoustic)
Wrote some kissing to this one–it may not seem like a kissing song, but welcome to my brain!

Hozier – “Movement“
More kissing/”boundaries” discussion.

Brian D’Oliveira – “One with the Jungle“
SO glad Tomb Raider came out with a game set in Peru while I was writing my Peru book; I used a few songs from the soundtrack on it.

Brian D’Oliveira – “Baptism of Fire“
Doppelganger theme.

Sierra Eagleson – “In the Air Tonight” (cover)

Audra Mae – “Little Sparrow” (cover)
Dolly’s original too. Marta’s song, I talked about here.

Shawn James – “I Try” (cover)
At the airport, Iluka POV.
I play it off, but I’m dreaming of you//I’ll keep my cool, but I’m fiendin’//I try to say goodbye and I choke//I try to walk away and I stumble//Though I try to hide it, it’s clear//My world crumbles when you are not near

Lisa Loeb – “How“
Second big confrontation scene with the truth.

Chase Eagleson – “The Scientist” (cover)
Other song during the second big confrontation scene with the truth.

Ducci – “Something I Need” (piano cover)
I can’t have a soundtrack in the series without some cover of the main Livi and West theme. I wish this was more somber to be more bittersweet but it worked for me.

NEONI – “Apologize” (cover)
Livi sits by herself in the park and processes what she’s learned.
I loved you with a fire red and I was turnin’ blue//And to say//Sorry like the angel//Heaven let me think was you//But I’m afraid//It’s too late to apologize

Brian D’Oliveira – “Innocent Death“

Alessia Cara – “River of Tears“
I thought that you would be the hero//Come and save the day//But you’re a villain//Your sins unforgiven and Cry me a river, build myself a bridge//I’m over this//Can’t let memories become the death of me//I’m glad to see everything that you are//And I believe that you are everything I needed//But I don’t need no more//I’m going down, and you have watched me drown//In a river of tears, lost beneath the stream//Under the waves, I’ve found the strength to say//The river of tears has washed me clean

TRILLS – “Speak Loud“
Livi snaps as she approaches the private plane.

Sophie Zelmani – “I’ll Remember You“
Last chapter before the epilogue, conversation in the SUV and final goodbye. Livi POV

Daniel Ahearn – “I Will Let You Go“
Same scene, West POV.
No more paving the present with pain from my past//And I will let you go

Eva Cassidy – “Fields of Gold“
Epilogue song.

Aron Wright – “In the Sun” (cover)
Other epilogue song.
I picture you in the sun wondering what went wrong

Imagine Dragons – “Next to Me“
Iluka shows up unexpectedly (this one’ll probably appear quite a bit in the next playlist too). Livi POV.
Something about the way that you walked into my living room//Casually and confident lookin’ at the mess I am//But still you, still you want me and Oh, I always let you down//You’re shattered on the ground//Still, I find you there//Next to me//And oh, stupid things I do//I’m far from good, it’s true//But still, I find you//Next to me

Jun 01 2021

Release Day!

Livi is back! Yampellec’s Idol is officially out today.

I’ve been talking about this for months now so I probably don’t need to go through the jacket copy/summary, lalala. Just a reminder of the buy links in case you’re not into preorders:

I’m still so proud of this book–it was so much goddamn work, so much to juggle, but I think it’s one of the best I’ve written, and I’m thrilled to share it with readers at long last. It also had double the preorder numbers from the last book, and I don’t know if it’s the new readers the series has picked up in the interim, or the sheer fact that preorder has been up since last October so it gave folks time to find it–but I had a lot of people go out of their way to tell me they were quitting the series due to the delay, so I am PLEASANTLY surprised by the remaining interest.

I am just…I am feeling so HASHTAG BLESSED right now, in this moment, with this book out that I’m so pleased with, with the tremendous monthly support from patrons, with everyone who picked up a copy of Livi today, and from the early word from readers who are enjoying the book so far.

Thank you for believing in Livi.

If you know anyone who hasn’t started the series yet, the boxset is a Kobo Daily Deal and available for $1.99 today ONLY (reg $14.99). Not in all regions–they decide that kind of thing, not me.

As for me, I got a SURPRISE last night when I discovered the pharmacy nearby finally had covid vaccine appointments, so I was able to book my first shot for today at noon (yes, I qualified ages ago; I’m rural, it’s been a dystopian nightmare). Now I’m ready to fight off FORK HANDS and I couldn’t be happier.

May 30 2021

Soundtrack Sunday – “Say Something”

Usually I do a book’s full soundtrack the Sunday before release, but this time I’ll wait for the week after–just to avoid spoilers. But to celebrate Tuesday’s release, I thought I’d talk about the very first song on the playlist, from years before I even started writing it.

A lot of threads in all the books in the series so far have been leading up to the first big confrontation scene (which I’m sure everyone knew was coming by the time you read the end of Shiva’s Bow).

There was only one song for that scene.

Say something, I’m giving up on you

It’s that rare song that weaves through both POVs in a scene, this time Livi and West.

I’ll be the one, if you want me to
Anywhere, I would’ve followed you

I had it on repeat when walking at night for years, rolling that scene around and around in my head. I had it on repeat when I finally got to write it years later. And I still popped it on every time I reread/revised the scene the past year.

You’re the one that I love
And I’m saying goodbye

The somber quietness, the simplicity, the palpable pain–it’s a good contrast to all the screaming and shooting.

Say something, I’m giving up on you

(Look, I like my angst, okay?)

The full soundtrack will post next Sunday. Previous song features from this book included “In the End” and “Little Sparrow“.

May 18 2021

Two To Get Ready…

We’re two weeks out from Livi Talbot’s return!

I’m awash with feelings over this.

I love this book. I do. It has things I’ve been excited to write for several years now, back when I first wrote Solomon’s Seal in 2012. (If you ever wonder whether writers know everything in advance, I can’t answer for others–and I am certainly surprised by some things myself–but I’ve known a lot of the big set pieces and tent pole moments from the start, so yes, I’ve always known where this is going–in fact I only get a little fuzzy with the details around book nine or so, though I do know the very final series ending).

I’m excited for people to read this book.

I’m terrified for people to read this book.

So many feels are wrapped up into this book, given that I was writing it when I first got The Psych Kittens, and writing it again when Gus died. And as I get deeper into the series, I recognize more and more these books–beyond the fun window-dressing of adventure and fantastical elements–are about confronting and unpacking past trauma, which I know not everyone signed up for and won’t stick around for, probably.

With everyone release I worry that it’ll be the one that kills the series enjoyment for folks. And I know sometimes it is–some readers inevitably fall off the series, whether due to it not meeting their expectation or the wait between releases. Nothing I can do about that–I can just deliver the best book I’m capable of and this, this, is definitely it at this point. It’s the best book I could make it, the best I’m capable of. It’s a big, messy book, with a lot of big, messy bits of me in it, and a lot of people worked really hard on helping me get it out there to people.

So we’ve got two weeks to go. And despite knowing it’s foolish for me to be anxious–because book releases aren’t like movie releases, or music releases, since with very few exceptions they are not something people read/finish immediately, so I know it’ll be met with initial silence–I still remain nervous and terrified and hopeful as we near the release date.

If you’ve not preordered yet, it’s up absolutely everywhere, including available at Amazon now in paperback and I’ll have signed copies at Etsy in another week or two. If you absolutely must read right now, you can also get it at Payhip in all ebook formats.