Skyla Dawn Cameron

Mar 15 2020

Soundtrack Sunday – “On a Mission”

We’re going waaaaay back to the very first song on the Solomon’s Seal playlist.

The first book. The first scene. Livi in the rental Jeep chasing down her brother–and the artifact they were both after. I’d sketched out some of the backstory already (yes, even that), knew the overall shape of the book, the artifact/location/villain, the themes.

“On a Mission” by Gabriella Cilmi. This was the first Livi song.

 It’s tough for me to make a move
And I know what I gotta do
Cause I got everything to prove
I got a plan I’m sticking to

I first heard it via a Buffy fan vid to it, which is sadly no longer available, and I hate the original music video but I found one using the Captain Marvel trailer.

I ain’t nobody’s push around
If they could only see me now

I am a woman on a mission
Nothing can stop me, I’m stronger than ever
I’m gonna see this through
I am a woman on a mission
Whatever it takes I will do what I gotta do

This was the very core of Livi for me–her determination, whatever the task. That adrenaline-junkie energy of going, going, going. Her insistence she’ll see something through. Her confidence in her own abilities.

So read the writing on the wall
I’m ready and I’m standing tall
Some people think they know it all,
I guess I’ll have to show ‘em all

I still throw the song on periodically for those high-octane adventure action scenes, but in my head it’s always Livi driving in that Jeep backwards, standing and firing at her brother to stop him.

Stand aside 'cause I’m on a mission
I’m on fire, there’s no competition.
You can’t blame me I got intuition
And I never miss a trick just like a magician

You don’t need cash, you don’t need permission,
If you think I’m scared, you must be tripping. 
Foot on gas, key in ignition,
Can’t stop now 'cause I’m on a mission

If you haven’t had a chance to read Solomon’s Seal yet, you can grab it free on Payhip right now.

I never do freebies for a variety of reasons, but a lot of folks are self-quarantining right now and living with a lot of uncertainty. I’m a little uncertain too–I feel in a better position than others, but I still worry that as clients feel the financial pinch right now, they’ll cancel work and I’ll be in trouble. Or that book-buying habits will drop and so will the sales I rely on.

But Livi was always meant to be a bit of an escape and adventure for others, and it feels like the kind of book that can be helpful right now. If you haven’t read it, grab a copy now. Coupon code ESCAPE at checkout.

Mar 08 2020

Soundtrack Sunday – “Wonderwall”

So, obviously, I have a lot of playlists.

Series have playlists. Individual books within them have playlists. Characters have playlists. Couples have playlists. Scenes have playlists (usually 1-5 songs on repeat). Chapters have playlists (you’ll notice most of the Livi books have Epilogue titles that are also song titles; same with Demons of Oblivion. Those were the songs playing on repeat when I wrote the ends of those books). Playlists will also have “moods” that I repeat throughout the book.

Several weeks ago I was working on Blood Ties–finally, finally, I figured out how to fix the middle, and did so without throwing it at my long-suffering beta and running away screaming–and one of the songs on it twigged something, which is what led to me figuring out what the book needed.

The song in question was this cover of “Wonderwall”:

(This book has a whole host of epic covers.)

The book wanted kissing.

IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A KISSING BOOK. Plus I don’t like writing first book kissing–I like slow-burn! (Exhibit A through E: Livi and West.) But Elis is not that sort of character. She is not the sort of character who doesn’t act on sexual tension, and she doesn’t care about me wanting her to get back together with her ex-girlfriend–she wants kissing in the middle of the book.

Our conversation went like this:

Me: Okay you have to leave the bar now and kill this dude.
Elis: But FIRST…kissing.
Me: No, murder.
Elis: Right but also kissing.
Me: …
Elis: K-I-S-S-I-N-G
Me:
Elis:
Me: Seriously–
Elis: Kiss. KISS.

I did manage to avoid the kissing, but she was VERY loud about it. She settled for some dancing. If Elis and Melinoe end up striking up a relationship later, the epic version of “Wonderwall” would probably be their theme song, however it obviously would not be playing on the bar’s jukebox in the story. I found two others that work instead.

It’s new love, and longing, and desire, and an edge of hope. It’s slow-dancing in a roomful of strangers but not seeing anyone else in the room but your partner.

I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do, about you now 
And all the roads that lead you there are winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
There are many things that I
Would like to say to you but I don't know how
Because maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me

Blood Ties is currently serializing at Patreon for all patrons and will be available everywhere June 2. There is minimum kissing, though, because I am the author and I’m driving this car. For now.

Feb 23 2020

Soundtrack Sunday – “In the End”

Haven’t done one of these in a while–work has turned my brain to porridge and I’m this close to running screaming into the woods. But I remembered it was Sunday, so here we are with another soundtrack song!

Every book has an epic trailer theme song–the track that plays over the highlights like it was advertising a movie.

Yampellec’s Idol has “In the End”, the cover by 2WEI.

A cover of the Lincoln Park original, of course it’s hella angsty with the lyrics, and the epic arrangement works for Livi’s epic stories.

Picture the dark jungle of Peru, a jaguar through the trees. A boat drifting down a narrow quiet river while an anaconda slithers past.

I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter

Livi falling on her knees in defeat in the dark muddy jungle.

I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go

A screaming fight with West (that you know is coming).

An old Spanish mission falling apart, the floor collapsing. Leaping over traps underground. Chasing a mysterious figure through the jungle. Discovering the ruins of a Sicán temple and stepping down into the dark underground chambers with a sense of foreboding. Facing a moment of sacrifice and confronting what one is truly capable of.

Tell me you can’t see it all when hearing that song?

Feb 13 2020

The Psych Kittens’ Birthday

On February 15 2019, in the evening and snow, I went out to pick up a pair of two-day old kittens. Which makes today their one-year birthday.

There is a post up at CCI with a general update, as I usually write them. What I don’t say is how both boys absolutely saved me. Losing Gus was beyond devastating–it was traumatizing, something that has stayed with me ever since. Shawn’s birthday is bittersweet because his brother should be here too.

Gus was a bit fluffier than Shawn, and I think he would’ve had slightly longer hair, and with a big ruff around his neck. He’d be more slender, maybe a little taller. He’d’ve found a way onto the kitchen cabinets by four months old and baffled Shawn, who would of course have assumed his brother went missing. There would be hundreds of new photos continuing to chronicle his growth, and everyone would be amazed that a 57g premie neonate–half the weight a kitten his age should’ve been–would grow to such a beautiful big cat. He’d be just as clingy with me as Shawn is, and I’d somehow have to share my pillow with twenty pounds of cat instead of the current eleven. And I would sleep better, because I wouldn’t have the memory him struggling to breathe in an oxygen tent while that heart, too big for his body and this world, was failing.

So today we celebrated Shawn’s one-year birthday. I picked up presents from his Twitter friends, and he got new toys from me. He got to have kitten milk as a treat and ate canned food all day. He’s so spoiled as it is, he has no idea today is anything other than a regular day. But it’s impossible for me to forget that Gus was that perfect wave that returned to the ocean too soon, and I miss him tremendously.

Shawn is the best-natured cat (I keep wanting to call him kitten, but he’s a grownup now) anyone could ask for and my constant companion, the absolute light of my life. He’s not very good at catting, but he has an amazing understanding of human vocabulary and gestures. He’s trusting (except when I trim his claws) and codependent and absolutely perfect.

His survival is a miracle and some days I think I am only breathing myself because I have him at my side. Gus should also be turning one year today, but I am never not grateful to still have Shawnie.

So many kittens could have the chance to be a Shawn for someone like me if they had caregivers who knew how to raise orphaned neonates. Please, in honor of him and Gus, consider fostering for your local shelter or rescue, and offer neonatal supplies that are crucial to a kitten’s survival.

Jan 28 2020

ALWAYS Kill a Boy on the First Date

It’s release day! Zara’s post-Oblivion novella is now available everywhere in ebook.

I’m offline most of this week–I find the constant stream of news really exhausting and sometimes lose a few workdays to email. That was not well planned for a release week, but I don’t think any level of promo I do makes that much of a difference–there’s a handful of people that buy and I don’t think they need me to remind them.

Today is Zara’s part of the First Dates (that end badly) line of stories. If you recognize what the title is based on, you get a cookie (it’s also revealed in the first chapter).

Snarky vampire Zara Lain decides to end a dry spell by doing something new: she asks out her saber-tooth cat’s veterinarian for drinks.
The guy is nice. The date goes well.
And then all hell breaks loose.
An old enemy is back and willing to do anything to make her save him from an assassination attempt–bribes, threats, and even making her the new target.
Kindle | Kobo | Nook | iBooks | Payhip

And then, tomorrow, we’ve got Blood Ties on Patreon!