‘Legacy’ Book Tour: The Hardest Part About Writing A Book

Good day lovely readers! Thank you for joining me. I am M.D. Grimm and I am here to promote my newest release, “Legacy.” This is book two in my “Saga of the Bold People” 6-book sci-fi/romance series, and the follow-up to my amazingly popular “Leopold.” I am thrilled to finally be able to present it, and I can say that much sweat, blood, and toil went into this one. While “Leopold” took me nearly a decade to finish, “Legacy” was about a year. I think. Hard to keep track sometimes. And they are basically the same length! Whew.

 

I have to say that the hardest part of writing this book was the risk and self-doubt that plagued me from beginning to end. I am a huge believer in the quote, “Write the story that needs to be written,” as well as the one, “There is no book so great that someone won’t hate it and no book so awful that someone won’t love it.”

 

Following that advice, I took a risk.

 

I added a third to the established couple. And not just that, I added a woman.

 

Gasp.

 

Okay, okay. Let me explain. Leopold is a complicated character and as such, his story is complicated, as are his relationships. The first book is named after him, so the focus was tightly on his development. Without warning, Mastrodai burst Leopold’s well-constructed bubble, sending Leopold into a mad scramble to redefine himself and rebuild his foundation. Likewise, Leopold forced Mastrodai to face the reality of his need for a mate when he’d grown numb after the death of his first mate, Nandeely. However, during their fierce mating dance in the first book, there was always Alex. Through her softness and spine of steel, she managed to worm her way into Leopold’s heart and became his best friend. She had already earned the respect and admiration of Mastrodai and had the respect of (most) of his slaves.

 

Yes, perhaps I could have left it there. But that wasn’t the story that needed to be written.

 

The story of the first book was about two fierce and passionate warrior men coming to grips with their own identities and what they could build together. Alex was always there, from the beginning, a link between the two. Leopold used her to get intel on Mastrodai and the mrrog species. And through her, Mastrodai was able to trust, observe, and understand—a bit—about humans and human society. And, likewise, she was there when Leopold floundered among his own people. Through her, he recognized the need for humans to be free and that shaped his mission that drives the events of “Legacy.”

 

So how could Mastrodai and Leopold not fall in love with this extraordinary woman?

 

I understand that I risked a lot in bringing her in and that I might lose some readers. I am prepared for that. I can only hope that more will be curious or perhaps eager to see the progression of the story and the character arcs. I want do dive into Alex’s background more. While I certainly reveal more about her in “Legacy,” I’m sure there are hidden shadows that I’m not even aware of until I have a conversation with her.

 

Alex is a nurturer at heart. But don’t mistake that for weakness. I think it takes great strength to care and soothe other people, to take their pains unto yourself. To care so much for so many and endure the crushing blow of knowing that you can’t help everyone.

 

The third book will bring us Alex’s point of view, and I do hope readers will be intrigued by her story.

 

While the first book is truly about Leopold, and the rest of the saga will revolve around him, there are other characters that deserve some of the limelight. Leopold can’t succeed in any of his missions alone anymore. His strength comes not just from within but from mates, friends, and allies.

 

I really enjoyed writing the cute scenes between Leopold and Alex and showing the contrast between their relationship and what is between Leopold and Mastrodai and, likewise, what is between Mastrodai and Alex.

 

For anyone worried that Alex would come between our favorite heroes, I hope I have assuaged those concerns. She brings them closer. In her, Leopold and Mastrodai know what their fighting for.

 

Please make sure to sign up for my newsletter. That is the best place to receive the latest information before anyone else.

 

I plan on republishing my entire Shifter Chronicles, On Wings Saga, and Eye of the Beholder in 2021, with updated and expanded text for most of them. Keep your eyes peeled for those!

 

I hope you stay safe and healthy, and may dragons guard your dreams,

M.D. Grimm

 

M.D. Grimm has a new MMF sci fi romance out, Saga of the Bold People Book 2: “Legacy.” And there’s a giveaway!What does a former assassin do when he’s not out there… well… assassinating? Saving his species from extinction, of course.At least, that’s what Leopold wants to do with every molecule in his body. But the task won’t be fast or easy, and he can’t do it alone. Enter Mastrodai—a mrrog prince who has absolutely no desire to rule, much to his father’s exasperation. He craves the ability to prove his worth as a mate and to somehow atone for his actions that led to Leopold’s torture at the hands of an enemy. Making humans official would be a good start.But politics rule no matter what the species, and Mastrodai has to maneuver carefully and risk what he has built to give his mate what he deserves. And when he realizes both he and Leopold have deeper feelings for Alex, one of Mastrodai’s human slave women, he knows his future is out among the stars with his humans, not planet-bound with his kin.Unfortunately, before they can set their plan into motion, Leopold receives a vision that sends him reeling and questioning everything he knows about himself. A vision he must investigate, back to where he began—Lex, the backwater planet where he spent his early years, and where he swore never to return.About the Series:Leopold is a human in an alien-dominated InterGalactic Community. He gained a reputation as the assassin Voidstriker, until his identity was revealed. He soon finds himself reassessing his life, his mission, and his own identity. Having spent his entire life driven by hate and fear, he soon finds himself motivated by hope and love. He decides on a new mission in life: freeing the human species. It will be a long, hard road, and one he can’t walk alone.Even as his allies grow in number, he will most depend on his mates–Mastrodai, the mrrog prince, and Alexandra, a fellow human, his best friend, and their lover. Along with Sasha, a young girl with extraordinary abilities. Leopold is no stranger to challenges but this might be his greatest trial yet.<centerAmazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | QueeRomance Ink | Liminal Fiction | Smashwords | Goodreads

 

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GiveawayM.D. is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card with this tour:a Rafflecopter giveawayDirect Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47157/?

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Excerpt

The explosion thundered against my eardrums, cutting off my conversation with a large group of crop tenders. All of us flinched and I spun around as the boom thrummed through the air, and every mouth gaped, even mine, when the enormous fireball shot into the sky. Flaming debris rained down on the dry stalks, reaping chaos in seconds.“Save what you can!” I said in Veruvian, the official intergalactic language. I ordered my bodyguards to split up and keep their eyes peeled. Then I sped toward the origin of the explosion, quickly outpacing Wekladai, my chief bodyguard. I lowered to all fours and raced into the danger zone, dodging and weaving around scalded metal and open flame. A growl sat contained in my chest, vibrating against my lungs. I bared my teeth, blood and death on my mind. Who would dare?Who would dare?Smoky hot air burned my nostrils and irritated my throat. I narrowed my eyes in deference to the discomfort, shrugging it off. I’d felt worse. The mrrog academy and my rite of passage had beaten weakness out of me. Not to mention my father’s lessons. I reached the epicenter to find that nothing but rubble and blackened ground remained of the supply building in that quadrant of the moon. I recognized a couple of corpses in the mess as I picked my way through.My growl finally loosened, and I resisted panting to save my throat and nose. I would personally slice apart the culprit. It could only be sabotage. A competitor, perhaps, angered that I’d received the contract from the InterGalactic Council instead of them.I straightened and stared in disbelief. Was my security so lax as to allow an enemy to saunter right in? I walked over to the top of a shallow rise to stare out at the acres of crops set in quadrant EC-1. The fire was out of control all around me, the smoke and heat flaming my rage deeper.Wind rose up and blew away much of the smoke. Movement caught my eye, and I looked down the incline. I froze, staring at the creature standing not far away, next to an old, unused shack. A strange land cruiser sat right next to him. It was a male; of that I was certain. And… could he be… a human?Yes, he was a human. And a thief. Familiar rejlfei hung from his shoulders and arms, the straps straining against the weight. Did he merely come to steal from me?Hair as black as the void covered most of his pale face, and brilliant blue eyes reflected the distant sun’s light, reminding me of stars. He was tall for a human, with broad shoulders, and a lean body clothed in a black bodysuit. His face was sharply angled, and yet everything was well-placed, coming together in harmonious union. His expression was stony, and his posture spoke of confidence and strength. The aeunn in his hand never wavered as he kept it aimed at me.Standing before me was no cowed human afraid of his own shadow. No. He was a predator, one made of grace and purpose and a formidable persistence. Why he was on my moon I couldn’t say, but he wasn’t leaving it. He wasn’t getting away.I crouched slowly, not wanting to startle him. One good leap and I would be on him. Even as the human must have guessed my intent, because his eyes abruptly shot wide, the wind blew again, hurling his scent into my face. I took a deep breath. His aroma was dense and organic with metallic and synthetic undertones along with a masculine musk that caused me to salivate. It made me think of thunderous nights when electricity charged the air, where passion danced between lovers, a wild and furious battle of wills and the need to dominate. It was violent and edgy, tense and defiant. Alive. Real.My vengeful rage morphed into a sharp, all-consuming need, and it nearly knocked me on my ass. The wind brought his scent to me once more, and one word repeated again and again in my mind.Mine.My body responded in a way it hadn’t in years. Not since Nandeely. Every lover after her had been an itch to scratch. But this human? I had to possess him. I had to claim him now, before he got away. Before another dared touch him. Images of what I’d do once he was under my control caused my cock to slip out of its sheath. I growled at myself. It had been a long while since such control was beyond me. And I needed it now more than ever.“Mastrodai! What did you find?”I startled at Wekladai’s voice as he joined me on the hill. Only then did I realize that the human was on his land cruiser and speeding away, clearly determined to escape.“What was—?”“Come!” I charged after the human with Wekladai on my heels. My hesitation and the human’s distracting scent had cost me. I snarled and leapt, landing right where the human had once stood. I raced after him but it was no use. I wouldn’t catch him. Despite my speed, his cruiser was just too damn fast. He tore up more crops on his reckless ride, and I took another deep breath, focusing on his vibrant aroma instead of the smoke and burnt metal. Unfortunately, he was soon out of sight but I couldn’t stop running.“Contact Jauntai!” I snarled at Wekladai. He stopped and I continued on. I followed the human’s trail, easily distinguishing his fragrance amid the acrid burning of the crops. It was a warmth in my blood, a song in my head. I couldn’t analyze the effect he had on me, not yet. I was hunting, and I needed to focus.The fire swept across the land far too rapidly for me to compete with. The trail was gone in an instant, his scent taken away, only smoke and heat in its place. I stood and growled, frustrated and angry at myself. Surprise had slowed my reactions and now my prey was gone. Prey that should not have found his way on my moon in the first place.Unacceptable. All of it.The obvious failure on all fronts burned my pride, and I dragged a hand over my hair. I turned around and huffed a deep breath at the wreckage. Duty first. Always duty first.I will find you, human.I hurried back, wary of becoming trapped by the flames. I resigned myself to an unpleasant call to my emperor. I met Wekladai on the way back, and from the look on his face, I rightly surmised the human had slipped through Jauntai’s fingers.“Why did you hesitate?” Wekladai asked.I growled. He wasn’t impressed. He was much older than me, about the age of my father, and had known me all my life. He used to be a compatriot with my father before I asked him to head my bodyguard team. He was the only one I allowed to be familiar with me. But right then I wanted to claw his face.“Mastrodai?”I turned away. “I must find him. Now. Immediately. Send probes. Look at the satellites and see if they caught anything. I want that blasted human!”He blinked and tilted his head, ears straight and pointed forward. “Why do I sense more than anger in your urgency? Why do I smell your arousal?”I spun around and gripped his throat, baring my teeth. He gripped my arm and bared his own, daring me to start something. Our claws slid out, and I was seconds away from brawling.“Do not question me, Wekladai,” I said. “Not now. Not in this. Find. Him.”Wekladai growled and covered his teeth. I let go and stalked back to the spot I’d first seen him. It didn’t take me long to find an aeunn that was clearly not one of mine. I carefully picked it up, trying not to handle it too much. I sniffed it. Oh, yes, that was him.Why hadn’t he shot me? He wouldn’t have missed.“Jauntai is looking over the recordings now.”I nodded. Without a word, I walked away, holding the aeunn delicately.

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Author BioM.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!). Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!).After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier.Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.Author Website: www.mdgrimmwrites.comAuthor Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001710645622Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=md+grimmAuthor QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/Author Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.D.-Grimm/e/B00I0KZMY6/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0