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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Devon Monk's Age of Steam Steampunk Series

HANG FIRE is a steampunk short story set in late 1800's America. It takes place between the Age of Steam book #1, DEAD IRON and book #2 TIN SWIFT. The story is broken into 20 "chapters" and posted, one chapter at a time, on 20 awesome blogs. To read the whole story, start at chapter 1 at www.candacesbookblog.com and follow the "read the next chapter" links at the end of the post.



...read chapter 2 at: Fiction Vixen www.fictionvixen.com

HANG FIRE - Chapter 3

Cedar Hunt knew better than to argue with the woman. It didn’t keep him from it, though. “You’ll be safer if you stay with the Madders. I don’t want to lose you.”
Mae Lindson’s eyes narrowed a bit and Cedar held his breath, hoping she hadn’t heard the need behind his words. There was no time for those kind of feelings–not on this trail with winter on the way.
The beast within him turned and pressed, wanting him to say more. Wanting him to take Mae as his own. Cedar pushed back against the Pawnee curse. He still had a man’s mind, and he wasn’t about to lose it to the beast.
“I won’t stay behind,” Mae finally said. “Arguing with me, Mr. Hunt, only wastes time. Ours and Rose’s.”
Logic. For all that Mae’s mind drifted from the coven calling her home, she had not yet lost hold of her reason.
“Show me where you last saw Rose.”
Mae turned her mule toward the river.
Cedar glanced over at the Madder brothers. Each of them dark-bearded and built like bear, but the youngest, Cadoc, had a knit cap on his wooly head, and the middle brother, Bryn, wore a brass monocle over his ruined left eye. They rode alongside the bulky wagon that the eldest brother, Alun, drove behind the big draft horses.
“We’re seeing to Rose,” Cedar called. “She’s gone missing.”
Alun, in the driver’s seat, raised his hand in acknowledgment, then dug the pouch at his belt for tobacco and pipe. “I’m sure she’s fine,” he said.
Cedar did not share his confidence.
Wil, Cedar’s brother, slipped through brush to follow Mae with the silence and speed particular to a wolf. He, too, carried the Pawnee curse, but only wore the skin of a man during the dark moon, whereas Cedar only wore a wolf’s skin each full moon.
“Up river just a bit more,” Mae said. “By the shallows.”
She pushed the brim of her bonnet back and stopped her mule just short of the bank, so she could scan the narrow strip of water. “She was there by those standing stones. Said she saw something move. Thought it was metal and went to go see. You know how she is.”
“Feet that can’t stay still and more curiosity than a pack of cats.” Cedar pulled his goggles up from around his neck, setting them in place over his eyes and thumbing through the various lenses.
No horse, no movement, no trace of Rose–not even a wet footprint on the opposite bank. Even the stand of trees beyond didn’t hint to a rustle of life. The forest was silent, as if suddenly all living things had found a need to cower.
And then a scream broke the air.

...read chapter 4 at: The Qwillery http://qwillery.blogspot.com

Devon's giving away a copy of TIN SWIFT plus a magnet and signed, handmade bookmark to one lucky reader so leave a comment for a chance to win!



49 comments:

Laurie G said...

I'd love to try out steampunk!

I'm heading out to read the 20 chapter's of HANG FIRE!

April said...

We're on chapter 3, yay! It is really fun reading a story this way, drawing it out. It reminds me of the audiobook I'm listening to in the car on my morning and afternoon commute - I don't get a giant piece of the story, just little pieces at a time. Makes it last longer!

Thanks for the book that I'm waiting to read, the cool short story and definitely the opportunity to win a handmade bookmark!
april dot vrugtman at gmail dot com

Eli Yanti said...

i have not read steampunk before, i will try it soon :)

petite said...

Thanks for this captivating and fascinating post. Steampunk interests me for its uniqueness and great appeal. So special and enthralling. many thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

Steampunk sounds exciting and gives me a new choice in my reading selection. I will be reading the chapters available. Love the idea. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I love to read a new chapter everyday:-)vbarton24 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

This keeps getting better and better. Anticipating the next book

Lil said...

I loved this descriptin:

“Feet that can’t stay still and more curiosity than a pack of cats.”

little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

alainala said...

cant wait to read this whole story!
if this is open to canada, please enter me!!

huge fan of her books, and cant wait for this one!!

alainala@ hotmail DOT ca

Noelle said...

So excited. =) I need to re-track down the first book and re-read it...

Kristi said...

This is such a great in-between novella for the series. I am really looking forward to Tin Swift!

Pat Cochran said...

I've not read any steampunk until now, with
your chapter 3. I'll have to back up and start
the earlier chapters of Hang Fire. Sounds in-
teresting!

Pat C.

miki said...

i really appreciate this novella that we read bits by bits, it makes the tour special

all the best

isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

Pat Cochran said...

I've not read any steampunk until your chapter
3. I'll have to go back and read the two earlier
chapters of Hang Fire. Sounds very interesting!

Michelle C. said...

I can't wait for Tin Swift and I'm looking forward to the next chapter in Hang Fire. :)

throuthehaze said...

I'm looking forward to reading more tomorrow!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

NoraA said...

I own a copy of Dead Iron and it was fantastic. I'd give my right foot's pinkie to own Tin Swift.

NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win a copy Devon's new book! Plus that bookmark looks super cool.
mishel(at)pdx(dot)edu

cait045 said...

I can't wait for chapter 4!
usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

megblod said...

I haven't read any steampunk yet but I'd love to try it.

Megblod@yahoo.com

AnguianoArt said...

LOVE!!! I think the cover is perfect :) Anything steampunk melts me :) it's so lovely!

Barbara E. said...

I really enjoyed Dead Iron and I'm looking forward to reading Tin Swift to find out what happens next for Cedar Hunt and friends.

Barbed1951 at aol dot com

Calliope said...

Can't wait for this book's release - I ish all aflutter with anticipation.

vaderfangirl(AT)gmail(DOT)com

DeAnn G. Rossetti said...

I can hardly wait for Tin Swift, as I loved Dead Iron. I hope I win!

Mary Preston said...

I love the idea of hopping from one blog to the next to read the chapters. I need to read more Steampunk.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Dina said...

oh, thiese look incredibly cool, I really love covers and it has my interest.

Thanks
Dina

angel_ludwig said...

Both covers ARE pretty awesome. Love the airship.

Carl Scott said...

Continuing along on the American odyssey. All those Londoners are missing out on the real action. Thanks for hosting a stop on the tour.

Sheree said...

Wow, what an ending to this chapter!

ironss [at] gmail [dot] com

Candace said...

Wow, I wonder where she disappeared to?! I love this series and this short story is awesome! I held off reading it (I'm the first stop) until a few more posts were up cause I didn't want to wait for it. I'll have to wait to get it all anyway...

Jen B. said...

I love Steampunk and I am always looking for new authors to read. Thanks for the giveaway! jepebATverizonDOTnet

Devon Monk said...

Thanks so much for reading, everyone! And thank you, Lee, for having me on Tote Bags 'n' Blogs!

--Devon

Maureen said...

It was a great excerpt!
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

kiaras said...

I love the whole idea of this: new serial fiction and a handmade giveaway. Fabulous idea.

Maria D. said...

Loved the excerpt from chapter 3! I can't wait for this book to be released!

junegirl63 at gmail dot com

Ceridwen83 said...

I just got into reading steampunk last year I'm very excited for Tin Swift! Thanks for the giveaway!

B. Radom said...

I've got a long list of books to read, but this one's going on it!!

It's Steampunk week at http://superscififunforkidsandyoutoolosers.blogspot.com/!! New posts Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Unknown said...

loving this more writers should do this gives me something new to read everyday aside from all the free books pixels of ink posts everday on their blog. lol

vbarton24 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Looking forward to the next book in both series! Have enjoyed everything so far.

Susan said...

I loved Dead Iron, and I am really looking forward to Tin Swift.

Felan said...

Just finished Dead Iron last night and it was great, can't wait to read Tin Swift.

Unknown said...

Looking forward to reading Tin Swift. Thanks for the giveaway.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

JenniferK said...

I love Devon's books and I am looking forward to reading Tin Swift.

jcalvert719(at)yahoo(dot)com

molly.frenzel said...

I can't wait to read Tin Swift. I'm new to Steampunk but I've read Dead Iron and loved it!
molly(dot)frenzel(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

These are so much fun to read!

Lora

lora(dot)strother(at)gmail(dot)com

Allisyn said...

I'm really enjoying Hang Fire so far and I can't wait to read Tin Swift!

Unknown said...

Looking forward to reading the new book. I still have a couple Allie Beckstrom books to catch up on, first, though ;)

donnas said...

Great tour. Looking forward to reading it.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Tracy Erickson said...

I loved Dead Iron, and can't wait to read Tin Swift!