Travis Starnes

An Ending of Oaths - Chapter 2

Valemonde

“… so pigheaded,” Isolde said, her nostrils flaring as she tried in vain to keep her temper in check. “Can’t you see we have to end this stupid war? How many more must die before you see reason?”

“Quite, damn you,” her father said, massaging his temples. “I was having a peaceful evening be...

The Wings of Mercury - Chapter 12

Carthage

Claudius ran as fast as his legs could carry him, which was at least easier now that the guard had gotten rid of the heavy armor, which would have severely weighed him down. What he really wished for, however, was more men.

He just happened to be at the guard post, checking on the rotation, when the messenge...

Desperate Rendition - Chapter 5

The spot the gang leader pointed out was, in fact, on the far edge of town. When Taylor found it, he could see why they’d want a place like this. Still in the city, giving them access to travel quickly, but backed away near open land, giving good sightlines. It was also a large, walled house, which gave it an additional layer of security.

The Wings of Mercury - Chapter 11

Carthage

Medb slipped through the narrow alleyways of Carthage, her cloak pulled tight against the cool spring air. The streets were quiet, partially because of the early hours and partially because of the continued pervasive unease that had settled over the city, everyone feeling how close it was to boiling over. She appr...

Desperate Rendition - Chapter 4

The buzzing phone jerked Taylor awake. The phone said he’d been asleep for only five hours, which wasn’t enough, since he had a strong feeling that this day was going to be even longer. It also said that, had he been a gambling man, he would have lost a fair amount of money.

Before he’d gone to bed the night before, Taylor had sent a...

Center Stage - Chapter 36

I sat on the edge of the hospital bed, wincing as the doctor finished up the last of my stitches. The adrenaline had now fully worn off, and I still had a little of the shakes. I’d had them before after fights, but never like this. Although I guess this wasn’t so much of a fight as someone trying to kill me.

“I’m so sorry, I’m he...

Center Stage - Chapter 35

The stands were full of energy, with flags everywhere from multiple nations, although Japan more than any others. They actually had a swimmer in the finals, but she was low ranked and had barely gotten through the semifinals. Her countrymen, though, were riled up cheering for her.

The Americans were cheering too, as we had two swimmers in ...

The Wings of Mercury - Chapter 10

Factorium

“… appreciate it, but I really came to find out how the steamship project is coming?” Lucilla said.

It had been a week since she’d received notice that the fuse test failed, and she hadn’t heard from the manufacturer since. She’d sent requests for updates, which had been met with, not silence, b...

Center Stage - Chapter 34

The stands were already packed as we made our way in. Jean had wanted to wait until the stands were full to get to our seats, so we didn’t have to push through a bulk of people, but I was worried that would mean we’d have to make a late arrival. So instead, I opted to be very early. Jean didn’t love that, but I’d already made it clear I ...

Center Stage - Chapter 33

I leaned back in the cushioned chair and closed my eyes for a minute. The party had gone late the night before, with Kat and I not being able to escape until almost two in the morning and Quinn had me on a call at six that morning for the first of dozens of call-in interviews I did that morning, and then hustled out for the midday taping of the ...

The Wings of Mercury - Chapter 9

Outside Factorium

Hortensius scrutinized the percussion cap and fuse assembly inside the cone of the shell. His calloused hands, stained with grease and gunpowder, made minute adjustments as he muttered under his breath. Around him, his team of assistants peered over his shoulder as he finished examining their work.

...

Center Stage - Chapter 32

It’d been traveling a lot over the last year, doing the show and the tour following it, not to mention all of the meetings and recording, and I’d even had them send me a car a few times.

This however, was my first time in a limo. I wasn’t sure I got what the hype was a ll about. I mean, it was cool to not have to drive and the leg ro...

Cover Reveal - Center Stage (Country Roads #6)

Center Stage - Chapter 31

“...And running down,” I sang, finishing the last verse of Velocity, playing the last running riff that closed out the song.

“Nailed it,” Tran said from the booth as he locked the recording. “That’s a wrap. I love it when they’re easy like that. Great job, all three of you.”

He wasn’t wrong, this song had g...

An Ending of Oaths (Shattered Lands #2) - Chapter 1

Cestralion, Aurorin Province, Lynese

William stood on the balcony of the Viceroy’s keep, watching as snow fell, blanketing the city of Cestralion. Despite the cold and its occupation by a hostile force, the city bustled with activity, people going about their daily lives as if nothing had changed.

“Seems strange,...

The Wings of Mercury - Chapter 8

Factorium

Lucilla was back in Factorium. Once again, she was happy that the train line had been installed, making this a quick morning and back home by mid-afternoon.

Hortensius was away, dealing with an ore supplier that had significantly slowed its output, but Lucilla’s main goal was to talk to Sorantius. The che...

Concept Arts - Country Roads Character Portraits

Charlie's bodyguards - 1) Mana 2) Jean 3) Malik

Center Stage - Chapter 30

Up to this point, we’d done all of our recording in Raleigh. The studio was nice, but walking into a label’s primary recording studio, it was clear we’d been small time and they’d been up until that moment.

The equipment was state-of-the-art with the latest recording gear and mixing consoles. The recording spaces themselves were sp...

Center Stage - Chapter 29

Saturday afternoon, I got the text I’d been hoping for. It had taken a few days from Hal agreeing to let Cole open to working out the details on the back end. I’d insisted on being the one to call him first and ask him to open, and we were now at the point where we were ready to start scheduling him.

I felt bad that, other than a few t...

The Wings of Mercury - Chapter 7

Devnum

Lucilla paced the length of her private chambers, wearing a deep line in the carpet. She loved the ability to hear his voice from so far away, but days like this, it was a curse as much as a gift. She’d known about the loss in Eastern Germania for hours and couldn’t say anything or even let on that she’d heard...

Center Stage - Chapter 28

Memorial day rolled around and it was time for the parade I’d agreed to be in. They’d put me smack in the middle of the admittedly small parade, between the high school marching band and a tractor pulling a trailer full of 4H kids and a few of their smaller animals.

I was in the mayor’s convertible sitting next to him, which shouldn�...

Posting Note - Possible Delay

We are about to be hit by a hurricane dead on, so there's likely to be a few days delay in posting. It's not a big hurricane, but our power company sucks so I expect to be without power for a few days.

I'll keep you updated if it looks like it will be extended further than that.

Center Stage - Chapter 27

Since the weekend, we’d really picked up work on songwriting, going from essentially the moment I got home from school until well into the evening. It was more than a month until we needed to be ready to be at the studio, but I wanted to really polish as much as we could before that moment.

We were in the garage again, the AC I’d bough...

The Wings of Mercury - Chapter 6

Gual

Lucilla tried not to let her annoyance and exhaustion show as she listened to the representatives from Italia.

It had been a busy few weeks, even busier once Ky left the week before, whom she missed desperately. Worse, she knew this was just the beginning and she would likely not see him again for a long time. T...

Center Stage - Chapter 26

The rest of my night had been a hellish blur. I’d spent the night pacing or staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. It was just impossible to wrap my head around the idea that someone wanted to hurt me for something I didn’t even understand. I got that there were crazy people in the world, but having it targeted at me was completely d...

Center Stage - Chapter 25

The next few weeks passed more or less uneventfully, for me at least. UNC was in an uproar. Although the reasoning wasn’t made public, Kat said the sudden firing of Cross had created a huge commotion across campus. Everyone knew about his dating students and the public spectacle Hanna had put on, so it wasn’t hard to figure out, and most of ...

Center Stage - Chapter 24

I was still exhausted the next morning after our long hours in the studio the day before, but I made sure to be on the UNC campus well before the time for my meeting.

I made my way to the administration building. They must have been alerted to me coming because I got in line behind some students when the receptionist waved me over.

�...

Desperate Rendition - Chapter 3

After only five hours, Taylor pulled the beat-up jeep back into the spot he had taken it from, next to the rundown bar where he had met Emilio. Emilio had a smirk on his face when Taylor walked back through the doors.

“Back so soon, amigo? Don’t tell me you missed my company already.”

The sun had gone down, but it wasn’t very...

Center Stage - Chapter 23

I was glad when the school day ended. While I’d wished to be back in school and normal all during the tour, now my public life had invaded even that. Between kids still making comments about my being a millionaire and the weird... I don’t even know what to call it. Intervention slash strong arm meeting in the principal’s office, school had...

Center Stage - Chapter 22

After leaving the signing, we couldn’t go straight back home. I’d originally had the USC press conference set for the fifteenth, but since we were in LA for this signing, I’d convinced them to move everything up so we could do it at one time, and save flying back and forth across the country two more times.

I hadn’t counted on LA t...