My third book with Varus Publishing is now available! CurseLocked is book three in the Montanari Universe series. Each novel in the series is connected by the character of Dante Montanari, a four-hundred-year old dragon shifter. When I came up with the idea for the series I intended to use Dante simply as a spark to ignite each story. I liked the idea that we all make waves in the world and we don’t know what shores they will reach. So as Dante moves through the world his actions have impact on individuals in both positive and negative ways.
The Series So Far
In Heart’s Curse, Dante puts his employee Lucas Kane in charge of the Lucky Heart Hotel & Casino. Lucas has one goal—make the Lucky Heart a success and prove to Dante that he’s capable of being in charge of the Vegas portfolio. Unfortunately for Lucas – the Lucky Heart is cursed and only Charlotte Auvray, a witch with no powers, can save him.
In Forged in Flame, Dante’s nephew Dalton Rosetti doesn’t want to go to Hawaii for the wedding of a business associate—until Dante forces him to go. Dante needs someone to follow up on the daughter of an old associate. But when the wedding rehearsal dinner goes disastrously wrong, Dalton ends up meeting his mate, only to find out that she’s being hunted by dragon slayers.
And now in CurseLocked, Dante’s acquires an ancient dragon-crafted jade key is stolen by one of his employees—Rose Ashfield. But Rose is desperate, hunted, and cursed. But when Dante sends his top tracker Jace Kormos after her, Rose and Jace discover that they may be fated mates.
Dante Montanari
But as the series has continued, I have discovered that Dante’s character is far more interesting than I had originally intended. And I’ve also started having to keep a timeline document as the stories start to overlap. Being a mystery writer has helped with this portion because I have a good deal of practice keeping track of timelines and clues. And with all those dangling threads and overlapping storylines there (of course) needed to be an info graphic.
I can also tell that at some point Dante will require his own book because with a lifetime that stretches centuries there are a lot of adventures to share. So with each book I share a little more of Dante’s personality and past and I hope that everyone will enjoy reading the easter eggs and clues that I reveal. Or perhaps they will simply wonder how this dragon guy got involved in their perfectly good love story.
What do you think? Is it fun to have a linking character in a series or do you prefer each book to truly stand alone?
Exciting news! Jayson Theirren, the director of the short film I wrote based on one of my Noir at the Bar Seattle stories, has released it for public viewing!
SUZY MAKES CUPCAKES: Mobster Johnny Stills is surprised to discover that his previously compliant wife Suzy has decided that she’s taken all she’s going to from Johnny but she will be taking the mob’s money and skipping town with a well-conceived plan that leaves Johnny at first enraged, and then chilled to the bone.
WINNER
Best Comedy Short- Next Generation Indie Film Awards
Best Short Form Narrative- Stinger Awards
OFFICIAL SELECTION:
Wyoming Film Festival
South Dakota Film Festival
Calgary International Film Festival
Edmonton International Film Festival
Edmonton Short Film Festival
Fargo Fantastic Film Festival
Sacramento Underground Film & Arts Festival
New Jersey Mystery & Crime Film Festival
Central Alberta Film Festival
Sasqwatch International Film
Okotoks Film Festival
https://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_20220730_111209_184.jpg15361536Bethany Maineshttps://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Aug2016-Logo-op3-300x69.pngBethany Maines2026-09-20 10:13:012026-09-20 10:25:20Suzy Makes Cupcakes Now Available for Viewing!
Recently, someone asked me about my inspiration for one of my books, and I hesitated to answer. Investigating the creative process can be fascinating, but also a little bit terrifying. Exploring how my brain processes and generates ideas can help guide my process toward fresh ideas. Or it could make me realize that the entire thing is built on a scaffolding of matchsticks. Perhaps it’s better not to look into what made this happen? And if I do look, will it make the entire thing grind to a halt? Like Schrödinger’s cat, as long as we don’t look into the box, we can assume everything is fine, and no one has to know we killed a cat to make this story happen.
The Truth
Because the truth behind what causes a story inspiration to flourish into a plot is deeply personal and delves into my philosophical and political opinions, my romantic kinks, my thoughts on how to get away with murder, and what I feel about my relatives. But in another—but equally valid—way, the answer can also be boiled down to… I saw this movie in 2005, and then I talked to this one guy at a networking social last year, and then one morning in April my brain connected the two. I think that the second answer is the one readers are more interested in, but as a writer, I’m more interested in the first. Which is why I’ve been enjoying my latest adventure as a Podcast Bro.
The OtherWorlds Podcast
The OtherWorlds Podcast from Authors on the Air Global Radio Network focuses on all things fantasy, magical, supernatural and maybe even a bit speculative. And with me as the new host, I’m diving into my special interests — crime and romance — and how they interact with all the magic each author brings to the table. It’s been so much fun to ask each author about their inspiration and take a look under the hood to learn more about their creative process. From Ben Shepherd who turned from politics and diplomatic service to writing about vampires and crime in London with “Blood Drunk” to Emily Krempholtz who has been helping other authors with their own journey of creativity and her upcoming novel “Prudence Marsh is Not a Nobody Anymore,” it’s been a treat to see how other writers chase down their ideas and pin them to the page.
We’re All Fine Here
And what I’ve learned in my brief foray into interviewing is that I’m perfectly normal as long as I stand next to the right people. If I tell someone that my inspiration for my upcoming book CurseLocked is the movie Psycho, Harrison Ford, the comic book character Venom, and Miss Havisham from Great Expectations there are lot of people who will look at me a little oddly. But if I sit at the paranormal author table, then I’m doing just fine because they’re also exploring their own mish-mash of inspirations.
But what do you think?
Do you think it’s better to thoroughly understand the creative process? Or do you like to trust the magic and not know how the machine works?
**
CurseLocked: Cursed by a stalker’s spell, Rose Ashfield can’t let anyone close without unleashing deadly shadows. But when wolf shifter Jace Kormos is sent to capture her and the mystical jade key she’s stolen, desire ignites into something neither can deny. To break the curse, they’ll have to risk their lives—and their hearts—in a battle against darkness, magic, and fate itself.
Back in June, I wrote about how I hoped I’d get some summer activities in despite having over committed myself to a number of projects. My summer list was long and included finishing the manuscripts for the four books I’m releasing with Varus Publishing this year. So how’s that working out for me?
Summer Writing!
Writing continues! I always have a variety of projects going on, but with a full batch of books to complete this summer, I have not been able to complete many “side quest” writing projects, with the exception of one cozy bookshop mystery! I submitted it to an anthology and I’ve got my fingers crossed that it gets accepted, but I won’t find out until at least September.
For my slate of 2026 novels with Varus Publishing, progress is on-going. Heart’s Curse is getting an audio edition (woohoo!) which will hopefully be released in late August. Forged in Flame is out now and took a trip to the land of its birth – Hawaii! Book 3 – Curse Locked is currently with the editor and I have wrapped up the manuscript for Book 4 – Fated Fortune. I was going to turn that one in early, but last week I had a sudden realization while brushing my teeth about a specific scene and now I need to go back and do a little editing. However, I’m also reviving a novella that didn’t have a home and expanding it to go into the Montanari Universe Series. Wish me luck as I’ll be approaching Varus to see if they want a book 5 (or more)!
However, once I finish the novella expansion, I’ll be focusing on my next mystery novel. This one is centered around a whiskey bar and I’ve been enjoying all of my whiskey research. Sadly, I don’t have the budget to enjoy all the research I’d like to do. Because, believe me, not only would I be buying expensive bottles, I’d be flying to Ireland for a totally legitimate, not-at-all-a-vacation, whiskey based research project. But I’ve got the location and an excellent cast of characters. Now I just need to figure out which one of them “done it.” Oh, and, of course, write the dang thing.
Art Projects?
Well, if you count painting the house as an artistic endeavor, then… sure? Otherwise, it’s been slow going in the art department. This is partially due to the fact that we also adopted a puppy. Stormageddon, destroyer of all (mostly shoes), AKA Stormy, has officially been welcomed into our house as of August. This charming trouble maker loves the sprinkler, chewing… anything, and barking at dogs on the TV. We’re still working on the potty training situation, but she’s very bright and I’m sure will figure it out in the next week or two. I’m referring to her as “my writing partner” which has been enjoyably confusing for my more human-centered friends. You can catch pics and videos of her on my instagram: www.instagram.com/authorbethanymaines/
I also took on another side-project that I’ll be writing about in September’s blog. It’s currently top secret, but I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone who loves reading.
What about you?
Have you gotten to all the summer projects you that for sure that you’d have time for?
Heart’s Curse
Charlotte “Charlie” Auvray was always told she had no magic and nothing to offer. But Lucas Kane, a ruthless casino boss with a dangerous secret, sees something more. When a curse drives his newest Vegas property into bloody chaos, Lucas realizes Charlie may be the only one who can stop the madness. What happens in Vegas might just break the curse—and his heart.
Dragon fire can be hidden, but never extinguished.
Ava Flynn never meant to awaken the dragon inside her—until betrayal and a dangerously seductive stranger ignite a power she can no longer deny. When billionaire dragon shifter Dalton Rosetti crashes into her life, their instant, scorching attraction leaves both of them burned by secrets, pride, and a single unforgettable night.
Cursed by a stalker’s spell, Rose Ashfield can’t let anyone close without unleashing deadly shadows. But when wolf shifter Jace Kormos is sent to capture her and the mystical jade key she’s stolen, desire ignites into something neither can deny. To break the curse, they’ll have to risk their lives—and their hearts—in a battle against darkness, magic, and fate itself.
The Montanari Universe
/in Paranormal Romance, Romance, The Stiletto GangMy third book with Varus Publishing is now available! CurseLocked is book three in the Montanari Universe series. Each novel in the series is connected by the character of Dante Montanari, a four-hundred-year old dragon shifter. When I came up with the idea for the series I intended to use Dante simply as a spark to ignite each story. I liked the idea that we all make waves in the world and we don’t know what shores they will reach. So as Dante moves through the world his actions have impact on individuals in both positive and negative ways.
The Series So Far
In Heart’s Curse, Dante puts his employee Lucas Kane in charge of the Lucky Heart Hotel & Casino. Lucas has one goal—make the Lucky Heart a success and prove to Dante that he’s capable of being in charge of the Vegas portfolio. Unfortunately for Lucas – the Lucky Heart is cursed and only Charlotte Auvray, a witch with no powers, can save him.
And now in CurseLocked, Dante’s acquires an ancient dragon-crafted jade key is stolen by one of his employees—Rose Ashfield. But Rose is desperate, hunted, and cursed. But when Dante sends his top tracker Jace Kormos after her, Rose and Jace discover that they may be fated mates.
Dante Montanari
But as the series has continued, I have discovered that Dante’s character is far more interesting than I had originally intended. And I’ve also started having to keep a timeline document as the stories start to overlap. Being a mystery writer has helped with this portion because I have a good deal of practice keeping track of timelines and clues. And with all those dangling threads and overlapping storylines there (of course) needed to be an info graphic.
I can also tell that at some point Dante will require his own book because with a lifetime that stretches centuries there are a lot of adventures to share. So with each book I share a little more of Dante’s personality and past and I hope that everyone will enjoy reading the easter eggs and clues that I reveal. Or perhaps they will simply wonder how this dragon guy got involved in their perfectly good love story.
What do you think? Is it fun to have a linking character in a series or do you prefer each book to truly stand alone?
Suzy Makes Cupcakes Now Available for Viewing!
/in General WritingExciting news! Jayson Theirren, the director of the short film I wrote based on one of my Noir at the Bar Seattle stories, has released it for public viewing!
WATCH NOW: https://vimeo.com/1132925212
SUZY MAKES CUPCAKES: Mobster Johnny Stills is surprised to discover that his previously compliant wife Suzy has decided that she’s taken all she’s going to from Johnny but she will be taking the mob’s money and skipping town with a well-conceived plan that leaves Johnny at first enraged, and then chilled to the bone.
WINNER
Best Comedy Short- Next Generation Indie Film Awards
Best Short Form Narrative- Stinger Awards
OFFICIAL SELECTION:
Wyoming Film Festival
South Dakota Film Festival
Calgary International Film Festival
Edmonton International Film Festival
Edmonton Short Film Festival
Fargo Fantastic Film Festival
Sacramento Underground Film & Arts Festival
New Jersey Mystery & Crime Film Festival
Central Alberta Film Festival
Sasqwatch International Film
Okotoks Film Festival
Director: Jayson Therrien
Writer: Bethany Maines
Performers: Allison Lynch, Duff Z, Dallas Soonias, Shane Ghostkeeper, & Owen CrowShoe
Producers: Morgan Ermter, Scott Westby, Griffin Cork, Chase Axton Gardiner, & Jayson Therrien
Cinematographer: Chase Gardiner
Learn more on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21450926/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Creative Process
/in General WritingEmbracing the Process
Recently, someone asked me about my inspiration for one of my books, and I hesitated to answer. Investigating the creative process can be fascinating, but also a little bit terrifying. Exploring how my brain processes and generates ideas can help guide my process toward fresh ideas. Or it could make me realize that the entire thing is built on a scaffolding of matchsticks. Perhaps it’s better not to look into what made this happen? And if I do look, will it make the entire thing grind to a halt? Like Schrödinger’s cat, as long as we don’t look into the box, we can assume everything is fine, and no one has to know we killed a cat to make this story happen.
The Truth
Because the truth behind what causes a story inspiration to flourish into a plot is deeply personal and delves into my philosophical and political opinions, my romantic kinks, my thoughts on how to get away with murder, and what I feel about my relatives. But in another—but equally valid—way, the answer can also be boiled down to… I saw this movie in 2005, and then I talked to this one guy at a networking social last year, and then one morning in April my brain connected the two. I think that the second answer is the one readers are more interested in, but as a writer, I’m more interested in the first. Which is why I’ve been enjoying my latest adventure as a Podcast Bro.
The OtherWorlds Podcast
The OtherWorlds Podcast from Authors on the Air Global Radio Network focuses on all things fantasy, magical, supernatural and maybe even a bit speculative. And with me as the new host, I’m diving into my special interests — crime and romance — and how they interact with all the magic each author brings to the table. It’s been so much fun to ask each author about their inspiration and take a look under the hood to learn more about their creative process. From Ben Shepherd who turned from politics and diplomatic service to writing about vampires and crime in London with “Blood Drunk” to Emily Krempholtz who has been helping other authors with their own journey of creativity and her upcoming novel “Prudence Marsh is Not a Nobody Anymore,” it’s been a treat to see how other writers chase down their ideas and pin them to the page.
We’re All Fine Here
And what I’ve learned in my brief foray into interviewing is that I’m perfectly normal as long as I stand next to the right people. If I tell someone that my inspiration for my upcoming book CurseLocked is the movie Psycho, Harrison Ford, the comic book character Venom, and Miss Havisham from Great Expectations there are lot of people who will look at me a little oddly. But if I sit at the paranormal author table, then I’m doing just fine because they’re also exploring their own mish-mash of inspirations.
But what do you think?
Do you think it’s better to thoroughly understand the creative process? Or do you like to trust the magic and not know how the machine works?
**
Learn more about CurseLocked: https://amzn.to/4cm1FLn
Learn more about The OtherWorlds Podcast: bethanymaines.com/otherworlds
Summer Vibes
/in General WritingSummer Has Arrived!
Back in June, I wrote about how I hoped I’d get some summer activities in despite having over committed myself to a number of projects. My summer list was long and included finishing the manuscripts for the four books I’m releasing with Varus Publishing this year. So how’s that working out for me?
Writing continues! I always have a variety of projects going on, but with a full batch of books to complete this summer, I have not been able to complete many “side quest” writing projects, with the exception of one cozy bookshop mystery! I submitted it to an anthology and I’ve got my fingers crossed that it gets accepted, but I won’t find out until at least September.
For my slate of 2026 novels with Varus Publishing, progress is on-going. Heart’s Curse is getting an audio edition (woohoo!) which will hopefully be released in late August. Forged in Flame is out now and took a trip to the land of its birth – Hawaii! Book 3 – Curse Locked is currently with the editor and I have wrapped up the manuscript for Book 4 – Fated Fortune. I was going to turn that one in early, but last week I had a sudden realization while brushing my teeth about a specific scene and now I need to go back and do a little editing. However, I’m also reviving a novella that didn’t have a home and expanding it to go into the Montanari Universe Series. Wish me luck as I’ll be approaching Varus to see if they want a book 5 (or more)!
However, once I finish the novella expansion, I’ll be focusing on my next mystery novel. This one is centered around a whiskey bar and I’ve been enjoying all of my whiskey research. Sadly, I don’t have the budget to enjoy all the research I’d like to do. Because, believe me, not only would I be buying expensive bottles, I’d be flying to Ireland for a totally legitimate, not-at-all-a-vacation, whiskey based research project. But I’ve got the location and an excellent cast of characters. Now I just need to figure out which one of them “done it.” Oh, and, of course, write the dang thing.
Well, if you count painting the house as an artistic endeavor, then… sure? Otherwise, it’s been slow going in the art department. This is partially due to the fact that we also adopted a puppy. Stormageddon, destroyer of all (mostly shoes), AKA Stormy, has officially been welcomed into our house as of August. This charming trouble maker loves the sprinkler, chewing… anything, and barking at dogs on the TV. We’re still working on the potty training situation, but she’s very bright and I’m sure will figure it out in the next week or two. I’m referring to her as “my writing partner” which has been enjoyably confusing for my more human-centered friends. You can catch pics and videos of her on my instagram: www.instagram.com/authorbethanymaines/
I also took on another side-project that I’ll be writing about in September’s blog. It’s currently top secret, but I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone who loves reading.
What about you?
Have you gotten to all the summer projects you that for sure that you’d have time for?
Charlotte “Charlie” Auvray was always told she had no magic and nothing to offer. But Lucas Kane, a ruthless casino boss with a dangerous secret, sees something more. When a curse drives his newest Vegas property into bloody chaos, Lucas realizes Charlie may be the only one who can stop the madness. What happens in Vegas might just break the curse—and his heart.
BUY NOW: Print, Epub & Audio
Dragon fire can be hidden, but never extinguished.
Ava Flynn never meant to awaken the dragon inside her—until betrayal and a dangerously seductive stranger ignite a power she can no longer deny. When billionaire dragon shifter Dalton Rosetti crashes into her life, their instant, scorching attraction leaves both of them burned by secrets, pride, and a single unforgettable night.
BUY NOW: Print & Epub
Cursed by a stalker’s spell, Rose Ashfield can’t let anyone close without unleashing deadly shadows. But when wolf shifter Jace Kormos is sent to capture her and the mystical jade key she’s stolen, desire ignites into something neither can deny. To break the curse, they’ll have to risk their lives—and their hearts—in a battle against darkness, magic, and fate itself.
BECOME AN ADVANCE READER: ARC form
Book Trailer Skillz
/in Life, Marketing, Paranormal Romance, Scripts, Sirena Corbeau, The Stiletto Gang