Faith Hunter has given me permission to go ahead and post the story snippet I wrote up a couple days ago. She and I are now discussing the possibility of sometime in 2010 actually collaborating on a novella which would be set outside both characters’ timelines/real worlds–in other words, pure fanfic, except written by the authors themselves–to put up either as a commission like I did with “Hot Time”, or simply sell as a direct market piece. People should respond to this post and let us know if you’d be interested in buying a crossover story.
In the meantime, a teaser:
There was something weird about crossing the city lines into New Orleans. Not just that the Big Easy was by anybody’s standards–in fiction, anyway–the center of all things supernatural in the States. It was bigger than that, a nasty jolt that wrenched everything a couple steps to the left. Even the city’s aura looked different from inside than it had from a few miles out, and I had absolutely no clue why.
The exciting thing about my life was that I’d probably find out.
For all my traveling around as a kid, I’d never gone through New Orleans. N’awlins, the way the natives said it. I loved that sound, like it was a word to be rolled around in and licked off the skin. So I did what any tourist would do upon arriving in the heartland of American Weird.
I hit the French Quarter.
Three days before Mardi Gras, the Quarter was hopping. It was probably the worst time of year to visit if I actually wanted to see New Orleans, but it was the best time if I wanted to throw myself eyeball-deep into beads, streamers, costumes, half-naked girls–Gary was going to deeply regret not having come along–parades, parties, obscene amounts of incredibly good food, and bourbon. I’d never actually tried bourbon and was kind of looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t indulge right away, because the fish-hook sensation in my belly, the one that had been hauling me around ever since my shamanic powers had awakened, was getting tighter and more uncomfortable the deeper I got into the Quarter. I didn’t think my magic would give me an even break–let me heal up from a hangover, in other words–if I ignored it in favor of tying one on.
The city was a veritable teeming mass of humanity. Scent bombarded me from every direction: booze, perfume, pot, food, oh, God, the food, and the pervasive stink of sweat that no amount of deodorant or cologne was going to drown. Voices rose and fell in shrieks of laughter, joy, dismay; shouting was the only way to be heard, even if you were talking to the guy standing next to you. Everyone was beautiful in that flush-of-life way, though here in the heart of the city, so close to Mardi Gras, there were an unnatural number of genuinely beautiful people. They ran the color spectrum from rich blue-black all the way through to translucent white, with me thrown in on the whiter end, though when one of those really white girls stumbled into my arms, the skin tone comparison made me look rich and gold beside her. It was only back in Qualla Boundary, surrounded by others of Cherokee descent, that I felt stand-out pale.
Maybe it was thinking about North Carolina and the life I’d left behind there that made me notice her. There were too many people to explain it otherwise, though the fish-hooks in my gut pulled so hard and sharp that they might’ve been an explanation on their own. It didn’t matter: she was half a block away and visible for about five seconds through a break in the crowd. She wore black leather damned near head to toe, all of it so snug against her body it had to be custom-made. Silver sparkled all over it, zippers and other things I couldn’t identify from the distance. She looked hot, both literally and figuratively, and I thought the reason I’d glimpsed her at all was everybody else thought so too, and was backing up to get a better look at her.
She had to be at least my height, just a hair under six feet tall, even without the shit-stomping motorcycle boots she wore. And speaking of hair, if you took my crop cut and her four foot braid and divvied them out, we would both end up with what society considered a normal amount of hair for a woman. She was even built a lot like I was, rangy long limbs, though I thought I carried more muscle across the chest and shoulder from years of working on my car. Her skin tones were darker than mine, more pure Indian, but if somebody’d told me we were sisters, I’d have been inclined to believe them.
Particularly when she glanced my way and a flash of light caught the color of her amber eyes.
In my world, yellow eyes meant magic user. I should know: my own eyes were probably gold as sunrise just then, as the Sight kicked in to study one of the most complex, gorgeous auras I’d ever seen. Earthy colors tangled with something absolutely inhuman: dark, sleek, sentient and dangerous. A hunter, sharing body and soul with a human, and just ever so slightly bubbling with resentment over it.
I sure as hell knew what had brought me to New Orleans, now.
Wow! Yes, yes, yes! I would definitely buy a collaboration between Faith Hunter and you. I love both characters and would LOVE to read the rest of your fanfic! Oh my goodness, what a dream come true! =-D
Yes Ma’am, please, just post when it hits Amazon and I am soooo on the pre-order list!
Yes, I would very much be interested in purchasing the book. Both of you are my favorite writers. You don’t know how many times I re-read your books.
I’m sure I would like(and buy)the book as the Yellowrock and Walker series are two of my current favourites.
(Really current actually. I discovered the Walker series this Christmas. Snowed in in north of Sweden I was able to buy and download all three books to my iPone. They made for wonderful reading!)
I’m definitely interested.
Great teaser!
I would buy such a collaboration in a heartbeat!
Cool.
Definitely a yes!!
okay both of you need to get together and do a collabo. even a short story would be better than nothing at all but a 300 pager would also be very very awesome
I would love to read this story! Please put it out so us Yellowrock and Walker fans can get our fix between novels. LOL. Hope you write it!
I have to go and buy Jane Yellowrock now and read all of the novels in this series so that if (when!) this comes out I will be all caught up!
I would definitely buy it!
Having read both series, well, what is out so far, I would say, yes, yes, yes! Awesome story to read, please see if you’all could come up with something together. The teaser was horribly wonderful, I so want to finish the rest. Which, of course, was the intention…..
You are such a sadist. To only provide a tease & then ask if I want more. How vulger can you get! Of course I want more!
Oooo, definitely!
I agree with Jennifer , I would read the story via subscription and I have avoided the Jane Yellow rock books but I will read them on your recommendation.
I would definitely read a book with a crossover between the yellowrock series and walker series.
Oh, yes – most Definitely! Where do I get in line?
I have followed the Walker papers avidly since they hit the shelves and just recently read the first Jane Yellowrock book. The idea of the two characters working together sounds incredible.
A definite buy, if you decide to publish.
YES! I just finished the second Jane Yellowrock book… I think Jane and Joanne would have some great adventures together!
I think it would totally ROCK!
OK, I’m hooked! Please, please, PLEASE write the story!
Two of my favorite writers and favorite characters? CAN’T wait.
Yes,please write it – I’d definately buy!
please collaborate! Love both series. Look forward to what you both can do together. Also a crossover book would be welcome.
I was just introduced to the Faith Hunter books and would so buy a cross over. I think those two characters teaming up would be great!
I would totally buy/read/devour a collaboration. Joanne Walker + Jane Yellowrock = awesomeness! You are both such talented writers that I’d be happy just to read your shopping lists :-)
Yes, please, soon as possible. Love your books and loved the Jane Yellowrock books as well. Can’t wait to have more of them, separates, crossover or anything inbetween. I’m so hooked. I’ll buy straight from your webpage or anywhere else you’d choose to sell.
oh yes please! i’d buy the story in a heartbeat!
Joanne Walker and Jane Yellowrock, are by tied for second of my favorite heroines in all the urban fantasy I read (Jill Kismet takes the number one slot) I actually picked up the first 3 Walker Paper, books, and Skinwalker at the same time, not knowing anything about the characters. I’m Glad I did. A crossover with the two characters would be awesome.
This teaser rocks. I would definitely buy a copy!
Would be very, very interested in this fanfic! It’s thanks to you (Murphy) that I’ve been turned on to Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series.
Yes, of course. I like a lot the two series, and I would buy it inmediately.
Yes!! Sounds very cool. Oops, HOT!
I am HOOKED.
Pretty please with a cherry on top!
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Is this still in the works? I would love to read this. I tripped across Jo while looking for something similar to Jane Yellowrock. Now I’ve got to finish catching up on your books. :)