Crystal Green's Blog, page 13

Email glitches

Ugh--it's come to my attention that there have been some big glitches in my emailing system on my chrismariegreen.com and crystal-green.com sites. If you sent any messages to me via my sites and I never answered, this is the reason. I am incredibly sorry for this, and please know that I love to hear from you all. The glitches are fixed now, so if you'd like to contact me again or would like to in the future, please do so!

Join me at the ROUGH AND TUMBLE launch party next week! T...

Join me at the ROUGH AND TUMBLE launch party next week! Tuesday, July 15, from 6pm - 8pm.
Attend by clicking on this link:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1507667626113695/?context=create&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming&source=49

What's an urban fantasy romance?

I'm talking about urban fantasy romance and the Lilly Meratoliage book I just wrote (to be released in the coming months)! Come on over...
http://www.romance-ffp.com/you-know-it-when-you-read-it/

Sneak Peek for #TeaserTuesday!

I can't believe it's only three weeks before ROUGH AND TUMBLE comes out! It's the first book in my new "hot romance" series from Berkley InterMix Digital First.

How about a sneak peek at a scene? ;)

Here you go!

His voice was part gravel, part velvet, and it felt as if it was smoothing up and over Molly’s skin, abrading her, brushing her in places that hadn’t been brushed in . . .Was a year too awful to admit to?She was so rattled by him that all she could manage was to give him that I-see-you-but-I’m-not- acknowledging-it look that she’d given the older bikers earlier. Habit. A survival mechanism, because there was no good reason this guy should be talking to her, grinning at her, nodding his chin to the shot of whisky on the bar that he’d obviously ordered.Cool.
 No, yikes.
 Both reactions blasted through her at the same time, and she wasn’t sure if she was actually cooling or yikesing right now. Thanks to her whisky buzz, she stood there deciding.
That only seemed to encourage him. “I noticed you like this stuff, so I took the liberty.”“I’ve probably had enough,” she said. “But thank you.”Why wasn’t she moving along?“You haven’t had the top-shelf brand,” he said.She had no idea what she’d been drinking, but she shouldn’t be having any part of this so-called improvement.
“That’s really very nice of you,” she said. Still standing there. Feet . . . help?
“It’s obvious,” he said, “that you’re not much of a whisky person. Even with your back turned, I could tell you were making faces while you were drinking it, like Jane Austen trying out spiked tea.” He paused. “Or whatever her name was.”
Now she really couldn’t move. Her nethers were too busy getting all warm and tingly again.
 Had he just made a reference to the Austen? Guys like him weren’t supposed to throw names like that around, even if he’d tried to backtrack.He lightly kicked at the stool next to him with his weathered biker boot, pushing the seat away from the bar in an invitation to sit.
 The whisky had hit her enough by now that sitting down and having another one with this total and inappropriate stranger seemed like a not-so-bad idea. She was on vacation, right? When would she ever see him again? Never.Sounded wonderful to her.But she’d always believed that when a guy bought you a drink, he was expecting something in return. Drinks are investments—especially if it’s a top-shelf whisky.When Molly looked back at the Danger Guy, it was like there was a bad-boy magnet inside of her, pulling her toward him and those tempting wide shoulders under that white T-shirt. He had a loose way about him as he lounged there, elbows still braced behind him on the bar.Should she really offend him by brushing him off? Would he cut her if she did? Was that what bad boys did to their bitches when they displeased them?He raised an eyebrow, jerked his chin at the stool as he turned around in his seat, reaching into his back jeans pocket to pull out a lighter for the pack of cigarettes in front of him on the bar.
 She found herself wandering toward the stool, but she didn’t sit down. It was a miracle that her hand didn’t shake as much as the lining of her belly was trembling while she reached for the shot glass. Like a stupendous tool, she sniffed at the whisky.He laughed, low and rough, as he plucked a cigarette from his pack. “Just drink it.”Why not? She took a sip, anticipating that lighter fluid taste she’d gagged down earlier. But this experience was so different. This was smooth, and she drank a bit more.
“Tullamore Dew Single Malt,” he said. “The kind you were drinking before wasn’t any better than rotgut. This is aged ten years.”
It sounded expensive, and she had no idea how a guy like him could afford to be buying it for her. She didn’t want to ask. Maybe he’d just come off a successful drug run or . . . Shut up, Molly.“So you’re a connoisseur,” she said instead, thinking she had to at least be nice for ten minutes before she evacuated. As she should.“Every once in a while I give in to things that seem out of my league.”The way he said it made her shift on her feet. It made her realize that she was wearing strappy sandals and new red nail polish in a shade that said, Possible slut alert, if enough whisky is applied. She hoped he didn’t see the goose bumps that’d prickled along her arms.He took up his lighter, and even though she was trying not to look too much at him, she did take a second to notice that there was an image of Bettie Page on the casing. With her lowered gaze, sassy long Cleopatra ’do, and barely there fifties drag-race-queen attire, she looked like she would’ve been right at home on his lap earlier.Molly finished up the whisky, nudging the glass away from her. She had an even stronger buzz going, so it might be a good time for a walk outside around the tiny town, ovenlike heat or not.“Thanks again,” she said. “But I know this seat belongs to someone else, so I’ll leave it for her.” She crinkled her brow. “Or them.”“They had to run.” He hadn’t lit up the cigarette yet, merely hunching over the bar, giving Molly that damned grin.“Just like that, they’re gone?” Nice syntax, Yoda.“They had to get ready for work.”
Doing what? Something that involved poles and horny businessmen? Yeah, Molly had seen Showgirls, so she knew all about that stuff.
He laughed a little, as if he knew what she was thinking. It was unnerving that he could read her like that. Kind of hot, too. Real hot.He said, “My friends have shifts at the Silver Hills, that casino near the highway exit.”“I remember seeing it.” She wasn’t sure they had strippers there because it was a casino where a lot of tourist buses seemed to stop. His “friends” were probably waitresses or blackjack dealers, and she felt like a terrible person for assuming otherwise. “Do you work there, too?”Now that she’d shown a flicker of interest in him, his grin widened. He scanned her with that piercing gaze again, and she thought of how the color of his eyes was like limes that you could pair with the whisky.Bad Molly. “Never mind,” she said.“No, I don’t work there.” He shrugged. “I’ve got a job that’s a little less . . . structured.”At that moment, one of the old Fonzies from the end of the bar walked by them on his way to the restroom, and her . . . whatever he was . . . jerked his chin at him in greeting. It was sexier than anything. Why’d he have to be like that?The old biker winked at Molly before he went into the men’s room.
Her hot guy laughed. “Don’t worry. Dustin doesn’t mean anything by it.”
“What?” She would simply pretend she hadn’t seen that insinuating wink. This place was full of them. First the bartender, now Fonzie… Mr. Hotness narrowed his gaze at Molly and leaned closer. The smell of leather crept into her nose, tickling, nearly making her shiver with pent-up delight.“The guy knows you’re just having a drink with me, that’s all,” he said.Was he implying that she might’ve minced over here for more than a drink?“A drink’s all I have time for.”He gave Molly a squinting sidelong look, then eased the cigarette into the corner of his mouth, talking around it. “Of course your time’s limited. You’re a tourist, like one of them.” He gestured with his lighter toward the button-down crowd at the other end of the bar. “Those types come in here all the time, just to take a look around at the local color and to say they’ve been in a biker bar. Which this really isn’t during the day.”Was he teasing, calling them yuppie thrill seekers? Huh.He kept on. “I don’t know if you’re coming into or going from Vegas, but my best guess is you’re coming...”
You can pre-order it right now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

From Rough and Tumble (A Rough and Tumble Romance, Book One)ASIN: B00F9F0U4CBerkley InterMix Digital FirstCopyright: Chris Marie Green
2014

Limited Time: Get an Advanced Copy!

Want to download a ***FREE*** advanced copy of Crystal Green's new ROUGH AND TUMBLE? You have until 7am (eastern time) on Tuesday, July 24, 2014, to get a copy at Netgalley! (By the way, if you read it and would like to leave an honest review on online sites, I would be eternally thankful!)

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/48246

MONSTER HUNTERS is out!

MONSTER HUNTERS, my Dawn Madison paranormal thriller collection, is now up on Kobo and Barnes & Noble, as well as Amazon!

Kobo
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/monster-hunters-paranormal-thriller-collection-dawn-madison-series

B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/monster-hunters-chris-marie-green/1119746490?ean=2940149777945&itm=1&usri=2940149777945

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Hunters-Paranormal-Thriller-Collection-ebook/dp/B00L1V2IAW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403013687&sr=1-1&keywords=monster+hunters+chris+marie+green

Cover Reveal for second Ghost for Hire book!

Coming in November!!!

She Code April Fool's Contest Winners!

Thanks to all who entered. :) The $25 Amazon gift certificate went to Marie Andreas. The 6 book bundle to Heather Ellner. The 4 book bundle to Michelle Willms  

Thank you for the entries, and happy reading!

Tucson Festival of Books Workshop: The Publishing Pact

Hi, again!

Thank you for coming to this workshop, too! :)
I promised that I would post the critique partner assessment worksheet questions, so here you go. Judy and I wish you all the good fortune in the world in your search to be published!

·      How long have you been writing?
·      What level fiction writer would you consider yourself: Beginner, intermediate, or advanced?·      How many manuscripts have you completed?
·      Which genres do you read most often? (For example: Romance, women’s fiction, mystery, science fiction)
·      If you write romance, which subgenre do you write? (Note: on this question and the next two, tweak to fit your own choice of subgenre.)
·      What is your least favorite genre of romance to read?
·      Are you willing to read a subgenre of romance or type of fiction you don’t normally read in order to be a better critique partner?
·      In order, beginning with the first category, circle your personal strengths:-       Characterization-       Plotting-       Grammar-       GMC (Goal, Motivation, Conflict)-       Setting-       Dialogue-       Internalization
·      How many writing conferences have you attended? -       0-1-       2-3-       4 or more
·      How many writing loops do you take part in?-       0-1-       2-3-       4 or more
·      On a scale of 1 to 5, how badly do you want to publish?1 ( could take it or leave it.)2 (It would be nice.)3 (I’ve always dreamed of publishing.)4 (I’m very serious about honing my craft and submitting.)5 (I’m willing to make sacrifices and do whatever it takes.)
·      What things are you looking for in a critique partner? (For example: Someone with similar talent, similar dreams, similar level of accomplishments. Or maybe someone to cheer me on, someone who brings something new and unique to the group.)
·      Are you willing to use email and Skype calls in lieu of regular meetings?
·      How often are you willing to take part in meetings?

Tucson Festival of Books Workshop: How Authors Use Settings - Questions

Hi!

If you were in this workshop today, thank you! And here's a list of the world building questions. Best of luck, and have fun with that setting!

-       What kind of people/creatures populate your world?  Superficially, how do you tell them apart (fashions, daily routines, etc.)?  Digging deeper, what are some of the more significant differences?  (Religions, beliefs)
-       Caste systems/social standings?
-       What controls the society in this world?  How are the people/creatures kept in line?  Or are they kept in line?  What are the crimes that normally occur and the punishments?  How about religion? (Why does this religion exist?)
-       Weather, etc.  Is your world tropical?  Cold?  How do the buildings and structures suit the needs of the climate? Nature—do the surroundings provide nourishment for your characters? (And what kind of nourishment do they need?  Do they need any sort of clothing/accessories to protect them from nature?)
-       How do your people/creatures communicate?
-       Currency system—what is valuable in this world?
-       Holidays—what do your characters celebrate?  Why?  What do you want to feature in your book?
-       Past times—music, arts, entertainment?
-       Physics of the world?
-       Old grudges that tribes or families might hold against one another?

-       History of your world—why does the world/town/family unit exist? What function does it have?  What does your town/family/city center around?  If the people/creatures who came out on the short end of the stick in your world’s history could tell you their version, what would it sound like?