Christine Rains's Blog, page 105

The Marquis release date and 13th Floor blog tours

First, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated in my cover reveal. I've gotten such excellent feedback on it. You all made the release a grand success!
Please add The Marquis "to read" on Goodreads.
I'm still in good shape for releasing The Marquis on December 13th. Just in time to buy as you're doing your holiday shopping! Yes, I'm going to say it's official.
1301 RELEASE DATE:DECEMBER 13th
I'm setting up a week long blog tour for it running through December 13th - 20th. If you'd like to be a part of my tour, please email me at christinerains [dot] writer @ gmail [dot] com. Make sure you put "1301 blog tour" in the subject heading. If you want a specific date, please reply soon and let me know. I understand this is short notice. I have a bunch of posts scheduled on my blog into the new year already. I know how fast things build up.
 1301 BLOG TOUR:DECEMBER 13th - 20th
If you cannot participate in this blog tour, and you still would like to help, have no fear! The 13th Floor series has six novellas. The Marquis is the first one. I'll be doing mini tours for each release, and a big one when I release the whole collection late next summer or autumn.
At the end of the December tour, I'll be revealing the cover for 1302 - The Alpha. The novella is written and I'm aiming to release it on January 13th. (A Sunday, I know, but I'd like to keep my release dates on the 13th of each month.) If you'd like to participate in The Alpha's cover reveal and/or mini tour, please email with "1302 reveal and/or tour" in the subject heading.
1302 COVER REVEAL:DECEMBER 21st
1302 BLOG TOUR:JANUARY 13th - 17th
Next we have 1303 - The Dragonslayer. A modern day dragonslayer, and oh by golly, wait until you see this cover! I want to release it on February 13th. Again, if you'd like to participate in The Dragonslayer's cover reveal and/or mini tour, please email with the appropriate subject heading.
1303 COVER REVEAL:JANUARY 18th
1303 BLOG TOUR:FEBRUARY 13th - 17th
I'm not going to set official dates for the rest of the series yet. I would like to have 1304 - The Harbinger out on March 13th. April will be too busy for me in real life, so the next two dates would be May 13th and June 13th. I'm giving myself some wiggle room with the dates, though. You never know what real life is going to throw at you.
Whew. I'm dizzy looking at all those dates, but it feels good to have them settled. I'm really excited about this series. I hope everyone else will love it as much as I do.

Top Commenter Award

A big thank you to Sherry Ellisfor passing on the Top Commenter Award.You're so sweet!You're one of my top commenters andI owe you an even bigger thank you for that.
This award is for those that take the timeto visit and comment on other people's blogs.I've been so busy lately, I haven'tbeen as active as I would like, but somany of you still visit me.Thank you so much.
I'm passing this award on to my top 5 commenters:Cherie ReichTania WalshAlex J. CavanaughKyra LennonClare Dugmore

The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear review

Blurb:Graduation from community college isn’t the magic elixir Hetty Locklear counts on for becoming an adult. Her parents, who work the Renaissance fair circuit, insist she spend part of the summer with them. Hetty doubts pretending to live in the Middle Ages will help her find her way.
 
 To make it worse, an entity haunts her at her dead-end job, warning her of a dangerous man she doesn’t know. The ghost leads her to a lover who has a lot of secrets. He pulls her farther into peril and into a strange, hidden world of genetic experimentation.
 My review:
It's Hetty Locklear's big day. She's graduating from college and starting her life as an adult. But when her diploma's in her hand, nothing changes. She's still sharing an apartment with her cousins, working at a convenience store, and eating too many sweets. Her only escape is through her fantasy worlds, but that's where the surprises in her life begin. Two new members join Hetty's online role-playing game and a gorgeous man at a bakery offers to help her find a job. Her estranged parents contact her and want her to visit as they work at Renaissance fairs. If that isn't enough to drive a woman to too many donuts, a ghost stalks Hetty at the shop and sends her chilling warnings. Hetty's fantasy worlds begin to look tame compared to her real life, and she can only hope to survive the strange secret life she's being dragged into. Mary Pax's newest book is a weird and wonderful ride. It begins on a familiar note. Trying to find one's place in the world and start life as an adult is something we can all relate to. From the ordinary, we slowly spin into a tale of the extraordinary. Mysterious men, ghosts, psychics, and then we're hit with a sci-fi twist. I had wondered how everything would fit together, but Mary Pax weaves a clever tale.
The biggest hook for me was Hetty Locklear herself. She's not your typical heroine. She's a real woman with flaws and too many curves. She's creative, geeky, and loyal to her friends, but insecure and way too nice. Sometimes she's far too emotional, but she's brave when she needs to be. I immediately connected to her. It was as if the story could be about me. I love reading about woman who are real. Most urban fantasy heroines I might enjoy reading about, but I can't relate to them. There needs to be more books out there with ordinary woman who rise to great challenges.
The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear is very different from Mary Pax's other science-fiction stories, but it stands proudly apart. Bravo! Mary Pax's newest novel is now here!The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear is available atAmazonAmazon UK KoboSmashwordsiTunesDiesel

Oh, How I Miss You Blogfest

This fantastic blogfest is hosted by Andrew Leon, Matthew MacNish, and Alex J. Cavanaugh. It's for the bloggers we really miss. Someone not posting as often or gone absent from the blogging world? Or even someone you would really miss if they left their blog? This is your opportunity to show you how much you appreciate them.

This was an easy choice. Years ago, in a faraway blogging network, I was quietly writing about my life and desire to be an author. I didn't network, still too internet shy to do so, and I only had a few friends that followed me. One friend that stuck with me, offered up encouragement and words of advice, was a young man named Dave.

Every morning, his blog was the first thing I read. He'd have something funny from the news, a joke, or a hilarious tale of something that happened to him. He's a talented comedian, and he was just starting to get on the scene. Those years were rough for me, but I managed to smile in the mornings because of him.

His blog became hugely popular. No matter the drama and debates with all those new followers, I still stayed with him, and he still took the time to visit me. Dave's a fantastic guy, loyal to friends and family. One of the true and honest people on the internet.

I eventually left that blogging network to polish my internet self and push ahead to become a writer. I started this blog, and not long after, Dave's life became hectic. His blogging slowed, and we didn't see much of each other any more. We're friends on Facebook, but we only share a few comments now and then.

I miss my morning laughs. I miss his amazing stories, his edgy humor, and his great big heart. Oh, how I miss you, Dave!

Please visit the other participants in this blogfest, and thank you to Andrew, Matthew, and Alex for hosting. You guys are awesome!

The Nightmare Collection cover reveal and review

The Nightmare CollectionBy Cherie ReichGenre: horror Mark it "to read" on Goodreads
Blurb:A legend is hungry tonight.

A child monster will gets its first taste of blood in NIGHTMARE AT THE FREAK SHOW.

Four friends will enter the forest on December night, but only one can survive in ONCE UPON A DECEMBER NIGHTMARE.

Almost ten years after Cassie's December nightmare, the monster awakens to hunt again in NIGHTMARE EVER AFTER.
My review:Three chilling tales that will keep you awake on long winter nights.
We begin with a short terrifying piece that gives the reader a peek into how a monster is born. Nightmare at the Freak Show pulls at your heartstrings and leaves you pale and horrified, sitting with your mouth agape. Cherie Reich builds great tension in this opening tidbit. It'll leave you hungry for more.
Once Upon A December Nightmare grips you with its vivid detail and nail-biting suspense. It seemed like a normal night for the young folk, but I fast on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't relax even when I reached the end. The most unique part of this story is that the reader is allowed to see through all the characters' eyes. Each of the four characters have their own sections, and it's like peeling back layers of an onion. More is revealed about the dynamics of the group and each individual's inner most feelings. Cherie does a marvelous job with characterization.
Nightmare Ever After is my favorite of the stories. It takes place a decade after the last tale, and lets the reader peek into the life of someone who survived one horrible night. Cassie is a fascinating character that must not only deal with living with the trauma of that night, but also with the fact no one believes her. She struggles with her fears, but she's a survivor. Tim is the perfect complement to her character. They're thrown into the chaos of a case that's never been solved. The mystery haunts the reader through the pages, slowly unveiling the horror. The tension builds as the number of murders grow until you're on the edge of your seat waiting to see what's going to happen. The story has a definite X-Files feel. Though Tim is more Scully where as Cassie would be Mulder.

This is an amazing collection of horror stories. An intriguing mystery, masterful characterization, and heart pounding suspense. Oh, you'll see your fair share of horrific things, but there's so much more to these tales.


Author Bio: A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies. Her e-books include the horror series Nightmare, a short story collection with authors Aubrie Dionne and Lisa Rusczyk titled The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk, the futuristic space fantasy novelette trilogy Gravity, and The Foxwick Chronicles, a series of fantasy stories. She is a member of Valley Writers and the Virginia Writers Club.

Author Links: 
Website: http://cheriereich.webs.com
Blog: http://cheriereich.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bookworm0753
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcheriereich
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4268457.Cherie_Reich

Wicked Wednesday - The Alpha

1302 - The Alpha
One run in the woods wouldn't matter. Stefanie Porter had been cooped up for months in her apartment. The wolf within her needed to stretch her legs and play under the moon. Her wolf obviously didn't have very good instincts, because her pack found her. They almost catch her too, but a mysterious lone wolf jumps in to help Stefanie escape.
The pack continues to hunt her in the city. They're driven by their cruel Alpha, Wyatt. He refuses to give Stefanie her freedom even after she lost the challenge to lead the pack and left their territory. She's strong, an Alpha herself, and he wants her for his mate. There's no one to stop him from doing that through any means necessary either.
Stefanie can hide in her apartment, or she can try to convince the lone wolf to teach her some of his unusual tricks. James Roberts might be a bit geeky, but he's smart and looks hot when the argyle sweater comes off. He has ambitions to be a superhero, and it might be admirable if Wyatt couldn't rip him limb from limb.
With the pack scouring the city for her, Stefanie must learn what James has to teach her before Wyatt finds her, and she has to fight not only for her life, but the lone wolf's as well.
(This blurb will likely be tweaked several times!)
This one has been so much fun to write. It's a twist on the typical paranormal romance where the strong woman falls for an Alpha male. In my story, Stefanie is the Alpha and James is not. I love having her as the aggressive one, taking charge, and making the first move.
This story is also my homage to geeky men. I love geeks! Intelligence, obscure comic book references, and a nice set of dice turn me on more than big muscles and an overbearing attitude.

1301 - The Marquis cover reveal

Title: 1301 - The MarquisAuthor: Christine RainsGenre: paranormal romanceRelease date: December 13th (tentatively)
Life after Hell isn't more exciting than watching football and fixing a busted pipe. Once a powerful demon, Marc enjoys his quiet existence and a good cup of coffee. With big ambitions to gain his master's favor, a trickster demon named Vetis shatters Marc's peace and vows to deliver Marc's head to the fires of Hell. Not before he destroys everything Marc cares about, of course.
Marc's power has diminished over the years. Heaven will never grant him absolution, and he refuses to return to Hell. Running isn't an option. The city of Carmine is his territory. It's also home to his favorite cafe owner, Mae Hopkins. The dame has a lovely smile, but it's her heart and soul that shine bright.
While his city burns and his love is captured, Marc must decide to surrender or let hate and anger fuel him to become the fearsome beast he so loathes: The Marquis. If the Marquis rises, Vetis can be defeated and Mae saved, but Marc would be lost to his demon forever.

Isn't the cover awesome? My stomach still flip-flops when I look at it. Thank you to everyone who participated in the cover reveal. The response has been fantastic. You guys are the best!

The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear now available

Mary Pax's newest novel is now here!It's an awesome NA urban fantasy with a sci-fi twist.
The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear is available atAmazonAmazon UK KoboSmashwordsiTunesDiesel
Blurb:Graduation from community college isn’t the magic elixir Hetty Locklear counts on for becoming an adult. Her parents, who work the Renaissance fair circuit, insist she spend part of the summer with them. Hetty doubts pretending to live in the Middle Ages will help her find her way.  To make it worse, an entity haunts her at her dead-end job, warning her of a dangerous man she doesn’t know. The ghost leads her to a lover who has a lot of secrets. He pulls her farther into peril and into a strange, hidden world of genetic experimentation. M. Pax is celebrating her latest release with a jousting tournament and contest at www.mpaxauthor.com. Cheer for the knights to help them win the grand prize, and you’ll be put in a drawing to win an ebook copy of The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear. Five will be given away. Huzzah!  
Awesome book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=479xSi-9B4Y&noredirect=1

Remembrance Day 2012

Lest we forget.

NaNoWriMo 2012 - day ten update

Word count as of last night: 18453

I just managed to get in my minimum word count yesterday. The boy is sick and barely napped. I might have a touch of what he has. I feel drained, exhausted on every level. Though it could be from the week I had.

I'm still having fun with the story. I'm working more on the romantic plot and the big villain is about to make an appearance.

My favorite bit from yesterday: "Me and Jagger? No. No, no, no." Not enough nos in the world to make that point clear. "We're only friends. What he meant, geez, I shouldn't be telling you this, but Irca likes you. A lot. And Jagger has always had a thing for her. So catching you and I together makes him mad because it would upset her. God, this sounds like some bad high school drama."

I finished my revisions of 1301 and sent it off to my CPs and betas. I did some serious changes at the beginning and added more to the end. The meat of the middle remained solid, but I always worry about beginnings and endings the most because they usually leave the biggest impressions.

I have no plans for the weekend except to nurse my poor sick boy and catch up on sleep. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!