Christine Rains's Blog, page 113

Saturday Six for August 25th

1. What a busy week! My son started preschool and it went wonderfully. He walked in like he owned the school at orientation, and then was very eager to return the first official day of school. It just so happened to be my day as teacher's helper (it's a co-op school and so I have to do that once a month), and so I could be there with him his first day. I was pleased he wasn't clingy nor did he protest when I played with other children. I was so proud of him. Isn't he adorable?

2. I rewrote the ending to my steampunk short story and did a bit of tweaking. I submitted it to REAL GIRLS DON'T RUST yesterday. I love the title for that anthology!

3. I received two books in the mail that I won as prizes. The first is from Cherie Reich. I picked Break Out by Nina Croft. I also won Demon Hunting in Dixie by Lexi George in another giveaway. Kensington Publishing sent a bunch of swag with it too! I love free books.

4. Even though I didn't get a chance to attend my local writers' group meeting last Saturday, I critiqued the submissions for it. That took up a little more time than I expected, but I consider critiquing an excellent exercise in improving your craft.

5. FEARLESS has had over 1200 downloads now. It definitely helped that it went free on Amazon for the Kindle. It makes my stomach flutter when I hear how much people love it. I need to get writing and put something new out there for you wonderful readers!

6. No plans for this weekend. Maybe we'll get to the pool one last time before it closes for the season. Next week will be another busy week. I'll have another first: my first parents' meeting at school. Eek!

Have an awesome weekend!

Be Inspired

Thank you very much to the generous L.G. Keltner for passing this on to me. It's a great way to promote your stories. To complete this meme, I must answer the following questions.

1) What is the name of your book? FEARLESS.

2) Where did the idea of your book come from? From my son. He mentioned a monster under his bed, but it was a friendly one. It made me think of all the kids afraid of the monsters under their beds or in their closets. No one ever believes them. But what if they're real? Who would protect the kids? That's where my protagonist Abby White comes in.

3) In what genre would you classify your book? Paranormal romance.

4) If you had to pick actors to play your characters in a movie rendition who would you choose? Ooh, this is a hard one. I've never been good at casting. Abby is a brunette is more on the cuter side than drop-dead gorgeous. A face that children would trust. An in shape fighting body. Maybe Michelle Monaghan. For Demetirus, he's broad and muscled with dark hair. A younger David Boreanaz built like Alexander Skarsgard. Mmm, if I could combine those two men! It would be cool to have Gina Torres be the voice of Tawa.

5) Give use a one sentence synopsis of your book. Abby White kills monsters spawned by the imaginations of children, but can she be fearless when it comes to love?

6) How long did it take to write your book? Three weeks.

7) What other books within your genre would you compare it to? Or readers of which books would enjoy yours? This is on the lighter side of paranormal romance. A bit like Richelle Mead's succubus series.

8) Which authors inspired you to write this book? Joss Whedon was one of the biggest inspirations for this story. It's much like the TV shows Buffy and Angel.

9) Tell us anything that might pique our interest in your book. Monsters spawned by children's imaginations. A hot wild fae with a big piece of wood. A snarky stuffed hippo.

I'm tagging YOU! Yes, you! Give us some tidbits on your most recent book or what you're working on now.

GAME ON Review

Blurb:
After swapping her small town life to work for one of the top soccer teams in the U.S, Leah Walker thought she could finally leave the ghosts of her past behind. However, when she meets serial womanizer, Radleigh McCoy, the memories of her old life come swarming back, and she is forced to ask herself whether she has really changed at all.

My review:
Leah Walker leaves her miserable past behind her to find a new life in the U.S. She lands a fabulous job and gains some even better friends. She happier than she's ever been until the gorgeous Radleigh McCoy propositions her. He might be a big soccer star, but his ego is even bigger. Leah doesn't want any men like that in her life. She's determined to not let him get under her skin, but he manages to get in a lot further. When her happy world crashes down around her, Leah has to find the strength to face the truth within herself or let mistakes from her past come back to defeat her again.

GAME ON is a contemporary romance which isn't a genre I usually read, but Kyra Lennon won me over. It was a fun story that made me laugh out loud. The biggest draw of this novel for me is the characters. There's a cast of vivid personalities, and I feel I now have a new group of good friends in them. Leah is a smart and strong protagonist. She's stubborn and witty, a lot like many other heroines, but she has a past that is full of mistakes that I know several real women make. It was easy to sympathize with her and get pulled into her life. I was caught up in her whirlwind of emotions, feeling every heartache, embarrassment, and joy with her. Radleigh is the egotistical alpha male. And yet there's something about him that draws you to him. It's in the little details that Kyra adds in so well. The secondary characters - Jesse, Freya, Will, Bree, Bryce, Josh, Christina - are just as memorable. I can't wait to see what Kyra has in store for them!

On top of the awesome characterization, there's great writing. Kyra makes it look easy to spin an engrossing tale of romance. Friends, family, and love. You'll find yourself quickly wrapped up in GAME ON, and you won't be able to put it down until you find out which team wins at the end.

You can buy GAME ON on Amazon (ebook), Amazon (paperback), Amazon UK (ebook), Amazon UK (paperback), Smashwords.

Please stop by Kyra Lennon's blog and say hi!

Wicked Wednesday - finding an agent

Though you don't need an agent these days to realize your publishing goals, some writers still want one. The number one obstacle for new writers is that agents have very few spots open for them. An agent can read a several great manuscripts, but in the end, s/he may only have an opening for one or two. You have to stand out amongst the best, and with the popularity of paranormal romance, you really need to wow the agent.

Here are some tips to help you attract an agent:
1) Know your genre. With paranormal romance, you're going to need to focus on the romance and have a Happily Ever After ending. Try to stay away from vampires and werewolves. Some agents stop reading a query the second they see either of those words.

2) Have some knowledge of the industry. Agents will look at your website, blog, and Twitter account. Have you been networking? Have you joined writers' groups? How much time have you invested in your writing and yourself?

3) Be professional. Always be polite even when rejected. Conduct yourself as such everywhere. Learn from your rejections and grow as a writer.

4) When writing your query, make sure your genre is clear through your blurb itself. Of course, you'll say it's a paranormal romance when describing your book, but reading the blurb alone should say it too. Make sure it focuses on the romance with both external and internal conflicts.

5) Be original. Even if your story is a traditional Romeo and Juliet type, emphasize what makes yours different. Don't be afraid to go over the top. And if you're able, use a bit of humor. Usually if you can make someone laugh, you've got them hooked.

Karen Fox has an excellent updated list of agents seeking paranormal romances. Always make sure to research the agent you're sending your query to before you send them anything.

Do you have any tips on how a paranormal romance writer can stand out in the crowd?

Weighted Release Day Blitz

Weighted (Prequel Novelette)

The Great War of 2185 is over, but my nightmare has just begun. I am being held captive in the Queen’s ship awaiting interrogation. My only possible ally is the princess, but I’m unsure if she is really my friend or a trap set by the Queen to fool me into sharing the secret of my gift. A gift I keep hidden even from myself. It swirls inside my body begging for release, but it is the one thing the Queen can never discover. Will I have the strength to keep the secret? I’ll know the answer soon. If the stories are true about the interrogators, I’ll either be dead or a traitor to my people by morning.

Now available onSmashwords,Amazon,and B&N.
Check out a fabulous excerpt here!
Ciara writes to ‘Defy the Dark’ with her fantasy and paranormal books. Her debut novel, The Curse of Gremdon , was released to acclaimed reviews, securing a Night Owl Top Pick and five stars from the Paranormal Romance Guild. Also, book I, Rise From Darkness, from her debut young adult Battle For Souls series, secured glowing reviews and won July Book of the Month from Long and Short Reviews.

Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She's backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.

Ciara is extremely sociable so please feel free to connect with her at her blog, website, Twitter, Goodreads, or Facebook.

Upcoming books in The Neumarian Chronicles:
Escapement (Book I) - Early 2013
Pendulum (Book II) - Mid 2013
Balance (Book III) - Early 2014

Other books by Ciara Knight:
Battle for Souls Series
Rise From Darkness
Fall From Grace
Ascension of Evil - Coming in October

I'm visiting with Elizabeth today

Good morning, folks!I'm over at Elizabeth Arroyo's site todaywith a guest post about writingromantic horror.Please pop on over and say hi!

Fearless now FREE on Amazon Kindle

FREE! FREE! FREE!FEARLESS is now free on Amazon Kindle!YAY!Thank you to everyone who helped with theprice-matching.

Friday Five for August 17th

1. I wrote a new flash piece, a twist on the myth of Cassandra and Apollo, and submitted it. I'm still keeping up with my goal this year to write one/submit one. Though, it's the only goal I've managed to keep. Time is slipping by so quickly, and I'm far behind on my other projects.
2. My steampunk Cthulhu short story that I wrote earlier this year was the one I really wanted to get accepted. It was short-listed. I was eager to contribute to the Mythos, but alas, my story was cut. I consumed a lot of ice cream and wallowed in the rejection. Now I'm making a few little adjustments and I'm submitting it to the YA steampunk anthology, REAL GIRLS DON'T RUST. The other story I started for that anthology fizzled out. I had a great character and story idea for her, but then I started writing about this huge mound in the desert and the workings of the people living in it. It was more fantasy than steampunk. The two concepts clashed and didn't work. I'll have to separate them and keep them in my idea files for later use.
3. FEARLESS continues to do very well. It makes my head spin to think of so many people reading it. I'm still promoting it, but I realize that I need to work on my other books and get them out there. One of the biggest thing that helps a writer with sales is putting out more books.
4. My husband is away at Gen Con. It's just me and the boy for three days. The boy hasn't been napping much lately. It's going to be a long three days. On Sunday, it's Family Day at Gen Con and we're all going.
5. The boy starts preschool next week. We have orientation on Tuesday and his first official day is Thursday. He'll be attending two mornings a week with five other two-year olds. For the past few weeks, I've been having stress dreams about this. Dreams where I end up being put in the position to teach the class, that I have to run all the parents' committees, and that my son won't let go of me or, if he does happily go, something bad happens. I'm use to dreaming about fighting monsters. I don't know how to fight parent stress dreams!
Have a good weekend, folks!

Game On Blog Tour - Excerpt

I'm excited to have Kyra Lennon here today for her Game On Blog Tour! This is her debut novel and it's full of amazing characters. Please check out her blog for other stops on the tour and go buy yourself a copy of Game On! (Go Team Leah!)

Game On is available at:Amazon Kindle versionAmazon paperbackAmazon UK Kindle versionAmazon UK paperback
Blurb:
After swapping her small town life to work for one of the top soccer teams in the U.S, Leah Walker thought she could finally leave the ghosts of her past behind. However, when she meets serial womanizer, Radleigh McCoy, the memories of her old life come swarming back, and she is forced to ask herself whether she has really changed at all.

Excerpt from Game On: 
(This short scene occurs after Radleigh McCoy is injured during a soccer match. Leah is asked by her boss to go and check on him, but her presence isn’t entirely welcome!)

McCoy was lying on his bed wearing boxer shorts and a scruffy grey t-shirt. He'd never looked so rough and yet the glimpse of the tribal tattoo on his biceps still made my pulse quicken, and shifted my attention from the grossness of the room.

Such a shame his muscles were his only redeeming quality.

“Morning,” I said, closing the door behind me. “I’m here to mop your brow.”

McCoy glared at me, his blue eyes lacking their usual sparkle. “No thank you."

“What’s up? You think I’d come in here while you’ve got concussion to taunt you?”

“Why else would you be here?”

“Richard wanted me to check on you. He’s coming by later but he got caught up so you’re stuck with me.”

“Next time tell him to send someone different. Hannibal Lecter has a better bedside manner than you.”

He looked murderous as I sat down on the edge of the bed. Something deep within me wanted to torment him a little bit, but no matter how much of an arse he was, I couldn’t be too cruel when I knew he was suffering.

“Come on, McCoy. I’m here now, you may as well talk to me. How are you feeling?”

“Like I got knocked out last night and wasn’t allowed to rest because Bryce woke me every three hours to make sure I was still alive. How do I look?”

Surprisingly good. Even with dark circles under his eyes and stubble on his normally clean shaven face.

“You look like hell,” I told him.

His eyes narrowed. “You love seeing me like this, don’t you?”

“Like what? You’re concussed, not dying.”

“To your great disappointment.”

Any hopes that maybe a bang on the head would result in him not being such an argumentative prick were fast slipping away.

“Believe it or not,” I said, “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“You know what? I don’t believe it.”

“Oh for Christ’s sake,” I said, standing up. “I’ll tell Richard you’re fine, and next time he can come and check on you himself!”

I began to walk away but as I reached the door, I turned back. I don’t know what made me do it, but I was just in time to see McCoy’s hand fly up to his head and he squeezed his eyes closed.

The change happened in an instant. He’d been his usual, annoying self, then in the split second I’d turned away, something had happened. I ran back over to the bed and sat down, placing my hand on his arm.

“Are you okay?” I asked, unable to disguise my panic.

“Yeah,” he said, though his voice was strained as if concentrating hard to block out the pain. “I’m fine.”

After a moment or two he relaxed. Me? My heart was still thundering.

“I’m okay,” he said. “I slept badly and sometimes my head gets real painful.”

“Is that supposed to happen?”

He shrugged. “I’m seeing the doctor again later, I’ll find out then.”

“Maybe you should get some sleep. Get into bed.”

“Careful, Leah. People will start to think you care.”

The grogginess in his voice made me a little more compassionate than I would usually have been and I laughed at the truth of his words. “Shut up and do as you’re told.”

With great effort he got to his feet, and I pulled back the covers for him.

“Are you always this bossy?” he asked.

“I’m not bossy. Now stop bloody questioning me and get in.”

With a dramatic sigh, he got into bed and I put the covers over him, like a potty-mouthed Florence Nightingale.

“Try to rest, okay?”

He nodded and closed his eyes again. When I was satisfied he wasn’t in any more pain, I stepped out into the corridor to call Richard.

Pull of Gravity now available and my review

A space fantasy novellaby Cherie ReichNow available atSmashwordsAmazon 
B&N 
Blurb:A no-nonsense Earthling corporal, Nike accepts a mission to destroy the winged-people of Cupidis to give her species a new home planet.

A spoiled Cupidian prince, Edonys gets whatever he wants until his dying father tells him he must choose a mate and take his rightful place as king.

Nike and her reconnaissance crew's space cruiser lands upon Cupidis, and they are taken to the royal palace. The king's decline leads her to believe Mission: Conquest will be easy. Edonys refuses his father's last request to fall in love, but Nike isn't anyone. She's bold and different than any Cupidian female. As Nike and Edonys's quests intertwine, an Earthling and a Cupidian will find it easier to ignore the pull of gravity than the pull of love.

My review:Being stuck on a ship for so long, Nike wants nothing more than to have her feet on solid ground and breathe in fresh air. She aches for a place to call home, and upon seeing Cupidis, its beauty captures her heart. This is where she wants to be. First, though, she and her crew must prepare the way for her people to eliminate the aliens already living on the planet. The Cupidians haven't known war in centuries. Their king is near death, and their spoiled prince, Edonys must find a mate very soon. The gorgeous prince didn't expect to feel such a pull toward one of his human guests. Nike thought it would be simple to conquer these peaceful people, but she, too, feels something unexpected. Will she make the strike to help win the planet for the humans or will she follow her heart?

This is my favorite book in Cherie's Gravity trilogy. It's not as dark and gritty as the previous two. It's full of wonder and colorful imagery that made me fall in love with Cupidis as Nike did. Cherie's descriptions are beautifully written and left me in awe. Nike is a strong and unique heroine. She's more a tough Sigourney Weaver type than the typical softer romantic lead. Edonys was a surprise to me too. He has every opportunity to be vain and arrogant, but he has so much heart. I love that the relationship grows organically outside of their duties to their peoples.
In the first two installments of the Gravity trilogy, we saw terrifying prisons, deadly chases, and fearsome creatures. Pull of Gravity takes you to a different level of science-fiction intrigue. There's espionage, subterfuge, and treachery. I was holding my breath at parts and didn't realize it. Cherie outdid herself with the final novella in the series. Goodness knows I couldn't resist the pull of her incredible storytelling!

Add Pull of Gravity on Goodreads.