Christine Rains's Blog, page 127

March 30, 2012

Friday Five

1. I finished my first round of revisions with my WIP. Three chapters deleted and several other pages. One chapter added. I need more words now.

2. I tried to start my second draft yesterday, but I stared at the screen for an hour. I couldn't get out the first line of the new first chapter. I know exactly what I want to do with the chapter, but I can't get over that first line hump. I think I'm worrying too much about it being perfect. I need to forget that and leave it to be changed in the next revision.

3. My son will be two in three weeks. How can I be the mother of a two-year-old? Has he gone off to college yet?

4. I'm all prepared for the A to Z Challenge. I have a fear that Blogger will change everything over to the new look and I'll lose all my pre-scheduled posts for the challenge. Please Blogger, don't mess any of us up.

5. Finally watched the first season of Sherlock. Awesome. The second season will air on PBS starting in May. I still prefer Doctor Who, but Sherlock is pretty dang cool.
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Published on March 30, 2012 02:00

March 29, 2012

Review for Rising Book 1: Resistance

[image error] Blurb:
All Alphonse wants is a quiet summer at home before his final months at university. What he gets is a half-dead stranger on his doorstep and the task of delivering a package to the leader of his home country. Not long after he boards a train toward the capital, he's attacked by knights, elite soldiers of the neighboring king.

Alphonse is temporarily rescued by Mairwyn, a mechanic with a haunted past and a deep hatred of knights. Together, they attempt to carry out Alphonse's urgent errand, only to learn that if they fail, countless people will die.
And even if they succeed, they may not be able to prevent the war that lurks on the horizon.

My review:Alphonse Redding's relaxing summer vacation is stolen away when he's sent on an urgent errand and suddenly becomes a fugitive. He's nearly captured by two men with strange weapons just after leaving home, but is rescued by a wily young woman who seems to know more of what's going on than he does. Mairwyn's a mechanic with a dark past that's slowly closing in on her. They must deliver vital information to prevent another war from ravaging the land and save a people who only want to be left in peace.
Resistance nabbed me right from the beginning. Alphonse has a funny incident in a field and a warm homecoming, but it quickly turns into something darker and much bigger than a summer spent in a little farming town. Strangers, knights, frightening mecha, and mysteries. I wasn't sure who to trust or what was going to happen next. Alphonse is immediately likable with his awkward and academic ways. He's not your typical hero, but that makes this book stand out all the more. Mairwyn stands in wonderful contrast to him. She's feisty, clever, and out-spoken. Their relationship grows slowly and naturally. The organic nature of it lends to fantastic characterization which doesn't overshadow the plot.
Larua Josephsen's writing is on par with novels printed by the big publishers. It reads with a clean and harmonic flow. This is a fantasy world with technology powered by crystals. It's light on the steampunk aspect, but it's still present for fans of the genre. What's more important is the complex and fascinating plot that Laura has created. She takes you on twists and turns, drawing the reader on to greater heights of awe. It's hard to surprise me, but she managed to do so. I love the political intrigue, the demented king, and the little girl who can sneak better than the most skilled of thieves!
If you're a fan of The Hunger Games, you'll love Resistance. Hold on, it will take you for the ride of your life.
Rising Book 1: Resistance is now available on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords.
Author's bio: Laura Josephsen is a wife, mother, author, geek. Beginner student of Taekwondo. Freelance editor. Homeschooler. Likes coffee, chocolate, socks, fantasy stories, rainy days, and sci-fi shows. Lives in Tennessee with her family, two cats, and a black lab.

Please visit Laura's site and follow her on Twitter.
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Published on March 29, 2012 02:00

March 28, 2012

Wicked Wednesday - A to Z Challenge

There will be no Wicked Wednesdays during the month of April.

Don't panic. I'm not going to abandon you. I have something else in store for paranormal romance fans.

During the month of April, I'll be doing The A to Z Blogging Challenge. This is my first time participating in the challenge. I'm excited and nervous, especially with what I plan to do.

I've written a paranormal romance story that stretches over the entire month. I've had no time to revise it. It will be in its pure unedited form. I apologize if there are any glaring plot holes and grammar nightmares. With limited time and space, not all scenes follow immediately after the other. Yet I hope nothing vital has been left out so you may have the full story experience.

A few people have expressed concern that I might not be able to find a publisher for the story after posting it on my blog. No need to worry. I don't intend to publish it. This is my contribution to the Challenge and to you. Also, if you enjoy this story, you'll be more likely to buy my novels if I finally get them published!

I don't have a title for my A to Z story. Though, I've been playing around with a few taglines to tease you.

Abby White is one of the Fearless, but she's never had to face the longings of her own heart.
Parents, when your kids tell you about the monsters in the closets, believe them.
The beasts will eat them.

A is for Abby.
D is for Demetrius.
L is for love?
I hope that is enough to tantalize you to stick with me through April.
Wicked Wednesdays will be back in May. I'm curious as to what you might like to see on it. Book reviews? Interviews? Should I stick with what I've been doing? More of my own writing and experiences? Anything else you can think of?
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Published on March 28, 2012 05:00

March 27, 2012

Teaser Tuesday with The Snow Queen's Shadow

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!It's taken me a little while to get to this next book in Jim C. Hines fairy tale series. He does a wonderful mash-up of the old fairy tales we know and love, but in a fun and original way. Plus, the princesses are the heroes. Who doesn't love a self rescuing princess?
Here's your teaser:
Snow pointed to the broken shards. Wings of ice twitched, then fluttered to life. Insects of snow and glass, no larger than wasps, swarmed toward the Harbor-master. (page 69)
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Published on March 27, 2012 02:00

March 26, 2012

Review for Fighting Gravity

Blurb:
Forced into executing Aresia's people, Phoebus escapes the Aresian Guard by flying his spaceship through a wormhole.

The only single woman of marrying age, Marissa flees her prospects of becoming Elder McGee's third wife for a chance at freedom upon the New Atlantic Ocean.

When Phoebus's spacecraft crashes upon an asteroid-ravaged Earth, he is captured by a rogue Earthling youth and thrown into a cellar. Marissa stumbles upon the spacecraft, but it explodes before she can find any sign of the alien. When she awakens, she discovers the alien's whereabouts and vows to help him. They plot his escape when they learn Phoebus's Aresians have landed and are searching for him. Phoebus and Marissa must battle against their despair and their peoples in their quest for freedom and love. And through it all, an Earthling and an Aresian will find it easier to fight gravity than their love for each other.

My review:
Phoebus is tormented by his daimon and forced to execute his fellow Aresians. He attempts to escape through a wormhole, but ends up being captured on a primitive planet called Earth. Marissa hopes to find a new life for herself, but the world outside her tiny community isn't what she expected it to be. Her old friends turned scavengers have nefarious plans for her. Her only chance for help is to free Phoebus and flee with him. They're hunted and must learn to trust one another, finding more than just trust along the way.

This is the second novella in Cherie Reich's Gravity series. She has outdid herself with this dark and action packed science-fiction fantasy romance. She starts you off right in the middle of the action, and I was on the edge of my seat through the whole thing. The image Cherie paints of an Earth hit by an asteroid is harsh and dismal, but not without hope. Marissa has the light of hope in her heart. She's sweet and compassionate, and though she's rightfully afraid, she has the courage to do what's necessary when the time comes. Phoebus is from a cold and war-hungry people who make themselves into something more by infusing themselves with daimons. It's fascinating and terrifying at the same time. The Aresians are a complex culture and the daimons a mystery. This aspect really intrigued me because I didn't know what Phoebus' daimon would do next.

This story is light on the romance, so I believe sci-fi and dark fantasy fans will love it.  There's fighting, betrayal, and unexpected twists. Cherie's writing is sharp and her imagery vivid. She makes the story come alive before your eyes. Fighting Gravity captivated me from beginning to end. Even if you haven't read the first book in the series, Defying Gravity, you can still thoroughly enjoy this one.

Fighting Gravity will be available on May 1st. Mark it on your calendars!

Author's bio: Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, and library assistant. She typically writes horror, fantasy, and mysteries, but she enjoys other genres. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her e-books include ONCE UPON A DECEMBER NIGHTMARE published by Wild Child Publishing, THE BEST OF RAVEN AND THE WRITING DESK published by Hazard Publishing, and DEFYING GRAVITY published by Surrounded by Books Publishing. She is a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Valley Writers. She was the third place winner in Roanoke Valley's BIG READ writing contest.

Please visit Cherie's website. Fighting Gravity is already up on Goodreads.
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Published on March 26, 2012 02:00

March 23, 2012

A quick Friday update

It's Friday! Woo-hoo!

I've had a productive week. I edited and submitted my newest short story, "George and the Dragon." My writers' group liked it and my critique partners helped iron out the rough edges.

I only have four chapters left in my first round of revisions of my WIP. I can't wait for the torture to end. Of course, once the first round is done, there's the second and third and fourth to how many it takes to get it right. I'll be rewriting the first chapter again. This was inspired by Les Edgerton's Hooked. It's a fantastic book on beginnings. It's now my top book on the craft that I recommend to other writers. It makes everything so clear.

I'm reading Laura Jospehsen's Rising Book 1: Resistance . Intriguing story. I don't know who to trust or what's coming. And the quality of her writing is phenomenal.

I'm also reading Cherie Reich's Fighting Gravity , the second novella in her Gravity series. This one is packed with action and edge-of-your-seat tension.

I'll be reviewing both books next week.

Just over a week until April and The A to Z Challenge! I hope you're getting a head start on your posts if you're participating. Have you seen the linky list? Over 1100 participants! It's going to be an awesome month.

Enjoy your weekend.
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Published on March 23, 2012 10:47

March 22, 2012

Auntie Tara's March prompt

This month's prompt is for heartwarming animal tales.Auntie Tara found a call for short stories for a great cause atMadeline's blog Scribble & Edit. My short story was inspired by one of my favorite childhood shows,The Littlest Hobo.I wanted to be the littlest hobo when I was a kid.Sure, he was a dog, but he was a hero and had an adventurous life. Here's my story: The air was ripe with the new smells of spring. Some people sneezed and blew their noses, unable to concentrate solely on the search for the missing toddler. The German Shepard kept his focus and sniffed at the ground. His nose blew out the tang of pollen and found the warm scent of the boy. No one led him by a leash. No collar jingled around his neck. The dog looked for the child because he was needed. He never questioned his instincts or shied away from danger. He was needed and that was all that mattered.
He wove through the trees, crawled under low hanging pines, and ignored the needles that pricked his paws. The child had went this way and hurt his bare feet. A hint of the coppery smell of blood urged the dog into a trot. A helicopter flew over head and somewhere a woman was crying. The compelling sound let him know time was running out.
Splashing through a series of mud puddles, he almost lost the child's scent. This was a baby, a pup. He couldn't have gone far, and all directions except one led up rocky hills. The boy would take the path of least resistance. The dog loped down into a sinkhole and skidded to a stop.
He cocked his head to the side and twitched his ears.
The faintest sound of a creature sleeping. The dog stuck his head into a hollow log and nudged the child with his warm wet nose. The boy whimpered and curled up.
The German Shepard pulled his head out, not wanting to frighten the poor thing, and called to the other searchers. His barks echoed through the woods.  Three men came running, and he showed them where to find the boy.
There were cheers and tears and much celebrating. The boy would be fine. Before anyone had a chance to thank the dog, he was gone. Something was pulling him on to the next town. His tail wagged behind him.
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Published on March 22, 2012 02:00

March 21, 2012

Wicked Wednesday - make 'em suffer

Writing great paranormal romance isn't all about the longing glances, the sweet kisses, or the fiery passion between the sheets. Oh, we do love those things, but no. That's not what really makes readers turn the pages. It's the suffering we put our characters through that hooks them.
In order to get your readers to empathize with your characters, you need to engage them emotionally. Everyone knows what it's like to have their heart broken. Perhaps we're not as dramatic in our woes as the characters, but sometimes we'd like to be. Describe the pain in vivid and clear language. Be bold. Make the suffering unbearable and explore its most primal roots. Don't try to be subtle about it.
Emotional suffering isn't enough. You need to build in external conflict to torture your characters too. Again, problems need to be clear. Your readers need to know what your characters are fighting against. Having a clear problem doesn't mean to not have any mystery. Simple example: the problem is there's a new serial killer killing werewolves in town and your protagonist has to find out who it is before there's another victim. (The sexy Alpha of the local pack wants in on the hunt too!) Clear problem and intriguing mystery.
Once you've made your characters and readers miserable, it's time for the solution. The solution needs to be as clear as the problem. It must be realistic and satisfying. I'm sure everyone can agree a weak ending ruins a good story. Give your readers the emotional high to make up for the suffering you've put them through.
What hooks you in a story: the happy moments or the suffering?
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Published on March 21, 2012 02:00

March 20, 2012

Teaser Tuesday with Tuesdays at the Castle

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!I don't remember who posted something about this book on their blog a couple of months ago, but it immediately caught my attention. Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George is a children's book, and it has that magic that drew me in like the Harry Potter series. So far, I'm loving it!
Here's your teaser:
"It's a castle... I mean, how much could it really understand?"
"Don't talk like that," Celie warned. "It might throw you out!" (page 48)
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Published on March 20, 2012 02:00

March 19, 2012

Daily Science Fiction

For all the people who love science-fiction and fantasy, you need to visit this site and subscribe. Daily Science Fiction is a great site for readers and writers. Subscribe to get FREE short stories every weekday. Even though they're offering the stories for free, writers are paid eight cents a word. Pretty awesome, eh?

These are quality stories from new writers to Hugo Award winning authors. I've had a subscription for over half a year now. It's so much fun having a short story to read each morning while eating my Fruit Loops.

I recently learned something even more fantastic about Daily Science Fiction: they are now SFWA approved. Yes! One of my goals this year is to attempt to get a story published with a SFWA approved market and become a SFWA associate member. (Maybe one day, a full active member!) Daily Science Fiction is always seeking submissions.
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Published on March 19, 2012 02:00