Christine Rains's Blog, page 45
May 12, 2015
Precipice is here!

In the far future, humanity settles the stars, bioengineering its descendants to survive in a harsh universe. This is the sixth book in the science fiction series, The Backworlds. A space opera adventure.
The Backworlds hang by a Quantum string, a thread about to snap. Annihilation is coming if Craze can’t stop it.
The genocidal alien he had trapped breaks free, destroying a ship belonging to the Backworlds’ oldest enemy, the Fo’wo’s. The murderous alien wants to overtake the galaxy. The Fo’wo’s want another war.
The Backworlds’ best chance to survive is to overcome a century of hate and forge an alliance with the Fo’wo’s. Because of his history with the alien, Craze is recruited to represent his people. Now he’s the most hated man in the galaxy.
The looming war will be a holocaust unless Craze can stop it, knowing salvation comes at a price.
Buy links: Amazon / B&N/ iBook / Googleplay/ Smashwords / Kobo/ Other

About M. Pax:Fantasy, science fiction, and the weird beckons to her, and she blames Oregon, a source of endless inspiration. She docents at Pine Mountain Observatory in the summers, and one of her cats has a crush on Mr. Spock. You can find out more by visiting her website: mpaxauthor.com
Excerpt:Until he knew for certain whether he dealt with one genocidal alien or two, Lepsi couldn’t think right. His thoughts refused to stand still, stuttering and churning.The hatch slid fully open. He sprang off the cargo ejector, sailing two kilometers into the ether. He tumbled in the black for precisely twenty-three seconds then engaged his thrusters to journey the remaining twenty kilometers over to a spacecraft-sized mass of debris. The bits clumped together forming a weird metallic planetoid.He traced along the char marks and the mangled pieces of hull. The answers he needed wouldn’t be found in this trash, yet he was closer to them here than anywhere else, unless he joined up with the horrid alien again. His limbs shuddered and his lungs struggled for breath. He never wanted to see the cloud-like ship again. He couldn’t. He’d crack into a billion unrecoverable pieces. Just like the rubble of the Fo’wo ship around him.
Published on May 12, 2015 23:00
May 10, 2015
Captain Quasar blasts into publication!
E[image error]very Day Novels is proud to announce the release of Milo James Fowler's first serialized novel:
Captain Bartholomew Quasar and the Space-Time Displacement Conundrum
16 weeks of serial chapters every weekday – that's 80 exciting episodes of adventure aboard the Effervescent Magnitude for only $5 USD (includes an eBook edition following serialization). Don't delay – Subscribe today!
Captain Quasar is out of time.
Pursued by vengeful Goobalob toll collectors, savage Arachnoid bounty hunters, and formidable Amazonians, Captain Bartholomew Quasar must do whatever he can to keep the crew of the Effervescent Magnitudeout of harm's way. All in a day's work—except time is not on his side.Torn from the present to relive his past, he vows to keep mistakes from occurring the second time around. But is he doomed to repeat history? Or can he erase his regrets?Villains will be vanquished. Lives will be lost. Bonds will be betrayed. Heroes will be heroic.Join the crew of the Effervescent Magnitudefor a hilarious time-travel space adventure the likes of which you've never seen!Now Available from Every Day Novels Add Captain Quasar to your Goodreads bookshelfGet to know the man behind the book: 1. When did you start seriously pursuing writing as a career?I've been writing since I was 12, but I started submitting my work for publication in the summer of 2009. I'd always thought I would pursue publication at some point—probably after I retired from teaching or turned 40. My first story was published in January 2010, and I've had over a hundred others accepted for publication since then. I won't turn 40 for another year, and I'm still teaching full-time. Doesn't look like I'll be retiring anytime soon!2. How did you create the character Bartholomew Quasar?When I came up with Captain Bartholomew Quasar back in the spring of 2010, I was going for a mash-up between William Shatner's James T. Kirk and Dudley Do-Right from the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show(but in Quasar's case, things seldom ever go right). He's one of those classic pulp heroes with a heart of gold whose narcissistic tendencies often land him in hot water. I hope readers can laugh at Bartholomew Quasar and root for him at the same time. He's ridiculous, but there's something about his fallible nature that most of us can relate to on some level.3. Are you working on more Captain Quasar stories?I've written over 20 Captain Quasar tales so far, many of which are out on the submission circuit, looking for good homes. "Captain Quasar and the Ghosts of Space Command" will be published in the next issue of Perihelion Science Fiction. "Captain Quasar and the Carpethrian Call of the Wild" will be included in the B is for Brokenanthology, and "Captain Quasar and the Devious Powers of Persuasion" will be in the Geminid Press space opera anthology. I'm in the middle of edits on a novella-length adventure I plan to submit for publication soon. My collection of 15 Quasar tales Starfaring Adentures…in SPACE is available everywhere eBooks are sold—and free for the taking, last time I checked. Author Bio: Milo James Fowler is a teacher by day, speculative fictioneer by night, and an active SFWA member. When he's not grading papers, he's imagining what the world might be like in a dozen alternate realities. In the past 5 years, his short fiction has appeared in more than 100 publications, including AE SciFi, Cosmos, Daily Science Fiction, Nature, Shimmer, and the Wastelands 2anthology.Visit www.milojamesfowler.com and join The Crew for updates about new releases.
Published on May 10, 2015 23:00
May 7, 2015
Friday Five for May 8, 2015

1. Great news! I finally have a new editor with Ellora's Cave. She's quick, hilarious, and a geek. We get along wonderfully. She's enthusiastic about the next two books in my Dice & Debauchery series, and we have a release date for the second one called Layers of Lace. May 29th! Yeah, I know. It's not that far away! That date is also my wedding anniversary. So I'll have double the reason to celebrate!
2. Will I be doing a tour for the newest book? No. I'm still exhausted from the previous ones. I'll wait until the final book is released and then find a fun way to promote the whole D&D series.
3. With being sick and doing the revisions, I haven't had a chance to do any new writing or catch up on everything online. Next week should be quieter for me, and then I'll get everything in order before my son is on summer break. Wait. It's almost summer already?!
4. Today I'm helping my son's preschool set up for a big rummage sale. I was happy to purge more than I expected from our house. Funny how getting rid of physical things can make us feel lighter on every level. Do you like to go to rummage sales? Have you ever found a hidden treasure at one?
5. Happy Mother's Day this Sunday to all the wonderful moms and like-moms out there!
Published on May 07, 2015 23:00
May 6, 2015
Ghost of Death Tour - guest post by Chrys Fey
I'm excited to host the wonderful Chrys Fey. I can't wait to read her newest stories! Love those covers. Take it away, Chrys!
Thank you for letting me borrow you blog for the day, Christine!
Have you ever wondered how to tell whether or a ghost or not? No? I’m the only one? Oh well! I guess as a writer who wrote a short story about a ghost, I can get away with this kind of thinking. So here are 7 signs you’re a ghost:
1. No one can see or hear you.2. You can’t smell anything. Not even a pile of dog poop at your feet.3. Your hands pass through objects like mist.4. You can’t cry. Try as you might.5. When you try to take a breath, your chest doesn’t rise.6. You feel nothing, No pain. No sensations. Nothing.7. You’re standing over your dead body.
Title: Ghost of DeathAuthor: Chrys FeyGenre: Supernatural/SuspenseFormat: eBook Only
Page Count: 41 (short story)Release Date: April 22nd, 2015Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Blurb:
Jolie Montgomery, a twenty-one-year-old woman, wakes up in an alley next to her corpse. She has no memories of her murder or the night she died. She didn’t even see the killer’s face before he or she took her life. Wanting justice, Jolie seeks answers in the only way a ghost can...by stalking the lead detective on the case.
Avrianna Heavenborn is determined to find the person responsible for a young woman’s death. She gets closer to the killer’s identity with every clue she uncovers, and Jolie is with her every step of the way.
But if they don’t solve her murder soon, Jolie will be an earth-bound spirit forever.
Book Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK / The Wild Rose Press / NOOK / KOBO
Excerpt:
With the sound of her mom’s grief wafting up to her, Jolie came to terms with her present state. I’m dead and now my mom knows it. She eyed the door in front of her. She hadn’t yet walked through a door, but if her hand could pass through metal then she knew she could move through wood. If I have to be a ghost then I’ll be a damn good one. All across the afterlife I’ll be known as the Ghost of Death! And I’m going to start by walking through this damn door! She would’ve taken a deep breath to brace herself if she could have, so she mentally pumped herself up instead. You can do it! Easy-peasy. Nothing to it. And she took a step forward. Solid matter slipped around and through her form. On the other side, a familiar site confronted her: a black and white bed, the bright green shag carpet in the middle of the room, and a white desk. Stepping up to her desk, Jolie eyed her ancient desktop computer, the one she used before her dad gifted her with a laptop when she announced she was accepted to the local university. Wanting to send out the first ever tweet from the afterlife, she pushed the button to bring the device to life, but her finger poker straight through it. Resigning to her Twitter-less fate, she moved toward the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. She saw nothing. Not even a shimmer in the air hinted at her presence. Being a ghost sucks!
Available for PRE-ORDER:
Blurb:
Detective Reid Sanders doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but when he’s faced with a crime scene that defies the laws of nature, he has no other choice but to start believing. And solving a magical murder involves working with a witch.
Liberty Sawyer embodies the look of your classic evil witch, so, it’s no surprise when she uncovers the murderer is a witch that she becomes Reid’s number one suspect. If she can’t convince him otherwise, more people could lose their lives to dark magic, including her.
Book Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK
BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes and 30 Seconds. She is currently working on the sequel to Hurricane Crimes that’ll serve as book two in the Disaster Crimes series.
When Fey was six years old, she realized her dream of being a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida where she is waiting for the next hurricane to come her way.
You can connect with her on Facebook and her blog, Write with Fey. She loves to get to know her readers!
Author Links: Facebook / Blog / Website / Goodreads
Thank you all for visiting and hopefully commenting. ;)
Thank you for letting me borrow you blog for the day, Christine!
Have you ever wondered how to tell whether or a ghost or not? No? I’m the only one? Oh well! I guess as a writer who wrote a short story about a ghost, I can get away with this kind of thinking. So here are 7 signs you’re a ghost:
1. No one can see or hear you.2. You can’t smell anything. Not even a pile of dog poop at your feet.3. Your hands pass through objects like mist.4. You can’t cry. Try as you might.5. When you try to take a breath, your chest doesn’t rise.6. You feel nothing, No pain. No sensations. Nothing.7. You’re standing over your dead body.

Page Count: 41 (short story)Release Date: April 22nd, 2015Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Blurb:
Jolie Montgomery, a twenty-one-year-old woman, wakes up in an alley next to her corpse. She has no memories of her murder or the night she died. She didn’t even see the killer’s face before he or she took her life. Wanting justice, Jolie seeks answers in the only way a ghost can...by stalking the lead detective on the case.
Avrianna Heavenborn is determined to find the person responsible for a young woman’s death. She gets closer to the killer’s identity with every clue she uncovers, and Jolie is with her every step of the way.
But if they don’t solve her murder soon, Jolie will be an earth-bound spirit forever.
Book Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK / The Wild Rose Press / NOOK / KOBO
Excerpt:
With the sound of her mom’s grief wafting up to her, Jolie came to terms with her present state. I’m dead and now my mom knows it. She eyed the door in front of her. She hadn’t yet walked through a door, but if her hand could pass through metal then she knew she could move through wood. If I have to be a ghost then I’ll be a damn good one. All across the afterlife I’ll be known as the Ghost of Death! And I’m going to start by walking through this damn door! She would’ve taken a deep breath to brace herself if she could have, so she mentally pumped herself up instead. You can do it! Easy-peasy. Nothing to it. And she took a step forward. Solid matter slipped around and through her form. On the other side, a familiar site confronted her: a black and white bed, the bright green shag carpet in the middle of the room, and a white desk. Stepping up to her desk, Jolie eyed her ancient desktop computer, the one she used before her dad gifted her with a laptop when she announced she was accepted to the local university. Wanting to send out the first ever tweet from the afterlife, she pushed the button to bring the device to life, but her finger poker straight through it. Resigning to her Twitter-less fate, she moved toward the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. She saw nothing. Not even a shimmer in the air hinted at her presence. Being a ghost sucks!
Available for PRE-ORDER:

Blurb:
Detective Reid Sanders doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but when he’s faced with a crime scene that defies the laws of nature, he has no other choice but to start believing. And solving a magical murder involves working with a witch.
Liberty Sawyer embodies the look of your classic evil witch, so, it’s no surprise when she uncovers the murderer is a witch that she becomes Reid’s number one suspect. If she can’t convince him otherwise, more people could lose their lives to dark magic, including her.
Book Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK

BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes and 30 Seconds. She is currently working on the sequel to Hurricane Crimes that’ll serve as book two in the Disaster Crimes series.
When Fey was six years old, she realized her dream of being a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida where she is waiting for the next hurricane to come her way.
You can connect with her on Facebook and her blog, Write with Fey. She loves to get to know her readers!
Author Links: Facebook / Blog / Website / Goodreads
Thank you all for visiting and hopefully commenting. ;)
Published on May 06, 2015 23:00
May 5, 2015
IWSG for May 2015

The fantastic co-hosts for this month are: Eva Solar, Melanie Schulz, Lisa-Buie Collard, and Stephen Tremp!
I haven't had any time lately to worry about my insecurities. First there was my son's birthday and my mom's week-long visit. Then my husband got sick, and just as he felt a little better, I got rotten sick. Now our little guy is sick.

With all the activity and illnesses, I haven't had any time to write. But I did get a new editor with Ellora's Cave, and she sent me the edits for books two and three of the Dice & Debauchery series. Yay!
I hope you're all avoiding the spring sicknesses going around. Give me my insecurities over a sick little boy any day.
Published on May 05, 2015 23:00
May 3, 2015
Writer Mama #Bloghop

I saw this bloghop and I cheered. What an awesome idea from our wonderful host Sharon Bayliss. Parenting is difficult enough alone, but to be a writer mama/papa? It can be crazy.
Today, writer parents share secrets and support each other. The post can be anything related to writing while juggling the responsibilities of parenting. Sharon has even supplied a list of topics for those of us who have very limited time online. Plus, a random poster will win a Writer Mama Care Package (US) or a $25 Amazon gift card (INTL).
Be sure to visit all the participants for great advice, encouragement, and funny stories.
I have so many things to say on the topic of being a writer mama. I'm going to share the greatest misconception people have of me when I tell them I'm an author.
"You're a writer? I bet your son loves it when you read your stories to him. How many children's books do you have published?"
None. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
Just because I have a small child does not mean I write for children. I write for adults. Bloody, scary, intense, and sometimes naughty tales. It never seems to sink in. Usually the next question I'm asked is if I'll write a children's book. Nope. At this point in my life, I have no interest.
"But... you have a child. Don't you read to him?"
Yes. All the time. He loves it when we read books together. In fact, he just turned five and he's reading at a third grade level. We appreciate and love the authors who give us all these fantastic children's stories, but I am not one of them.
My husband and I nurtured a love for reading in our son, and he has a great imagination. I would love it if he decided to follow in my footsteps, but the main thing I want him to see is that his mama is following her dreams. So if he wants to be a chef, an astronaut, or a superhero, I hope he feels that he can do whatever he wants and follow his own dreams.
Published on May 03, 2015 23:00
April 30, 2015
Friday Five for May 1, 2015

1. Congratulations to everyone who made it through the A to Z Challenge! We had a lot of fun with it over at the Untethered Realms blog. Take a break this weekend. You deserve it!
2. I had a rough day at my local critique group meeting last Saturday. It's been a while since they really tore into one of my stories. I almost forgot how rough it was to do that in person. I've been revising this week. Slowly trying to patch up the problems and make my story work.
3. I haven't done any writing on my WIP lately. Hopefully next week I'll get a chance to jump back into it. I'm also slowly making some headway with my reading. So many great books, so little time!
4. It's going to be a sunny weekend here. My son starts tee ball tomorrow. We're meeting up with friends and having a barbecue. Lots of fun!
5. May starts off with a couple of great bloghops. On Monday, Sharon Bayliss is hosting the Writer Mama (and papa!) Bloghop and it's IWSG day on Wednesday. I'll see you all then! Have a wonderful weekend.
Published on April 30, 2015 23:00
April 28, 2015
Zadekiel - Patricia Josephine with An Atheist Among Angels

Blurb:The path is lost.
With Michael gone, the mantle of leadership falls to Zadekiel. In this time of darkness, with tempers running short, Zade struggles to guide his brothers. Hope comes in the form of a green haired woman with a unique gift. She represents a way back to the path they lost when Michael disappeared.
Zephyr fills books with cryptic poetry, a powerful compulsion, which is more a curse than a blessing. With no control over her ability, she struggles to live a normal life. When she meets Zade, he insists her ability is a gift from God. Reluctantly, she agrees to join the cause–it’s hard to dispute a man with wings.
Now the path is found, but one question remains. Will it lead to further darkness?
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VUBND3E
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25316684-zadekiel
Grab the first book in the series, Michael!
Tweets to share:
Michael left and it’s up to Zade to lead his brothers. Is he strong enough to stop evil? http://www.amazon.com/dp/ B00VUBND3E #PathOfAngels #urbanfantasy #NA
Will Zephyr’s gift lead Zade to salvation or astray? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VUBND3E #PathOfAngels #urbanfantasy #NALit
An archangel and an atheist. Can this unlikely duo save the world? http://www.amazon.com/dp/ B00VUBND3E #PathOfAngels #NA

About the Author: Patricia Josephine never set out to become a writer. In fact, she never considered it an option during high school and college. She was all about art. On a whim, she wrote down a story bouncing in her head. That was the start of it and she hasn't regretted a moment. She writes young adult under the name Patricia Lynne.
Patricia lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a small petting zoo, has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the rainbow, and an obsession with Doctor Who.
Links:Twitter: https://twitter.com/plynne_writesWebsite: http://www.patricialynne.comGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108938106639683446081/posts/p/pubWattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/patricialynne07Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13460894.Patricia_Josephine
An Atheist among Angels
Zephyr is one of my favorite characters in the series. She’s smart, strong, and likes to dye her hair fun colors. But my favorite aspect of her is she’s an atheist. I thought that was an interesting dynamic to throw at Zade. He sees her gift as divine and she thinks it’s annoying. I don’t blame her when it likes to butt in. Kind of like my muse.
The thing I refused to do with Zephyr is have her instantly convert. She knows Zade is an archangel and that shakes what she knows, but she decides she’s not about to blindly roll over and throw all her faith in God. Especially after some of the mess-ups she’s seen. If anything, she’s more skeptic of an all-knowing God and has no qualms questioning Zade’s path.
Published on April 28, 2015 23:00
April 27, 2015
X has never been sexier

Check out a teaser at Untethered Realms from the third book in the 13th Floor series, The Dragonslayer .
X is one of the most difficult letters to come up with a post for during the A to Z Challenge. Find out what other clever participants are sharing today by clicking here.
Published on April 27, 2015 23:00
April 26, 2015
Review for Polar Day

Blurb:The midnight sun bakes Fairbanks, Alaska as residents gather for the annual summer solstice baseball game. Amidst the revelry and raucous shouts of “Play ball,” a spark alights and a jogger bursts into flames. Detective Danny Fitzpatrick, still reeling from his near death at the hands of vampire Aleksei Nechayev, watches in horror as the man burns alive.
Someone is burning Fairbanks and its residents and leaving nothing but smoldering embers behind. As the city sweats under a record-breaking heatwave and unexplained fires claim more victims, Danny and his colleagues struggle to find an arsonist who can conjure fire out of thin air.
To Danny’s horror, the only one who may be able to help him stop the arsonist is his nemesis Nechayev. Will the vampire help in the hunt for a witch?
My review: It starts with a jogger bursting into flames. Detective Danny Fitzpatrick can't figure out how it ignited and neither can the police arsonist specialist. The case doesn't make any sense, but Danny has met with a monster before. If there's no logical explanation for the fires, he must search outside the box. And as much as he hates it, the only one that might be able to help him is the vampire Aleksei Nechayev, the monster that still haunts his dreams.
An excellent sequel to Polar Night with plenty of suspenseful and intense moments. I've never been to Alaska, but I felt as if I were transported there with the amazing descriptions. Especially the little details. And instead of freezing, it was an unusually hot summer where the sun sets for only a few hours. The setting really came alive.
I'm still a big fan of Danny, the gruff and flawed detective. His partner Tessa is the perfect balance for him, but she's just as determined as he is, and what's more, she believes in him. When everything seems against them, they make a powerful team. I was really excited to see Aleksei back. Even more so, to get a little peek at what's been going on with him.
This is a must read for all fans of supernatural and horror stories.
Buy the book here:Amazon Kindle ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Check out Julie Flanders at:Blog * Website * Facebook * Twitter
Published on April 26, 2015 23:00