Christine Rains's Blog, page 7
June 14, 2019
Give yourself a Yuletide gift in June!
FREE for 5 days only!
"Another fantastic tale from Morena Silver, and perfect for the festive season... in fact, I'd read this all year round."
"I just loved it❣️ Period. Full. Stop.
Rarely to you have a RH that is just one book and not a series that can feel complete,without lots of things missing, and I never felt that here."
"While this is a reverse harem and does get steamy at times, there is an engaging, fantasy story running right along with the romance. It's a good balance, not letting one overpower the other."
June 4, 2019
Wickedly It Begins Blitz & Giveaway
One fateful night will change their lives forever.
Seeley is born a hunter. God’s warrior. She’s endowed with inexplicable gifts to slay creatures and demons threatening human’s. Alongside her guardian angel, Ezekiel, she will face unimaginable trials and tribulations.
Jack Chase was born an orphan. Kicked from foster home to foster home, he lands with a couple who worships Satan. He succumbs to their diabolical rituals, and learns he also has extraordinary talents. Wealthy, Asa Trebane, and leader of the Black Order of the Cult locates this teenager he’s heard much about. He takes Jack under his wing and into his home.
A mysterious pull leads Jack to Seeley. A pull neither of them can resist.
Buy the book here!
Mark it to read on Goodreads.
AUTHOR BIO:Cathrina Constantine is the Best Selling author of Don't Forget To Breathe. Her book won Readers' Favorite International Book Award for 2015. New Apple Medalist for 2016. Literary Classics Gold Award. Literary Classics Seal of Approval. Her Paranormal Fantasy, Wickedly They Come has been awarded the 5 Star Seal from Reader's Favorite. Tallas from her dystopian series received Literary Classics Silver Award and Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
Cathrina resides in Western New York. I am blessed with a loving family and forever friends. My world revolves around them.
I grew up in the small village of Lancaster, NY, where I married my sweetheart. I'm devoted to raising 5 cherished children, and now my grandchildren.
I love to immerse myself in great books of every kind of genre, which helps me to write purely for entertainment, and hopefully to inspire readers. When not stationed at my computer you can find me in the woods taking long walks with my dog.
Author links:https://twitter.com/cathconstantineht...https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7179953.Cathrina_Constantine
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 3, 2019
Hoosier Dad is here!
Sarah Andrews can hold her own in a courtroom, but when it comes to love, she’s 0-3 and Rich Cooper was her biggest loss to date. Hoosier Dad is available!
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords/ kobo.com
Elizabeth is a mom, a wife, and the caretaker of far too many pets, all of whom her children swore they'd take care of. But they went off to college leaving fur babies in their place. She is a multi-published author of women's fiction and romance.
Blog / Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
May 20, 2019
Leaves of Fall Release Day - First Draft vs. Final Draft guest post & a giveaway
I'm happy to welcome the awesome Patricia Lynne to my blog today to celebrate the release of her newest YA book, Leaves of Fall.
First Draft versus Final Draft
The first draft of Leaves of Fall was written way back in 2011 or 2012. I don't remember the inspiration behind the story or why I set it aside. It never left my mind, though. When I opened it again in 2018, I knew there was a lot of work that needed to be done. Here are a few of the changes it went through to get to the story you can read today.
1: Names
The first draft I went a little weird with names. I had parents naming their kids weird things. Rudyard was Highway and his little brother was Rug. At the time, my thinking had been parents were naming their kids exact location they were born. For example, Rug was born on a rug. Weird, I know. I scraped that idea and went with parents naming their kids after places from their past. So Highway became Rudyard and Rug was Canyon after the Grand Canyon.
Trees also got name changes. At first, I just named them all random tree names, but beta readers and editors found it jarring. When they heard the name, they thought of that tree and not the tree character.
Not all names changed. Armory, Mini, Pine, and Oak's names stayed the same. Birch, Silver, Alaska, Dahoon, and River all had different names. I changed Birch's the last because I was fond of the first name: Maple. I considered changing him to a Maple tree, but I wanted the unique appearance of birch trees for his character.
2: Dahoon and Pine
Dahoon and Pine weren't in the first draft at all. Very few trees were. Most of the interactions Armory and Birch had were with other people. Some of those interactions made no sense, though, so they were cut. I'm very glad for this because I adore Dahoon and Pine. They're so laid back and easy going.
3: Miracle
One huge difference between the first and final draft was a character called Miracle. Armory meets her after she is kidnapped. Miracle is a small child and she goes with Armory and Birch on the journey to get Armory home. I tried putting her in as I rewrote, but found it stopped the story and I realized she had to go.
4: Communities and Nomads
I waffled between what to call the groups of humans that lived in this post-apocalyptic world. Communities started as tribes, but that was cliche, so I switched to families. My editor suggested communities at one point and since I found using families a bit confusing at times I went with that. Nomads were outlaws at first, but I switched to nomads since that was the lifestyle they adopted. They just aren't lawful about it.
Blurb:
Armory was born into a post-apocalyptic world torn apart by war between man and nature. Trees are the enemy. But when she’s kidnapped by nomads and taken far from her home, a tree nymph is the one who comes to her rescue.
Birch promises he can get Armory home. He says not all trees wanted a war. Armory has no choice to trust him if she wants to see her family again.
Together, they trek across the ruins of America, meeting both human and trees who want nothing more than the fighting to stop. But the hatred between the two may be too deep to heal. Armory isn’t sure her friendship with Birch will be enough to convince the human race to take a chance on peace. Birch has a plan, though. He’s just not sure he’ll survive.
Snag on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, or Smashwords for $2.99. (or 99cents if the pre-order price hasn't changed yet. ^_~)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author
Patricia Lynne is the author of Young Adult Paranormal, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi books. She actually never set out to become a writer, and in fact, she was more interested in art and band in high school and college On a whim, she wrote down a story bouncing in her head and began learning all she could about writing. That was the start of it, and she hasn't regretted a moment. When she's not writing, she's watching Doctor Who or reading about serial killers. She's an avid knitter. One can never have too much yarn. She writes New Adult Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi Romance under the name Patricia Josephine.
Patricia lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a small petting zoo, and has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the rainbow.
Find Patricia around the web.
Website - http://www.patricialynne.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/plynne_writes
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/plynnewrites/
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/patricialynne07
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/635444.Patricia_Lynne
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01EM6YLAW
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/patricialynne
First Draft versus Final Draft
The first draft of Leaves of Fall was written way back in 2011 or 2012. I don't remember the inspiration behind the story or why I set it aside. It never left my mind, though. When I opened it again in 2018, I knew there was a lot of work that needed to be done. Here are a few of the changes it went through to get to the story you can read today.
1: Names
The first draft I went a little weird with names. I had parents naming their kids weird things. Rudyard was Highway and his little brother was Rug. At the time, my thinking had been parents were naming their kids exact location they were born. For example, Rug was born on a rug. Weird, I know. I scraped that idea and went with parents naming their kids after places from their past. So Highway became Rudyard and Rug was Canyon after the Grand Canyon.
Trees also got name changes. At first, I just named them all random tree names, but beta readers and editors found it jarring. When they heard the name, they thought of that tree and not the tree character.
Not all names changed. Armory, Mini, Pine, and Oak's names stayed the same. Birch, Silver, Alaska, Dahoon, and River all had different names. I changed Birch's the last because I was fond of the first name: Maple. I considered changing him to a Maple tree, but I wanted the unique appearance of birch trees for his character.
2: Dahoon and Pine
Dahoon and Pine weren't in the first draft at all. Very few trees were. Most of the interactions Armory and Birch had were with other people. Some of those interactions made no sense, though, so they were cut. I'm very glad for this because I adore Dahoon and Pine. They're so laid back and easy going.
3: Miracle
One huge difference between the first and final draft was a character called Miracle. Armory meets her after she is kidnapped. Miracle is a small child and she goes with Armory and Birch on the journey to get Armory home. I tried putting her in as I rewrote, but found it stopped the story and I realized she had to go.
4: Communities and Nomads
I waffled between what to call the groups of humans that lived in this post-apocalyptic world. Communities started as tribes, but that was cliche, so I switched to families. My editor suggested communities at one point and since I found using families a bit confusing at times I went with that. Nomads were outlaws at first, but I switched to nomads since that was the lifestyle they adopted. They just aren't lawful about it.
Blurb:
Armory was born into a post-apocalyptic world torn apart by war between man and nature. Trees are the enemy. But when she’s kidnapped by nomads and taken far from her home, a tree nymph is the one who comes to her rescue.Birch promises he can get Armory home. He says not all trees wanted a war. Armory has no choice to trust him if she wants to see her family again.
Together, they trek across the ruins of America, meeting both human and trees who want nothing more than the fighting to stop. But the hatred between the two may be too deep to heal. Armory isn’t sure her friendship with Birch will be enough to convince the human race to take a chance on peace. Birch has a plan, though. He’s just not sure he’ll survive.
Snag on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, or Smashwords for $2.99. (or 99cents if the pre-order price hasn't changed yet. ^_~)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author
Patricia Lynne is the author of Young Adult Paranormal, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi books. She actually never set out to become a writer, and in fact, she was more interested in art and band in high school and college On a whim, she wrote down a story bouncing in her head and began learning all she could about writing. That was the start of it, and she hasn't regretted a moment. When she's not writing, she's watching Doctor Who or reading about serial killers. She's an avid knitter. One can never have too much yarn. She writes New Adult Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi Romance under the name Patricia Josephine.Patricia lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a small petting zoo, and has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the rainbow.
Find Patricia around the web.
Website - http://www.patricialynne.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/plynne_writes
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/plynnewrites/
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/patricialynne07
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/635444.Patricia_Lynne
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01EM6YLAW
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/patricialynne
May 6, 2019
Someone Else's Soul Release Day Blitz & Review
Title: Someone Else’s SoulAuthor: Meradeth HoustonGenre: SciFi/SuspensePublisher: Bleeding Ink PublishingPublication Date: May 7th, 2019Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR
Blurb: There are 14 strangers who share her face, and one company is determined to erase them all.Everyone has secrets, and it's Diana Kane's job to know them. It's a talent--being able to see into someone's life from the scuffs on their shoes to the way they hold their hands--a talent that sets her apart from everyone. When a mysterious stranger drops into her life dangling the possibility of something she's longed for, a real connection with someone who might actually understand her, she's too intrigued to refuse.But when David Addington shows up to their date knowing too much about her, and the top secret agency she works for, Diana realizes their meeting was anything but coincidence. David has more than his share of surprises, including an impossible claim about Diana's past and photos of an inexplicable woman who shares her face.When her life begins to unravel around her, Diana has no choice but to put her faith in the mysterious David and the man he claims is his father. As she struggles to piece together the truth about where she came from, she's forced to face the reality that her entire life has been manufactured, along with fourteen other women who share her exact same DNA. Confronted with the troubling reality that she's nothing more than a research experiment that's pushed the boundaries of science and ethics, Diana must rescue the others like her before the company can erase them as mistakes, putting all her skills to the test in the ultimate game of survival...My review:
Diana Kane has a way of knowing everyone's secrets which makes her a fantastic spy. Nothing can distract her from her job. Yet when a handsome stranger shows her photos of another woman with a face identical to her own, she must discover what's going on. Through unraveling secret after secret, it could bring her to her own death.
I'm a huge fan of the sci-fi thriller, Orphan Black, and this has a similar bend to it, but tugs in something more spiritual. Diana is a clone made from the DNA of an incredibly gifted scientist from a company that thinks the clones no more than products. Products which now have to be eliminated since they've perfected the vessels they need to start selling them to the rich. She's not the only clone. The handsome David is also one, but he was raised by his DNA donor and has known all along what he was. Diana struggles with trust on all levels, and I loved reading how she wrestled with everything that was going on. It's a fast paced plot with lots of action, and plenty to make you think of where science is taking us and the spiritual implications.
Get your copy today!
Meradeth Houston lives in Montana where she's an anthropology professor and scientist. If you let her, she'll tell you more than you ever wanted to know about getting DNA out of dead bodies and old poop. She specializes in degraded DNA (translation: really old DNA that's decayed), and runs two laboratories filled with students, interns, and maybe a few shenanigans. Her research seeks to better understand the dynamic of past migration on human populations. Her goal is to someday clone herself because that's probably the only way she'll ever get through her to-do list. Though, who knows, maybe that'll mean she's donating to someone else's soul? Other than teaching, research, and writing, Meradeth enjoys the lakes and ski slopes of Western Montana. It's not uncommon to find her haunting the cafes of Missoula. She is also a proud dog mom and represented by Cristi Marchetti.Author Links: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5321667.Meradeth_HoustonAmazon: https://amzn.to/2PNa7HVFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeradethHouston/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeradethHoustonBookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/meradeth-houstonWebsite: http://meradethhouston.com/
Get your copy today!
April 30, 2019
#IWSG for May 2019
The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is the brilliant idea of Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the group is to share doubts and insecurities and to encourage one another. Please visit the other participants and share your support. A kind word goes a long way.This month's awesome co-hosts are: Lee Lowery, Juneta Key, Yvonne Ventresca, and T. Powell Coltrin!
This month's optional question: What was an early experience where you learned language had power?
This is a big question. I had to think a while about it. I know I talked very young, but I was never a talkative kid (nor adult!). I also still have stories I wrote when I was five years old. I cannot ever remember not being in love with reading. It was my escape, my joy, my inspiration.
While I can't think of a particular time when I was that young, later on in my childhood, I started writing short stories about The Kingham Kids. (It was the group of children I grew up with in my neighborhood. We lived on Kingham Road!) I'd draw the title pages and write silly adventures that always ended in a terribly cheesy joke. The other kids would always gather around me, eyes wide and eager, and listened to the stories. They loved them. Later in life as adults, a few of them told me that those stories were one of the bright moments in their hard childhoods, and with the aid of my imagination, I helped them escape cruel realities for a little while. I knew they loved the stories, but I had never known just how much they meant to them.
The power of stories never ceases to astound me.
This month's insecurities: I'm doing a lot of things... just not writing. It's driving me bonkers that a story hasn't snatched me away and driven to write. So much is going on away from the computer, and then when I get online, all I seem to do is try to catch up on things.
I think I need to clear my metaphorical desk and sweep away everything so it's only the word processor's blank screen and I. I'm going to take a blogging break for the summer (end of May through August) and ease back from social media. I won't completely disappear, but I want all the stuff that seems to pile up on me out of the way. I'm a writer, and my number one responsibility is to write.
There will still be a few promos and guests are most welcome here. I'm always happy to help out other writers.
What do you do when the words aren't coming?
April 29, 2019
Mythology Love - free ebooks!
An unforgettable selection of stories and samples for free!Just click on the image above.
My paranormal romance, The 13th Floor Complete Collection is included in this spectacular promo. Vampires, werewolves, and gods, oh my!
April 11, 2019
Free paranormal reads!
Curl up inside on those rainy days with a good book!
Get hooked on my dark urban fantasy world with Of Blood and Sorrow ! It's free for five days.
And if you like something lighter and funnier, check out The Paramours trilogy. More woo than boo!
All three books are free for five days!
Get hooked on my dark urban fantasy world with Of Blood and Sorrow ! It's free for five days.
And if you like something lighter and funnier, check out The Paramours trilogy. More woo than boo!
All three books are free for five days!
April 2, 2019
#IWSG for April 2019
The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is the brilliant idea of Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the group is to share doubts and insecurities and to encourage one another. Please visit the other participants and share your support. A kind word goes a long way.This month's awesome co-hosts are: J.H. Moncrieff, Natalie Aguirre, Patsy Collins, and Chemist Ken!
April's optional question: If you could use a wish to help you write just ONE scene/chapter of your book, which one would it be?
I know exactly where I need help. It's that part before the big climax. Something must happen just before the protagonist hits rock bottom. It must be relevant to the plot and yet not take away from the climax which is to come. It's like the second middle. I can get over the hump of the middle, but that second time, it's tough, especially being a pantser.
My insecurities: I put the two novels I had been working on aside. That has caused me a lot of anxiety. I believe in hard work and pushing through, but my muse has never dug in her heels this deeply before. Yet I started a new project and it's flowing wonderfully. Good, yes, but I dislike leaving things unfinished.
How's your writing been going so far this year?
March 26, 2019
Free and 99c Books Spring Binge!
Start off the spring with a reading binge!
The first three books of my urban fantasy series, TOTEM, are free for five days only.
Dark Dawning (Book #1)
Silent Whispers (Book #2)
Cloak of Snow (Book #3)
And if you're interested in hot romance where the heroine doesn't have to choose, check out the Reverse Harem Book Fair!
This fabulous event showcases some of today's hottest reverse harem authors with a mix of genres to suit every mood. Just click on the image.
