Coreene Callahan's Blog, page 31
March 8, 2012
Top 5 Attributes Every Sexy Dragon-Shifter Should Have
This post first appeared on the Omnivoracious Book Blog a month ago. But I thought it was so much fun, I decided to share it here on my own blog.
The topic is near and dear to my heart. It's all about the Nightfurys, a sexy group of kick-ass dragon warriors who never say quit. So without further ado, here it is:
Fury of Fire is the debut novel in my Dragonfury series. Think urban fantasy romance with a kick. Start with a pack of dragon shape-shifters, toss in a whole lot of action and fantasy, then cap it off with a steamy romance. Shake. Stir. Find a fancy glass and sit down to enjoy, because the Nightfury warriors will take you for a ride.
The topic is near and dear to my heart. It's all about the Nightfurys, a sexy group of kick-ass dragon warriors who never say quit. So without further ado, here it is:
Fury of Fire is the debut novel in my Dragonfury series. Think urban fantasy romance with a kick. Start with a pack of dragon shape-shifters, toss in a whole lot of action and fantasy, then cap it off with a steamy romance. Shake. Stir. Find a fancy glass and sit down to enjoy, because the Nightfury warriors will take you for a ride.
Half human, half dragon, and able to change form at will, these guys are a hard-core military unit. At war with a rogue faction of Dragonkind, the Nightfurys are incredibly secretive about their species. They need to be, to remain hidden from humans. Honestly, it was like pulling teeth to get an interview with one of them. But after some serious cajoling, Bastian, commander of the Nightfurys, agreed to give me his take on the five key qualities dragon shape-shifters need to survive. Thank goodness. There's only so much begging a girl can do!
Top 5 Attributes Every Dragon Shape-Shifter Should Have
1. A wicked amount of lethal. ('Cause you never know when you might need to pull some kick-ass out of your bag of tricks.)
2. Razor-sharp intelligence. (Not only to make quick decisions on the fly, but to catch your brothers in arms cheating at the weekly poker game.)
3. A well-developed sense of humor. (If you can't laugh at yourself, then you can't laugh at your fellow warriors. And what fun is that?)
4. Charm. (Why? To score with the females, of course.)
5. Loyalty and honor. (All right, so I'm cheating here. But these two things are considered one and the same in Dragonkind circles, because no warrior ever gets left behind.)
And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed the top 5 as much as I did coming up with them!
February 16, 2012
Dragon Sighting in Seattle
Extra, extra! Read all about it! Late breaking news. . .
Dragon sighting in Seattle.
Click on the link to read the article written by the dedicated reporter for the Seattle Firebrand who took her life in her hands to break the story.
http://writerspace.com/newsletter/coreenecallahan/news021312-2.html
I hope you get as much out of the exposé as much I did.Enjoy!Coreene
Dragon sighting in Seattle.
Click on the link to read the article written by the dedicated reporter for the Seattle Firebrand who took her life in her hands to break the story.
http://writerspace.com/newsletter/coreenecallahan/news021312-2.html
I hope you get as much out of the exposé as much I did.Enjoy!Coreene
February 14, 2012
Happy St-Valentine's Day!
Surprises are one of my favorite things. And this morning, I got a doozie. My husband--thoughtful man that he is!--decorated the kitchen in St-Valentine's Day splendor before he took off for work.
Banners and ribbons and cards now decorate one corner of my little world.
Funny thing, though. It's doesn't seem quite so small this morning. In fact, it felt pretty darned huge as I stumbled into my kitchen looking for my coffee pot and walked into a celebration instead. It made me smile. It lightened my heart. It made me stop in my tracks and appreciate the little things that my husband does for me every day. Because let's face it, having a day to celebrate your love for another is great, but it's more important to love and appreciate them on a regular basis. Not just one day a year.
Sometimes that's hard. Escpecially when your significant other does something that makes you want to pull your hair out. Or kick something. But at those times--because invariably they will come--I try to remember that I do things that drive him crazy too. It's all about give and take, isn't it?
And thank God for that. If we were perfect, after all, life would be pretty darned boring.
What are you doing to celebrate the person you love today?
Banners and ribbons and cards now decorate one corner of my little world.
Funny thing, though. It's doesn't seem quite so small this morning. In fact, it felt pretty darned huge as I stumbled into my kitchen looking for my coffee pot and walked into a celebration instead. It made me smile. It lightened my heart. It made me stop in my tracks and appreciate the little things that my husband does for me every day. Because let's face it, having a day to celebrate your love for another is great, but it's more important to love and appreciate them on a regular basis. Not just one day a year.
Sometimes that's hard. Escpecially when your significant other does something that makes you want to pull your hair out. Or kick something. But at those times--because invariably they will come--I try to remember that I do things that drive him crazy too. It's all about give and take, isn't it?
And thank God for that. If we were perfect, after all, life would be pretty darned boring.
What are you doing to celebrate the person you love today?
February 6, 2012
An Exciting Day
The old adage. . .time flies when you're having fun. . .truly fits today. Time has flown while I've been busy writing. And now, the day has finally arrived! My debut novel in the Dragonfury series, FURY OF FIRE, hits cyberspace and book shelves today. Very exciting! And, to be honest, a little nerve-wracking as I embark on a new adventure as a published author. But beyond the butterflies in the pit of my stomach, I'm thrilled to introduce you to the half-dragon, half-human warriors portrayed in the book. I hope you enjoy the crazy bunch as much I do writing them.
I have some cool stuff happening over the next couple of weeks (guest blogs, contests, giveaways), so I'll keep you updated both here and on my website (www.coreenecallahan.com). I've provided a few links below, so please hop on over and join the fun.
The Kindle Blog (February 7)The Omnivoracious Book Blog (February 7)Hannah Howell's Blog (on February 15th)A Bookworm's Haven (date coming soon)
I hope you enjoy FURY OF FIRE. And if you have a minute, drop me a line. I'd love hear from you!
All the best,Coreene
January 13, 2012
Winter Crush
We're in for a spectacular winter storm. The first half came yesterday. The rest? Yup, it's on the way today, and man, I love it.
All right. I can see everyone raising their brows and throwing a load of What the heck? in my direction. But since there's no way around it, I'll just admit it.
I LOVE WINTER. And snow. And ice. And the fresh, clean chill of single digits on the thermometer. So, just get it over with and call me crazy (pause here so you can get all head shaking and murmurs of "oh, you poor, poor thing" out of your systems). Feel better now?
Well, all right, then. We're good to go.
My love of winter is more than just about alpine skiing, cool snow gear, and the dip in temperature. It would have to be. Otherwise, I would accept the title of Nutbar gracefully, without so much as a twitch of complaint. So, what's all this craziness about then?
For me, it's about renewal. And play. The ability to start with a clean slate and make something better or different or fun out of it. So yeah, when the snowflakes fall and a blanket of white covers everything, I'm reminded that each day starts fresh, without blemish or fault. That it brings with it its own gifts, and that it's up to each one of us to forget about yesterday and see the beauty and promise in today. Instead of seeing snow, I see the opportunity to make snowangels. Or build a snow fort. The forerunner in the Iditarod with my dog sled team? A sculpter for one of those cool Ice Hotels?
No problem. I'm all over that.
Whatever. It doesn't matter what you imagine, but it's important that you do. . .IMAGINE, DREAM, ESCAPE into a world of your own making. It's part of having fun. Of leaving the every day stressers behind--a super busy schedule, deadlines. . .whatever it means for you--putting it on the back burner if only for a little while to reconnect your with inner child. The one who just wants to play.
You want a stress buster? A healthy New Years resolution? There it is. As simple as that. . .take time to play. Explore. Hold onto yourself--the core of what makes you YOU, and no one else can touch.
Easier said than done, I know. For me, it's about slowing down long enough to play in the snow. What is it about for you?
All right. I can see everyone raising their brows and throwing a load of What the heck? in my direction. But since there's no way around it, I'll just admit it.
I LOVE WINTER. And snow. And ice. And the fresh, clean chill of single digits on the thermometer. So, just get it over with and call me crazy (pause here so you can get all head shaking and murmurs of "oh, you poor, poor thing" out of your systems). Feel better now?
Well, all right, then. We're good to go.
My love of winter is more than just about alpine skiing, cool snow gear, and the dip in temperature. It would have to be. Otherwise, I would accept the title of Nutbar gracefully, without so much as a twitch of complaint. So, what's all this craziness about then?
For me, it's about renewal. And play. The ability to start with a clean slate and make something better or different or fun out of it. So yeah, when the snowflakes fall and a blanket of white covers everything, I'm reminded that each day starts fresh, without blemish or fault. That it brings with it its own gifts, and that it's up to each one of us to forget about yesterday and see the beauty and promise in today. Instead of seeing snow, I see the opportunity to make snowangels. Or build a snow fort. The forerunner in the Iditarod with my dog sled team? A sculpter for one of those cool Ice Hotels?
No problem. I'm all over that.
Whatever. It doesn't matter what you imagine, but it's important that you do. . .IMAGINE, DREAM, ESCAPE into a world of your own making. It's part of having fun. Of leaving the every day stressers behind--a super busy schedule, deadlines. . .whatever it means for you--putting it on the back burner if only for a little while to reconnect your with inner child. The one who just wants to play.
You want a stress buster? A healthy New Years resolution? There it is. As simple as that. . .take time to play. Explore. Hold onto yourself--the core of what makes you YOU, and no one else can touch.
Easier said than done, I know. For me, it's about slowing down long enough to play in the snow. What is it about for you?
December 17, 2011
The Chaos of Christmas
So, it's been crazy busy lately. No surprise there. Christmas is coming, and there are gifts to buy, parties to attend, and decorations to put up.
And I love every second of it.
Christmas is, after all, my favorite season. This year, though, things are a little different. Much more frenetic. For the first time in a long while, I'm a working Mom. So, yeah. I'm a tad overwhelmed. Ah, right. Understatement much?
The balancing act is downright deadly. Especially since I've never done it before.
Kids. Work. Husband. House.
It's never ending, and I'm learning on the fly. Which probably isn't the best strategy, but I've been tossed overboard into the ocean. Only one thing left to do. . .swim. Like a madman. Try to avoid the sharks while deploying a plan of attack that needs. . .oh, I don't know. . .maybe 30 hours a day instead of the 24 I've been alloted.
Bummer, right? Sure, but there's an upside, too.
My level of efficiency has gone way, way up. No time to mess around. Just go, go, go as I make the most of the time I have. It's time management boot camp. . .on steroids. With my schedule wearing the boot. And while I sometimes get my a** kicked, for the most part I manage to stay one step ahead. Just far enough out in front of the craziness to avoid getting creamed.
Can you relate? Yup, I can hear the Oh, yeahs all the way from here.
The trick, I guess, is to enjoy every second. Regardless. No matter what. Through the madness of every day life. . .all the little failures and big successes. . .the disappointments and triumphs. It's the little things, after all, that bring the most joy. The stolen moments when life slows down just enough for you to see it. For you to enjoy it.
So, take a breathe this holiday season. Spend time with family, friends (heck even the dog will do), but wherever you are--whomever you're with--live in the now. Be present. It's the best gift you can give to another. But, it's an even better one to give to yourself.
FURY OF FIRE: available February 7th, 2012. Pre-order your copy today.
And I love every second of it.
Christmas is, after all, my favorite season. This year, though, things are a little different. Much more frenetic. For the first time in a long while, I'm a working Mom. So, yeah. I'm a tad overwhelmed. Ah, right. Understatement much?
The balancing act is downright deadly. Especially since I've never done it before.
Kids. Work. Husband. House.
It's never ending, and I'm learning on the fly. Which probably isn't the best strategy, but I've been tossed overboard into the ocean. Only one thing left to do. . .swim. Like a madman. Try to avoid the sharks while deploying a plan of attack that needs. . .oh, I don't know. . .maybe 30 hours a day instead of the 24 I've been alloted.
Bummer, right? Sure, but there's an upside, too.
My level of efficiency has gone way, way up. No time to mess around. Just go, go, go as I make the most of the time I have. It's time management boot camp. . .on steroids. With my schedule wearing the boot. And while I sometimes get my a** kicked, for the most part I manage to stay one step ahead. Just far enough out in front of the craziness to avoid getting creamed.
Can you relate? Yup, I can hear the Oh, yeahs all the way from here.
The trick, I guess, is to enjoy every second. Regardless. No matter what. Through the madness of every day life. . .all the little failures and big successes. . .the disappointments and triumphs. It's the little things, after all, that bring the most joy. The stolen moments when life slows down just enough for you to see it. For you to enjoy it.
So, take a breathe this holiday season. Spend time with family, friends (heck even the dog will do), but wherever you are--whomever you're with--live in the now. Be present. It's the best gift you can give to another. But, it's an even better one to give to yourself.
FURY OF FIRE: available February 7th, 2012. Pre-order your copy today.
October 7, 2011
Some Great News. . .
All right. I'll admit, I haven't been around for a while. I've been lost outside the Blogosphere, and I have lots of excuses. . .none of which probably interests you <grin!>, so let's move on to more important stuff.
I've been writing like a fiend lately. Nothing new, you say? Well, okay. True. I take Stephan King's advice. . .write a lot, read a lot. . .to heart, which keeps me busy. But, my current book has got me by the horns. Not only am I loving the story, but for the first time EVER I'm working with a publisher.
Whoa. Hold on. . .back up a step there. When did this happen, you ask? Well. . .just this week.
Yes, my friends. I did it. I've signed my first publishing contract--with the help of my agent, the fabulous, forever awesome Christine Whitthohn of the Book Cents Literary Agency--and I'm so flipping excited I can hardly stand myself.
So stayed tuned, the guys in my Nightfury Dragon series are rolling your way. First stop? FURY OF FIRE, the first book in the series (think urban fantasy romance with a kick), launches in February 14th, 2012. And I can't wait to share the story with you!
And oh, wait. If that wasn't enough? I'll be working with the same publisher writing a paranormal historical series entitled, The Circle of Seven. . .about elite assassins who have deserted from a larger group and are now marked for death because of their quest to save young boys from suffering a similar fate to their own.
So, yeah, talk about excited. I'm in orbit, circling the planet. Lost in Space.
So come hang out here (or at www.coreenecallahan.com) anytime you like as I ramp up, branch out, and wade into the wonderful world of publishing. There are sure to be lots of adventures along the way.
I've been writing like a fiend lately. Nothing new, you say? Well, okay. True. I take Stephan King's advice. . .write a lot, read a lot. . .to heart, which keeps me busy. But, my current book has got me by the horns. Not only am I loving the story, but for the first time EVER I'm working with a publisher.
Whoa. Hold on. . .back up a step there. When did this happen, you ask? Well. . .just this week.
Yes, my friends. I did it. I've signed my first publishing contract--with the help of my agent, the fabulous, forever awesome Christine Whitthohn of the Book Cents Literary Agency--and I'm so flipping excited I can hardly stand myself.
So stayed tuned, the guys in my Nightfury Dragon series are rolling your way. First stop? FURY OF FIRE, the first book in the series (think urban fantasy romance with a kick), launches in February 14th, 2012. And I can't wait to share the story with you!
And oh, wait. If that wasn't enough? I'll be working with the same publisher writing a paranormal historical series entitled, The Circle of Seven. . .about elite assassins who have deserted from a larger group and are now marked for death because of their quest to save young boys from suffering a similar fate to their own.
So, yeah, talk about excited. I'm in orbit, circling the planet. Lost in Space.
So come hang out here (or at www.coreenecallahan.com) anytime you like as I ramp up, branch out, and wade into the wonderful world of publishing. There are sure to be lots of adventures along the way.
July 26, 2011
Baseball. . .Pitch Perfect
I've always liked baseball. Not for the endless statistics (there are way too many of those in the game), but because it's fun to play. Like all sports, it takes a lot of hand-eye cordination. But, that's not the real challenge. At least, not for me.
It's the thrill of picking up that Louisville slugger, knocking the dirt from my clets and stepping up to the plate. Possiblity is infinite in the action. Faith is there too, along for the ride as I wind up, stare down the pitcher, and hope for the perfect pitch. Feeling the weight of the bat in my hands. The vibration of the wood in my grip as I connect with the ball. Sycronized connectivity. Oh, man. . .there's nothing better.
Now, granted, for each crack of the bat and line drive I propel into the outfield there are times when I hit nothing at all. A swing and miss. Sometimes, all you get are ninety mile an hour curve balls and nothing but air. Those times suck. Because no matter how good a player you are, it's hard to connect.
But, in the end, that's what keeps me in the game. The possibility of connection, of cracking one into the stands and hearing the crowd go wild.
Writing is a lot like that, isn't it? A vortex of pleasure-pain where possibility, faith, and sheer tenacity collide. And in that moment, if we're lucky the perfect pitch sails our way and. . .wham! A home run. But, more often than not, we get a curve ball. A successful writer accepts each swing and miss. Picks themselves up out of the dirt, brushes off and gets back in game. Because maybe. . .just maybe. . .the next fast ball won't have the wrong spin. Maybe that's the one that gets knocked out of the park.
Possiblity. It's a beautiful thing.
It's the thrill of picking up that Louisville slugger, knocking the dirt from my clets and stepping up to the plate. Possiblity is infinite in the action. Faith is there too, along for the ride as I wind up, stare down the pitcher, and hope for the perfect pitch. Feeling the weight of the bat in my hands. The vibration of the wood in my grip as I connect with the ball. Sycronized connectivity. Oh, man. . .there's nothing better.
Now, granted, for each crack of the bat and line drive I propel into the outfield there are times when I hit nothing at all. A swing and miss. Sometimes, all you get are ninety mile an hour curve balls and nothing but air. Those times suck. Because no matter how good a player you are, it's hard to connect.
But, in the end, that's what keeps me in the game. The possibility of connection, of cracking one into the stands and hearing the crowd go wild.
Writing is a lot like that, isn't it? A vortex of pleasure-pain where possibility, faith, and sheer tenacity collide. And in that moment, if we're lucky the perfect pitch sails our way and. . .wham! A home run. But, more often than not, we get a curve ball. A successful writer accepts each swing and miss. Picks themselves up out of the dirt, brushes off and gets back in game. Because maybe. . .just maybe. . .the next fast ball won't have the wrong spin. Maybe that's the one that gets knocked out of the park.
Possiblity. It's a beautiful thing.
June 11, 2011
The Early Bird and all that Jazz
It's check-in day for JuNoWriMo. And I have to say I've had a great week keeping up with the challenge. I wasn't sure at first, but now that I'm in up to my chin, I'm okay with the deep end--even with all the craziness of life making waves.
So, how did I stay on track?
I got up earlier every day (as in 4:45 a.m. oh-my-God it's early!). And surprise, surprise. . .it worked. Why? Well, I discovered combining the following makes for a pretty good receipe.
One. . .a still, quiet house.
Two. . .no pitter-pattering of little feet.
Three. . .a dog who lies under my desk and keeps my feet warm (even though he gives me a dirty look when the alarm goes off. Now, if that isn't true love, nothing is).
Four. . .man, there just isn't anything else to do that freakin' early, so might as well stick with the program.
And five?. . .my muse is a morning person. Who knew, right?
Okay, enough with the blah-blah-blahing. Let's get down to it.
My goal is 1000 words a day. Every day. And I came in at. . .drum roll, please. . .
8047 words. Hoorah! Gold star for me (and some celebratory chocolate. . .naturally).
So, how was your week? Did you get what you wanted accomplished?
So, how did I stay on track?
I got up earlier every day (as in 4:45 a.m. oh-my-God it's early!). And surprise, surprise. . .it worked. Why? Well, I discovered combining the following makes for a pretty good receipe.
One. . .a still, quiet house.
Two. . .no pitter-pattering of little feet.
Three. . .a dog who lies under my desk and keeps my feet warm (even though he gives me a dirty look when the alarm goes off. Now, if that isn't true love, nothing is).
Four. . .man, there just isn't anything else to do that freakin' early, so might as well stick with the program.
And five?. . .my muse is a morning person. Who knew, right?
Okay, enough with the blah-blah-blahing. Let's get down to it.
My goal is 1000 words a day. Every day. And I came in at. . .drum roll, please. . .
8047 words. Hoorah! Gold star for me (and some celebratory chocolate. . .naturally).
So, how was your week? Did you get what you wanted accomplished?
June 4, 2011
Scared Witless
Umm. . .so, I did something yesterday. Something either really crazy-stupid or mind-spliting awesome. I can't decide which, because. . .it scares the crap out of me.
I committed to doing Shallee McArthur's JuNoWriMo (a.ka. June Novel Writing Month. . .check it out at Shallee's blog) challenge for the next month. Okay, what's the big deal, you ask? After all, it's good to have goals, right? Right. Totally on board there. Because, hey, I always set goals. . .weekly, monthly, and all that good stuff. So, my problem here? I NEVER tell anybody what my goals are, because. . .gulp. . .they might actually hold me to them.
Just thinking about it makes me want to run like a total commitment-phobe. Which is precisely why I did it. I don't like being scared, so I've got my toes curled around the edge of the dock and I'm ready to dive in. . .head first. Man, I hope there aren't any rocks beneath the surface.
So, my goal for the month (taking a big breath here. . give me a minute while I crack some chocolate to kill the panic) is:
1000 words a day. Minimum. I want my WIP finished before the end of the month when I head for NYC and the RWA's national conference.
All right. I said it out loud. Now, I'm stuck with it, because I know my fellow writers and JuNoWriMo pals will come after me with pitch forks (okay, not really. . .but the image serves as a great motivator) if I don't keep up my end of the bargain. Thanks guys. Looking forward to cheering you on this month!
I committed to doing Shallee McArthur's JuNoWriMo (a.ka. June Novel Writing Month. . .check it out at Shallee's blog) challenge for the next month. Okay, what's the big deal, you ask? After all, it's good to have goals, right? Right. Totally on board there. Because, hey, I always set goals. . .weekly, monthly, and all that good stuff. So, my problem here? I NEVER tell anybody what my goals are, because. . .gulp. . .they might actually hold me to them.
Just thinking about it makes me want to run like a total commitment-phobe. Which is precisely why I did it. I don't like being scared, so I've got my toes curled around the edge of the dock and I'm ready to dive in. . .head first. Man, I hope there aren't any rocks beneath the surface.
So, my goal for the month (taking a big breath here. . give me a minute while I crack some chocolate to kill the panic) is:
1000 words a day. Minimum. I want my WIP finished before the end of the month when I head for NYC and the RWA's national conference.
All right. I said it out loud. Now, I'm stuck with it, because I know my fellow writers and JuNoWriMo pals will come after me with pitch forks (okay, not really. . .but the image serves as a great motivator) if I don't keep up my end of the bargain. Thanks guys. Looking forward to cheering you on this month!
