Tina Christopher's Blog, page 25

Release Data and Blurb for “Rescue by Ruin”

I just got my release date for my sexy steampunk “Rescue by Ruin”. It comes out November 2, 2012. I just love how fast things go in epublishing;).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the blurb:

Forced to marry a violent man, Beatrice knows only one way out—ruin her reputation. She climbs aboard the Venia, a dirigible of ill repute, for a masquerade. Bea doesn’t expect to run into Vaughn Kemple, the third Duke of Missenden, who eight months ago left her without an explanation. Feeling secure behind her mask, she decides Vaughn will be the one to ruin her. She may not get to spend forever with this man she still loves, but at least she can have one night of pleasure.

But a mask is not enough to hide her identity. Vaughn recognizes Bea, shocked to find her aboard an airship where sexual freedom isn’t just a thought, it’s celebrated. But her actions are far from innocent. Captivated, he’s determined to make her his.

The heat between them flares, but Vaughn is torn between desire and honor. Bea is afraid to risk her heart on a man she can’t trust. And when her future husband arrives on the scene, more than their hearts are in danger.

I am so very excited and yesterday I had a fabulous idea about a sequel, the story of a young lady you think you should hate, but in reality she’s in so much trouble she had no choice but to behave badly;). I love it when a plan comes together.

Of course, first I have to finish book 3 in the Celestial Surrender series. Why are there only so few hours in the day?

Hope you’ll have a great weekend. I even have a Saturday off. More time to write;).

Cover Reveal for “Rescue by Ruin”

I am very excited and super-happy to share the awesome cover I have for my sexy steampunk story “Rescue by Ruin”. I’m in the middle of the edits, so it doesn’t yet have a blurb or a release date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love it!

And now I better get back to editing;). How’s your week been so far?

Change of Plans

I got my edits for my sexy steampunk Rescue by Ruin today. I am very excited and am looking forward to digging in, even if my editor has given me quite a big task to achieve.

This means I need to drag my head out of the future filled with hot Vampires into the past with flying motorcycles:). I have slight whiplash. It also means that I won’t be able to finish the first draft of book 3 by the end of the week. I have a bit of a hellish week before me at my day job, so that may push things back a little more. Depending on when I finish the edits and how much time I need to recover from the overnights, I’m hoping to have the first draft done later this month.

The glamorous life of a writer. Juggling stories in your head and the computer with the real world;).

Have a great rest of the week and may the words flow freely!

Quick Update

I’m making progress with my latest project, book 3 in the Celestial Surrender series. Well, I’m making progress when I’m not procrastinating on the internet. I’m seeing pulled router plug in my not too distant future;). I mentioned before, I outline a little bit and then pants the individual scenes. My heroine has been very stubborn and keeps pulling me in directions I didn’t see her going. I’ve given up trying to drag her back on my planned route, meaning this is the messiest first draft I’ve written so far. Still, I get so excited when something is revealed and everything lights up in my head, making me go “Ah, that what’s driving you!”. So cool:)!

I’m hoping to have the first draft done by the end of this week. I’ll leave it to sit for a little bit and then work on revisions, which will be substantial, but it’ll be great to polish the story until it sparkles.

I had a look through my website statistics, in particular seeing where the visitors live. I pulled up all the views since February and discovered I have readers from all over the world. *waves at everyone* Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoy the visit;).

I better get back to writing.

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday, or what’s left of it.

Writers Retreat

The weekend before last six of us headed up north to Perry Sound where one of my writer friends has a cottage. Well, from what I understand it’s not really a cottage as it has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, but it’s at a lake and two hours drive away from Toronto;).

Once a year my writers group heads out of town for brainstorming, writing and just hanging out for a fabulous writers retreat. We had so much fun.

This is the view from the back onto the lake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love being at the water. I’m not a big fan of swimming or being on a boat, but sitting at the dock was pure bliss. We had wonderful weather the three days we were up there, it only rained on Monday, our travel-back-to-the-city day. Here is the lake. I was quite surprised to see a snake swimming past me on the first day. At first I thought it was a stick, but then it moved against the current and I had a closer look. I have no idea what type of snake it was, but was told it was probably a garter snake. Pretty cool!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A numbers of the ladies went for a swim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the view of the cottage form the lake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ate too much, had too much wine and laughed our socks off. I also got some writing done. In the beginning the words didn’t seem to really connect with the characters. Luckily the switch flicked and the chemistry between Adira and Mal set my laptop on fire. Now I can go back and edit the first chapters, but I wouldn’t have gotten to this point without battling through the opening. You cannot edit a blank page;).

Overall, it was a fantastic weekend and I am very much looking forward to going back next year. The ladies from my writers group are an amazing bunch! I wish I could have taped all our conversations. They’d make excellent blackmail material;).

With Labour Day past I am being told summer is over and we’re in autumn. I’m stubbornly clinging to summer. As long as I don’t have to wear a coat it’s still summer. It’s not that I don’t like autumn, but I really don’t like what comes after;).

Now I’m battening down the hatches and working hard to get Tangled Intrigue finished. There are only four more months left in the year and I want to finish two stories before the clock flips to 2013. What about you? Any goals you want to achieve before the year is over?

Happy News!

I have great news! My fabulous editor Grace has bought my latest story.

I stepped away from futuristic worlds and went into the past. Well, some form of past;). Rescue by Ruin is a Victorian steampunk story. Dirigibles, steam-powered gadgets and flying motorcycles are all part of this world as well as a young woman determined to survive, no matter what. I’ll share more once I have cover art and the blurb.

At the moment I’m sitting on an amazing deck next to a lake at a friend’s cottage. My whole writing group headed up here for a retreat. I’m working in Tangled Intrigue and am making slow progress. I have a much better outline and an idea what will happen, but my characters still aren’t falling in line. Well, we’ll have to see what kind of ride they’ll take me on;).

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

And in celebration of my steampunk sale here is The Steam Locomotive Perambulator by Doctor A. News;).

June and July Reading

Once again it’s been a busy couple of months;).

June

61) The Song of the Quarkbeast, Japser Fforde

I love Jasper Fforde’s sense of humour and in the second book in the hilarious 9-12 series it comes out en masse, another wonderful story with great characters, lots of laughter and a fabulously built world

62) Miss February, Madison Hayes

sexy quickie with a great story

63) Etiquette & Espionage, Gail Carriger

the author’s first step into teen fiction, a fun story with likeable characters

64) Shadow and Bone, Leigh Bardugo

this is an amazing story with a unique world and fantastic characters, I cannot wait for book 2 in the Tsarpunk story

65) The False Prince, Jennifer A. Nielsen

a swashbuckling adventure for 9-12 with some great twists that kept me glued to the chair until the book ended

66) Colter’s Promise, Maya Banks

I love the Colter series, but I was a little disappointed as the story felt a little too pat, still an enjoyable read

67) The Real Werewives of Vampire County

this four book anthology introduced me to new authors, I enjoyed some stories more than others but overall a good mix of characters and stories

68) Unmasking Kelley, N.J. Walters

wonderful quick story that I thoroughly enjoyed

69) Caught, Cassandra Carr

fab BDSM story with a twist

70) Touch and Go, Michelle Rowen

I really enjoyed this sexy little story, great characters and a very satisfying ending

71) Kiss the Dead, Laurell K. Hamilton

another great Anita Blake story, I don’t know how Laurell does it, but she always grabs me by the throat and drags me along on Anita’s adventure, no matter where I am or what I’m doing;)

72) All Spells Break Loose, Lisa Shearin

I LOVED this final instalment in the Raine Benares adventures, Lisa ties up the lose ends and brings everything together very satisfyingly, I’m only sad that there won’t be any more stories

73) Ral’s Woman, Laurann Dohner

I was a little disappointed, I heard so much good about the series, but this first instalment didn’t deliver for me, I will read more in the series in case it was just the one that didn’t resonate

July

74) The Perfect Play, Jaci Burton

fabulous story, I am not much for sport, but Jaci wove the story and the sporting details together brilliantly, I went out immediately after to get book 2 in the series;)

75-80) I went and re-read a number of the Christine Warren Others books, they are wonderful stories and like comfort food for me, if I have a bad day I pull one of them off the shelf and disappear for a couple of hours;)

81) Darkness Devours, Keri Arthur

I have yet to read a book by Keri I didn’t like, she doesn’t disappoint in this latest instalment of the Dark Angels series, I just wish she could write faster…

82) Changing the Game, Jaci Burton

another fabulous instalment, I enjoyed this as much if not more than Perfect Play

83) Taking A Shot, Jaci Burton

and went right out and got book 3 in the series;) book 4 is out soon and I can’t wait

84) Bared to You, Silvia Day

I tried connecting with 50 Shades, but struggled, not expecting much from this book I sat down to read the first chapter or so, 5 hours later I came up for air and the book was finished, wonderful, gritty and realistic, I can’t wait for October and book 2 in the series

85) Never Seduce a Scot, Maya Banks

this is my first historical by Maya Banks, I still prefer her KGI series, but this was a great story with a unique heroine and a mouthwatering hero

86) Game Plan, Karla Doyle

this is a scorching story by a fellow Fallen Angel (we share an editor), Karla combines fun with great characters as well as flaming hot sex, this is a definite must read and I can’t wait to read her next book coming out in a couple of days

87) Cast in Peril, Michelle Sagara

OMG, this is another fantastic and mindblowing instalment in the series, I loved every moment of the journey, Michelle is another of the authors I just wish would write faster;)

88) Drama, Raina Tegelmeier

this is the fist graphic novel I have read, I found the ending just a tad unbelievable, but it was a fun read

89) Scarlet, Marissa Meyer

I loved book 1 Cinder and was a little apprehensive to read book 2 because I worried it wouldn’t live up to expectations. It more than did. Marissa introduced a new character who showed Cinder’s story from a different pov while still driving the plot forward. Unfortunately Scarlet isn’t officially out until the beginning of next year, which means I have a long wait ahead of me for book 3 in the series.

90) The Selection, Kiera Cass

a sweet is somewhat predictable story for teens

What have you read recently that made you wish you had another book just as good to hand?

Of Head Space and Stubborn Characters

I am attempting to outline my next project, book 3 in the Celestial Surrender series, tentatively titled Tangled Intrigue. I tend to start with a character, usually the heroine. I did so for this project. Adira made herself at home in my head, giving me glimpses of who she is. Then I got together with two fellow authors and friends and we brainstormed some ideas of what happens to Adira. We had a lot of fun and some great ideas. I felt I had more of a grip on her and what the story would be about.

Hah! Then I got home and tried to put the ideas together. She was having none of it. Every idea I presented was kicked to the curb. She is standing in my head, arms crossed over her chest, wearing her Sentinel uniform, heavily armed, and is tapping her foot at me. Basically she’s telling me to get my act together and stop attempting to push her into a story where she doesn’t fit.

Unfortunately she’s not giving me any hints on what would be acceptable and the hero is a total mystery. I am not a pantser (someone who writes by the seat of her pants;). I need an idea of where I’m going, what I’m trying to achieve. And Adira is making things a little difficult;).

Then a friend asked me what I’ve read lately. She suggested that when she wrote a certain story she immersed herself in similar stories by other writers.

And that totally clicked with me. I have been reading a lot of YA or 9-12, a couple of sexy romances and am now reading a book on the longlist for the Man Booker Prize. Not a single erotic story in sight. No wonder my head space is all over the place and not coming together. I’ve pulled out a stack of my favourite sexy books and will work my way through them. Hopefully that will give the story a kick up the backside and Adira will stop tapping her foot;).

How do you plan your stories? Are you a Plotter or a Pantser? Or like me a Plantser?

Great Review for Tangled Hunger

Pauline over at Night Owl Review wrote a wonderful review for Tangled Hunger.

“From the very first moment the reader is plunged into the mystery and action and the explosive sexual tension. I could not read this fast enough and was sorry to see it come to a conclusion.”

“The conflict and the connections jump off the pages, wrap around you and bring you right in to the exploits.”

Thank you, Pauline. I’m glad you enjoyed Tanasha and Duncan’s adventure.

Update and Jeremy Renner gushing;)

I have exited the revision cave and sent off my latest story. It’s now in the more than capable hands of my editor. I’m keeping fingers, toes, knees-well everything crossable-crossed she likes it and contracts it. Now my least favourite part of the process begins: WAITING. For some reason or another authors tend to spend an extraordinarily amount waiting for something. Anyway, I will let you know how things go.

I currently have two projects in mind. One is the third book in the Celestial Surrender series, possibly called Tangled Intrigue. It is the story of a young human Sentinel who stumbles into a whole lot of trouble and asks far too many questions. And obviously meets a super-sexy man and has wild hot sex with him;). My other potential project is in my steampunk world. In my last story a certain intriguing detective has made himself at home and now demands his own story. I will probably wait and see if my editor takes the first story before working on the second. Also, the characters from Tangled Intrigue are shouting just a tad louder;).

First I will take a quick break. On my last visit to HMV I went a little crazy and spent far too much money. Now I have a few films to watch, as well as West Wing and Eureka.

On to my Jeremy Renner gushing!

I had opportunity to watch the Bourne Legacy a couple of nights ago. I love the original Bourne movies and adored Jeremy as Hawkeye in the Avengers, so I was stoked to get a ticket to the preview.

I enjoyed it. It was a little slow to start, but once it got going it was a white-knuckle ride. Edward Norton was fabulous and I liked Rachel Weisz, although I was surprised to see how much she’d matured. The last time I saw her was in the Mummy movies and she looks rather different now. Anyway, Jeremy owned every single scene he was in, no matter who was with him. He looked fabulous and kicked some serious butt. There was one scene I really did not like, involving an armed drone and a wolf, but I let you decide for yourselves. It was the only part I disliked. The motorcycle chase in Manila reminded me very much of the Mini racing across Paris in the first Bourne movie, but it had some neat twists.

Overall, the Bourne Legacy is a fast-paced, action-packed movie with an excellent cast and some great twists and turns. I am praying to every producer in Hollywood they are doing another one, because this one left me gasping for more. It also ended on a cliff hanger…I hate those;). Heck, even if you don’t like action movies, go for Jeremy. There are a number of shirtless scenes…

Hope you have a fabulous rest of the weekend.