Christi Snow's Blog, page 29
January 5, 2016
Tagline Tuesday: Christina Snow
The idea...I'll share a quick tagline from one of my books. It could be about the book, the series, or even about one of the characters. I plan to have fun with this throughout the year. Hopefully, you'll like the tiny glimpses into the story lines, too.
But today (and next week) I plan to share my taglines for my new author personas. Today is Christina Snow. This author name will be used for my paranormal books (i.e. my Through the Veil series).
*************Kelly Apple is playing along, so go check out what they've come up with this week...
January 3, 2016
January 1, 2016
Another Inspired By a Cover...CG Snow series announcement.
Yesterday I introduced my new CG Snow author name for my New Adult titles and talked a little bit about the upcoming Throckmorton Falls series. Today, I'm telling you about another new series coming from CG Snow that was inspired by a pre-made cover.
If you all follow my review blog at all, Smitten with Reading, then you know I'm a huge sucker for sports novels. The series I'm announcing is called the Play it Again series and it's built around three friends who bonded over an event when they were all in college.
The first book is Sweet Disaster and this cover spawned the idea for the whole series.
Cover Design by: Alexia PurdyCover photo and model: Christopher John from CJC Photography
And to give you a teaser of what the series is about, here is the intro into the books...
Chicago Daily NewsJanuary 19, 2008
Heroes Save Nine Lives at the Hampshire Hotel
At approximately 12:45 this morning a five-alarm fire broke out in the downtown Chicago Hampshire Hotel. Details are still emerging about the fire that appears to have started on the twenty-first floor of the twenty-three story hotel. According to the Fire Marshal, the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but it is being investigated as suspicious.
The restaurant and bar located on the twenty-second and twenty-third floor of the hotel had been the site of last night’s prestigious ESPRIT College Sports Awards. Anonymous sources suggest the awards ceremony may have been a target for the fire although the event ended more than an hour before the fire broke out.
What is clear at this time, though, is the heroism of three men who were in the hotel bar on the twenty-third floor when the fire broke out. According to multiple sources, at least nine people were saved by the combined efforts of Asher Benedict, Michael Dillon, and Lincoln West who helped evacuate hotel guests trapped in an elevator stuck between the twenty-first and twenty-second floor.
Earlier in the evening the three men had all been recipients of a prestigious ESPRIT Award.
Asher Benedict, a junior at the University of Texas, is a highly decorated baseball player. The phenom shortstop committed to the university at the age of fifteen and has since led his team three times to the College World Series. He received the Impact Player award last night. This award goes to outstanding college athletes who make a vital impact both on and off the field. Benedict is well known for his volunteer efforts at the food bank, with children’s literary groups, and with youth sports programs in his hometown of Austin, Texas.
Michael Dillon is a hockey player from the University of Denver where he plays as defenseman for the Pioneers. He won the award of Outstanding Performance Under Pressure. Sports athletes known for their toughness, but Dillon stood out among the rest for playing the final period of the championship game with a broken tibia and making a play that won the game for his team. It was only after the game ended that the extent of his injury was realized.
Lincoln West is a well-known senior who is the highly awarded wide receiver for the University of Southern California. In the 2007 season, he shattered record after record for both his school and the NCAA. Expected to be drafted in the first round for the NFL, he was awarded the ESPRIT for Individual Performance.
No one can debate that these three are elite athletes expected to become pros in the near future, but now they can add heroes to their resume. Nine people are breathing today because of their actions last night. While treated for minor smoke inhalation all three of the athletes were released and are expected to meet with the mayor later today.
Chicago says, “Thank You!” to Asher Benedict, Michael Dillon, and Lincoln West.
*******
So what do you think? Sound fun? I'm excited about the series.
Since these are being released under the CG Snow, they will be written in 1st person POV and will have lots of emotional impact (at least that's the plan). It will be a while before they are out, but I'll be chatting about them as I write them so I wanted you to know what in the world I was talking about.
If you all follow my review blog at all, Smitten with Reading, then you know I'm a huge sucker for sports novels. The series I'm announcing is called the Play it Again series and it's built around three friends who bonded over an event when they were all in college.
The first book is Sweet Disaster and this cover spawned the idea for the whole series.
Cover Design by: Alexia PurdyCover photo and model: Christopher John from CJC PhotographyAnd to give you a teaser of what the series is about, here is the intro into the books...
Chicago Daily NewsJanuary 19, 2008
Heroes Save Nine Lives at the Hampshire Hotel
At approximately 12:45 this morning a five-alarm fire broke out in the downtown Chicago Hampshire Hotel. Details are still emerging about the fire that appears to have started on the twenty-first floor of the twenty-three story hotel. According to the Fire Marshal, the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but it is being investigated as suspicious.
The restaurant and bar located on the twenty-second and twenty-third floor of the hotel had been the site of last night’s prestigious ESPRIT College Sports Awards. Anonymous sources suggest the awards ceremony may have been a target for the fire although the event ended more than an hour before the fire broke out.
What is clear at this time, though, is the heroism of three men who were in the hotel bar on the twenty-third floor when the fire broke out. According to multiple sources, at least nine people were saved by the combined efforts of Asher Benedict, Michael Dillon, and Lincoln West who helped evacuate hotel guests trapped in an elevator stuck between the twenty-first and twenty-second floor.
Earlier in the evening the three men had all been recipients of a prestigious ESPRIT Award.
Asher Benedict, a junior at the University of Texas, is a highly decorated baseball player. The phenom shortstop committed to the university at the age of fifteen and has since led his team three times to the College World Series. He received the Impact Player award last night. This award goes to outstanding college athletes who make a vital impact both on and off the field. Benedict is well known for his volunteer efforts at the food bank, with children’s literary groups, and with youth sports programs in his hometown of Austin, Texas.
Michael Dillon is a hockey player from the University of Denver where he plays as defenseman for the Pioneers. He won the award of Outstanding Performance Under Pressure. Sports athletes known for their toughness, but Dillon stood out among the rest for playing the final period of the championship game with a broken tibia and making a play that won the game for his team. It was only after the game ended that the extent of his injury was realized.
Lincoln West is a well-known senior who is the highly awarded wide receiver for the University of Southern California. In the 2007 season, he shattered record after record for both his school and the NCAA. Expected to be drafted in the first round for the NFL, he was awarded the ESPRIT for Individual Performance.
No one can debate that these three are elite athletes expected to become pros in the near future, but now they can add heroes to their resume. Nine people are breathing today because of their actions last night. While treated for minor smoke inhalation all three of the athletes were released and are expected to meet with the mayor later today.
Chicago says, “Thank You!” to Asher Benedict, Michael Dillon, and Lincoln West.
*******
So what do you think? Sound fun? I'm excited about the series.
Since these are being released under the CG Snow, they will be written in 1st person POV and will have lots of emotional impact (at least that's the plan). It will be a while before they are out, but I'll be chatting about them as I write them so I wanted you to know what in the world I was talking about.
December 31, 2015
Inspired by a Cover...CG Snow
To anyone that knows me and how I write, it's pretty well known that I'm a REALLY visual person.
Case in point...this is my view from my writing desk:
All my characters are up there. The board on the left is the Martin Ranch series. The far right is the Through the Veil series. And in the middle are a couple of new projects that I'm working on which I will talk about over the next few days. (I also have a big Snowcroft board, but my camera lens wasn't wide enough to capture it to the right.) Just looking at these boards and the people on there make me want to write their stories...inspiration at its finest.
In the last year, I've played with writing some New Adult books. Then over the summer, I bought a series of pre-made covers simply because they spoke to me...and the Throckmorton Falls series came to be (at least in my mind...they aren't done yet).
But I'm getting ahead of myself. First, let me introduce my third author persona.
You all know Christi Snow.
Romantic Suspense, Male/Male Romance, Contemporary Romance
Yesterday, I introduced you to Christina Snow.
Paranormal Romance
Today, I'm introducing you to the New Adult writings of CG Snow.
New Adult Romance
I plan to write at least two series under the CG Snow name. (One series I'll talk about today. I'll introduce the second series tomorrow.) A couple of stand-alone books are planned also. The difference in these books from my normal Christi Snow books is that they will be written in 1st person POV and the protagonists will be younger...in their low to mid-twenties. They will also be high-angst books.
I'm going to give you sneaks of the first two book covers in the Throckmorton Falls series (this will be a multi-book, large series...around 6-8 books). These won't release until late 2016/2017 so I don't want to get you too excited yet.
Cover Designer: Najla Qamber Designs. Cover photos by Lindee Robinson Photography.
Models: Danielle Styles and Jared Stilwell
Models: Ahmed Kawsan and Natalie Light
Like I said, these won't release for quite a while, but I couldn't sit on this secret any longer.
Case in point...this is my view from my writing desk:
All my characters are up there. The board on the left is the Martin Ranch series. The far right is the Through the Veil series. And in the middle are a couple of new projects that I'm working on which I will talk about over the next few days. (I also have a big Snowcroft board, but my camera lens wasn't wide enough to capture it to the right.) Just looking at these boards and the people on there make me want to write their stories...inspiration at its finest. In the last year, I've played with writing some New Adult books. Then over the summer, I bought a series of pre-made covers simply because they spoke to me...and the Throckmorton Falls series came to be (at least in my mind...they aren't done yet).
But I'm getting ahead of myself. First, let me introduce my third author persona.
You all know Christi Snow.
Romantic Suspense, Male/Male Romance, Contemporary RomanceYesterday, I introduced you to Christina Snow.
Paranormal RomanceToday, I'm introducing you to the New Adult writings of CG Snow.
New Adult RomanceI plan to write at least two series under the CG Snow name. (One series I'll talk about today. I'll introduce the second series tomorrow.) A couple of stand-alone books are planned also. The difference in these books from my normal Christi Snow books is that they will be written in 1st person POV and the protagonists will be younger...in their low to mid-twenties. They will also be high-angst books.
I'm going to give you sneaks of the first two book covers in the Throckmorton Falls series (this will be a multi-book, large series...around 6-8 books). These won't release until late 2016/2017 so I don't want to get you too excited yet.
Cover Designer: Najla Qamber Designs. Cover photos by Lindee Robinson Photography.
Models: Danielle Styles and Jared Stilwell
Models: Ahmed Kawsan and Natalie Light
Like I said, these won't release for quite a while, but I couldn't sit on this secret any longer.
December 30, 2015
Introducing Christina Snow
In 2016, I'm expanding my author branding to two other names.
The first one I'm introducing is Christina Snow.
As you can see, it's not too different from my Christi Snow name. I'm making this change, not to confuse people, but to make it easier to know what you're getting when you pick up one of my books.
My other names aren't a secret. I just want you to know what you're getting when you pick up my different series.
The Christina Snow books will be more magical, fanciful, creative...along the paranormal lines, like the Through the Veil series.
And with that in mind the Through the Veil series is getting a branding overhaul this spring.
Here is the new cover for Through the Veil:
58 years ago a gorge opened up from Mobile, AL to Quebec City, Canada to split the United States into the Western States (WS) and the Eastern States (ES).40 years later a fog rolled in on the WS that they called the Veil. Within twelve hours it formed an impenetrable wall between the two sides.It’s been 18 years since anyone has known what’s happening on the other side of the Veil.Now, Lori, an Other, in a desperate attempt at escape from the ES’s torture and experimentation, has crossed the Veil and found a world beyond belief.Marcus is a Warrior, but when Lori collapses at his feet wounded and exhausted, he knows he has to protect her. But seeing that she’s the first person he’s seen in 18 years without wings, he’s worried about what her appearance means for his people and the world they’ve created since the Veil fell.Two new societies: one built on a respect for the natural order of nature and the world, the other built on mistrust and corruption. Can they learn to co-exist once again? Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo iBooks
Although the book won't change at all, it will be rereleased with the new cover in late Feb/early March.
**********And for those of you that have read Through the Veil, Griff's book is finally coming.
You want to see??
A rescue gone wrong.
It was supposed to be simple. Four members from the Western States planned to sneak into the Eastern States to free four condemned Others. But when they arrived at the experimental labs where the Others were being held, it was under attack from Rebel forces.
Griff Hughes had one job...
He had to find Shar, a wounded hawk shifter. But in the ensuing chaos, he became a captive instead of a rescuer. Three days later he awakens in his own cage, alone. But during the nights, he’s not alone. An alluring redhead with a siren’s call visits his dreams, and his resistance is breaking down.
Shar McIntire is just trying to survive.
After three years in captivity, Shar has one goal...keep her and her sister alive. To do so means cooperating with the evil doctors who want her to seduce and manipulate Griff. She likes and is drawn to the man with the strange chocolate wings, but she can’t let that attraction distract her. Her sister’s fate is in her hands.
In the last eighteen years, life hasn’t been easy for anyone.
The WS and the ES have been separate entities, but once the Veil was crossed, things began to evolve. It’s a new world, but that doesn’t mean it's going to get any easier anytime soon.
Coming Spring 2016.
Goodreads Link
********
And because you've been so patient with the release of Book #2, I have an extra surprise for you. A month after Allied in Flight comes out, book #3, Rejecting Destiny will be out.
She has one final chance to embrace her destiny or lose it all.
Twenty years ago Bethany Harris fell in love with Aaron Vaughn, but then she shattered his heart. When the Veil fell two years later, she became the leader of the Western States. She wasn’t ready for the job, but she stepped up and did it. She couldn’t have done that without Aaron’s friendship and support.
Since then they’ve become lovers in the physical sense, but Bethany continues to keep her distance. She lost the right to Aaron’s love a long time ago.
Now things have changed. What once defined their world may no longer be true. With the turmoil that follows, Bethany must lead her people into a terrifying new era. She’s reeling and doubting herself more than ever. But when Aaron brings home her biggest challenge, it may be one too many.
To succeed she has to face her biggest fear...trusting the strength of the relationship between her and Aaron, or else risk losing it all. She could lose her job, her people, but most of all the man she’s loved almost her whole life.
Coming Spring 2016
Goodreads Link******
Special thanks to Amanda Matthews from AM Design Studios for the fabulous new covers.
And to Amanda Shofner and Kelly Apple with their blurb advice.
December 29, 2015
Lessons Learned (2015) and Looking Forward (2016)
Hi, everyone. I'm going to do a series of posts this week about where all I plan to take my writing over the next year and beyond. I have some really fun things planned, but to understand where I'm going, we're going to first look at where I've been the last year.
I consider 2015 a successful year for me writing-wise.
I released 5 books:
Justin (Male Model Chronicles #1)Snowcroft Safehouse (Men of Snowcroft #2)Lance (Male Model Chronicles #2)Right By Your Side (Martin Ranch #1)Found at the Library (Found #1)(all the story descriptions and buy links can be found on my Books page.)
I also had my first foreign translation released (Operation: Endgame released in French):
For the first time ever, I kept track of my monthly writing word counts:January...29,002February...68,572March...21,446April...50,040May...35,329 June...31,882July...21,508August...17,076September...30,003October...23,035November...55,554December...6,029YEARLY TOTAL>>>389,476 wordsThat's a whole heck of lot of writing and I'm very happy with my numbers for the year. (Note: I gave myself permission to take December off from writing so I've only been writing when my muse pushes me. Otherwise, I've been enjoying some rejuvenation and simply enjoying just sitting back and reading for the month.)
But it's also been a year of lessons.
#1 lesson is that my muse is a fickle/ADD bitch and I can't force a book to get written.
I did that a couple of times this year resulting in horrid word count days/months and books that will require even more time in editing and revisions than normal.
That's not a good way for me to work.
And it's not a good way for me to write books that you want to read.
So, for 2016, I'm changing some things. I have definite plans for what I plan on writing, BUT (and yes, that's a big BUT for a reason) if the story isn't happening, I'm not going to feel guilty about setting it aside to work on something that is working for me. I plan to write even more than ever, but honestly, that writing may NOT be on the book that my release schedule says it should be.
That may mean longer delays on some of the series books.
As a reader, I hate that. I'm just like you all. I read a ton and I want the next book in the series as soon as possible. Yesterday would be great.
But as an author, I don't want to give you a mediocre book that you will ultimately be disappointed with just because I rushed through the process to get the book out at a certain time. I will do whatever I can to get them out as fast as possible, but if my muse isn't cooperating...that just isn't something I can force.
That's what I've learned this year.
With that being said, I have a huge release year planned for 2016. Right now, I have 9 releases planned and maybe a few more if I can kick up my writing. (Because I have some huge projects inspiring me that I'll be posting about later in the week.) But for now, I'll share what is planned to release, although no details about some of these yet:Broken Control (Broken #1)Joshua (Male Model Chronicles #3)Through the Veil (this is a re-release...HUGE announcement about this series tomorrow)Allied in Flight (Through the Veil #2)Rejecting Destiny (Through the Veil #3)Intertwined Hearts (Snowcroft #2.5)Cruel Serendipity (Martin Ranch #1.5)Brendon (Male Model Chronicles #4)Found at the Bookstore (Found #2)And believe it or not, over half of these are already written or almost done, so I may even be able to sneak a couple more releases into the year. A lot of that will depend on how painful revisions/edits are on the books already written.
Also it should be noted that both Intertwined Hearts and Cruel Serendipity are shown as .5's in their series. These are NOT novellas. They are both full-length stories, but they aren't integral into the series story line so they get a .5 number in the series order.
I have several more posts coming this week because I have some huge announcements to make, some cover reveals to show you, and just some fun stuff happening in my writing world.
2016 is going to be a great year!!
I hope you stick with me for all the fun and shenanigans and (always) for the sexy romances!!
December 25, 2015
December 22, 2015
December 15, 2015
Tagline Tuesday: Rejecting Destiny
The idea...I'll share a quick tagline from one of my books. It could be about the book, the series, or even about one of the characters. I plan to have fun with this throughout the year. Hopefully, you'll like the tiny glimpses into the story lines, too.
I've been playing with the cover blurb for the upcoming book, Rejecting Destiny, book #3 in the Through the Veil series. One of my partners in crime, Amanda, suggested that this line would make a good tagline for the book...so I stole her idea for this week's tagline.
I'll be sharing the full story description (and cover) for this book...SOON!
*************
Kelly Apple and Amanda Shofner are playing along, so go check out what they've come up with this week...
December 8, 2015
Tagline Tuesday: Joshua
Hello, again...welcome to my new Tuesday feature...Tagline Tuesdays.
The idea...I'll share a quick tagline from one of my books. It could be about the book, the series, or even about one of the characters. I plan to have fun with this throughout the year. Hopefully, you'll like the tiny glimpses into the story lines, too.
Today's tagline is for the third book in the Male Model Chronicles series, Joshua. This book has been slightly delayed with its release just because I got overwhelmed with everything I tried to get done at the end of the year this year. But I'm still excited about the story line (hint: you should watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show tonight because it was the inspiration for this story) and it should be releasing early in 2016.
Joshua…
December is the time for romance, twinkling lights, and roaring fires in the fireplace. It’s also time for the annual Holiday Fantasy Lingerie show. This year, the show has a masculine twist with the introduction of male models who were once soldiers.
Joshua Scott Brown has made quite a name for himself as a male fitness model since he got out of the Air Force. But nothing prepares him for the media circus that occurs after he catches one of the female lingerie models during the live show, preventing her from a ten foot fall. Now the lingerie company wants to turn that media coverage into holiday profit by pairing him up romantically with the model. Unfortunately, he only has eyes for Autumn Layne, the publicist who keeps pushing him into another woman’s arms.
The third in a new series of novellas inspired by Shauna Kruse’s photography and her beautiful male models.
The Male Model Chronicles.
Disclaimer: The Male Model Chronicles, a new fictional series, built around the real-life world of Kruse Images & Photography and the gorgeous male models that Shauna Kruse gets to immortalize in her photos. The heroes are real people who also happen to be male models, but every single other thing about the series is fiction.
*************
Kelly Apple and Amanda Shofner are playing along, so go check out what they've come up with this week...
The idea...I'll share a quick tagline from one of my books. It could be about the book, the series, or even about one of the characters. I plan to have fun with this throughout the year. Hopefully, you'll like the tiny glimpses into the story lines, too.
Today's tagline is for the third book in the Male Model Chronicles series, Joshua. This book has been slightly delayed with its release just because I got overwhelmed with everything I tried to get done at the end of the year this year. But I'm still excited about the story line (hint: you should watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show tonight because it was the inspiration for this story) and it should be releasing early in 2016.
Joshua…December is the time for romance, twinkling lights, and roaring fires in the fireplace. It’s also time for the annual Holiday Fantasy Lingerie show. This year, the show has a masculine twist with the introduction of male models who were once soldiers.
Joshua Scott Brown has made quite a name for himself as a male fitness model since he got out of the Air Force. But nothing prepares him for the media circus that occurs after he catches one of the female lingerie models during the live show, preventing her from a ten foot fall. Now the lingerie company wants to turn that media coverage into holiday profit by pairing him up romantically with the model. Unfortunately, he only has eyes for Autumn Layne, the publicist who keeps pushing him into another woman’s arms.
The third in a new series of novellas inspired by Shauna Kruse’s photography and her beautiful male models.
The Male Model Chronicles.
Disclaimer: The Male Model Chronicles, a new fictional series, built around the real-life world of Kruse Images & Photography and the gorgeous male models that Shauna Kruse gets to immortalize in her photos. The heroes are real people who also happen to be male models, but every single other thing about the series is fiction.
*************
Kelly Apple and Amanda Shofner are playing along, so go check out what they've come up with this week...
