Kate Corcino's Blog, page 7

It’s a Writer’s Life…for Us!

Here’s a true-blue, no BS look into the life of one writer (this one):

While revising, I am adding a scene to the front of book two featuring a character that does a very bad thing at the end of the book, and I have to remember not to give it away. I have to forget that I don’t like said character very much anymore. I have to keep everyone else from feeling this. This requires a delicate touch and great concentration. Delicate touch. Great concentration. Mm hmm.

Pest control is here, spraying the outside of the house (no more black widows and scorpions and biting red ants). The dogs are going batshit insane.

The Sith Princess (my six-year-old daughter) fell while scootering and bruised the crap out of her leg and is still crying (yes, I tended and loved on her).

My husband is herding children like cats while fielding phone calls with his very large voice.

The Sunshine Boy (my nine-year-old son) appears and stands silently beside me while I write and pretend not to notice. He’s staring at me, grinning, reveling in being annoying until he wins. I look up. “Go get dressed,” he bosses me. “We’re going to get new toys and then we’re going to eat. You’re supposed to meet us.”

I was promised pho for dinner this morning, so I’m on board! But I’m also crafty, and ready to enjoy some focused writing time in the perfection that is silence. I bid them a fond farewell (it’s the farewell that matters!).

They all troop out (cue the sound of dogs barking again, and cats meowing, and my husband talking to pest-control dude, and children babbling, and the door opening and closing and opening and closing. This is the desert. It needs oil.).

And then…sweet, blessed, joyful silence. It’s like one of those Haagen-Dazs bars with the ice cream and the chocolate and the nuts…but better. Silence doesn’t melt.

It lasts 4.5 seconds. The garage door squeals again and Zach leans in to shout, “Dad means it! Get dressed!” *SLAM*

I think they know me.

And now you know I write in pajamas. 

Have a great one, all. I gotta go get dressed. I have a hot date with a handsome biker dude and the two balls of mischief that are our youngest children. And they’re feeding me PHO!

SFR Brigade Summer Cafe: Dishing Up Dystopia with @SFRBrigade #scifirom

It’s summer time, and that means it’s time for an SFR Brigade event. The SFR Brigade is a wonderful group that connects the readers who love to read Science Fiction Romance with the writers who love to write (and read!) it. I’m so proud to be a part of it! This year the SFR Brigade is offering a fabulous Summer Cafe themed blog hop, where each author provides insight on an element of the genre we love! Click through using the menu card below, enjoy all of the offerings (including some amazing recipes!), and be sure to read through to the bottom for both blog-specific prizes and an opportunity to win a rafflecopter’s worth of goodies!

***

I love the theme of our summer blog hop. I love seeing good recipes come together, both on the page and in the kitchen. The best recipes combine common ingredients in ways that make them unforgettable. They make you crave more! If you have an appetite for more great stories, check out all the offerings this month. In previous weeks, the talented members of the SFRB have covered Space Opera and Weird Science. This week’s feature is Dystopia.

Dystopia has always been near and dear to my heart. A Dystopian that combines elements of science fiction and romance? Better than…well, to tweak my own main character, I’ll say that it’s better than maple syrup.

Dystopian fiction often mixes together a corrupt government, a system broken by cataclysm, a headstrong character, and dehumanized people who need to be inspired to seek change. Sounds like the perfect recipe for revolution to me…

In fact, it sounds a lot like Spark Rising, my debut novel about a young woman who is both a Spark, one of a special group of people keeping what’s left of society alive through their ability to manipulate energy, and the spark of a revolution. This revolution is going on both in the world around her and is playing out inside her, too. Lena’s falling in love, and the experience doesn’t entirely please her. Spark Rising is a full dish of genre-blended dystopian fun, with elements of science fiction, romance, action adventure, and urban fantasy layered together.

Southwestern cooking, which is featured in the story set in the desert Southwest of the United States, also features different flavors and textures layered together. This week I’m sharing my personal recipe that combines the bright flavors and textures of the region in a way that makes my mouth happy. I love the creaminess of the chopped avocado contrasted with the crisp jalapeños, onions and corn, with all of it drenched in the tangy flavor of limes and vinegar. I hope you love my creation, too!

Kate’s Avocado Salsa

3 ripe avocados, pitted, scooped from skin and chopped into small chunks

3 cloves garlic, finely diced (or as much as you like!)

2 tomatoes, diced

2 jalapeños, finely diced after seeds are discarded (wear plastic gloves for this!) (you can use only one if you aren’t accustomed to heat)

1 tomatillo, diced (after removing outer husk) (can be omitted if you live in an area where they are hard to find–this is very regional)

1 white onion, diced

1 cup cooked kernel corn

1 bunch cilantro

juice of 2 small limes

2 tbsp. red wine vinegar

olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Chop and dice all ingredients but the limes, vinegar and olive oil. When handling raw jalapeños, it is best to wear plastic over your hands (either kitchen gloves or even plastic bags). It can be hard to completely clean the fingers of jalapeño residue and if you wipe your eyes while chopping the onions…you’ll really have a reason to cry! To de-seed them, slice them in half vertically, then use your knife or a spoon to scrape out the seeds. You can set aside to dry them and use in a spicy dish some other time, or discard them.

Combine the vegetables in a large bowl, including the cilantro and corn. Gently toss with the juice of the limes, then drizzle with vinegar and olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour. Gently toss again before serving. Enjoy as a topping for grilled meat or eat as-is with corn tortillas or chips.

***

The SFRB Summer Cafe offers a chance at a fabulous prize package through rafflecopter: a Rafflecopter giveaway.

I’m also offering a personal prize of one signed paperback copy of Spark Rising (yep…open internationally!) to anyone who leaves a comment below and shares this post on any platform. I’ll be attending UtopYA Con in Nashville, Tennessee this week, so I’ll have randomizer pick a winner when I return on Monday, June 22nd. If you just can’t wait, the e-version of Spark Rising is on sale at all retailers!

Amazon **  iBooks **  Nook ** Kobo

Enjoy the Summer Cafe offerings, and don’t forget to click through on the menu above to visit the other Dystopian participants this week!

Summoned to SECRET WORLDS with @rainyofthedark

Last week was a rough one health-wise here at Casa de Corcino, but I’m back and feeling better. Part of that is because I get to share with you another guest post from one of my co-authors in the Secret Worlds boxed set. Today we are hearing from Rainy Kaye about her title, Summoned. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Summoned if you have a taste for gritty, dark, amazing re-tellings of the genie myth.

Without further ado, let’s hear from Rainy Kaye:



I’m very excited to be included with 20 other USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Authors in the Secret Worlds Boxed Set. Many of you are probably already familiar with my included title, SUMMONED, but for those who aren’t, here’s the full blurb:

Twenty-three year old Dimitri has to do what he is told—literally. Controlled by a paranormal bond, he is forced to use his wits to fulfill unlimited deadly wishes made by multimillionaire Karl Walker.

Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. He just knows resisting has never ended well. When he meets Syd—assertive, sexy, intelligent Syd—he becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri can’t tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isn’t the type to tolerate secrets.

Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karl’s ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming—the wish that will destroy him.

A dark twist on genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him.

SUMMONED is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA.

***

Summoned has over 125 reviews on Amazon. Normally you can purchase my book alone for $2.99, however, for this summer only (and the pre-order period leading up to this summer) you can snag a copy of this title WITH 20 OTHER ADDITIONAL TITLES all a boxed set for $0.99! That comes out to less than a nickel per book! You can learn more about the boxed set HERE or you can order your copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, or iBooks. While you’re here, though, why not take a moment to learn more about the complete line up! I’ve included a super short blurb of every title in the collection. Some are not yet available and being introduced exclusively through the boxed set, but ALL of the titles are professionally edited and not a single one ends on a cliffhanger!

The Secret Worlds LIMITED EDITION Collection!

***

***
From USA Today Bestselling Authors
***
Taken by the Beast by Conner Kressley and Rebecca Hamilton: Women are going missing. Women who look a lot like Charisse. And the man this beauty is falling for may be the beast responsible.

The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton: Sophia’s ancestor’s body went missing during the Salem Witch Trials, and the only one able to help solve the mystery is a shapeshifter Sophia is afraid to trust.

Summoned by Rainy Kaye: Dimitri can’t reveal the paranormal bond controlling him, and Syd won’t tolerate his secrets.

Purgatory by Susan Stec: A sex-hungry myth with no name, no flesh, and no identity …unless it wears one of you.

The Pandora Principle by Noree Cosper: As a descendant of Pandora, Cassi must discover if her lover is one of the evil spirits she hunts before all her friends die.

Heart Song by Samantha LaFantasie: When incredibly handsome Marren frees Relena, there’s a catch.

From Amazon Bestselling Authors

Changeling by Debbie Herbert: As a changeling and a witch work together to restore order in Fairy, they discover that love, like magic, casts its own spell of enchantment.

Shiftless by Aimee Easterling: After years of suppressing her inner predator, Terra meets a shifter who forces her to reclaim her wilder side.

The Black Parade by Kyoko M.: Poltergeist Michael is the key to saving Jordan’s soul from hell, but can she handle the cost of her salvation?

Haunting Echoes by Caethes Faron: Will Amaia’s vampire clan kill her ex-fiance before she learns whether he returned from the grave for love or revenge?

Braving Fate by Linsey Hall: Diana and Cadan fight demonic forces and a deadly passion that has lasted centuries.

Trinity Rising by J.E. Taylor: Damian and Naomi are desperate for victory against the devil, but one wrong step couldtrigger Armageddon.

Moonlight by Katie Salidas: Good girls don’t wear fur, fight over men, or run around naked, howling at the moon. But Fallon’s not a good girl.

Lash by L.G. Castillo: Lash, a fallen angel, must choose where to place his trust–in a home he fought so hard to regain or in a forbidden love he can’t bear to lose.

Between by Lisa Swallow: Alek could kill Rose with a kiss. Finn, with a touch. Pulled into an intense affair with Alek, Rose discovers her connection to Finn threatens them all.

The Devil’s Fool by Rachel McClellan: When vampire Boaz gives Eve the one thing she never had–love–she falls into a world of greed and seduction.

Spark Rising by Kate Corcino: A runaway Spark and the agent arresting her ignite a revolution to end their people’s enslavement while resisting the electricity between them.

Ruby’s Fire by Catherine Stine: On the run from a desert cult, Ruby must choose which handsome stranger to trust with her heart and her darkest secret: Armonk or Blane.

Cursed by Lucy Leroux: Governess Isobel Sterling has been hiding an uncanny ability her whole life–until she has to use it to save herself from a madman.

Hunted by A.J. Colby: With Agent Holbrook’s help, Riley races time to stay ahead of a crazed werewolf killer.

Vigilant by Angel Lawson: Ari stumbles into a world of crime and vigilantism while discovering the one man that sets her heart on fire.

$0.99 PreOrder Price Guarantee
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Come see SECRET WORLDS featuring @MissKyokoM

Today’s SECRET WORLDS post is brought to you by Kyoko M. I think she’s just as excited about the boxed set as I am! Take it away, Kyoko:

I am extremely pleased to announce that The Black Parade, our little engine that could, has been accepted as part of a summer boxed set called Secret Worlds. This is a collection of 21 paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels from Amazon and USA Today bestselling authors that will be available June 29, 2015, and if you pre-order now, you’ll get 21 novels for only .99 cents. You can’t beat that!

To further entice you, here are the featured authors, myself excluded:

From USA Today Bestselling Authors

Taken by the Beast by Conner Kressley and Rebecca Hamilton
Women are going missing. Women who look a lot like Charisse. And the man this beauty is falling for may be the beast responsible.

The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton
Sophia’s ancestor’s body went missing during the Salem Witch Trials, and the only one able to help solve the mystery is a shapeshifter Sophia is afraid to trust.

Summoned by Rainy Kaye
Dimitri can’t reveal the paranormal bond controlling him, and Syd won’t tolerate his secrets.

Purgatory by Susan Stec
A sex-hungry myth with no name, no flesh, and no identity …unless it wears one of you.

The Pandora Principle by Noree Cosper
As a descendant of Pandora, Cassi must discover if her lover is one of the evil spirits she hunts before all her friends die.

Heart Song by Samantha LaFantasie
When incredibly handsome Marren frees Relena, there’s a catch.


From Amazon Bestselling Authors

Changeling by Debbie Herbert
As a changeling and a witch work together to restore order in Fairy, they discover that love, like magic, casts its own spell of enchantment.

Shiftless by Aimee Easterling
After years of suppressing her inner predator, Terra meets a shifter who forces her to reclaim her wilder side.

Haunting Echoes by Caethes Faron
Will Amaia’s vampire clan kill her ex-fiance before she learns whether he returned from the grave for love or revenge?

Braving Fate by Linsey Hall
Diana and Cadan fight demonic forces and a deadly passion that has lasted centuries.

Trinity Rising by J.E. Taylor
Damian and Naomi are desperate for victory against the devil, but one wrong step couldtrigger Armageddon.

Moonlight by Katie Salidas
Good girls don’t wear fur, fight over men, or run around naked, howling at the moon. But Fallon’s not a good girl.

Lash by L.G. Castillo
Lash, a fallen angel, must choose where to place his trust–in a home he fought so hard to regain or in a forbidden love he can’t bear to lose.

Between by Lisa Swallow
Alek could kill Rose with a kiss. Finn, with a touch. Pulled into an intense affair with Alek, Rose discovers her connection to Finn threatens them all.

The Devil’s Fool by Rachel McClellan
When vampire Boaz gives Eve the one thing she never had–love–she falls into a world of greed and seduction.

Spark Rising by Kate Corcino
A runaway Spark and the agent arresting her ignite a revolution to end their people’s enslavement while resisting the electricity between them.

Ruby’s Fire by Catherine Stine
On the run from a desert cult, Ruby must choose which handsome stranger to trust with her heart and her darkest secret: Armonk or Blane.

Cursed by Lucy Leroux
Governess Isobel Sterling has been hiding an uncanny ability her whole life–until she has to use it to save herself from a madman.

Hunted by A.J. Colby
With Agent Holbrook’s help, Riley races time to stay ahead of a crazed werewolf killer.

Vigilant by Angel Lawson
Ari stumbles into a world of crime and vigilantism while discovering the one man that sets her heart on fire.





21 novels, over 5,000 pages of heart-stopping action and romance, and best of all, no cliffhangers. All for a buck. Available on all platforms right here: http://parabookdeals.com/secretworlds/

Don’t miss out! Sale ends August 31, 2015.

Step into Our SECRET WORLDS #paranormalromance

Over the course of the next twenty days, I’ll be featuring a glimpse of the other authors included in SECRET WORLDS, the amazing boxed set that includes my own Spark Rising. Once you get a taste of each of these stories, you’ll see that the set is not only an amazing value, but is a must-have collection! SECRET WORLDS is hot!
The secret just got a little hotter!
Included in the LIMITED EDITION box set, Secret Worlds, featuring 21 bestselling authors!

Relena wants freedom, depending on herself and not having to answer to anyone, but a betrayal takes that away. The last thing she expected was the incredibly handsome Marren to free her.

The catch?

She has to fall in love with him, fulfill a prophecy involving their heart song, and rejoin the two realms.  But Jiren, the last Ancient of his kind, isn’t convinced and will stop at nothing to maintain his throne, even if it means breaking their most sacred law.

Pre-order now!

Get Heart Song and 20 other hot titles for only $0.99!

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
iBooks

Only Available until August 31st, 2015.

A Mother’s Day Snippet Sunday

Here in the U.S., today is Mother’s Day. I know some families go all out, but around here it’s a pretty low-key day. My family is good about regularly letting me know how much they appreciate the things I do (when I remember to do them!). We’ve plenty of hugs and “I love you”s to go around here, and if you hang out long enough, you’ll get caught in a chain of them. ;) I even get to look forward to a nightly foot rub (on the nights when I’m not so immersed in my make-believe worlds that I forget to stumble out of the writing cave until after midnight). How’s that for a spoiled author??

But still…in honor of the day, I thought I’d participate in Snippet Sunday with a snippet that speaks for itself and is–ahem–appropriate for the day. These ten lines are from the upcoming sequel to Spark Rising…the book formerly known as Direct Current (it has been split in two due to content and length, so has received a new title! Direct Current is now the title of the third book.). I’m almost done with the first draft (hooray!), and its worked-over version is due at the editor’s by the end of June (gulp!). The wheels are spinning here. The machine is working for you!

Without further ado, here’s your snippet:

Jackson made a small noise in his throat that was halfway between a negative denial and a gasp of disbelief. His hands pressed in, an almost painful pressure as they squeezed on either side of her. A moment later, the pressure eased. His hands slipped away from her, though his eyes remained trained downward.

Lena tilted her head to catch the edge of his gaze. “Jackson?”

What the Dust had he seen?

“It’s not infectious.” His voice was soft, but oddly flat. “And the only person it could be a danger to is you, especially with us living like this. It’s not a knot of Dust or sickness. And I doubt it has anything to do with you or Rose glowing.” He looked away into the dark of the night around them, still refusing to meet her eyes.

Dread curled inside her, working its way up to the center of her chest. What had he seen?

Lena tugged on his sleeve to bring his attention back to her, though he refused to cooperate. “What did you see? What’s the light?”

She watched his throat work as he swallowed. “It’s a heartbeat, Lena.”

Uh. Oh. *grin*

Want to read the rest sooner? It’s a proven fact that feedback starts a writer’s productivity loop. ;)  Feel free to sound off in the comments below!

If you’re in the mood for double the fun, I am guest blogging today for the brilliant and talented Liza O. at The Multi-Verses of Liza O blog. Go check it out and give Liza a follow. Have a great day, all!!

Secret Worlds Boxed Set #99cents #preorder #paranormal Limited Edition!

I am thrilled that my novel, Spark Rising, was selected for inclusion in the huge multi-author boxed set, Secret Worlds. Spark Rising is an SFR Galaxy Award-winning, genre-bending futuristic fantasy that melds elements of science fiction romance with urban fantasy for a non-stop adventure.

 Spark Rising

All that’s required to ignite a revolution is a single spark rising.

Two hundred years after the cataclysm that annihilated fossil fuels, Sparks keep electricity flowing through their control of energy-giving Dust. The Council of Nine rebuilt civilization on the backs of Sparks, offering citizens a comfortable life in a relo-city in exchange for power, particularly over the children able to fuel the future. The strongest of the boys are taken as Wards and raised to become elite agents, the Council’s enforcers and spies. Strong girls—those who could advance the rapidly-evolving matrilineal power—don’t exist. Not according to the Council.

Lena Gracey died as a child, mourned publicly by parents desperate to keep her from the Council. She was raised in hiding until she fled the relo-city for solitary freedom in the desert. Lena lives off the grid, selling her power on the black market.

Agent Alex Reyes was honed into a calculating weapon at the Ward School to do the Council’s dirty work. But Alex lives a double life. He’s leading the next generation of agents in a secret revolution to destroy those in power from within.

The life Lena built to escape her past ends the day Alex arrives looking for a renegade Spark.

***

The e-book version of Spark Rising normally sells for $3.99, however, you can pre-order it NOW–WITH 20 OTHER ADDITIONAL TITLES all in 1 Boxed Set–for $0.99! That comes out to less than a nickel per book! You can learn more about the boxed set HERE or you can order your copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, or iBooks.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll each be sharing guest posts from all of the authors, allowing you a glimpse of the stories we’re offering you at that fabulous price! Keep your eyes peeled and one-click that pre-order while the price is still guaranteed!

The Secret Worlds LIMITED EDITION Collection!

***

$0.99 PreOrder Price Guarantee
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

* * *

175+ Books at 99 Cent Book Blast–One Weekend Only!

Over 175 ebooks from over 150 authors–including USA Today Bestsellers–are on sale for 99 cents.

SPARK RISING IS INCLUDED IN THIS AMAZING GROUP!

This promo will last only April 10th, 11th, and 12th.

Find paranormal, fantasy, romance, and much more.

Don’t forget to tell your friends so they can one-click too!

Visit the 99 Cent Book Blast.

STIFLED Release Tour!

Today we’re celebrating the release of STIFLED, book two in the SUMMONED series by USA Today Bestselling author, Rainy Kaye. A dark twist on genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him. In STIFLED, Dimitri trails an elusive jinn and finds himself in the middle of a community keeping dark secrets. The SUMMONED series is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA.

Scroll down to pick up your copy of STIFLED, get SUMMONED for free for a limited time, and enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card.

 

 

Dimitri would like nothing more than to live a low-key life in Naples, Italy. His girlfriend, Syd, has other plans.

After three months of researching, she is positive she has found a jinn on a killing spree in San Diego, California. Since Syd gave Dimitri the one thing he thought was out of reach, he feels obligated to use his ill-gained talents for her cause.

A few hours back in the US proves that Dimitri and Syd didn’t quite make the clean escape they had thought. As they trail the elusive jinn, someone else trails them. What should have been a simple trip to confirm once and for all if the jinn are living among humans, instead reveals a community keeping dark secrets.

Unfortunately for Dim, the only way out is in.

Get your copy here!

Haven’t read book one yet? No problem! It’s currently FREE on Amazon.

 

Twenty-three year old Dimitri has to do what he is toldóliterally.

Controlled by a paranormal bond, he is forced to use his wits to fulfill unlimited deadly wishes made by multimillionaire Karl Walker.

Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. He just knows resisting has never ended well.

When he meets Sydóassertive, sexy, intelligent Sydóhe becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri canít tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isnít the type to tolerate secrets.

Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karlís ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw comingóthe wish that will destroy him.

 

 

 

Rainy Kaye is an aspiring overlord. In the mean time, she blogs at RainyoftheDark and writes paranormal novels from her lair somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona.

She is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA. Someone told her she’s a USA Today Bestselling author. She thought there would be cake.

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How It All Started…

Hello, all! Happy Saturday!

I am so pleased to be featured as a guest today on the blog of amazing author Mona Karel. Not only is she a generous and enthusiastic reader…she is also a wonderful romance writer!

If you are interested in a peek at just how Lena first came to me…please go visit (just click through on her name above). There just might be a .99 sale link to greet you. ;)

Have a phenomenal day!