Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

FROM MY HOUSE TO YOURS.

And in honor of my new paranormal romance series coming next year, here's an Inuit toast: "May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp, and peace in your heart."

My gift to you - Team Santa

TEAM SANTA

By Christine Rains

"Team CA-23 is a go!”

The fat man wiggled and slithered down the chimney as if boneless. He popped out of the fireplace with a merry laugh. A puff of soot surrounded him and transformed to sparkling dust as it drifted to the floor.

Bobbo the cat started out of his nap and hissed. His gray fur stood on end and his claws dug into the couch cushion. He raced behind the sofa in a flurry of hairballs.

From the sleigh on the roof, an elf in a green cap flipped a switch for the camera. “CA-23 entry successful.”

The radio response was crisp as the new fallen snow. “Roger that, CA-23. How's he looking, Evert?”

“Doing good. No chimney damage. He's placing the presents under the tree right now.” Evert leaned back, breathing in the cold night air. The images on the screen bobbed as Santa bent and set the many gifts out for the large family of six. “I think we got this one right.”

"Let's hope. Finn's still trying to repair the roof from CA-22's mishap.”

“The mishap was letting Finn pilot anything.” Evert snorted. “But since his father has more stripes on his cane than the rest of us, he gets to do what he wants.”

Santa nabbed a sugar cookie from a plate and stuffed it in his mouth. He hummed and chewed as he started on the stockings. His beard caught the crumbs and sifted them out to appear on the empty plate.

"At least he made Finn do the repairs himself. Maybe he won't ask for his own team next year.” 

Evert chuckled. “Yeah, let him stick with cleaning up after the reindeer.”

As if he'd heard the joke, Santa's belly jiggled as he giggled and packed the treats into the last stocking. He then continued to stick stuffers into a nearby vase and potpourii dish.

"Crap.” Evert straightened and pressed a few buttons on the dashboard. With no response from Santa, he tried another set. “Hugo, we have a stuffing problem.”

Santa moved on to the chair, ripping open a pillow and filling it with gifts. 

"Dammit.” Hugo let loose a colorful string of curses. “What's he doing?”

"Just stuffed some pillows. Moving on to a potted plant.” Evert's fingers danced over the controls. 

Dirt and leaves splatted against the wallpaper.

"Have you tried telling him his job is complete? Or the adult out-of-sight escape command?”

"Both. He's not responding to either. It keeps saying his work is in progress.” Evert growled and hit a fist on the screen. “Come on, Santa. You're done!”

Santa bent and reached down to pick up something.

"The cat! He's going to stuff the cat!” Evert sent the commands again as Hugo frantically yelled over the radio.

Bobbo screeched and kicked, but the gloved hand had a firm hold of him. The other hand raised up, full of peppermints and chocolates wrapped in shiny red paper.

Evert slapped his hand on a large red button. The gleam in Santa's eyes blinked out, and he fell backward on the coffee table. The cat tore free and raced out of the room.

"Situation averted.” Evert groaned and rested his head against the screen. “CA-23 has been shut down.”

"Roger that.” Hugo sighed. “Clean up. A replacement is already on his way.”

A cold wind kicked up the snow and sent it spiraling upwards. The reindeer stomped impatiently. Evert could sympathize. When Santa had been alive, it had never been like this. Deliveries were made quickly and efficiently. No good child was ever forgotten.

"What make? Please tell me it's one of the Mistletoe line. At least the only bug they've exhibited is kissing too many surprised mothers.”

"Nope, the closet available is one of the Snowman clones.” Hugo replied, the apology clear in his tone.

"Great.” Evert grumbled and slid out of his comfortable seat. “He better finish our route before he melts. Team CA-23 leaving the sleigh for clean-up.”

END

Cloaked now available for pre-order

 

 

Add it to your 'to read' list!

Pre-order HERE!

 

Blurb: 

Raised by an overly protective wulfkin pack, Daciana leaps at the chance to venture into the human world for her one-year independence ritual. But after someone steals the endangered bear cubs she’s been assigned to protect, she must locate them or lose her job and return home in disgrace. The sexy inspector on the case isn’t making this any easier. He knows nothing of her kind, and wulfkin rules forbid relationships with humans.

 
Newly divorced Inspector Connell Lonescu trusts no one but himself. He’s convinced relationships are a waste of time and thinks burying himself in work will ease the pain. Yet he’s attracted to the gorgeous and mysterious Daciana, even if there’s something slightly odd about her. Can Connell learn to trust the sexy but secretive woman?

I LOVE this cover! I'm honored to be one of Tania's critique partners, and let me tell you, this story is as rich and sumptuous as the cover. 

Friday Five for December 18, 2015

1. I had a bump in my writing this week because a nasty headache told me to nap Wednesday afternoon. I'm about 4000 words away from finishing  my novella. I'm going to try to NaNo sprint today and finish it before my son's Christmas break starts.

2. Christmas break is where I'll be headed, too, for the next two weeks. We stay at home, but I'm planning lots of fun family and friend activities including going to an indoor waterpark and the exotic cat rescue center. I have a couple of posts coming next week. One of them a flash fiction story gift to you from me!

3. I'm over halfway done watching Daredevil on Netflix. LOVE it. Dark and intriguing and the villain! I really like what they did with Wilson Fisk (Kingpin). That is the sort of story I want to write... and have HBO or AMC or Netflix make into a show!

4. My son is bringing candy canes in today for school to give out to his class. Yesterday, I asked him if he would like to make a craft out of it and dress up the canes like reindeer. He gave me this look that was ten years too old for him and said, "I'm in elementary school now, mama. We like candy canes without the costumes."

5. However you're spending this holiday season, enjoy! Have a very merry Christmas and I'll see you in 2016. It's going to be an amazing year.

Wicked Wednesday - stuff that stocking!

What does Santa stuff your stocking with?

My mom still buys stockings and stuffs them for my brother and I. My husband is very appreciative of this because that means he doesn't have to do it! Mostly she fills it with toiletries, treats, socks, and notebooks.

If I could choose what Santa put into my stocking, it would be books. (And chocolate!) While I do love paper books, I could get more if I had an electronic stocking to stuff with ebooks. I've read over 100 books this year and the great majority of them were on my Kindle.

Here's your chance to stuff your digital stocking! Mary Pax is hosting the Stuff Your Stocking Event. There are 17 free ebooks from MG to YA to comics and fantasy and sci-fi and paranormal romance. Even a cookbook! Plus there's a giveaway for a $40 gift card. Click on the link and give yourself some gifts.

Included in the event is your chance to get either The 13th Floor Complete Collection or Of Blood and Sorrow. All you have to do is join my newsletter. See that handy dandy little widget on the right of my blog? Just type your email address in and jingle-jingle! You can pick either ebook in whatever format you need.

Tawa also wants me to remind you that Fearless is always free. So many readers have expressed their love for her (and the story!) over the years, I might be posting a new Fearless story on Wattpad next year. Either a prequel to this one or a tale about another Fearless warrior.

Heart in a Box Review

Blurb:
Each heartbeat leads Joss closer a shocking truth that will change everything.

Joss Olstad wins the fight to switch from her private school to a public high to “find her pieces” she lost when the Indian artist father she never knew died. There, Joss struggles with a slutty friend, who flirts with her new love; Indian Culture Club girls who press her on her past, as well as her stoner mother’s lies back at home. Armed only with her handmade heart boxes that hold private messages, Joss’s search for identity leads her to a scary industrial section of Queens, and a shocking family secret that changes everything.

My review:
Joss Olstad found private school stale and stifling. As she starts at a public high school, she's determined to find herself amidst the diverse student population. Her hopes begin to crumble as one friend flirts with her boyfriend, the other Indiana girls act judgmental, and her hippie mother refuses to tell her anything about her father. Joss is losing herself even as she trying to find herself. A school project draw out the secret wishes of her heart, and she dares risk everything by going to discover a family secret that will either tear her world apart or make it whole.

This is my favorite young adult novel from Catherine Stine. It's an amazingly written story of a teenage girl trying to build her identity. Joss feels she cannot because she never knew her father or any of his history or family. I loved reading Joss' struggles in trying to find out who she is and how this helped her bloom into someone she did not expect. It's all at once genuine, sweet, heart wrenching, and wondrous. Sensational characterization and a tremendously moving story.

What a fantastic book for teens and adults. This should be on everyone's must read list!

Buy links: Amazon * B&N * Kobo * iTunes * All Romance Ebooks

Catherine Stine is hosting a Blitz Rafflecopter Giveaway with awesome prizes. Check it out on her blog here!

Friday Five for December 11, 2015

1. It's been another great writing week. I finished one novella and started on another. Yes, it might seem like I'm writing super fast, but these stories are already finished in my head. They're not that long. If I can get 2000 words in a day, I can finish this last one before the end of next week.

2. All my regular TV shows are on hiatus. Now I can finally finish watching Daredevil on Netflix and all those films I've wanted to see on DVD. Any recommendations of a new movie I should watch?

3. My son built a gingerbread house this week. Every year for the past five years, we've done this, and every year more icing goes into his mouth than on the house!

4. I've been doing some cleaning on my Twitter account lately. If you have an account, how often do you update the profile and unfollow tweeps who are inactive, spamming, or aren't following you?

5. The cats have settled in and learned my schedule. Since sitting on the keyboard or my lap isn't an option while I'm writing, one shelf on my desk has become the cat corner. I had to empty most of the stuff out of there except the secret candy stash box (which is empty) and the sonic screwdriver (even kitties dream of meeting the Doctor). We're all cozy and happy. We'll see what the cats think when we get a Christmas tree! Have a wonderful weekend.

Wicked Wednesday - writing for the holidays

(A Krampus monster from the local Krampus parade)

I don't just mean writing for Christmas holidays. I'm talking about any holiday. Groundhog Day to Easter to Halloween.

That specific time of year rolls around and writers get inspired to write about it. Write when the inspiration hits. Holidays bring up a lot of powerful emotions and memories. There is a ton of inspiration strolling around, too, like the Krampus. Use it to your advantage.

Yet there is one problem with writing a holiday themed story on that holiday: it will be too late to publish it for that time of year once you're done.

The way I've dealt with that problem is to push my muse ahead six months holiday-wise. I've already written a couple of Valentine's Day stories and one Easter piece. I'll start in on some summer stories next month.

This way, I have holiday themed stories set to send out to various venues with plenty of time to rise up in the slush piles and be seen by editors with still a few months to spare before the holiday itself. I send Christmas stories out in June and July. Publishers usually get loads of those ones.

And yes, I do get inspired to write seasonal tales during those particular times of year. It just means I have to sit on them a little longer before submitting. As I said, write when the inspiration hits, but submit with enough time for an editor to get to your story and comfortably fit you in their schedule.

Have you ever written a holiday themed story?

New Releases: A Clueless Woman, Heart in a Box, & Guardians of Telesma

Graduate student Lizzie Petrie feels more comfortable around books than people. Although an expert in the Hitler Youth, she’s a novice in love. Her former lesbian lover is blackmailing her, and not even those closest to Lizzie know the full story of their abusive relationship.

When visiting high school English teacher Sarah crosses Lizzie’s path at the campus, their attraction is instant, but not without complications. As they start to spend more time together, suspicions arise from both women in this sexy piece of LGBT fiction.

Plenty of good-natured teasing takes place between lovers as well as between PhD students in this lesbian contemporary romance. No relationship path ever runs smoothly, and oftentimes, those who can’t keep their mouth shut hasten necessary confrontation.

Lizzie finds herself buried in a mess of lies in this romantic comedy. The harder she tries to keep Sarah and the rest of her friends from finding out the truth about her first girlfriend, the more endearingly clueless she becomes.

Buy Links:

Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon Canada * Amazon Australia  

 Add it to read on Goodreads

About the Author:

T. B. Markinson is an American writer, living in England. When she isn’t writing, she’s traveling the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order.

Mailing List:

Get the first book in the series, A Woman Lost, for FREE by signing up to TB’s Readers’ Group here.

Links:

Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads * Amazon Author Page 

Excerpt:

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” If Meg hadn’t been standing right in front of me, I would have recognized her snide tone, even despite the fact that she’d dyed her once-blonde hair a rich, fiery red. “Getting drunk on a school night. Shame on you, Lizzie. What would Dr. Marcel say?” Meg’s companion helped her slip into a coat. Hopefully, that meant they were leaving and pronto.

Approximately 150,000 people lived in Fort Collins, and the one person I didn’t want to bump into ever, let alone with Sarah, was peering down at us.

“Hello,” was all I could force out.

Meg’s gaze wandered over Sarah’s face and upper body before settling on me. “What happened to only drinking at home?” She crossed her arms.

“I’m afraid I’m a bad influence.” Sarah came to my defense.

“I see.” An older man tugged on Meg’s arm. She wore a tight dress—not her usual jeans and J. Crew sweater. And she was with a man—very unusual. “Have a good night, Lizzie.” She turned each Z in my name into a weapon. “Oh, I’ll be calling you to discuss that financial situation you brought up last time.” She gave Sarah a final glare and rolled her eyes. Red-hot anger raged through my mind and body as I clamped my lips together to keep everything bottled inside. How dare she treat Sarah so flippantly?

I counted to ten before I said, “I’m so sorry.”

Sarah’s eyes darted across the room to where Meg and her companion were exiting into the darkness. “Is she a friend?”

I snorted. “Former ...” I’d been about to say girlfriend, but instead added, “acquaintance.”

“I’d use another word for her.”

I let out a rush of air. “Really? What would that be?”

* * * * *

Each heartbeat leads Joss closer a shocking truth that will change everything.

Joss Olstad wins the fight to switch from her private school to a public high to “find her pieces” she lost when the Indian artist father she never knew died. There, Joss struggles with a slutty friend, who flirts with her new love; Indian Culture Club girls who press her on her past, as well as her stoner mother’s lies back at home. Armed only with her handmade heart boxes that hold private messages, Joss’s search for identity leads her to a scary industrial section of Queens, and a shocking family secret that changes everything.

Buy links: Amazon * B&N * Kobo * iTunes * All Romance Ebooks

Catherine Stine is hosting a Blitz Rafflecopter Giveaway with awesome prizes. Check it out on her blog here!

* * * * *

An ancient prophecy. A doorway between realities. A woman destined to save a world—or destroy it. 

When Kate Ryan discovers an ancient artifact at a dig site, her life is changed forever. Swept across the boundaries of dimension, she’s plunged into an alternate world of magic, shape-shifting cats—and a prophecy calling for her death at the hands of the Guardian.

Draven, Guardian of Telesma, took an oath to kill the Outsider whom the legend warns will destroy his world. He hesitates as his attraction to this woman proves stronger than his sense of duty. Now he must protect his sworn enemy against his own people as he struggles to prove the prophecy wrong.

Kate faces an impossible choice. Stay and try to save those who refuse to accept her, or turn her back on them and the man who’s captured her heart? If she makes the wrong decision, will it bring about their destruction?

Buy the book on Amazon!

Stalk River Fairchild here.

Friday Five for December 4, 2015

1. I've had a good writing week. I finished a novella just before Thanksgiving and now I've started on another. I hope to have it done before Christmas.

2. Thank you to everyone who gave Lovelorn Spirits a shout-out last week. I didn't call on anyone to do so since it was going to be a crazy week for me and I wouldn't be online, but you guys amaze me. Cookies for everyone!

3. I met my Goodreads reading challenge goal! Yay! 100 books. My Kindle is heavy with several new ones that I've won lately too. I hope to get at least five or six more books read and reviewed before the year is out.

4. This evening we're going to Santa's Workshop at my son's school. We'll have dinner with other children and Santa. Then we'll make crafts and decorate cookies. To double our fun, the Krampus parade is on Saturday evening and the weather promises to be awesome. (Click on the link to see how cool it looks. My son isn't afraid of them at all!)

5. The big news in the Rains household this week is we adopted two cats from the local animal shelter. Thunder and Kelsey bonded while at the shelter, and they didn't want to separate them. Who can resist this adorable two-for-one deal? Thunder is only a year old and has the energy of a kitten. He's so good with my son. Kelsey is a one-eyed beauty and a sweetie. She's not a lap cat, but she loves her belly rubs.

(My son with Thunder on his leg and Kelsey coming to get a flicking tail!)

#IWSG for December 2015

The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is the brilliant idea of Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the group is to share doubts and insecurities and to encourage one another. Please visit the other participants and share your support. A kind word goes a long way.

The awesome co-hosts for this month are Sandra Hoover, Mark Koopmans, Doreen McGettigan, Megan Morgan, and Melodie Campbell!

Thank you to everyone who responded last month to my post. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like I need to write more faster and write more on top of that.

And while I sometimes do hear that nagging voice, I've had a good year. One novel and six novellas published. Plus a handful of short stories! Darn good year.

I want to hear all your happy stories. Please share something good that has happened to you this year in the comments.

Here's to a magnificent 2016 for all of us!

The Reader (Rifters #3) is here!

With the rift closed for the season and no more monsters to fight, Daelin Long gets bored as librarian in the podunk town of Settler, Oregon. A job interview and her brother’s arrival present a tempting opportunity to escape, until her brother and her best friend, a ghost, disappear.

While Daelin searches for them, more mysteries pile up: dead people coming back to life, portraits of the town founders replaced with strange white trees, and people on the other side of the rift returning. It’s impossible. The portal that allows monsters from other universes to come to Earth is sealed until next summer.

The Rifters, a secret group protecting our world, believe the troubles are nothing more than the tantrums of an offended ghost. Daelin disagrees. If she’s right, the evil hell-bent on destroying Earth has new technology making the rift more deadly.

Before the monster summons the next apocalypse, Daelin must find it and destroy it.

Book 3 in the Rifters series.

Need to catch up? You can read books 1 & 2 in the Rifters series for free by becoming an M. Pax Reader. ENTER MY DIMENSION

Buy links:

Amazon / AmazonUK / AUS / CA / DE / FR / ES / IT / NL / JP / BR / MX / IN

Bookcessories / iBook / Nook / GooglePlay / Kobo / Smashwords / inktera / Scribd

The Reader Tweets & FB

People & ghosts are not what they seem. Is it a monster? The Reader http://goo.gl/6e77ZI #fantasy #scifi

A ghost with a bad temper & fake people. This town is strange. The Reader http://goo.gl/6e77ZI #fantasy #scifi

There's something wrong in the woods. Monsters or ghosts? The Reader http://goo.gl/6e77ZI #fantasy #scifi

Author Bio: M. Pax is author of the space adventure series The Backworlds, plus other novels and short stories. Fantasy, science fiction, and the weird beckons to her, and she blames Oregon, a source of endless inspiration. She docents at Pine Mountain Observatory in the summers as a star guide and has a cat with a crush on Mr. Spock. Learn more at mpaxauthor.com.

Review for Immortal Desires

Blurb:
Dumped at the altar, Deanna Cameron seeks a fresh start in life. She gets more than she bargained for after accepting a new job, when an Immortal Guardian sends her five hundred years into the past. She can't return home and a magnificent highland warrior accuses her of being a spy.

Ian Mackay knows the beautiful woman who appears in his castle must be a spy. After all, she's a Cameron, a clan he despises. The powerful magic surrounding her obstructs his Druid senses, plus he finds he can't stay away from the temptress. But loving Deanna could come with a price too high to pay. Will she be the downfall of his clan—or its salvation?

My review: 
Feeling stuck in a rut, Deanna Cameron jumps at the opportunity for a new job in a different state. Not just any job, but a dream job traveling and reviewing vacation spots. When she is sent five hundred years into the past, all she wants to do is find a way home. Until she meets the gorgeous Highlander Lord, Ian Mackay. Ian believes her to be a spy, but he can't stop his growing feelings for her. Will Deanna destroy his clan or shatter his heart?

An incredible and steamy debut from Cerise Laudine. There's nothing sexier than a Highlander Lord with the courage of a warrior and a big heart. Deanna and Ian found it difficult to resist one another, but even with the sizzling physical connection, their relationship grew from soul more fertile than their desire alone. I sympathized with Deanna right from the beginning as she's left at the altar and must pick up her life on her own. She's smart and brave, and the perfect complement to Ian.

What I loved the most was the world building. We have an awesome modern day corporation and the Highlands of five hundred years ago. I felt like I was there. Plus there are the Immortals. While we learn more about them as the story unfolds, I'm eager to find out even more about them. I can't wait for the next book from Cerise Laudine.

A highly recommended time travel romance.
(I was lucky enough to win an ARC in a giveaway last month!)

Releases December 5th!

Pre-order here: Amazon

Find out more about Cerise here!

Lovelorn Spirits is here!

The Paramours - ghost hunting with a kiss.

Vivian Ray does not like working with the suave Miles Walker, but he's the best medium in the paranormal business. When they are possessed by a pair of passionate ghosts, Vivian and Miles realize they might have feelings for one another. But it's difficult to separate their own emotions apart from the spirits', and Vivian doesn't want to believe she's in anything more than lust with Miles. There's something much more dangerous after them, though, and if they can't help the ghosts work through their past, the investigators could lose their own lives.

Buy the book here:

 Ellora's Cave * Amazon * Kobo

Add it to read on Goodreads!

This is my favorite of the trilogy. While Nina was sweet and Claire flirty, Vivian is the sharp professional. Pairing her with Miles and having them possessed by amorous spirits was a sure way to get things to explode!

9Tales Told in the Dark #7 is free until the 28th!

Terror creeps up everywhere. The Dark goes international in this collection of short tales of horror, featuring zombies, curses, ghosts and vampires.

9Tales Told in the Dark #7 is free from now until November 28th. Don't miss out on this fantastic collection of scary stories.

My short story, "All I Want For Christmas" is included in this great anthology. Find out what happens when a little boy asks Santa to get rid of the monster in this closet.

Everybody Knows Release Day Blitz!

 

Everybody Knows

Razes Hell #2

by Kyra Lennon

Synopsis

Lucy Hayes has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime – a chance to go on tour with the UK’s fastest rising rock band, Razes Hell. Lucy Hayes has been in love with Razes Hell’s frontman, Jason Brooks, for as long as she can remember. While most women see him only as a rock god, Lucy sees the real Jason. But will that be enough to make him see her as the adult she is, or is she destined to remain the baby sister of his best friend forever? When Lucy bags an invite to join Razes Hell on their Europe and U.S tour, she is under no illusions about where she fits in Jason’s life. She’s the girl next door, too young to ever catch his attention. However, when Lucy is the first to notice Jason’s struggle to keep his cocaine addiction in check while out on the road, the pair grow closer, and Lucy thinks she might be about to make her dreams come true. But how can it ever work out? With an age gap against them, not to mention concerned family and friends stating their opinions, and the media turning something beautiful into something sinister, they are fighting an impossible battle. Everybody Knows there’s something between Lucy and Jason, but will their feelings be enough to keep them afloat, or will their feelings tear apart everything they hold dear?

Buy Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Nook

B&N

iBooks UK

iBooks US

Kobo

Author Bio

Kyra is a self-confessed book-a-holic, and has been since she first learned to read. When she's not reading, you'll usually find her hanging out in coffee shops with her trusty laptop and/or her friends, or girling it up at the nearest shopping mall. Kyra grew up on the South Coast of England and refuses to move away from the seaside which provides massive inspiration for her novels. Her debut novel, Game On (New Adult Contemporary Romance), was released in July 2012, and she scored her first Amazon Top 20 listing with her New Adult novella, If I Let You Go in November.

Author's Social Links

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kyralennonwrites

Twitter - https://twitter.com/KLennonWrites

Website - http://www.kyralennon.com

Amazon Author Page - http://goo.gl/Hmqezw

Goodreads Author Page - http://goo.gl/vzJ2Ol

Friday Five for November 20, 2015

1. Help put the love back into Lovecraft! Dragon Roost Press is raising funds on Indiegogo to publish Eldritch Embraces. I have a steampunk mytho story in the collection called "What Lay Below." Please consider helping this awesome anthology. These funds include paying the authors!

2. I had two short story acceptances and three rejections in the past few weeks. I've also written a new flash fiction story which my local critique group will tear apart this Saturday. I tried to get a little fancy with this one, trying something new. That's the fun of shorter works. You can experiment with new genres and styles.

3. Next Wednesday, Lovelorn Spirits, the final book of my Paramours trilogy will be released. I'm excited. This is the best one of the three. I've booked a tour for the Paramours the first week of February. It's the month of love, and I do love the paranormal!

4. I've been working hard on the second book of my Totem series. I hope to have it finished in a few days. I've been having a ton of fun writing this one. Of course, any story I can make geek jokes makes me happy.

5. I have a couple of posts scheduled for next week, but I'll be scarce. It's off to visit the in-laws for the American Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and to my American friends and family, have a happy Thanksgiving.

Wicked Wednesday - snapping the best picture

This past weekend, my family and I tried to get a decent portrait. So many pictures. So much chaos.

No one can ever smile at the same time. And if they do, the smiles are creepy or weird. Someone inevitably blinks when the camera clicks. Another person is looking away. Someone's fussing with their hair. Stand still. Put your hands down. Then the frustration sets in. Grumpy faces and sneers. Finally, exhaustion.

This is how I feel when it comes to writing. (Because everything I do, I compare to writing!) Your characters are not going to cooperate. One of them is doing what he's supposed to be doing but then another is off screwing things up. Two people are growling at each other when they're supposed to be a couple. It's especially difficult when you have a big cast of characters. How do you get them to do what they're supposed to do?

Take multiple pictures.

Yup. That's the one and only trick. Keep rewriting until it's right.

Eventually everyone will be looking at the camera, standing still, and smiling nicely. Okay, someone might be fidgeting and there might be an odd twinkle in another person's eye, but the tiny quirks are okay. Keep those. That's what makes it unique.

Nope:

Almost.

Wait. We regressed and lost two smiles.

Yes?

Review for Precipice (The Backworlds #6)

Blurb:
In the far future, humanity settles the stars, bioengineering its descendants to survive in a harsh universe. This is the sixth book in the science fiction series, The Backworlds. A space opera adventure.

The Backworlds hang by a Quantum string, a thread about to snap. Annihilation is coming if Craze can’t stop it.

The genocidal alien he had trapped breaks free, destroying a ship belonging to the Backworlds’ oldest enemy, the Fo’wo’s. The murderous alien wants to overtake the galaxy. The Fo’wo’s want another war.

The Backworlds’ best chance to survive is to overcome a century of hate and forge an alliance with the Fo’wo’s. Because of his history with the alien, Craze is recruited to represent his people. Now he’s the most hated man in the galaxy.

The looming war will be a holocaust unless Craze can stop it, knowing salvation comes at a price.

My review:
A war hangs over Craze's head. A fearsome alien is poised to destroy the Backworlds and worlds beyond it. Yet the only hope for victory is for Craze to forge an alliance with the Fo'wo's. He doesn't know who he loathes more: them or the alien. His own people hate him for attempting an alliance and his friends are getting backlash from it. Can Craze bury his hatred to ally with the Fo'wo's or will their mutual enmity ensure their decimation?

This is the sixth awesome book in the space opera series The Backworlds and my favorite so far. I was hooked from the start, drawn tight with the tension, and holding my breath with the suspense. Excellent writing with superb characterization and plotting. I love it that I'm so easily transported into the far future, into the Backworlds, filled with wonderfully strange beings who all sprang from human beings.

Each of the characters we have grown with are faced with immensely difficult choices. My favorites are Rainly and Craze. Such different paths and yet admirable in their loyalty. Their struggles pulled at my heartstrings.

I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Buy the book:

Amazon or Amazon.com

Bookcessories

iBook or main iBook

Googleplay / Smashwords

Kobo / B&N

Check out M. Pax's site here! 

Realms Faire 2015 - Drench-a-Wench (Day 5)

 

THREE CHEERS FOR THE FAIRE!

Welcome to Realms Faire 2015!

The Realms Faire is hosted by our most magnificent Lady Mary Pax.

She'll be conducting the Joust. Cheer for your favorite knight and win prizes!

This is the last day to visit all the events. Each host is giving away prizes for their games. Check out the Realms Faire page for all the links. 

Here at House Geek, I'm hosting the Drench-a-Wench / Soak-a-bloke event!  

The rules to this game are simple:

1) The dunkee is chosen by committee.

2) I post a link to the dunkee's blog and you click on it.

3) You leave a comment, soaking them with blog love.

4) You are entered into a drawing for a chance to win prizes.

I'll have different prizes every day. You don't want to miss out on these awesome books.

Today's big final prize packet consists of:
An ebook of your choice from M. Pax
Guardians of Telesma ebook from River Fairchild
Polar Night ebook from Julie Flanders
An ebook of your choice from Cherie Reich

A digital copy of Of Blood and Sorrow

You have until 7:00 pm EST to leave a comment on the dunkee's blog.

A winner will be chosen randomly each day and contacted at the end of the week. 

Our magnificent dunkee for today is:

Shannon Lawrence is The Warrior Muse. A talented writer and an inspiration to other writers.

Thank you to everyone who supported, cheered, and participated in Realms Faire 2015. I raise my mug to you.

We hope to see you again next year!

Hall of Doors

*

Hosted by M. Gerrick. Every book offered as a  prizes will be hidden behind a doorway. Under each door will be the blurb for the hidden book. Each correct answer will be put in the drawing for the book given as a prize. random.org will be used to pick the winners.

Roar! Enter the VelociRaffle for a chance to win one of six grand prizes!

Celebrating along with the Faire, the Untethered Realms authors are touring with their newest collection, Mayhem in the Air. Get exclusive excerpts and enter for a chance to win a $40 gift card. Today you can read an excerpt from my sci-fi horror, "The Silent Wind."

Realms Faire 2015 - Soak-a-Bloke (Day 4)

 

HUZZAH!

Welcome to Realms Faire 2015!

The Realms Faire is hosted by our most magnificent Lady Mary Pax.

She'll be conducting the Joust. Cheer for your favorite knight and win prizes!

There are several terrific events happening this week. Each host is giving away prizes for their games. Check out the Realms Faire page for all the links. 

Here at House Geek, I'm hosting the Drench-a-Wench / Soak-a-bloke event!  

The rules to this game are simple:

1) The dunkee is chosen by committee.

2) I post a link to the dunkee's blog and you click on it.

3) You leave a comment, soaking them with blog love.

4) You are entered into a drawing for a chance to win prizes.

I'll have different prizes every day. You don't want to miss out on these awesome books.

Today's prize packet consists of:
An ebook of your choice from M. Pax
The Ghosts of Aquinnah ebook from Julie Flanders
An ebook of your choice from Cherie Reich 

A digital copy of Of Blood and Sorrow

You have until 7:00 pm EST to leave a comment on the dunkee's blog.

A winner will be chosen randomly each day and contacted at the end of the week. 

Our marvelous dunkee for today is:

Jay Noel is a medical sales warrior by day and a writing ninja by night.

Beware the Vortex 

Hosted by River Fairchild. Prizes drawn daily. A vortex opens. Five people are trapped in the Underworld with only one way out – challenge an immortal to a contest of skill. The odds are against those brave enough to accept but enthusiastic fans can help them win their freedom with magic words given to each contestant.

Roar! Enter the VelociRaffle for a chance to win one of six grand prizes!

Celebrating along with the Faire, the Untethered Realms authors are touring with their newest collection, Mayhem in the Air. Get exclusive excerpts and enter for a chance to win a $40 gift card. Find out where to find us today!