Third Campaign Challenge

It's time for the third and final challenge in Rachael Harrie's Writers' Platform Building Campaign. I don't want it to be over. I've had a fantastic time with it. But, oh, is this last challenge a rough one.

Here's what Rachael says about this last one:

Write a blog post in 300 words or less, excluding the title. The post can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should show:

• that it’s morning, 

• that a man or a woman (or both) is at the beach

• that the MC (main character) is bored

• that something stinks behind where he/she is sitting

• that something surprising happens.

Just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: "synbatec," "wastopaneer," and "tacise."   (NB. these words are completely made up and are not intended to have any meaning other than the one you give them).

Once you’ve posted your Challenge post on your blog, pop back here and link directly to it in the Linky List below (please make sure you include the direct link to your post, not just the link to your blog!).

Entries in the Third Campaigner Challenge will close on Monday, October 24th (at 11.59pm EDT) (one weeks' time exactly). So make sure you get your post in the Linky List before then if you want to be eligible for a prize! As usual, while everyone is very welcome to take part in this Challenge, only Campaigners will be eligible for prizes.

Oh boy. I'm going to try to continue from my last two challenge entries. I just hope it will make some sense!

Here it goes!

HONEYMOON ON THE BEACH

I let my hand dangle and trailed my fingers through the soft sand. The colors in the morning sky were beautiful, but a tiresome sigh escaped me. I've never lounged on a beach, but I couldn't remember the reason why.

“Relax, love. You think too much.” Soren's lazy drawl drew out my smile.

I turned my head to drink him in. The sun's rays danced along his sculpted body. A wave of heat flowed through me. I nipped my lower lip.

“Well, I won't complain when you're thinking that.” He reached over and took my hand, bringing it to his lips. He kissed the back and then the palm. “Those are the thoughts you're suppose to have while on your honeymoon.”

My hand curled around his, tugging him toward me. I shook my head. It felt heavy and light all at once. “Honeymoon? Synbatec?”

My throat tightened with the effort to not gag as a smell of rot wafted up from behind me.

“The word is synchronicity, love.” Soren chuckled and nudged my nose with his. His hand tightened around mine. I winced as his nails dug into my skin. “It's what brought us together, remember?”

“Remember,” I murmured, focusing on the pain and the stench. The gulls growled and the sunrise flashed crimson night before returning to gold. “I was to... wastopaneer. Tacise.”

I pushed through the sludge in my brain. I couldn't look away from him. Soren squeezed harder, forcing me to acknowledge he had put something in my hand.

“You mean precise. Be precise, love.”

I spun around and drove my blade into the heart of the Queen. My ears bled with her screams, but my aim was true. My nightmare had been a honeymoon on the beach.

(exactly 300 words)

Second Campaign Challenge

It's time for the Second Campaign Challenge of Rachael Harrie's Writers' Platform Building Campaign. It's much harder this time around. Plus, I feel a little added pressure having been one of the final twelve finalists of the first challenge. Yet I'm excited!

Here's what Rachael tells us about the Challenge:

Write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should:

• include the word "imago" in the title
• include the following 4 random words: "miasma," "lacuna," "oscitate," "synchronicity,"

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional and included in the word count), make reference to a mirror in your post.

For those who want an even greater challenge (optional), make your post 200 words EXACTLY!

Once you’ve posted your Challenge post on your blog, pop back here and link directly to it in the Linky List below (please make sure you include the direct link to your post, not just the link to your blog!).

Entries in the Second Campaigner Challenge will close on Monday, October 3rd (at 11.59pm EDT). That's a week and a half (longer this time), so make sure you get your post in the Linky List before then if you want to be eligible for a prize! As usual, while everyone is very welcome to take part in this Challenge, only Campaigners will be eligible for prizes.

I decided to carry on from the first challenge. So many of you wanted to know what happened after the door shut. Here you go! Enjoy.

SOUL IMAGO

As soon as the door shut, Soren's mouth was on mine. Hard and hungry. My hands were in his silky hair and my leg wound around his waist. I could easily lose myself. I already had one dark lacuna in my memory. I couldn't let myself forget anything else.

I pushed him, trying to get my legs between us. “Get off of me!”

Soren chuckled and refused to budge. His breathe was hot and his heart pounded as loudly as mine. “You want me. You need me.”

“I don't need you.” I've said it so many times that I didn't believe it any more than he did. Every word was like miasma upon my soul. When once I was so certain of who I was, now everything was unclear.

He traced the thick scar along the right side of my neck with the pad of his thumb. I trembled at the tender touch. “Synchronicity brought us together, love. If you don't work with me and the Queen reaches Imago, she'll kill us both.”

I froze. My mouth unable to fully oscitate.

“You-”

“She's here.” In the rear-view mirror, I saw my nightmares spill forth.

(exactly 200 words)

Awards and Campaign Win

I received The Versatile Blogger Award and The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award from Amy at The Ramblings of Amy!

Thank you! I'm always honored to receive awards like this.

Here are the rules for both awards:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.

2. Share 7 random facts about yourself.

3. Pass the award on to 5 more blogger friends.

4. Contact and congratulate the blogs you're passing the award on to.

1. I was the worst vegetarian ever. I was one for 15 years. I like very few fruits and veggies. I don't like any sort of spice or even salt on my food. I don't like salad. I had to change my eating habits when I became pregnant.

2. I met my husband on the internet when it was still creepy to do so. We were just friends for a year until we met in person.

3. I'm eating animal cookies as I type this.

4. I think feet are ugly. Except cute baby feet.

5. I wrote several short stories as a child about the kids in our neighborhood called The Kingham Kids.

6. Being a stay-at-home mom is the hardest thing I've ever done, but totally worth it.

7. I'm telling myself that I won't watch Survivor, but I don't think I'm going to listen.

I'm passing these two awards on to:

Cherie Reich - Author

Aubrie at Flutey Words...

Heidi at ...then she writes

Christine at Christine's Journey 

 Manda at pepperwords

 

Along with these fine awards, I was notified that I'm one the Final 12 winners in Rachael Harrie's First Campaign Challenge. I'm blushing. I'm thrilled and honored. Wow. I'm stunned too. The Campaign has been a lot of fun so far. I know I say it a lot, but I really mean it. I've read many of the entries by other Campaigners and I'm impressed. So many talented writers out there. I raise my glass to all of you. Cheers!

YA books and Campaign good news

Recently, I've had the chance to read more YA books. I haven't read much in this genre because what I've read in the past, I haven't liked. I'm also a writer of adult books. I like to read about adult characters. Yet there's been so many great YA books around that I've heard about, I thought I'd give the genre another chance.

I started off with Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series. A very good start! I loved it. Then I read Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. Wow. It was a phenomenal book. The hype was right. I have the next two books on reserve at the library.

My next pick was another popular paranormal romance series called the Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine. My good luck came to a sudden end. It took over 70 pages for the story to really get started. I didn't like the characters. It had an intriguing premise, but I had no sympathy for anyone. Perhaps I should have read Caine's Weather Warden series instead. For any of you that have read it, is it worth picking up?

Okay. Surely the next book had to be better. I've been waiting a long time to read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ranson Riggs. It has a fantastic cover and one of the best book trailers I've ever seen. Yet the book failed to live up to my expectations. It was a decent story, but it didn't wow me. It seemed like Riggs tried too hard to make the story fit the photos.

Right now, I'm reading Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. So far, I'm not impressed. I'll read the whole book unless it becomes horrible, but there's only been a few books that ever made me stop reading.

I'm still willing to read more YA paranormal and dystopian books. Where do I go next, though? Do you have any suggestions?

In other news, I won a copy of Stone Cold Seduction by Jess Macallan. Yay! When I finally get my Nook, I'll have a book to read.

My entry in the first challenge of the Campaign has been judged and made it to Stage Two. I'm honored and excited. The Campaign has been so much fun. Here's what the judge had to say:

Hi Christine! I'm Elizabeth Moss and you were put in my part of the judging element for the campaign challenge.

I'm delighted to say I loved your story and you'll be going through to Stage Two!

So congrats!

What I love about your story is how it begins so dramatically in media res. The backstory is expertly revealed in the sparse phrase 'My demon hunting background' - no more is required. The action is in your face from the start and doesn't let up until the door swings shut again. Soren is sexy, and you can see why she's torn. (And in case we were in doubt, you cleverly slip in that 'she doth protest' to ensure we know this is boy on girl action.) Exciting, breathtaking, dynamic, telling dialogue, and all I can ask is - what happens once they're inside the car together??

Love it. Best of luck with the next round.

Reading entries and a bit of the naughty

Welcome to all my new followers and hello again to the great people already here! The Campaign has been a lot of fun so far. I was nervous, but I'm over it now. There are so many encouraging and inspiring participants. I've visited all the talented folk in my Paranormal Romance group. I'm slowly working my way through the list of people who have completed the first challenge. It's slow going, but I'm having a lot of fun reading everyone's work. There's over 300 entries now. Wow.

I've done some more revising on my latest WIP this week. The fourth round is almost finished. I have the itch. I want to submit it. I want to get it out there and see what happens. It's taking a lot of will power to resist. I want to make sure it's the best story it can be. It's so hard to be patient, but I know it will be worth it in the end.

I have other novel ideas bouncing around in my head. It seems they all want attention this week, but I haven't even picked the Cheerios off the floor yet. I also need to write a little something for my writers' group. I have to have something in by the weekend if I want it critiqued. I want to write some science-fiction, but all my ideas are too big for short stories.

Last but not least, Erotica Quarterly #4 published by Pill Hill Press is now available. My short story, "Snow Strangers" is included in this anthology. My first erotica publication!

First Campaign Challenge

The first Campaign challenge is here! Thank you to Rachael Harrie and all her helpers for organizing it. Here's what the challenge is: Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)

For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

Once you’ve posted your Challenge post on your blog, pop back to Rachael's blog and link directly to it in the Linky List provided.

Entries in the First Campaigner Challenge will close on Friday, September 9th (at 11.59pm EDT), so make sure you get your post in the Linky List before then if you want to be eligible for a prize! As usual, while everyone is very welcome to take part in this Challenge, only Campaigners will be eligible for prizes.

Here's my story. Enjoy!

DEMON HUNTING

The door swung open and I rolled onto the gravel road. My demon hunter training allowed me to find my feet fast, but Soren was quicker. He leapt off the roof of the car and knocked me down.

I kicked with my legs and used the momentum to flip him over my head. He grunted with surprise, landing hard near the ditch.

I readied myself and willed my hands not to shake.

Soren crooked a finger and smiled, slow and sexy. “Drop the sword. You don't want to kill me.”

I hated how he could make me weak in the knees with just one smile. “But I really do.”

“How does that old saying go: she doth protest too much?” He chuckled and dared take a step forward. “Put down the blade, love. Talk to me.”

“Don't call me that!” I heard myself shriek. Taking in a deep calming breath, I could still smell his scent upon me. I shook my head. “No. I can't.”

I charged and was thrown back inside of the car. The gorgeous demon plucked my sword from my sweaty hands and climbed in with me. The door swung shut.

(200 words)

A little about myself

I'm excited to meet all my new followers and fellow campaigners. My bio on my site is short. Perhaps I should tell you a little more about myself.

I'm a proud mother of a 16 month old genius. In my mind, he's a genius because he likes to dance to the Jeopardy theme music. I'm a happy wife to a geek who's my best friend and fellow adventurer. We live in a cozy little house in southern Indiana. I love watching the fireflies in the backyard at night. A skunk sometimes naps under our shed and my son thinks it's a cat. He almost pet it the other day.

I'm a Canadian who married an American. It was a very long and exhausting process. I miss Canada, but I love my husband more. We were married in Las Vegas by Elvis. The video still makes me laugh.

I chose to stay at home with my son. I believe it's one of the best choices I've ever made. It isn't easy. In fact, it's the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's worth it.

If I could be a professional student, I would go to school for the rest of my life. I love learning about everything. I have four degrees. I went to college at seventeen with the idea I might want to go into law enforcement. I've always had a strong sense of justice. I got my Law Enforcement degree and then on to my Creative Writing degree while I worked. Realizing that a physical job in law enforcement wasn't right for me, I went back to school. I got my next degree in Sociology and continued on to get my Honors in Philosophy. I wanted to study Ethics. I would have went on to get my Masters and Phd, but I couldn't get enough in grants or scholarships to continue on.

I've always been an avid reader and writer. I write short stories in several genres, but my novels are all paranormal romances. I love talking/reading about writing, but I'm terribly shy in real life. I'm working on that part, though. It's great to have the internet to meet all sorts of wonderful and talented writers. I can't wait for the Campaign to start. I'm nervous, but it will be a great adventure.

Have an awesome long weekend!

Writers' Platform Building Campaign and asking for beta readers

I'm happy to join Rachael Harrie's Third Writers' Platform Building Campaign. It's a fantastic way to link those in the writing community together with the aim of building our online platforms. Her previous two were great successes and this one is going to be phenomenal. If you're a writer and haven't heard of the campaign yet, please check out Rachael's site. You only have until the end of the month to sign up.

I am also searching for a couple of beta readers who love paranormal romance. Mine is on the erotic side, so please, only those over 18 years of age. I don't expect anyone to edit or critique my manuscript. I want to know what well read paranormal romance fans think of my story. If you'd like to help me out, please email me at christinerains.writer@gmail.com.