by Christine | Life, Observations
I’m so thrilled that I’m carrying a camera with me everywhere. I had the great good fortune to speak at the monthly Orange County Chapter of RWA last week. Here’s me with the WANA folks that came. I was so happy to see them! From left to right – Jenny Hansen, me, Tameri Etherton, Kate Wood, Bethany Lopez, and Debra Kristi, all of whom are kick-ass writers and bloggers, so please go check them out. We have Kristen Lamb and the We Are Not Alone group in common, so it was doubly nice to see them in person.
The WANA gang at OCC RWA 1-12-13.
As you may know, we here in So Cal have been bitching whining upset about the cold temps we’ve been going through. A couple of weeks ago there was ice – not only all over my poor basil, killing it dead, but even in the streets. Here’s a photo of the partially-frozen gutter water. Hey, to a San Diegan, this is way cool stuff.
Ice in the gutter outside my office, about 9am.
The other day I tried to explain to someone my unreasoning hatred of palm trees. I couldn’t convince this guy from Ohio that palm trees are pretty dang useless. I mean, they don’t provide lots of shade from the sun, and they don’t give us anything to eat. And when they’re planted with a pine tree of some sort between, it causes a synapse interrupt for me. As in, these trees do not compute. (Don’t talk to me about date palms. Would you eat dates from a palm tree grown in Los Angeles? Yeah. Didn’t think so.)
Do the palm trees look out of place, or is it just me?
I guess there’s no changing the whole palm-tree thing now. I’m just a few decades too late. Are there trees planted in your neighborhood that just don’t go together? I’d love to know!
That’s it for today. Thanks for stopping by! On Writer Wednesday, Marian Lanouette will be here with her latest release, so we hope to see you then.
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?
by Christine | Writer Wednesday, Writing
I’ve been neglecting my reading. No, seriously, and that’s another reason why I started Writer Wednesday on my blog. To find authors I REALLY want to read. I picked up Kendall Grey’s Inhale quite a while ago, and haven’t read it. *headdesk* Stupid me. Because I started it today and it’s fantastic. I don’t know where it’s going, but I already love the world. And Gavin. (Serena has to be all wrong for him. Just saying!)
Kendall Grey. Ain’t she awesome?
Anyway, here is the interview I did with Kendall. Enjoy!
CAA: What made you decide to write a novel?
KG: Like a lot of people, I read TWILIGHT and thought, “I could write a book!” I often wonder how many writing careers Stephenie Meyer launched with her series.
Of course, very few of us reach the level of popularity that Ms. Meyer did. It took me four years to get my first book published, and it’s still nowhere near perfect. Every time I open INHALE, I see all the things I did wrong. A writer’s work is NEVER done, but as long as you learn from your mistakes, you can only get better.
CA: Why whales? Please tell us what you do!
KG: Whales became my passion in 2006 after I took an education course (I’m a former teacher) about Situated Cognition. The theory is that people do best when they’re fully immersed in the topic or skill they want to learn. To prove the point, our class went out on a whale watch boat every day. We learned about the whales in their natural habitat, and then we taught passengers on the boat about the animals. In the course of a week, I fell totally and madly in love with the humpbacks up there in Massachusetts.
When I got home, I hit the Interwebz and soaked up everything my wee brain could absorb about whales. I went into schools (and still do) to talk to kids about what they can do to help whales. I’m a freakish fanatic. I plan my vacations around where the whales are at any given time.
When I decided to write, the heroine and hero were no-brainers. Passionate whale biologist meets gorgeous, young Australian rock star dream guy? Hell, yes!
CA: That sounds fan-FREAKING-tastic! How many books/short stories do you have planned for this series?
KG: The JUST BREATHE series is a trilogy, so just three books. I published four short “Ephemera” stories that complement the books, and I’d like to put out one more of those. There’s a character whose storyline got blown wide open at the end of JUST BREATHE, and I’ve already started writing his book, too. As long as these Elementals and Sentinels keep talking to me, I’ll keep writing about them. 🙂
CA: And that’s totally awesome. Where would you live, if you could live anywhere in the world?
KG: Either Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia (where the JUST BREATHE Trilogy takes place) or the island of Maui. Both places are gorgeous, and both boast some of the best whale watching in the world. 🙂 <– See how I did that? I brought whales into that question. It’s how my brain works. HA!
CA: LOL! Okay – Name 3 simple joys in your life.
KG: Aside from my three Demonlings, I get great joy from writing, whales, and sewing. Not necessarily in that order.
CA: More whales, lol! If you could have dinner with any famous person, living or dead or fictional, who would it be and where would you go to eat?
KG: That’s a loaded question! I’d love to have dinner with the hero of my books, Gavin Cassidy. Really, I’d love to just sit across from him and stare for a day or two. This vegetarian might even be willing to go to a steak house with him. 😉
As for a real person, lately I’ve been reading about Che Guevara. That dude was some kind of intense. It would be really interesting to have a conversation with him. About anything.
CA: From what I’ve read, I’d be happy to stare at Gavin for a couple of days, too! Ahem. If you could give just one piece of advice to a writer starting out, what would it be?
KG: Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can’t do. You can do any damn thing you want. Just do it well.
CA: Name one thing your fans would be surprised to learn about you.
KG: Most people are surprised I was a middle school teacher. Probably because they can’t imagine my obnoxious mouth flapping at sweet, impressionable 12-year-old kids. HA! The truth is, I *loved* teaching, and middle school kids are so freaking fun.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?
KG: I’d like to thank you for inviting me to visit your blog today, Christine. You’re an awesome host. 🙂
CA: Aww. That’s so sweet of you! (Your $20 is in the mail, lol!)
Okay – that’s the interview. Let’s get a gander at the cover of Just Breathe, shall we?
Just Breathe, 3rd novel in the Trilogy
And the blurb, of course…
WARNING: This book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. NOT SUITABLE FOR READERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
He made a deal with the devil to save the woman he loves…
After a terrible accident rocks the foundation of their relationship, Australian Sentinel Gavin Cassidy and whale biologist Zoe Morgan call it quits. Gavin can’t forgive himself for shattering her trust, and being with the sexy rock star is killing Zoe. Literally.
But love—and duty—are powerful motivators, and alliances are forged in the most unlikely places. With the key to salvation locked inside the mind of an unconscious child, Gavin must find another way to snuff out the Fyre Elementals before millions of humans die, or make good on his deal with the devil and lose the one he loves. Again.
*The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATHE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face.
JUST BREATHE is live at:
Kendall is ALSO sharing at her blog http://www.kendallgrey.com about her first donation to help educate people about whales. Go to her blog and check it out!
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. What do you think? Does the Just Breathe trilogy intrigue you as much as it does me?
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?
by Christine | Uncategorized
Today kicks off my Writer Wednesday feature. I’ll be showcasing writers with interviews, guest blog posts, blurbs of their latest books, and so forth. For my inaugural guest, please welcome author Patricia C. Lee!
Patricia, let’s get down to the interview. (Rubs hands.) No, don’t squirm. This won’t hurt!
CA: What do you write?
PCL: I write fantasy/romance now, but have written literary short stories as well as one-act and full length plays (one of which was staged at a theatre regional festival in 2006).
CA: Other than writing, what is your favorite creative endeavor?
PCL: Hmmm, well I love to bake (is that classified as creative??) In my house it’s almost a necessity (my hubby is a HUGE cookie monster LOL!). I used to do a lot of cross stitch but that’s put to the wayside for a while because once I start a project I keep at it. This then takes away from my writing. OH! And I’ve only just recently got into making book trailers and I find that I LOVE it!! In fact I like it as much as the actual writing. If I could make money at it, I’d do it for a living!
CA: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?
PCL: As corny as this sounds I love living in Canada, and if I could afford it, I’d live in Parksville, British Columbia in an instant.
CA: Name three joys in your life.
PCL: Without sounding too esoteric, my health is number one. I know too many friends and family members that have major health issues and I am so thankful I don’t. Other than that, I’d have to say reading (duh, of course), my hubby and my cats. Ohhh, and can I add wine to that too!!
CA: If you could share a meal with any author or any literary character, who would you choose, and what would you serve?
PCL: Literary character is a stumper because there isn’t one that stands out over the other. As for author, Sidney Sheldon, my all-time favorite. Since he’s passed away, well what would you serve a ghost!! But seriously, if he was alive, umm, I make an awesome Beef Sirloin tips in mushroom sauce that my husband says could be on a restaurant menu. That served over butter noodles, accompanied with baby spinach salad, and to finish off the meal my show-stopper – Black Forest Cake (spoken about in hushed and reverend tones LOL!!)
CA: WOW – that sounds totally yummy!
CA: Is there anything else you want people to know about you?
PCL: Well, as you can see I have a somewhat warped sense of humor. But I do take my writing very seriously because I believe if people are going to spend their hard-earned money on my books, then I had better make sure it’s the best it could possibly be.
Thanks for answering. See, that didn’t hurt, lol! Now, let’s get to the book, shall we?
Here’s the Cover:
Here’s the Blurb:
Destiny’s Present (Book 2 Daughters of the Crescent Moon):
The sorceress Narena has done many things for Leisos – advised the king, helped heal a young girl and sent a prince forward in time to save his life. Now, to protect her people, she may have to sacrifice herself, her lover, her child. Maybe even all three.
She hunts for the one who threatens the royal family and the throne of Leisos. And also seeks the daughter taken from her at birth. There’s only one problem. They might be one and the same. What she finds on her quest is love and hate, loyalty and betrayal, and a revelation that will change her life forever.
Ardis is a warrior and former captain of the king’s army. His allegiance to the throne lives in his blood – as does the secret he carries. He will protect both at all costs. Even if it means killing Narena – or someone she loves.
Here’s where you can find Patricia! Go stalk her, if you don’t mind (because I know she won’t mind, lol!)
Website – http://www.patriciaclee.com/
Blog: http://authorpatriciaclee.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/authorpatriciaclee
email: authorpatriciaclee@yahoo.com
BUY LINK: Destiny’s Present
Thanks for dropping by, Patricia – the book looks totally awesome! I’m loading it up on my Kindle as we speak.
oOo
Are you interested in being on Writer Wednesday? Drop me an email and let’s talk!
oOo
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?
by Christine | Writing
Please give a big welcome to Toni De Palma the author of The Devil’s Triangle!
Blurb:
When 17 year old Cooper dies in an attempt to burn down his school, he finds himself in the afterlife. Lucy, the Devil’s sister who has crossed party lines, decides to give Cooper another shot at heaven. The deal? Cooper returns to Earth and has to find a girl named Grace. The rest is up to him.
While Cooper figures out his mission, he’s thrown into the life he’s always wanted. Great parents, a spot on the Varsity football team and a real future are all within reach. But what he really wants is Grace, a feisty girl with an abusive boyfriend that can pound Cooper into pulp if he doesn’t watch out.
While Lucy plays demonic-puppeteer, clues to an unknown past between Cooper and Grace start to unravel. Cooper discovers that what’s keeping he and Grace apart is far more sinister than anything this bad boy could have ever imagined.
Doesn’t that sound cool? It’s coming soon from Crescent Moon Press, so keep a watch out for it!
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?
by Christine | Reviews
The last couple of weeks I’ve been reading like it’s going out of style. My taste is diverse, as you’ll see from this list! I highly recommend ALL of these books. If you click on the link on the title, it’ll take you to the Amazon page for that book. If the author is highlighted, click there and it will take you to their website.
First up – Darynda Jones’ new series starts with Death and the Girl Next Door. A 
Paranormal YA novel, this book totally kicks ass and takes names. I am a HUGE Darynda fan and was thrilled to have met her in person when she came to speak to the Orange County Chapter of RWA in November.
The book is fun, snarky, gets dark, and has some wonderful twists to it. The 3 best friends, sophmores, skip school a lot, but unless your teen is hyper susceptible to suggestion this shouldn’t be a deterrent. This is exactly the type of book I wished had been in style when I was a teenager.
Next is Teresa Hill’s Twelve Days of Christmas
This is a wonderful novel. QUITE the tear-jerker, and the one that comes after this one, Emma’s story, looks to be just as much a tear-jerker. Teresa has written for Harlequin for many years and has a lot of stories out there, but I’d never read her before this book. It was on my Kindle, had a Christmas title, so I read it – devoured it – in one 3 hour stretch of time over the weekend. Lovely, really very lovely.
To stick with the Christmas theme, I need to put in a book that I JUST finished yesterday
by Regan Walker called The Holly and the Thistle, a short historical romance set in London at Christmas time. It was a lovely story about a widow, a Scotsman, and Christmas traditions, and I HIGHLY recommend it. She also has a full-length historical out that I haven’t read yet, but it looks fantastic. It’s called Racing With The Wind and is the beginning of her Agents of the Crown series.
And last but not least, Tara Lain’s Beautiful Boys of Romance! Volley Balls, Fire Balls and Beach Balls all in one volume called Balls to the Wall. LOVED these stories set in one of my favorite places, Laguna Beach. LOVE the men, the way they fall in love, their insecurities and their macho attitude and how their hearts are speared by love, but my favorite of the three is Beach Balls. What a lovely story! I’m a new reader of Tara’s – these are the first books of hers I’ve read – and got to meet her at OCC’s chapter meeting in November. I can tell you, I’ll definitely be picking up more of her books!
That’s all I have for right now – thanks for stopping by. Tell me, what have YOU read lately that you think I’ll love?
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?
