Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Kristine Cayne's New Firefighter Series - Title Poll Results

Hello readers! First off, I want to thank everyone who offered up a title and everyone who participated in the poll. I received over 90 fabulous suggestions, and an astounding 119 votes in the Top 10 poll. I'm really happy with how all this turned out.



So here are the poll results:

Question: My new rescue firefighter romance series needs a title. Which ones are your favorites? (Poll Closed)

Seattle Heat  20.17%  (24 votes)
Men of Fire  17.65%  (21 votes)
Six Alarm Sexy  13.45%  (16 votes)
Hazardous Duty  9.24%  (11 votes)
Blazing Desires  8.4%  (10 votes)
Five Alarm Heroes  8.4%  (10 votes)
Rain City Heat  8.4%  (10 votes)
Heroes of Station 44  6.72%  (8 votes)
Hard, Hot, and Heroic / Hard, Hot Heroes  4.2%  (5 votes)
Fire and Rain  3.36%  (4 votes)

Total Votes: 119

Which title will I use for my new rescue firefighter series? 

Hmm... I'm still debating that. I love all of these titles and would be happy going with any one of them, really. I'm working with a cover artist and a photographer to create the cover of the first book in the series, Under His Command. I think that my choice will be based on what works best with the book titles and cover branding I decide to use. It will most certainly be one of the top three.

Who gets a super sexy 2013 NYC Firefighter Calendar?

In all likelihood, I'll be picking one of the top three titles, I've decided to give a calendar to all three wonderful readers who suggested the top three titles.

Congratulations!!!!

Seattle Heat - Rhonda (slinkydennis)
Men of Fire - Lillie (PolarisGreen)
Six Alarm Sexy - Karen Dailey

I will try to contact each of you to get your mailing information. If you don't hear from me by tomorrow morning, that means something is wrong with your email address. So, please email me at kristine (at) kristinecayne (dot) com

Thank you all for your participation and for making this such a fun process!

~Kristine

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Guest Post by Barbara Phinney: A Very Dangerous Occupation--Spending Time with an Author

Readers, it's my great pleasure to host Barbara Phinney today. Like myself, Barbara writes romantic suspense. But she also writes romantic comedy, which will be more than evident as you read this hilarious explanation of some of her book-related escapades. Take it away, Barbara!



A VERY DANGEROUS OCCUPATION – SPENDING TIME WITH AN AUTHOR

It all started when I convinced my friend to sneak over the border in broad daylight.
And she did.
But she was caught.
Ahh, the things we do for a good story idea.

When I mention that I'm a writer, the first question is, invariably, "Where do you get your ideas?"

So naturally, I've decided to answer that question here.  (And maybe explain my opening sentences.) Here's the answer. There is no simple answer. Ideas, to writers, are as nebulous as mists and as concrete as, well, concrete. Ideas, those tiny kernels that eventually become novels come from anything from newsclips, such as the town deciding to take the law into its own hands, as in Deadly Homecoming, a visit to my sister's home in Colchester, England,  as in Bound to the Warrior, (March 2013 ), or as I eluded in my opener, sneaking over the border and getting caught as with Desperate Rescue.

And as I promised, I will explain my nefarious conduct. My family and our friends were over in Maine, at a Christian camp there, just after I learned that my Love Inspired Suspense proposal was accepted. Now I needed story stuff. And what better way than to actually experience it. So my friend, also a Barbara, and I took a short trip to see what the 'longest undefended border' looked like. Well, guess what?  It was just a wooden fence.


"Climb over it, Barbie," I suggested slyly. "I'll take a picture of you sneaking into Canada."
Well, sneaking isn't the right word here. Did you know they have cameras on the border?  And that a border guard can be anywhere within minutes? (I didn't)

Well, a very nice young man arrived, and as a 'slightly older' lady, I began to explain that I was a writer and began to pump him for information. This nice young man was patient, professional, and obviously wanting us to just climb back over and leave the area. We did, but I got what I wanted and so the story, Desperate Rescue, was born.

Now, sometimes, stories come from something as odd as a dress. All For A Good Cause, my wedding caper, began from a friend who belonged to a Society for Creative Anachronism and who once wore a stunning 13th-century gown, complete with all the appropriate bling. I envisioned my heroine in a long gown. And stifling in the summer's heat, for charity function.



With Hard Target, ( I found my story came from two sources.  Another friend worked as security chief at a South American embassy, and, years later, I had the honor of taking two mission trips to Bolivia. From those two unrelated incidents, Hard Target was formed.



So although writers get their ideas generally from one source, be it a setting, a news article or a personality, all writers will admit that they can come from anywhere. And what the most interesting part is, is that like a seed, the final product will never resemble that kernel of the first idea.

Which is probably a good thing, otherwise I'd be writing this from a jail in Maine.

Barbara's Links

Her blog: http://barbphinney.blogspot.ca/
Her website: www.barbaraphinney.com
Twitter: @BarbaraPhinney

KC: Thank you, Barbara! I loved hearing about where you the inspiration for your stories. Readers, if you have any questions for Barbara, or any comments, please feel free to leave them in the comments section.

Happy reading!
Kristine

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Visit Kristine Cayne at the #NWBookFest Book Signing, Sept. 22-23




Readers, let me tell you about this wonderful event! The Northwest Bookfest is put on each year by the King County Library System with the goal of connecting readers with writers. How awesome is that?!

This year, the bookfest is taking place on September 22-23, 10am - 6pm, Peter Kirk Park, 202 3rd St., Downtown Kirkland, WA. The bookfest is packed with workshop and author panels. Many local authors will be on hand in the booths to sign books. Check out the full schedule of events here.

Here are some important times I want to highlight for those of you who are in the area:

Sat. 9/22: 10:00 - 12:00PM
Book Signing - Crista McHugh is in the Eastside RWA books, signing books and giving away goodies.

Sat. 9/22: 2:00 - 4:00PM
Book Signing - Kristine Cayne will be in the Eastside RWA booth, signing copies of Deadly Obsession and Deadly Addiction. The fabulous Dana Delamar will also be there, signing copies of her tremendously powerful Blood and Honor series (Revenge and Retribution).

Sat. 9/22: 7:00 - 9:00PM
Hot and Spicy: Milagro Cantina, 148 Lake St., Kirkland
J.D. Munro, Shelli Stevens, Audrey McManus – Marketing/Education Coordinator,
Babeland Seattle will be chatting it up with readers and talking about the sexier side of romance.


Sun. 9/23: 11:30 - 1:00PM
11 Edits You Must Make to Look Like a Pro: Kirkland Community Center, Room 3
Want to strengthen your character development, tighten and intensify your dialogue, mprove your pacing? Join Christine Fairchild, romantic suspense author and editor, for this fabulous workshop guaranteed to improve your writing.

Sun. 9/23: 12:00 - 1:00PM
Book Signing Crista McHugh is in the Eastside RWA books, signing books and giving away goodies.

Sun. 9/23: 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Queens of Romance Tea at the Park Place Center (space #418), reservations required. (See here for more details.) Local writing superstars Elizabeth Boyle, Yasmine Galenorn, Teresa Meyers, and Susan Wiggs will be talking about romance in all its sub-genres. Note: I'll be at this tea since my RWA chapter is co-sponsoring it!

Sun. 9/23: 4:00 - 6:00PM
Book Signing - Kristine Cayne will be in the Eastside RWA booth, signing copies of Deadly Obsession and Deadly Addiction. The fabulous Dana Delamar will also be there, signing copies of her tremendously powerful Blood and Honor series (Revenge and Retribution).

If you can, please drop by to show your support of KCLS and your local authors :)
~Kristine

Friday, September 14, 2012

New Firefighter Series Title - Vote For Your Favorites!


On Monday, I asked readers to suggest titles for my new sexy rescue firefighter series. The response was tremendous! Thank you so much to everyone who participated. All the ideas were wonderful, but I did have to make a short list so we could vote on them. The winner will get this 2013 NYC Firefighter Calendar!


Now for the specifics:

I received almost 90 entries. Wow! With the help of a few close friends, I narrowed the list down to what are for me the top 10 title suggestions. Congratulations to all who made the short-listed suggestions!

Readers, it's your turn now! Vote for all your favorite titles, listed here in no particular order. (Yes, you can vote on more than one.) The poll will close on Monday night (9/17/2012). Please let your friends know so they can join in the fun too :)






Thank you!
~Kristine

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Spotlight: J.A. Lynch, author of Within the Shadows

Hello readers. I'm pleased to welcome debut author J.A. Lynch, who will talk with us about her new novel, Within the Shadows. Thank you Making Connections Blog Tours for including us!





Title: Within the Shadows
Author: J.A. Lynch
Published: July 18th 2012 by Vamptasy
Genre: paranormal romance

ASIN: B008MZJB3W


Synopsis
“Living on the razors edge, Giselle Burgman's life is torn apart by her cheating boyfriend. Little does she realise that he is the least of her worries when her long term friend Alex introduces her to his family and a new, darker world. A world of lies, deceit and corruption. Thrown from one problem straight into another, the razors edge gets thinner and sharper, testing Giselle's sanity and vitality. Not even she can hide when living within the shadows.”




Reviews
“The story is a page turner. I had to keep finding out what happened next and normally, I don't like vampire novels. Ms. Lynch has given me a new love for vampire stories with this gem.” Erin Miller


“It is not your average vampire story and brings a refreshing new take to the world of vampires. The characters are well developed and intrigue from the word go and the story doesn't stop for you to catch your breath. It will astound, amaze and bewitch you.” Stacem

“I would recommend this book to everyone that enjoys a great book with the ability to keep you guessing. I will have to say this is one of my favorites!” Gale Nelson

About the Author
Fiery Librian Julieanne Lynch is an author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Julieanne lives in Northern Ireland, where she works on her Shadows Trilogy and other series full-time. Before becoming a writer, she considered a few different career paths, a rock star being one of them. She studied English Literature and Creative Writing at The Open University, and considered journalism as a career path. However, she decided writing was the way for her and believes all of her education and reading prepared her for it.

An avid reader, Julieanne has always had an encompassing fascination with folklore. When not writing, she enjoys crime series such as Criminal Minds, CSI, NCIS and Cold Case, and loves anything with Vampires, listening to metal, meeting new people, drinking lots of green tea, and sharing her dreams with her children. She is a self-professed goth wanna-be, and is happy when left to write into the early hours of the morning.

Julieanne's YA series, The Shadows Trilogy, is published by Vamptasy Publishing and thus far contains In the Shadows. It follows the war between vampires and shadow creatures. Giselle Bergman, an 18-year old human girl, falls victim to a scheme by one of her closest childhood friends, and embarks on a journey that sees her become the centre of a battle between good and evil.


Find Julieanne online
http://www.julieannelynch.co.uk
http://www.julieannelynch.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieanneLynch


Where to purchase Within the Shadows
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Freewebstore.org


Excerpt from Within the Shadows
Alarming as it might have been, I was quite excited. Sounds pretty crazy, but I think I got caught up in the moment, and being made a fuss of was definitely something I could get used to.

But, as always, reality has a nasty way of hitting you hard in the face.

I walked behind Atarah and Angelika as they led me through corridors that looked like something out of a gothic fairy tale. The walls were a strange shade of pomegranate, its boldness illuminated by softly lit candles. The wooden floors were temporarily covered with a bluish red runner that ran the whole length of the hall. Amaranthine drapes hung over the grand bay windows. The air had a distinct aroma, and although I could not quite place the smell I was sure it was incense. Its strong, fragrant smoke brushed the back of my nostrils, resulting in a few disapproving sneezes.

I sniffled, “Excuse me!” as we entered the hall through a large set of oak doors.

It was a very dramatic entrance. Standing below me were hundreds of unknown faces. A few stood out, but they were strangers all the same. They wore a mixture of black and purple clothes.

The women were dressed in floor-length gowns, their hair pulled back tight and their hands covered by long lace gloves. The men’s attire consisted of black herringbone frockcoats with matching black trousers. All wore purple shirts with black cravats.

I looked around, trying to find Alex, and there he stood with Leonid, in front of an altar.

It was the most spectacular scene I had ever seen. Lighted candles and floral arrangements of violets, orchids, red roses, lilies and irises filled the entire room. The scent was overwhelming.

Silence fell, and all eyes were on me. My stomach churned and panic set in. I wanted to run through the doors and as far from there as I could, but behind me were two large men, standing in front of the doors. They were not going to move for me.

I stood alone and watched the smile spread across Alex’s face as he ushered me to him.

I must have floated down the stairs, as I cannot remember walking down. The crowd moved as I walked down an aisle strewn with rose petals.

Alex looked amazing. I had never seen him look so handsome. He wore identical clothes to the rest of the men, except that his cravat matched the grey marl in the sash I wore around my waist. His smile illuminated the whole room and in normal circumstances would have melted my heart, but there was something sinister in his eyes. A deep redness flickered in the light of the candles.

I was so out of my depth.

Taking my hand, he led me to a stone slab in front of the altar. Shaking, my voice quivered as I whispered to him.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s your consecration. Remember, you will be blessed tonight. Just follow my lead.”

He was so calm, and it seemed that he expected me to mirror his demure behaviour. I was anything but calm. Sweat began to seep in the palms of my hands. So many eyes were upon me.

Breathe Giselle, just breathe!

Alex, directed me to lie down on the stone slab. I obliged, and rested my body on the coldness of the rock beneath me. Incense filled the space around me; no air just smoky fumes. There were four men, one standing at each corner of the slab and each holding a staff. Their eyes filled with the crimson tide that was visible in both Alex and Leonid. Alex stood back and disappeared behind his father. I was alone with the strange men, each mumbling to himself.

From the altar came the voice of someone I knew.

Atarah.

=======

Thank you everyone for joining us today. Feel free to leave your comments and/or questions below.

Happy reading!
Kristine

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Help Me Name My New Firefighter Series!

Hi everyone,

I need your help! As some of you may know, I'm writing a new (very hot) rescue firefighter series. But I'm having trouble coming up with good name for the series. Since Aftershocks, the prequel to the series, is coming out next month as part of the Romance in the Rain anthology, things are getting serious. :D

That's where all of you come in. Give me your suggestions along with your email address. Suggestions close on Thursday, and we'll vote on the winning title on Friday. Does this sound like fun?

Here's some info that might help you:
- the series takes place in Seattle
- the series is racy (more so than my Deadly Vices series)
- the covers will feature sexy torsos
- the firefighters are from the technical rescue team. Although they are firefighters and can assist on fire rescues, the technical rescue team typically handles the more difficult or unusual rescues like building collapse, tunnel rescues, confined space rescues, heavy equipment rescues, marine rescues, search and rescue, etc.

If I use your suggestion, you will win the 2013 NYC Firefighter Calendar! If for some reason I don't use any of the suggestions, I'll randomly pick a winner from the comments. 


Note: by submitting a series title in this contest, you are doing so freely and are consenting to my using it free of any charge or attribution. Contest closes 

Ready? Okay let's start.

~Kristine