Character guest post from Christine Rains' The 13th Floor Collection

Lois King, a character from Christine Rains' 1303 - The Dragonslayer, stopped by my blog to talk about one of my favorite subjects... Xan. :)

The 13th Floor Collection blog tour guest post – Lois King
By Christine Rains

LOIS KING FROM 1303 – THE DRAGONSLAYER

Xan has organized the dresser drawers again. Seriously! Who folds and puts in color order their underwear? Real people just take whatever is on top of their laundry pile and be happy that they had time to clean their clothes.

I resist the urge to mess up the drawer and ignore Huff as she climbs onto the bed. The ferret isn't suppose to be in there, but it's not like Xan will know. Okay. Maybe he'll know. That man has an infuriating way of catching every detail. And it's so damn sexy.

He's been gone for a few days on a mission. One of my favorite pop singers is a dragon. Yeah, I know it sounds ridiculous, but I helped Xan gather the evidence. It's frightening to think that people, no, not people, creatures of legend still exist and have so much power over humans. So few of us left in the world know dragons still exist. And no matter what movies and books make of them, they're not friendly or waiting for the right woman to come along to tame them. They're just plain evil.

The front door creaks as it opens. Xan's back! He survived. Relief makes me giddy. I have to hold myself back from rushing into the other room and tackling him to the floor.

Smiling, I have a better idea. He just happened to leave my fire engine red negligee on top of his neat little pile. I slip it on over my head and lie on the bed. Shooing Huff from under the pillows, I crook a finger at Xan as he steps into the bedroom.

His shirt comes off in a blinding sweep of one muscled arm before his body covers mine. Oh yes!

Title: The 13th Floor Complete Collection
Author: Christine Rains
Genre: paranormal romance

Release date: October 13th, 2013

Blurb:
Six supernatural tenants
Living in a haunted apartment building
On a floor that doesn't exist.

Six novellas telling their tales.

A retired demon acquires a price on his head.
A werewolf is hunted by her pack.
A modern day dragonslayer misses his target.
A harpy challenges Zeus for the soul of the man she loves.
A vampire is obsessed with a young woman he can't find.
A banshee falls in love with someone who's death she has seen in a vision.
And a sweet ghost must battle a primal monster to save them all.

All the stories take place at the same time intertwining their lives together on the 13th Floor.

Includes “The Shadow,” a bonus short story.

Goodreads

Purchase links for this amazing series:
Amazon

B&N

Kobo

Smashwords

Author Bio:
Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not writing or reading, she having adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. The 13th Floor series is her first self-published series. She has eight novellas and twenty-one short stories published.

Places to find Christine Rains:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads: Christine Rains

The 13th Floor Collection cover reveal

Here's Christine Rains 13th Floor Collection cover reveal!!! I wanted to post this on Sunday, but this weekend didn't go as planned. :(



Title: The 13th Floor Complete Collection
Author: Christine Rains
Genre: paranormal romance

Release date: October 13th, 2013

Blurb:
Six supernatural tenants
Living in a haunted apartment building
On a floor that doesn't exist.







Six novellas telling their tales.





A retired demon acquires a price on his head.
A werewolf is hunted by her pack.
A modern day dragonslayer misses his target.
A harpy challenges Zeus for the soul of the man she loves.
A vampire is obsessed with a young woman he can't find.
A banshee falls in love with someone who's death she has seen in a vision.
And a sweet ghost must battle a primal monster to save them all.

All the stories take place at the same time intertwining their lives together on the 13th Floor.


Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not writing or reading, she having adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. The 13th Floor series is her first self-published series. She has eight novellas and twenty-one short stories published.
Website: http://christinerains.net/
Blog: http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchristinerains
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@CRainsWriter
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4017568.Christine_Rains

X is for Xanthus Ehrensvard

Xanthus Ehrensvard (Xan) is a character in Christine Rains' novella The Dragonslayer - #3 in her 13th Floor Series. 

Hi, Xan! Describe yourself in five words.

Efficient, rational, ethical, ordered, focused.

Now, describe Lois in five words.

Audacious, spirited, crafty, candid, beautiful.

Do you have a celebrity crush?

A celebrity crush? No, I don't keep up on the Hollywood scene. Any celebrity that I've taken particular notice of has turned out to be a dragon.

What’s your job title?

Like my father and my grandfather and all my honored ancestors, I am a dragonslayer.

What’s your weapon of choice?

While I have a number of Barretts in my collection that I use most often, I do prefer the XM2010 Remington Enhanced Sniper Rifle. 

Do you have a perfect vacation spot, you know, to recuperate from all that dragon hunting.

Vacation? I've never been, but Lois wants to take a cruise. I don't understand the draw of lazing around on a boat with a thousand other people. There's a chance of too many things going wrong. And the mess. No, thank you.

It’s the end of the world, and you’re only allowed three items from your home—two necessities and one sentimental. What are you grabbing?

The end of the world? What do you mean? You need to be more specific here. Are we expected to fight? Then I'd take weapons. If the world is going to explode, then material things are useless. There are too many-- All right. Lois is telling me to answer the question like a normal person. I would take her and my ancestors' lance as necessities, and-- No, I'm not taking the ferret. What use-- Okay. Huff the ferret as the sentimental thing.

*Word association time! What’s the first thought that comes to mind when I say the following:

Ice cream - vanilla
Excalibur - a sword of legend
Camera - annoying device

Thanks for stopping by Xan, and thank you, Christine, for writing such an awesome character!

1303 - THE DRAGONSLAYER

On the rooftop of neighboring building, dragonslayer Xanthus Ehrensvard fires at his target, Governor Whittaker. How he missed the shot, he doesn't know, but fleeing the scene, he picks up an unwanted passenger. Gorgeous reporter Lois King saw Xan's face, and she believes it's the story to make her career. Except he can't let her walk away knowing what he looks like. Xan has to show her the Governor is a bigger threat to the world than he is.

Xan knows dragons never went extinct. They evolved with human society, taking on mortal forms, and slithered their way into positions of great influence and power, just like the Governor. But it's no easy chore proving to someone that dragons still exist, and even more so, they're disguised as famous people. Xan must convince Lois or find another way to silence her. An option, as he gets to know her, he likes less and less.

After all, dragonslayers are no longer celebrated heroes but outlaws. Just as the dragons wish it. But this outlaw must make a plan to slay the dragon or risk its retribution.

Purchase links:
Amazon
Smashwords
B&N
Kobo 

You can also find Christine on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

For details and participants, check out the A to Z Blogging Challenge HERE.

Christine Rains - Guest Post

When Christine Rains suggested a post on being a writer mom, my first thought was--yes, please! As a mom of four sons, I wanted any advice I could to help me in this writing venture.

Thanks, Christine, for guest posting! Take it away... 

BEING A WRITER MOM By Christine Rains

I just sat down in my office chair to write and something crunched. Standing up, I stared down at the Cheerios. A few of them were soggy. When? How? I don't know. I went into the kitchen to fetch a dishtowel and almost walked into the open cupboards. All the cupboards were open, and in each one, there were more Cheerios. Writing would have to wait.

This is the life of a writer mom. Things have a way of popping up to prevent you from writing. The characters in your head aren't patient either. They demand attention in the same way a toddler does: by talking really loud or leaving messes in your mind which keep you from focusing on anything else.

Being a writer and a mom requires strict time management. You need to grab what little free time you have and make the most of it. This includes a few minutes here and a few minutes there. It might also mean staying up later after the children are in bed or waking up before they do. Yet for those of you who don't like to miss any precious sleep time like me, you need to find alternative ways to gain time to write.

If you're lucky to have an understanding partner and/or family available to watch the kids, don't feel guilty for taking advantage of them. You can return the favor later on. Letting yourself indulge in some writing time allows you to find some level of sanity, and you're able to better cope with everything else.

Make a schedule and stick to it. I realize sometimes this is impossible, but having a schedule will allow you to focus on one thing at a time rather than having your mind scattered. For example, the morning is spent with the kids running errands and a play-date. After lunch, maybe the little ones go down for a nap and the older kids can watch a favorite show. That's your time to write. Just knowing that hour is coming up really helps get you through the day.

The best piece of advice I've been given by other parents is to carry around a notebook. I didn't think this would work for me. I'm not a note-taking kind of gal. I was certain I'd remember all my brilliant ideas and write about them later. Nope. Children will suck your brain clean. I'm lucky to remember which day it is sometimes.

Remember, you're not alone as a parent nor as a writer. Connect with other writers and find out what works for them. You can write a book even if you're chasing after a toddler all day. Good luck with your writing and finding all the Cheerios.

Title: 1301 – The Marquis

Author: Christine Rains

Genre: paranormal romance

Release date: December 13^th, 2012

Blurb:

Life after Hell isn't more exciting than watching football and fixing a busted pipe. Once a powerful demon, Marc enjoys his quiet existence and a good cup of coffee. With big ambitions to gain his master's favor, a trickster demon named Vetis shatters Marc's peace and vows to deliver Marc's head to the fires of Hell. Not before he destroys everything Marc cares about, of course.

Marc's power has diminished over the years. Heaven will never grant him absolution, and he refuses to return to Hell. Running isn't an option. The city of Carmine is his territory. It's also home to his favorite cafe owner, Mae Hopkins. The dame has a lovely smile, but it's her heart and soul that shine bright.

While his city burns and his love is captured, Marc must decide to surrender or let hate and anger fuel him to become the fearsome beast he so loathes: The Marquis. If the Marquis rises, Vetis can be defeated and Mae saved, but Marc would be lost to his demon forever.

Author Bio:

Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not writing or reading, she having adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of S.C.I.F.I. The 13^th Floor series is her first self-published series. She also has two novellas and sixteen short stories published.

Sites to find Christine lurking about

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Purchase Links for 1301 The Marquis
Amazon

Smashwords
Kobo
B&N

Monster Blogfest and Christine Rains Fearless release

Christine Rains is hosting this awesome blogfest - What was your childhood monster? - 

in celebration of her new book Fearless. Click on her cover below for info. 

Congrats, Christine, on this! 

Can't wait to check it out!

And now for the blogfest... Click on the pic below for more info if you'd like to join in on the creepy fun! You can find my story below.

Closet monster...

When I was younger, I had a canopy bed draped in shades of pink and white with blue Holly Hobbie print on it. (Do you know who that is? If not, dayam I'm old.) 

I used to think the canopy was my protection, like a shield. As long as I was under it, no one or thing, could harm me.

I also had a walk-in closet... we had a love/hate relationship. 

In the daytime, it was fun to play in it, like it was my own little retreat. I'd go in there to read, have tea parties, and a place to get away from my three pesky brothers. 

At night, that closet came to life.

After I'd get ready for bed, I'd shut my closet door then fold down my comforter. I'd turn off the room light and sprint to my bed, praying that nothing grabbed my feet. I'd dive in and cover myself up to my eyeballs because - remember - as long as I was under my canopy nothing could get me. The blankets were just a bonus, in my mind. But even with my canopy and blanket, I was still scared.

One time, I did my nighttime routine, but it wasn't until I peeked out from under the blankets that I saw light trickling out from underneath the closet door. A few moments later, shadows moved around inside. I could see them from under the door because I'd left that stupid light on!   I. Was. Terrified. To make matters worse, we had hardwood floors so every creak of a board intensified the already creepy feeling.

I stared at the door for hours, or that's what it felt like anyway. It was probably more like ten minutes. Then, I got worried. What if one of my brothers was in there? What if they got stuck in there trying to play a joke on me and now the closet monster was hurting them?

I panicked, jumped out of bed, and opened the door to find no brothers. Just my clothes hanging there. I looked up at the string dangling from the closet ceiling. (That's what I'd use to pull the light off or on.) It swayed on its own. I freaked out, shut the door, and got back into bed.

The next morning, I told my dad, so he "investigated" like parents do and told me that a draft caused the string to move on its own and the creaky floors, well, that was the house's way of settling. Yeah, right. At the time, I thought he was nuts. But here I am alive to day, so he must have been right...  or was he? 

Did you have any childhood monsters that made you lose sleep?