“Yeah.” It wasn’t that she didn’t or couldn’t trust Kristin, but how did a person admit they were being possessed by a demon?
Good line for being a random page, don’t you think?
Check out the post here.
<3 Anna
Here is a great review of Spell of Summoning by 13th Floor author Christine Rains. You can see the original review here.
Holden Clark would rather hide out in his house with his dog and fix the place up than mingle with people. But his Grams, or rather, the ghost of his Grams, urges him to help Rebecca Powell who has a demon possession spell cast on her. He’s a necromancer with little experience, but he has to learn a heck of a lot to help Rebecca or she’ll lose her soul to the demon.
This is a great paranormal romance with a fresh take on necromancers. Necromancers do usually get a bad rep in the paranormal world, but in this book, they’re like any other magic user in that they can be good or bad. Some are born and some are made, but it’s a fascinating take on them. Holden is the perfect necromancer paladin too. Strong, moral, and handsome. He’ll do the right thing no matter what it takes.
Rebecca is the perfect complement to him. She’s feisty and independent. She has a successful career and is not in the business of being rescued by anyone. Though it is hard to resist sexy Holden!
While I guessed who was the evil necromancer, the joy was in the journey. A wonderful romantic plot that was sizzling and sweet along with excellent characterization.
I’ll definitely be picking up the next one in this series.
Thanks, Christine!
<3 Anna
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.
Welcome back, Christine! I’ve finished your 13th Floor series, and I loved it. I’m so glad you’ve returned to tell us about the 13th Floor collection, now available for download.
Anna Abner: When you started writing The Marquis did you know you were starting a series?
Christine Rains: Yes. I knew even before I started to write that I wanted to do a series of novellas. I wanted to showcase my writing and give everyone a sense of the kind of writer I am.
AA: Did you have a detailed game plan from the beginning for each story or did ideas develop over time?
CR: I’m a pantser. I’d love to say I plotted it all out, but I had no idea how each story would develop or even how they were going to link to one another until I wrote them. I started with a story concept or a character idea and went from there.
AA: Luck plays a part in The Dragonslayer when Xan believes he failed in a task after accepting a cursed token. In your own life do you believe in luck?
CR: I do believe in luck. Being in the right place at the right time can make all the difference. Yet I also believe that through hard work and perseverance, you can reach places luck can’t take you. I don’t believe in lucky or unlucky items, though. That’s all in the heads of those that believe them.
AA: The Harbringer was my favorite story in the series. Was it fun to write a heroic journey set in Olympus?
CR: It was so much fun to write The Harbinger. I wanted to keep a lot of the classic mythology about heroes and gods, but I wanted to modernize them at the same time. Bits like gods using iPhones or using the coliseum as a skate park made me giggle.
AA: How much research did you have to do for The Harbringer?
CR: I’ve always loved Greek myths, and so I already had in mind the gods and myths I wanted to play with in my story. I researched all the gods, looking for not so popular tidbits and stories on their relationships. I needed to know how they interacted with each other to create a realistic divine soap opera.
AA: Well, great job! That story was a kick to read. Speaking of gods and goddesses, in the series you wrote dozens of characters including demons, harpies, witches, banshees, vampires, and werewolves. Did you have a favorite supernatural character to write?
CR: It’s hard to choose just one. The banshee and harpy were new types of characters for me. I like to experiment with different ones, but the ones I write the most about are demons. They have a wide range of powers and looks. There are so many myths to play upon, and I thoroughly enjoy making up my own rules for demons in a world.
AA: I loved the mix of modern movie monsters with beings like banshees, harpies and Greek gods. What made you decide to incorporate so many different supernatural creatures into your series?
CR: I wanted a rich urban fantasy world which brought every legend and fairy tale alive. I like the idea that there’s truth behind every myth. I also enjoy stories that have a variety of supernatural beings. We get not only human fears and prejudices, but those amongst the various creatures in the world.
AA: I know you use beta readers in your writing process. Can you give us a quick definition of a beta reader and how they help you improve your stories?
CR: A beta reader reads through the manuscript looking at plot, character, setting, and background as well as the overall story. They don’t need to go into as much detail as critique partners, nor do they need to worry about editing. (Even though there are beta readers like mine who are generous enough to do so!) It’s helpful to have at least one beta reader who reads and/or writes in your genre. My beta readers are awesome. They’re very different in the way they critique. Each focuses on things that the others miss, and I receive an excellent all-around critique from them.
AA: Who are your favorite authors to read in your down time?
CR: Stephen King, Richelle Mead, and Karen Marie Moning are three of my favorite authors. Recently, I’ve been reading a dark fantasy series by Joseph Delaney called The Last Apprentice. They start off as MG, but they grow with the protagonist. The series is incredibly original, and Delaney has done some excellent world building.
AA: Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?
CR: I’d like to write more short stories and sharpen my writing skills. I’m still not sure which project I’m going to tackle next. I want to take one of my older manuscripts and revise it so I can query it. I have at least three I’m trying to decide between.
AA: Good luck with all your endeavors. I look forward to reading more from you in the future.
CR: Thank you so much for having me here today, Anna.
Connect with Christine Rains at
<3 Anna
I am lucky enough to be interviewing 13th Floor creator Christine Rains on my blog October 15. Check back in for answers to your burning questions and updates about her latest collection.
<3 Anna
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. She lives in southern Indiana with her husband and son in a cozy little house stuffed full of books and games. She’s a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. She has twenty short stories and five novellas published.
Anna Abner: First, thank you so much for stopping by on your blog tour for the third novella in the 13th Floor Series, Dragonslayer. Can you start by telling us about your writing schedule?
Christine Rains: As a stay-at-home mom, I have no specific writing schedule. If my son naps, I’ll get an hour or two in the afternoon. I might get an hour at night if I’m lucky. My son also goes to preschool twice a week, and I use those few hours in the morning to write. That is the only time I can be certain I’ll get to write.
AA: Your hero and heroine in 1301 are old enough to have a few wrinkles and a little gray in their hair. What made you choose to write slightly older characters?
CR: I read a lot of paranormal romances. There are a lot of young and rash characters. Even if they’re thousands of years old, they still behave that way. I wanted a couple who were more set in their personalities. I wanted strength through wisdom, and besides, a little gray hair can be sexy.
AA: I agree! Speaking of rash, supernatural characters, do you feel like your writing is more character or plot driven?
CR: Definitely character driven. I focus much more on my characters and let them propel the story forward. One of my idols, Stephen King, has amazing characterization skills. I strive to bring the people who live in my head to life on paper as brilliantly as he does.
AA: I’d say you’re doing a great job. Up to this point you’ve written about demons, vampires, and werewolves. What characters do you have planned for upcoming stories in the series?
CR: In my newest novella, there are dragons. Modern day dragons who are still hoarding and seeking power. The next book will feature a harpy who works for Zeus, and you’ll see my twist to the Greek pantheon. The vampire will return in the fifth story narrated by a banshee named Harriet. Poor girl has a rough life!
AA: 1301 and 1302 take place in Carmine on the same night. Will all the 13th Floor stories take place around that same time?
CR: Yes. All the books will take place around the same time period in the city except for the fourth book which will mostly take place out of this realm of existence. It will still be during the same time as the other stories, though.
AA: How do you develop new characters and story ideas?
CR: A lot of my ideas come from dreams and simple wonderings about the world. I like to play with ideas and characters in my head before I put pen to paper, or rather, fingers to keyboard. I’m a pantser, so all I need is one good character and I can start writing.
AA: When you’re not writing what do you enjoy doing?
CR: I love to spend time with my son and see the world anew through his eyes. I’m an avid reader and movie addict. I also love the outdoors and would happily spend my days walking in the woods if the weather was nice.
AA: What advice would you give to struggling writers just starting out?
CR: Don’t be intimidated by everything you read. Write what you love and don’t stop writing. Not for anything. Never give up on your dreams. Perseverance will see you through.
CR: Dragons have not gone extinct. They have taken on human form and blended in with our society, hiding in plain sight as famous and powerful individuals. While the dragons use their influence to gain more power, dragonslayers are forced into the shadows and deemed outlaws. In my novella, a dragonslayer named Xan misses his target and incurs the dragon’s wrath. He also picks up an unwanted passenger in the form of hard-edged reporter Lois King. She’s a skeptic and won’t believe him, but he must convince her or else they both could die.
AA: Sounds exciting! Thank you again for the interview, and good luck with all your future projects.
Contact Christine:
Website: http://christinerains.net/
Blog: http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@CRainsWriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchristinerains
Email: [email protected]
I’m thrilled to announce that Christine Rains, author of the 13th Floor series, will be stopping by on Feb. 15 for an interview to promote her new release, Dragonslayer.
Check out the new cover! And if you haven’t read her first two volumes in the series, they’re fantastic!
<3 Anna