OF BLOOD AND SORROW - Christine Rains

Lots going on Under the Tiki Hut this last part of March!

First, Christine Rains is stopping by as part of her Character Meet & Greet blog tour for her new urban fantasy OF BLOOD AND SORROW.

And I'm happy that the character she's chosen to introduce at the Tiki Hut is none other than Erin Driscol.




ERIN



“The eye, like a shattered mirror, multiplies the images of sorrow.”
Edgar Allen Poe



Full name: Erinys Nekana Driscol
Age: 23
Job: funeral attendant at Putzkammer & Sons Funeral Home
Hobbies: crossword puzzles, reading mysteries, watching way too many cop shows and reality television
Strength: compassion
Weakness: fear of her past

The Putzkammer family treats Erin like one of their own. Aleo and Bolona fuss over her while their sons act as overprotective brothers. Sometimes this can annoy Erin, but she loves them too much to tell them she can take care of herself. They even ensured Erin lives in the safest home in the state with an ancient and mysterious demon called “The Lady.”

Erin is a Sorrow Phage. She feeds off the grief of others. This makes her a valuable addition to a funeral home that caters to demons who could destroy the city with their misery.

When fledgling vampire Nicolas Reese wakes in the mortuary, Erin couldn't stop him from escaping. This is her responsibility. She has to fix this. So when he returns asking for help, she agrees and discovers what she knows about vampires isn't true. Plus, he's incredibly gorgeous. Let's blame that on his vampiric charms, though.

Favorite line from Erin: Dammit. I did like him.

Tidbit from the author: I originally wrote this novel in third person point of view, but Erin's voice was lost amongst all the other strong characters. When I started rewriting it in first person, she really began to shine. Now the story is truly hers.



Erin Driscol works the perfect job consoling fellow demons by feeding off their grief at Putzkammer & Sons Funeral Home.

When fledgling vampire Nicolas Reese comes to Erin for help, she learns the truth behind the legends and hides him from his sire and the vampire hunters who seek him. But when the Putzkammers begin to die one by one, Erin is caught between her act of kindness and the need to save her adopted family. Only by facing her own personal demons can she stop the slaughter and still rescue Nicolas from his dark fate.

Add it to read on Goodreads.

You can purchase OF BLOOD AND SORROW here:
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Sorrow-Christine-Rains-ebook/dp/B00U89TEGY
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/of-blood-and-sorrow-christine-rains/1121327176?ean=2940151255875
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/524192
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/of-blood-and-sorrow-2



About the author:
Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She's married to her best friend and fellow geek living in south-central Indiana. They have one son who is too smart for his parents' own good and loves to pretend he's Batman. Christine has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not reading or writing, she's going on adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. (South Central Indiana Fiction Interface). She has several short stories and novellas published. Of Blood and Sorrow series is her first urban fantasy novel.

Please visit her website ( http://christinerains.net ) and
blog ( http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.com )


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Next, my website contest features Colby Marshall as the March Author of the Month. She's giving away a signed copy of COLOR BLIND along with a  messenger bag from another of her thrillers, DOUBLE VISION, to one lucky winner!

To enter, click the big WIN button at the top of my right sidebar. It takes you directly to the contest page on my website: www.carolkilgore.net/contest/

Read the rules, Choose the answer to the question about the photo, fill out the entry form, and click Submit.

Winner will be drawn after 6 pm Central Time on March 31.
Contest open to U.S. residents only.


In Other Book News

Jan Christensen has entered her latest Tina Shaw, professional organizer, mystery, CLUTTERED ATTIC SECRETS, into the Kindle Scout program. Here is the direct link:
Please zip over, read the first little bit. If you like what you read, click the Nominate Me button. All nominations happily appreciated.



See you back here on
Monday, April 6.
That's Day E for all you Enthusiastic A to Z-ers!




Comments

Christine Rains said…
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Carol!
Her favorite line is funny.
Congratulations, Christine!
Erin, short for Erinys. What a cool, unique spin on the name.

We too have had to rework a story from third person to first in the interest of making the character shine more.

Congrats on the release, Christine!
L. Diane Wolfe said…
Feeding on grief is a unique twist.
Hey, Carol and Christine. This sounds like another great book!
Christine Rains said…
Alex, thank you!

ABFTS, thanks! It's tough work changing the POV. So tedious! Good luck.

Diane and T., thanks so much!
VR Barkowski said…
It's tough—well not so much tough as grueling—to change POV. I've rewritten two novels from first person to third, so I know you're pain, Christine.

Wishing you boundless success with Of Blood and Sorrow!

VR Barkowski
Carol Kilgore said…
Hi, everyone! Christine's new book sounds like a great read. First person is really hard for me to write most of the time.
Jemi Fraser said…
Sounds like a great story with a unique premise :)
Jan Christensen said…

Wow, Blood and Sorrow sounds like a fasinating book. Good luck with it. Christine! And thanks, Carol, for the shout-out about my Kindle Scout attempt. I need all the help I can get!
cleemckenzie said…
Yay again for Christine. Here's to Blood and Sorrow being a hit.
Cherie Reich said…
Congrats to Christine! Erin's voice definitely shines. :)
Oooh. It is early here, a little before six, and you have stoked my booky lust already.
Drooling with longing is NOT a good look.
Congratulations to Christine, and to your other featured authors.
As usual - thank you. And drat you.
Anonymous said…
I've been seeing this book around. Huge congrats to Christine. And that cover is amazing.
Kelly Steel said…
Congratulations Christine, your story has uniqueness.
Christine Rains said…
VR, thanks so much! I'm debating a POV change on the WIP I recently started. I want to change at the beginning before a whole manuscript needs it!

Jemi, Jan, and Lee, thank you!

Cherie, thank you for helping make it so. :)

EC, I know that feeling! I have to have a tissue at the ready most of the time. Hehehe! Thanks!

Medeia, thank you! My cover artist did a fabulous job. Her name is Erin too!

Kelly, thank you!
Robin said…
I can't imagine rewriting from 3rd to 1st, but I'm so glad it worked for you and really made the MC voice come through. Also congrats on publication! Your MC sounds like an interesting girl. Sorrow Phage. Sometimes I feel like one of those...
Christine Rains said…
Robin, thank you! It was a tough transition especially since I prefer to write in 3rd.
Mark said…
Awesome congrats to Christine! Looks great:)
Michael Di Gesu said…
Hi, Carol,

Hi, Christine... All the best with you new book!

I, too had to do a rewrite, but it was easier, it was more tense change from first/past to first/present.

VOICE is everything and it needs to be STRONG and Erin has that VOICE...
Christine Rains said…
Thank you, Mark!

Michael, thanks! I completely agree. Voice is vital.
Denise Covey said…
Hi Carole.

Wow! Doesn't Christine's book sound amazing and how about that cover!

Denise :-)
Stephen Tremp said…
Congrats! Christina and best wishes for a smashing success with Blood and Sorrow.
H. R. Sinclair said…
Congrats Christine! I love this way of introducing characters.
LD Masterson said…
Changing POV is hard work but it sounds like it was worth it to give such an interesting character her voice.
Christine, I can just imagine the argument you must have had with yourself when your gut was trying to tell you to do a complete overhaul with a different POV. That must have been quite a job, but evidently your gut was right, huh? Your new book sounds very unique. Good luck with it!
Carol Kilgore said…
Hi, Denise! I do love her cover.

Great to see everyone here.
Helena said…
Christine's book sounds really good, so I'll check it out. And damn those sexy vampires for making our lives so complicated!

BTW, I agree that writing from first person can sometimes make the lead character/narrator really come alive.
Congrats to Christine! Your story sounds like a thrilling read! Great prizes in store with Colby and Jan! Hope you're catching up on your writing, Carol.

Julie
Unknown said…
Christine's book sounds creep-tacular! A book set in a mortuary - so cool. Thanks for letting us know about the mc. Wishing Christine much success!

Congrats to Jan on her new release! :)
Arlee Bird said…
Best wishes to Christine.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Unknown said…
very excited for Christine!
Christine Rains said…
Denise and Stephen, thank you!

Holly, thanks! I hope it's a good way to entice readers.

LD, a lot of tedious work, but well worth it. :)

Susan, it was a big struggle especially since I don't often write in first person POV. But our writer's gut knows!

Helena, most definitely! Thank you.

ENI, Lexa, Arlee, and Beth, thanks so much! :)
DMS said…
I have Christine's book on my TBR list, so it was great to see it hear and learn a little but more about it. Thanks for sharing!
~Jess
Caryn Caldwell said…
Great guest post! I especially loved hearing how she found Erin's voice by switching from third person to first person POV. It makes all the difference sometimes, doesn't it?

Happy writing!
Nas said…
Congrats on the release, Christine!

Sounds chilling yet thrilling!
Christine's book is on my read list. But I have to read Corsets first.
Julie Flanders said…
I can't wait to get started on this book, all of the characters seem fascinating. Congrats to Christine and see you in April, Carol! :)
TBM said…
I loved her favorite line and it's piqued my curiosity.
Congrats to Christine!
She's such a prolific writer!

I LOVE that messenger bag - really cool!
Luanne G. Smith said…
Very cool. I do like my fantasy somewhat dark. :)
Loni Townsend said…
Grats Christine! I'm looking forward to digging into it.
Carol Kilgore said…
Happy to see everyone cheering Christine on! She's still on tour, but will be stopping by again while this post is up.
Christine Rains said…
DMS and Nas, thank you!

Caryn, it made a huge difference! Thanks!

Hope you enjoy them both, Elizabeth!

Julie, thanks so much!

TBM, thank you. It was hard to pick lines because I didn't want ones that gave away any key points of the plot!

Michelle and Loni, thank you!

L.G., me too!

Hi Carol! Have a lovely weekend. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Thanks, Christine. You, too!
Anonymous said…
Great to see Christine's characters showing up all over the place. Way to support a fellow writer, Carol!
Carol Kilgore said…
Milo - I'm happy to support any writer who asks.
M Pax said…
Can't wait to read Of Blood and Sorrow. Have it on my Kindle!
Bish Denham said…
It's amazing how switching the tense or POV can change and/or make a story better. Congratulations, Christine!

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