Friday Flash: Conversations Between Gods

 

For today's #fridayflash, Christine Rains' Zeus from 1304 - The Harbinger has stopped by to speak with Apenth from my Phoenix trilogy.

 

Conversations Between Gods

By Cherie Reich and Christine Rains

Apenth couldn't open his eyes wide enough to take in all of Olympus. The splendor rivaled the homes of the Amoran gods. Although he wore pants and a loose-fitting tunic, he felt very out of the times with everyone's more modern clothes. But Cherie sent him over to talk to Zeus, and he obliged her this once. After all, as a god and her muse had to be kind to his writer every so often. He entered the waiting room and saw a young goddess at the reception area. "I have an appointment with the Thunder God, miss."

Hebe's gaze raked over the visitor before she shrugged. "Welcome to Olympus. Follow me, please."

She led him through winding halls, each more opulent than the last. Not a direct route to the meeting room, and the young goddess didn't seem interested in making conversation along the way either. When they at least came to a set out double doors, Hebe flipped her long hair over her shoulder and opened the doors to a grand throne room. "Father, your eight o'clock appointment is here."

Zeus slipped his iPad into a pouch on the side of his throne. Smoothing out his suit jacket, he stood and stepped down from the dais. "Ah, Apenth, isn't it? Can't say you were what I was expecting when this appointment was made for me. I was hoping for some more feminine company. Don't you have some priestess you could have brought along?"

"My high priestess is a bit advanced in age, but my writer Cherie wanted to come. I foresaw what might happen, though, and decided to keep her safe from your consort's wrath. After all, mortals don't tend to do well in Olympus." Apenth chuckled and ran his fingers through his golden hair. He knew all about the wrath of consorts. His poor cursed mother reminded him often. "Speaking of mortals, that's why I'm here. I heard you found a true hero in this day and age. Sam Wright's tales have even reached Amorans' ears. However did you find him?"

"May I get you any nectar, ambrosia, or coffee?" Hebe offered in a monotone.

"No, sweetheart. You can go now." Zeus waved his daughter off, and she disappeared out the rear door. He turned his attention back to Apenth. "Mortals are highly amusing, though. Sometimes they surprise us. Too bad your writer didn't come. Mine, Christine, doesn't come to Olympus unescorted. Where is the trust, eh?" He spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders.

"Ah, Sam Wright. Yes. I've no doubt you've heard of him. He's an impressive man. A descendant of Jason of the Argonauts." The Thunder God added, puffing out a bit in the chest. "One of my oracles spouted off something and her assistant sent me a memo. I couldn't pass up the chance to obtain a real hero. You know how these things work, I'm sure."

"Mortals have their strange quirks." Apenth shrugged, figuring it was better not to answer where the mortals' trust in the gods--or certain gods--was. His interest piqued when he heard an oracle had told Zeus about Sam Wright. "Real heroes are very rare, especially descendants of heroes. You're lucky the assistant was listening to the oracle. Sometimes secondhand prophecies are more difficult to decipher."

"I hear you had some problems with a harpy, though. Were you surprised by her request for a favor?"

"The assistant has excellent dictation skills. I'm not worried about any misinterpretations." The Thunder God waved his hand before folding his arms with Apenth's last comment. Zeus was an older god, but he was still broad and muscled. "Perhaps a little surprised." He huffed. "Meira has always been faithful. I had no idea she wanted anything beyond serving me. Well, maybe like all women, she loves her shoes, but those are the little things that make females so endearing, wouldn't you agree?"

Apenth decided not to comment on misinterpretations. Even gods made errors when it came to Fate, or so his mother told him often. He chuckled at the mention of shoes and what made females so endearing. "My prophetess's eyes do light up when I send her new clothes. But she claims anything is better than her work ones."

He shrugged. "So, without giving away the ending, were you pleased with how the events turned out?"

"My night in the hot springs with the triplet nymphs was extremely satisfying." Zeus smirked, tilting his head as he relived some of those memories. He then glanced at his watch. "Oh, but I assume you meant the other situation. Well, I suppose it wasn't a total loss. There were a few details the hero forgot to cement, and they'll work to my advantage later." He motioned to the door. "It was nice to meet you, Apa. Apet. Honored guest. I do have another appointment I really need to get to."

"I'm sure everything will work to your advantage." Apenth chuckled at the night with the triplet nymphs. He remembered those days, even though he was still hung up with his first love, Amora. Hypogaia's realm separated them, though.

He started to correct him, but figured there was no reason to leave on unfriendly terms. Placing a closed fist over his heart, he bowed. "It was a pleasure. Thank you for speaking with me." 

"Yes, a pleasure. I'm sure you can find your way out." Zeus gave no bow in return, just a nod of the head. He turned to the rear door and then paused, stroking his beard. "Wait. There was something I was told to mention. Hm. Triplets. Hot springs. Book. Ah yes, The Harbinger. Marvelous story. You need to get yourself a copy. It features me, of course. People should have it for that reason alone." He grinned and exited the room, whistling and loosening his tie as walked out.

You heard Zeus. You need to get Christine's newest book!

Meira Harper loves both her jobs: talking about beautiful shoes and fetching souls for Zeus. But the Thunder God threatens the harpy's loyalty to her job when she receives the call to bring the soul of gorgeous Sam Wright. Meira pleads with her boss to let him live. Zeus agrees, but Sam must fight for his life. If Sam can win three challenges, he can keep his soul.

The gods never play fairly, though, so Meira needs to find ways to help Sam with the challenges. She cannot outwardly cross her master, but she refuses to let the man she loves lose his soul. They haven't even had a chance to start a life together.

Sam's soul is on the line. Meira's will be too if she's caught, but that's a risk she's willing to take.

  
To Purchase: Amazon / Smashwords / Nook / Kobo

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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 five novellas and eighteen short stories published.

Website / Blog

An Excerpt of Dariel Raye's TORIN

Mother Nature is Fighting Back!

Meet the “Dark Sentinels.” Weary of shedding tears over the senseless murders of her children, thoughtless abuse of her resources, and blatant disrespect for her authority, she had to take drastic measures. Mother Nature created sentinels to protect and preserve nature, their first priority to stand vigil against those responsible for the destruction of wildlife.

Two sentinel wolf-shifters are born to each pack – male and female. Larger, stronger, and faster than other shifters, and able to shift at will, regardless of the moon’s phases, they risk their lives daily to restore balance between man and nature. Unfortunately, their very strengths have gained the attention of arrogant beings bent on exploiting their abilities for selfish gain.

Forced to leave their packs for a time to find mates, the sentinels are no longer able to avoid human contact. Dr. Sable Adler, of “Dark Sentinels Book One: Sable,” alpha of the Washington pack, one of the largest packs in the United States, was the first sentinel to fall in love with a human female. He’s a calm-natured Libra, while Torin DuMont, of “Dark Sentinels Book Two: Torin,” is a hot-headed, bad-tempered Scorpio alpha who resides in the Florida Everglades.

Like Sable before him, Torin is about to find himself in uncharted territory when he seeks the legal counsel of Stephanie Bates, an uppity human lawyer who needs his help more than he needs hers…

Dark Sentinels BookTwo: Torin

When greedy land developers set their sights on Dark Sentinel land, Torin turns to attorney Stephanie Bates for help, but she’ll need his protection to stay alive long enough to save his land.

Real estate lawyer, Stephanie Bates, has risen to the top of her field through meticulous sacrifice and goal setting. She has no time for distractions – and that includes pets, messy relationships, and loose ends.

Torin DuMont is a forensic scientist who chose the profession to avoid dealing with people as much as possible. Raised by a stepfather who hated him, he’s been forced to live a life of solitude, fueled by anger and distrust. When wolves and shifters start turning up dead, Torin must battle an enemy bent on destroying those he was born to protect. His greatest challenge, however, is Attorney Bates and the surprising effect she has on his heart.

Short Excerpt

Torin  sensed the sun had gone down before he stepped over to the small window and looked out. Even in the complete darkness, his eyes did not fail him, and he saw the grounds as clearly as if daylight greeted him. Finally, one man remained in the waiting room with him, but it was well after six p.m.

He picked up the pleasant scent of mint, lemongrass, and lilies and turned just in time to see shapely legs, a voluptuous body full of promise. The warm, mocha-colored face wasn’t bad either. Clearly, it was the owner of the musical voice. His wolf bristled beneath his skin, forcing an internal battle just to remain civilized. Confusion increased his frustration. He’d never reacted to a female this way before, and certainly not a human.

She glanced at the other client and headed straight for Torin, arm extended to shake his hand as she called over her shoulder, “Go on home, Cindy. It’s already late. No need for both of us to stay.”

Cindy was out of the office in a flash, glancing back apprehensively as she closed the door.

“Mr. DuMont? I’m Ms. Bates, Stephanie Bates.”

Torin nodded and grasped her hand but did not return her smile. He was far too busy trying to resist the crippling effect her melodious voice seemed to have on him. His nerve endings sizzled as he attempted to manage the sensory overload. This isn’t supposed to happen, he secretly seethed. What in the hell is wrong with me? His sexual encounters had been quick, unemotional, and necessary for physical satisfaction only, and he’d never been overtaken so--completely. Her scent intensified, tinged with desire, as molten chocolate-colored eyes gazed at him confidently, only confusing him further. Desire?

 

“Dark Sentinels BookOne: Sable” on Amazon             

 “Dark Sentinels BookOne: Sable” on Barnes and Noble

“Dark Sentinels BookTwo: Torin” at Amazon           

 “Dark Sentinels BookTwo: Torin” at Barnes and Noble

Dariel’s Blog             Dariel’s Website                  

Post a comment on this blog with your email address and click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway (“Torin” tour Rafflecopter) for books and gift cards.   

Interview with Christine Rains, author of 1303 - The Dragonslayer

 

Today I have a very special guest on my blog today. Christine Rains is a geek mom and the author of the 13th Floor series. She's here to answer some questions and tell us more about her newest paranormal romance novella, 1303 - The Dragonslayer. 

Cherie: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Christine: I'm first a mother to an adorable and immensely clever two and a half year old. It's the hardest job in the world, but it's the best thing I've ever done deciding to be a parent and stay-at-home mom. I'm frequently lost to the worlds in my head, and if I manage to find some time, I write about them. Oh, I'm a wife to my best geek friend. I didn't forget you, hon! * waves at hubby *

Cherie: Hehe! Yes, you better not forget the hubby. Tell us about 1303 – The Dragonslayer.

Christine: I wanted to do a traditional fantasy tale in a modern day setting. Xan comes from a long line of dragonslayers, and while he's still an honorable warrior, he must fight his battles in secret. All this secrecy makes it seem like Xan is the bad guy, but that's to the advantage of the dragons. I've thrown in a feisty reporter who's determined to find out the truth to shake up the plot even more. We have a brave dragonslayer, a devious dragon, and a woman who refuses the part of the princess.

Cherie: The twist you've created is fantastic. I love the worldbuilding you’ve done concerning dragons and dragonslayers. How did you come up with the mythology of the dragons and dragonslayers?

Christine: This is one of the things that grew on its own. I started the story with the concept of dragons still being alive and hiding as famous humans. Well, if there are dragons, there must be dragonslayers. Of course, they would seem like assassins in the public eye. It blossomed with Xan and his family's history, and the dragon's family too.

Cherie: It is a brilliant concept to consider dragons and dragonslayers this way. A special Valentine’s Day question, what would Xan and Lois do to celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Christine: Xan is a traditional romantic. He would celebrate by taking Lois out to the finest restaurant to dine by candlelight, buying the most expensive wine, and surprising her with a sentimental gift. Perhaps a ring with a ruby red as the fire that burns bright within her, or a cage for her ferret with a latch the critter can't open!

Cherie: Aww! I definitely can see Xan doing that, and he might want to go with the cage for the ferret. I can see why the creature would bother his OCD. *winks* The Dragonslayer is book three in the 13th floor series. What has surprised you the most about writing this series?

Christine: What has surprised me the most is how much I think about all of the stories at once. Usually when I work on a project, I'm focused on it alone. If I get involved in another story, I'll lose where I am in the other one. Yet all these novellas mingle. As I'm working on one, I'll see something that's happening in another. You'll see how the stories link more and more as the series goes on, especially with the fifth and sixth books.

Cherie: I'm so looking forward to the rest of the series! What are you working on now?

Christine: I'm working on the fourth book of the series: The Harbinger. This one is going to be very different from the previous three. Meira is a harpy that fetches souls for Zeus, and when the man she loves comes up on her list, she refuses to let him go without a fight. Zeus agrees her love can keep his soul if he wins three challenges. It'll read like a modern myth if I do my job right.

Cherie: You know me and myths, so I really can't wait to read The Harbinger. If you could recommend any book—not your own—what book would that be and why?

Christine: Only one book?! I can't pick one book. Oh dear. My favorite series of all time is Harry Potter. I love the worldbuilding. To say the wizarding world is magical is an understatement. It's quirky, detailed, and enchanting. Children and adults love these books. I'd love to one day captivate the world with something I've written as J.K. Rowling has done.

Thank you for having me here today, Cherie. It's been a lot of fun!

Rowling is definitely a queen of worldbuilding! You're welcome, Christine! Thank you for stopping by to tell us more about your 13th Floor series!

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 / Nook / Kobo

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 13th Floor series is her first self-published series. She has four novellas and eighteen short stories published.

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads