Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective By: Christine Amsden Excerpt from Chapter 5 … Belinda’s collection of potions was extensive and many of her customers believed in the power of her brews. They were probably crap, especially those offering up money and wishes, because if she really could brew them, why would she need to sell them? Others, […]
Author Archive: Christine
Delays, Delays, Delays
The latest word from my publisher is that Cassie Scot is probably not going to hit the shelves until May 15. The reason is, simply, that we’re still waiting on cover art. We have to send galley copies of the book to certain pre-publication reviewers three months before publication in order to be considered for […]
The Quest for the Three Magic Words (2)
Two years ago, I lambasted that favored plot crutch of romance authors who can’t come up with a more interesting source of tension — the quest for the three magic words. In it, I bemoaned the endless waiting around for two people who already love one another but who are, for whatever reason, afraid to […]
Book Review: The Great Escape
In this sequel to “Call Me Irresistible,” we discover what happened to Lucy after running away from her wedding to Ted. I had a lot of fun with Ted and Meg, and was looking forward to following Lucy’s adventure. Lucy and Ted weren’t right for one another. That was well established in the prequel, and […]
Book Review: Fallen
Gabriel St. John is a demon, trapped in the city of New Orleans, cursed by his own sins. Sent as an angel to help humanity, he fell under the influence of alcohol addiction, and now if he is with a woman, she becomes hopelessly addicted to him. He hasn’t touched alcohol or a woman in […]
A Letter to Santa
Dear Santa: You’ve pulled off the jolly old fat man image for centuries, and I think that’s terrific. I really do. It’s wonderful that you enjoy life, cookies, and cocoa, and particularly amazing that you have a special kind of magic sustaining your health so that year after year, you can be a symbol of […]
Writing Tips: How Can I Become a Writer?
Write. Here’s the thing: I often get people asking me how I became a writer and most of the time I start gearing up to talk about finding markets to publish stories or how to write a professional cover letter. But then it turns out, that’s not what they want to know, they’re still just […]
Couch 2 5k
Couch 2 5k is a popular fitness program I first ran across a couple of years ago, when a friend of mine tried (and successfully completed) it. The idea is simple: You live a sedentary lifestyle? In nine weeks, this program will get you running a 5k, or about 3.2 miles. You workout for about […]
Book Review: Lucky Penny
What a wonderful, heartwarming story. This actually had me in tears at one point, which is not at all easy to do. It has been too long since I’ve read one of Catherine Anderson’s novels. I was thrilled to see this one come along at the library, and not the least bit disappointed when I […]
Zook Country
Great books start with great characters and a strong narrative voices. The most intriguing plots in the world fall apart when the voice/writing style won’t hold your attention, and the most been-there, done-that plots in the world shine like new pennies when the right voice brings them to life. This, I think, is the gift […]