Coming this Month: Bell, Book, and Scandal

I’m truly pleased to announce that my short romances are available on Barnes and Noble once more, thanks to Pubit and a much simpler, straight-forward process. I’m also over-the-moon to say that another short, humorous, paranormal romance will be out within the next two weeks (it is currently being oops-detected and queued).

BELL, BOOK, AND SCANDAL: 

Ellespeth Brannigan's ancient cat, Oliver, was foul and mean. But when Jake Loring backs over him in his car, she's just as crushed as Oliver! What's worse-- he doesn't even seem to feel bad about murdering her closest friend. Drowning her sorrows in a bottle of birthday wine, Elle wakes up the next morning with a dead cat, a weird old book laying open on her chest, and the mother of all hangovers.

She reads the lines in the book, slaps the snooze button on her alarm clock, and unleashes an accidental dose of karma on Jake. Spell books don't really work, do they? Because if they do, that stray cat may be more than just familiar... and since this is a humorous romance, all hell will, naturally, break loose.

When Secondary Characters Take Over

As I get very close to releasing book 1 in the Maggie Gallagher series, I have decided to stop tearing myself up while the final manuscript of Cry Uncle is in other hands.  So I’m working on As The Crow Flies, book 2.  A few things have struck me:

1. Books are not even close to “done” just because I’ve finished writing them.

2. Secondary characters, in this case Joe Gallagher Jr, take over a big part of the plot when we aren’t looking, and can offer vital elements that a main character simply can’t.

Maggie’s oldest brother, Joe, who is the chief of police in her home-town, has become the moral compass of the series. He is a character I have loved writing because he is a good man, but appears deceptively normal on the surface. He has an amazing marriage, is admired by the men who work for him, and quietly goes about the business of being incredibly smart, honorable, and tough with none of the flash and fireworks a hero might need.  Joe is someone I knew would be important, but never dreamed how much. I’ve learned a lot about myself writing him. He makes Maggie a better person, and drives her to better ends. So in honor of Joe, and to keep myself from calling Maria AGAIN to see how editing and formatting are going on Cry Uncle, I offer you this scene from As The Crow Flies.

Joe’s wife, Hannah, has been kidnapped accidentally by a stalker who intended to grab Maggie. He has her bound and gagged in a chair with several weapons at hand. Joe, Maggie, and one of his officers are in the cat-walk rafters above Hannah and her captor when he makes one, last request before making a very dangerous rescue attempt:

FROM AS THE CROW FLIES by Chrissy Olinger

   Ed Loftis glanced at my brother. No matter how often I saw that look of naked hero-worship and loyalty from his men, it never failed to shake me. Joe flicked his gaze from Ed's face to mine, and placed his fingers to his lips before making a lowering motion with his hand. We both understood the request: silence, or as close to it as we could manage. He glanced down to the warehouse floor at Hannah: bound to the chair, gagged, her glossy curls dulled with grime.

   Bringing us both in, he whispered so softly I suppose I will always question whether I heard it correctly. His big hand cupped the back of Ed's neck, drew his face close.

   "Are you sure you can get a clean head shot from here?"

   Ed nodded. Joe took a final look at his wife before whispering one more time.

   "If things go wrong, and something happens to Hannah--" lips pressed together, he leaned in tighter still. My own torso tipped of it's own accord. "She dies, Ed, you put that bullet through my brain. Before I know she's gone, if you can."

   Loftis' face went parchment-white. He locked gazes with his boss while I stood, feeling the blood rush from my own face, and nodded once. Joe squeezed his shoulder, glanced at me, mouthed "I love you, Mags," and disappeared into the shadows.

   It might have been a trick of the light, but if the glistening trail on Ed Loftis' cheek was a tear, he wasn't weeping alone. It felt like a fist was squeezing my heart and throat, a bruising ache as I fought to remain silent. Sobs wanted out. There was no time for emotion, now. But if we survived this night I knew one thing for absolute certain: I was going to tell Leo I loved him.

Revision Hell, Delays, and Final Successes

For over a year I have been announcing, postponing, and struggling with the release of the first novel written under my own name. If readers have been frustrated, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. You have no idea how frustrating it has been for ME. But I’m really happy to FINALLY announce that it will be available in both print and ebook in time for Christmas.

The book was written over a year and a half ago, and nearly went live a year ago. The first delay was due to a serious illness striking the wonderful woman I had hired to do my editing and formatting. The second was due to my own health concerns, and then it all went to hell in a handbasket. CRY UNCLE is book 1 in a series that has a minimum of 3, but will most likely keep going as long as I’m still breathing to write it.  My protagonist, Maggie Gallagher, is a special agent for the FBI who returns home to solve a murder mystery she’s been obsessed with since childhood. It’s a very dark story with very light—or, at least, heavily humorous—elements. Unfortunately the first book sets up those to follow,  and changes in the Catholic church in my area—where the book is set—made a very careful re-write absolutely vital to avoid problems in future books. Maggie has a brother who is a priest, and the third book involves a mystery with Father Jordan, so my church facts had to line up.

The changes made in the past few years by the Boston Archdiocese actually gave me BETTER plot movement. The re-writes actually helped me, having been away from the manuscript for a long time, notice other issues that I wanted to tweak. CRY UNCLE (and the books to come) has a strong first person perspective that breaks the fourth wall, and I think this requires a delicate hand. Done well, it builds intimacy between narrator and reader. Done poorly, it strips away the willing suspension of disbelief, becomes campy, and leaves the book in rubble.

So, with apologies to those of you who have been SO KIND to email me, show support and interest, and give me your patience, we’re getting our baby! A much better book is coming your way, just in time for the holidays.

Thank you so much for bearing with me.

Coming to Your Kindle and THANKS!

I want to take a moment to thank all the readers who kept My Boyfriend's Back on the best-sellers list from December of 2011 til just a day ago. Today, after having the title pulled from other markets, we finally made room for some new covers. Please believe me when I say that the "purchase" of a free book was invaluable to me. Your kind reviews, your support, and the time you took to read my work meant the world to me, and still does. We're back to the .99 price point, which I think is great for a short/novella read.

Heart of Gold is also selling at .99, and has been reviewed with the same generosity. As some of you may know, these two novellas inspired a series, which will be published in installments through the rest of this year. At Christmas-time I will release a digital bundle, along with a paperback collection of all five of these short, paranormal romances with a heavy dose of humor, all with a holiday time frame.

 My Boyfriend's Back was, of course, a Valentine's Day read featuring some bumbling nerd-angels. Heart of Gold came out for Saint Patrick's Day with our 6 and a half foot leprechaun. The next three titles will be coming in July, late September, and early December.

COMING IN JULY: Heather Hill is having a bad week. The lease on her grooming salon is nearly up, and the landlord wants her out. If the Sick Puppy closes she's got no other prospects. Her nails are all chipped. Oh-- and her new boyfriend is possessed by an ancient canine death-god who plans to destroy the world in order to beat the snotty Mayans to the punch.

Could be worse. The last guy picked his feet and smelled like cleaning fluid.

 Unless Norman-- AKA Zorg, Destroyer of Worlds-- can figure out a way to stop transforming into a demon-hound long enough to do his day-job as an accountant and save the Sick Puppy, Heather is screwed. One cursed amulet, one looming apocalypse, and one mean landlord are all that really stand between Heather and happiness. She's getting her nails done, putting a leash on her boyfriend, and then WATCH OUT, WORLD!

COMING IN LATE SEPTEMBER: Death is exhausted. He's in need of a holiday, and with Halloween just around the bend, he figures he can blend in. But who will run the office? Colleen (call her Cosette, it's her stage-name) has been waiting for a break at the Tried and True Temp Agency. She's really an actress, but the rent is due. How hard can it be to answer phones, keep the coffee hot, and politely watch over the Waiting Room to the Other Side?

The trouble starts when a dumb, gorgeous gym jockey Bill shows up, dead from steroid abuse and hard living... but incredibly hot, tan, and flirty. When Col-- err-- Cosette finds the key to the back door, she releases Bill back into the world. This serious breaking of rules results in a mess that could get her fired, and possibly damned for eternity. Enter Gordon, Death's Office Manager.

Gordon isn't Cosette's type, but she's desperate. She cons him into a foray into the many-veiled Lost Hallways to retrieve the juice head, return the space-time-continuum to normal, and save her very nicely-shaped bum before Death leaves his private pagoda on the beach and discovers the kerfuffle.

COMING IN EARLY DECEMBER:  Jack Winters is a sunny, super guy. Problem is, he can't be... not if he wants to keep his job, and prevent the polar ice caps from slipping.

Son of Mother Earth, brother of Sunny the god of Summer, Jack is not just any handsome playboy. He's Jack Frost, responsible for bringing about winter, keeping the climate in balance, and acting as a mirror to his fun-loving, beach-bum bro. But Jack just can't fight his sunny disposition. So his mom is taking charge.

The Winter must come. So Mother Earth sets Jack up on a blind date with Holly Lawson, owner of Lawson's Christmas Tree Farm and Florist. Holly's business depends on the frost; Jack's future depends on the breaking of his warm heart. Mother Earth knows what has to be done: she sets her beloved son up for a fall. When his heart goes cold, will the consequences be more than anyone bargained for? Will Winter ever end? Will Jack ever recover?

Each of these titles will be available for .99 upon release. I will release the entire collection as a discounted bundle for your Kindle and as a paperback collection for your shelves in time for Christmas!

Don't forget to check back here for the release of CRY UNCLE, my first novel, later this month.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR READERSHIP AND SUPPORT!!

Thanks, Kindle Readers!

THANKS! I am delighted to report that my director of marketing, research, and pimpage (Ahmed) discovered that My Boyfriend’s Back is on the Best Seller’s List at Amazon AGAIN! We held top positions from December through February, then quietly slipped back into obscurity.

Today, checking on a glitch at Amazon, Aji discovered a return to the lists:

#7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Humor
#97 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Romance
#10 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Romance > Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost

I am more grateful for your support than you could know!

This short was the first thing published under my own name (rather than my pen name). It came out nearly a year and a half ago, and seemed to appeal to most of the people who were kind enough to give it a try. I had a lot of fun writing it.

My focus in writing is shifting to mystery/comedy thrillers, but I think shorts are so much fun to write, and such a lovely guilty pleasure for very little money, I am going to be releasing short, fantasy romances all year long. At the end of 2012 the collection will be released as a paperback bundle. All will be fantasy, comedy, holiday-themed romances.

If you liked My Boyfriend’s Back you may also enjoy the latest short in this ongoing project, Heart of Gold, available for a measly .99 on amazon and smashwords. It features a 6’6” leprechaun named Finn, a pot of gold, an Irish tavern, and a spunky orphaned gal named Salinas.

Keep an eye out on this blog for the next two releases. Death’s Day Off will feature Annabelle--a fun, curvy temp who fills in for the Grim Reaper on his weekend off. Shiver Me Timbers is a love story—arranged by none other than Mother Nature, when her son Jack refuses to adjust the temperature and causes global warming.

Your continued support means more to me than you know!

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with Heart of Gold!

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, and meet Finn Mór.  He’s available today for just 99 cents!

He was born a leprechaun prince, but he had no interest in his clan's throne. All he ever wanted to be was BIG. By the sacred laws of the leprechaun clans, any of the wee folk who can keep every last coin in their pot for two hundred years earns that very boon... or is it a curse? Two hundred years have finally passed and Finn's wish is granted. No longer immortal, he still keeps his magic as long as he keeps his gold.

But fate has other plans. Salinas Brown, urged by her dead father to travel to Finn's pub and search for a mysterious black pot, has no idea what she'll find at The Tinker's Dam. She certainly never dreamed of Finn-- six and a half inches of drop dead gorgeous leprechaun.

LEPRECHAUN? Was Finn crazy? Was SHE crazy? And what secrets had her father been keeping from her all those years? She was about to find out, and neither Finn nor Sally will ever be the same.

This is a SHORT, of 13,771 words. It contains no graphic sex or violence, but does include dirty language. Leprechauns have potty mouths.

Get Heart of Gold for Kindle

Get Heart of Gold at Smashwords

Coming to Your Kindle for Saint Patrick’s Day!

Coming from Amazon just for Saint Patrick’s Day—a short, fun, fantasy romance by Chrissy Olinger.

MORE ABOUT HEART OF GOLD:

Finn Mór is a leprechaun prince, but he has no interest in his clan's throne. All he has ever wanted was to be BIG. By the sacred laws of the leprechaun clans, any of the wee folk who can keep every last coin in their pot for two hundred years earns that very boon... or is it a curse?

Two hundred years have finally passed and Finn's wish is granted. He's 6'6" and drop-dead gorgeous. No longer immortal, he still keeps his magic as long as he keeps his gold.

Happy to sample the sins of the mortal world, enhancing his luck as he goes with the source of his power— the pot of his people— Finn runs into trouble when a sexy little thief snatches his pot. He's got to snatch it back or kiss his luck goodbye. But it's more than luck he's thinking of kissing, and she may have stolen more than his gold.

EXCERPT:

In a quiet glade, a few miles from Lackanaloy Creek, Finn shucked off his clothes, hooked a feedbag onto the nose of his only companion, and crawled beneath the pony cart to sleep. He slumbered without dreams, never waking when the moon found its zenith. The beams of wild magic that lit the small glade in that last hour of his weeness were seen by none, for the pony had fallen into a mindless doze.

The sun rose on a very different Finn Mór. Banging his dark head on the cart, he sat up with a yelp, came to full waking with a gasp, and stared down at his lap with a broad, cheeky grin.

“Woop! I’m big! Well and truly BIG!” Gaze fixed between his new long legs, his grin grew wider still. “Every bleedin’ bit o’ me!” *

*from Heart of Gold by Chrissy Olinger

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

Just in case you missed it… free Valentine’s Day download.  You can get it pretty much anywhere, but here are a few places to get you started:

Amazon   or   Barnes and Noble   or   iTunes   or   Sony Ebook Store   (it’s on Smashwords but they are down).

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  It’s FREE!

Go Getcher Free On!

FINALLY!!

My Boyfriend’s Back is free on Amazon.com.  After a whirlwind ride in the UK, with my rank on the best-sellers list climbing to #2 in humor, #16 in fantasy/paranormal romance, #63 in all romance, and currently #77 in all categories, I’m THRILLED to see my US readers get their free download.

Currently #13 on the best-sellers in humor—thanks!  Spread the word to freebie-indie-fun-loving friends!

FREE! CLICK HERE

Gratitude On A Hard Day

Halfway through November, I have fallen a wee bit behind on my NaNoWriMo goal, but it’s cool.  Since my novel is probably going to be short of 50K I’m probably still on target.

This year has been good for my writing.  I put out a novella at the beginning of 2011 and switched from a pen name to my own name.  In May I made the decision, after a lot of reflection, to switch genres, focus, and direction.  By June I had written the first draft of my debut novel, which I delayed releasing to get it JUST RIGHT (or just write, as it were).  That decision proved to be a good one, since it plunged me back into an active participation with South Shore MA Fiction Writers.  It also spawned a new, solid, structured process that works.

By early December (possibly sooner, NaNoWriMo gods willing) I’ll have finished the second Maggie Gallagher novel.  My young adult trilogy, which has been languishing for years, will also be done soon.  The current schedule will be a staggered release calendar of a book every three months between now and January of 2013… alternating between adult books (the Maggie Gallagher Mystery titles) and young adult fantasy (my Echo the Minstrel series).

What is different about 2011?  I actually did the things I’d planned to do.  I put out a novella exactly when I planned.  I finished a novel in a new genre and it will be out soon.  I’ve nearly finished book two, and releasing it should be no problemo.

I’ve also realized that I owe a great deal of thanks to good friends.  The 35 members of SSMAW have been amazing… and being able to offer my own cheering section, beta-reading, and anything else I’ve got in my arsenal to these amazing men and women has been incredibly rewarding.  Every success they achieved drove me harder.  Every accolade they were awarded made me proud.  And each goal I crossed off my list was as much their accomplishment as my own.

I’ve also learned, when I was sick or had mad scheduling issues… or just had life jump up and down on me as it tends to do… my non-writing friends were just as supportive.  I was struck by this today, in a moment of amazing grace and clarity, as I made the fourth trip to Jordan Hospital in Plymouth in 24 hours to take care of my mom.  Things are often a struggle for me because of my own health.  I do have more on my plate.  And I guess I am asked more often than most “how do you do it?”

Ahmed. Roxy. Petie. Timmy. Allie. Aemon. Damiano. Gayle. Bill. Dennis. Angie. Dee.

And Ahmed.  Yeah, I know, I mentioned him twice.  He’s that good.

I am incredibly lucky.  On good days it’s easy to remember how lucky.  But it’s too easy to forget on the tough days.  I don’t want to be the kind of woman who forgets on the tough days.  So as this long, rainy, tiring day comes to a close, I am still grateful.  I hope I remember to remain grateful.  Because the people in my life who make it bearable also make it joyous, funny, and worth the long days.

In the words of Mr. Dickens, “God bless you, every one.”

Bailey's Irish Cream Fudge

At the request of my dear friend, Lisa.

CHRISSY'S FAMOUS IRISH CREAM FUDGE

3 (12 oz.) pkg. semisweet chocolate chips
2 jars marshmallow Fluff, 7 oz. EACH
2 t. vanilla
2/3 c. Bailey's Irish Cream
2 c. chopped nuts -- optional
Set aside.

Butter a 10x15 pan.

In a saucepan, combine:
4 1/2 c. sugar
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
1/2 lb. (2 sticks) butter

Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook slowly, stirring constantly for 11 minutes.
Pour milk mixture over the chocolate chip mixture. Stir slowly BY HAND to blend.

Pour into prepared pan. Chill until set.

Just for Shits and Giggles...

Just for fun, and because I am having fun editing, I am sharing this snippet from CRY UNCLE...

It made my beta-team laugh.

Here ya go!

From CRY UNCLE by Chrissy Olinger

     The sound of mad giggling, frantic footfalls, and something hissing drew my eyes from the newspaper. Glancing up, I saw my two year old nephew, Colum, careening past wearing nothing but sparkling eyes and a wild grin. No-- strike that-- and a thumb-sized turd wedged firmly between his dimpled ass cheeks. Ok, "wearing" may not be the correct word. Behind him, closing fast, was my brother. He zoned in on his son wearing a hooded sweatshirt pulled up over his nose. His hands were adorned with bright yellow cleaning gloves, and he was spraying disinfectant room freshener in wide, generous sweeps, like a mosquito fogger in July. A muttered curse escaped the confines of his hoodie. Colum banked off mom's hutch, set the china rattling, and headed for the doors to the terrace.
      Jackie grabbed him on the fly. It was an amazing feat of reflexes and speed, but had not so much as a drop of dignity clinging to any part of it. And-- oh, dear-- speaking of clinging.
     Jackie tucked Colum under one arm and stared at the hardwood floors, tossing the disinfectant to one side with a defeated groan. Collum gave a heroic kick, but his dad held on. The offending turd had escaped.
      My feet tucked up underneath me on the couch of their own accord. Jackie glanced up, wriggling his chin against the hoodie fabric to release his mouth from its makeshift mask. “Nobody will be eating fudge around here for a good while, anyway."
     Yeah. I can't unsee that.

© Chrissy Olinger

I’m Excited!

OK… ok, yeah… it’s getting exciting.  I just got my promo cards ordered from the fabulously cheapo and yet reliably neato VISTAPRINT.  I was at a signing where the author used them for ebook readers who wanted a signed cover.  Anyone who came with a reader that had her book on it got one, with a message and signature,  just like the paper-book owners.

Plus they are incredibly cool to give out.

Here are my postcards, front and back design (the images are the same as the front and back book covers, with slight tweaking to the back to keep it from being too busy).

FRONT

BACK

NaNoWriMo

I’ve always been aware of, and interested in, the concept behind NaNoWriMo.  For non-writerly people, National Novel Writers Month is a push for participants to complete a novel—the pre-set goal being 50,000 words—in a month.

I love the push, the camaraderie, the excitement.  But I’ve never “signed up,” so to speak.  I was always a fringe participant.

This year my promotional agency has created a schedule for me in 2011, 2012, and into early 2013.  I am expected to put out six books—3 each in both an adult mystery and a young adult fantasy series.  This will be good for me, and I’m incredibly excited about it.  Maggie, my mystery heroine, and Echo, my fantasy minstrel heroine, are going to be really busy.

And so am I!  I’ve always written quickly, but my worst habit is probably getting wrapped up in “fixing,” which often results in manuscripts landing under the bed or lagging in semi-completion while I fuss.  With the NaNoWriMo hounds at my heels, and the promotional gremlins growling at the door, I’ll be forced to do better.

Let us all invoke, draw upon, and celebrate Captain Mal’s Wisdom… yea, verily, the mighty Joss Whedon shall guide us!

Website Overhaul

Because my publication schedule has changed, and because exciting new developments are at hand, and because I have new material, and because I felt some of my promotional material was better suited to a wider array of imagery, and because I simply LOVE run-on sentences, I changed my website.

New look, new content, some old favorites, and cetera.

Enjoy!   chrissyolinger.com

Cry Uncle Book Trailer

I’m excited to share the book trailer for CRY UNCLE, which will be shipping, and become available for download this Christmas!

If that's not cool enough, I'm also going to be giving away a KINDLE FIRE and a $79 Kindle at my book launch and signing. Stay tuned for dates, times, and other info. The contest to win both of the newest Kindles will require no purchase, so you'll want to enter!