Today is the day! Phoenix Rising is out in paperback!
I received my author copies a few weeks ago and took time to sit down and fondle them a bit. New book smell! Nothing else like it!
So, contest!!
Comment below about what you’re currently reading! That way we can talk about books and recommend them to each other too.
THREE PRIZES, THREE WINNERS, chosen by random number from the comments.
1. A print copy of Phoenix Rising.
2. Ecopies of Phoenix Legacy, the sequel coming on Nov. 11th. , Phoenix Rising, and Luminous, the short story set in the same univers.
3. A $10 Amazon certificate.
I will close entries in one week, at midnight on October 9th. Make sure that there is a way I can reach you if you want a prize, preferably via email. I’ve found Facebook messages tend to get lost.
As I held my book in my hands, I started to think of all the different influences on the series, especially the first book. The first, obvious, one is my love of Marvel’s X-Men, as the heroes in my books are born with their powers, as are the mutant X-Men, and the eventual goal of those running the Phoenix Institute is to provide a safe haven for mutants and teach them how to use their abilities safely.
But that was the general concept. As it took shape, it became more my own idea. For one, I restricted all the abilities to ones that could be explained by psychic powers. That means telekinesis and telepathy.
Alec Farley, the hero of Phoenix Rising, is a telekinetic but also a firestarter, as starting fires is just another level of moving things around with the brain, albeit at a molecular level. There are many variations I can use. The hero of the upcoming Phoenix Legacy has TK but it’s limited to the ability to heal himself. He can literally order his body to repair damage I’m currently working on the third full book in the series and the heroine can walk through walls, which is due to her psychic ability to control the molecules of her body.
Telepathy, on the other hand, could also take many forms. There are: simple communication/ the ability to mentally order people around; to cast illusions by making someone see what isn’t real; and to make what is real invisible. (See Luminous.)
It would be boring to write such powerful people without giving them weaknesses, so each strength has an appropriate drawback. Alec’s fire can escape his control. My self-healer can’t solve blood loss. My telepath can only control so many people for a short period of time. My ghost walker can only carry something with if it’s smaller than her own body weight.
Something else I borrowed was part of the setting. I feel in love with one of Nora Roberts’ Harlequin stories involving one of her big families. I loved the story about a young artist who lived in a lighthouse in Maine, especially the setting. I had just visited Maine and it resonated. So I took that idea, “borrowed” a real house set up on a hill over looking the harbor in Maine, and put that in the book.
And Beth…the first stirrings of the character that became Beth, the heroine of Phoenix Rising, took place back in 2004 when I was talking to Karen Harbaugh at RWA National in Dallas. She talked about how few leads of Asian descent there were in romance stories. I said maybe people write what they know. And she said that was no excuse. If people could research Regencies and historicals, they could research a character’s background too.
I sat down to write Phoenix Rising and Beth took shape as a Japanese-American. It’s not that I said “I’ll write a minority lead,” it was more “I’m writing a very unique character and this background adds to it.” I saw her as just Beth, whose background I had to get right as I had to get Alec’s background just right. But I received a few comments about people happy to see a non-white lead in a book, so that was nice.
And, last but not least, I owe a debt to the great writers of books I devoured in my childhood. Alec Farley is my own tribute to the wonderful Walter Farley, who wrote the Black Stallion series. I keep and treasure those books to this day. Alec Ramsey is the hero of the series, so I just swapped his last name for the author’s last name.
I only hope, in some small way, that I can touch reachers a tenth as well as Walter Farley’s stories touched me.
Congrats on your print release. Right now I’m reading a stack of library books that all seemed to come in at the same time. My book budget only allows so much so I always order some from the library too and it never fails they all seem to come in together. So right now I’m reading The Witness by Nora Roberts.
Cory, I am so excited for you! Headed to Amazonright now to get my copy. I am currely reading Pratchett’s newest, Dodger. It’s a good read, but not up to his standard. I wonder how much of his own writing he is actually doing these days.
Aww…Pat, thanks!
I’ve been doing a little reading myself. I absorbed Delusion in Death by JD Robb in one day and I read a historical mystery, The Crown, by an author I had never heard of. It’s her first book and it’s set during the reign of Henry VIII and she’s a relative of the Staffords who is a novice nun. Really excellent.
http://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Bilyeau/e/B005XPJYDG/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Congrats on having a print copy of Phoenix Rising. Right now, I’m reading North of Need by Laura Kaye, The Stars Shine Bright by Sibella Giorello, and Dangerous Shift by Jill James.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
Congratulations, Corrina! That’s really cool. I’m excited for you, and would love to win a copy of your book.
Congrats! Right now I am between books, as I just finished the first three books in Amanda Stevens’ Graveyard Queen series. Creepy, compelling, and hard to put down is the best description I can give. I think my next book will be Jayne Castle’s “The Lost Night” once it arrives in the mail.
I love Jayne Castle/Amanda Quick/JAK. I keep finding new ones to read at the library. Handy that she’s so prolific!
Congrats on the print release. Love having a new book to smell and feel, and even hear(those little creaks and crackle it makes the first time you read it).
Right now I am reading the Seeds of Dawn series by Jambrea Jo Jones. Currently on book two.
Congrats. If only I could finish my manuscript. Right now I’m reading Bearers of the Black Staff by Terry Brooks. It continues the Knight and Word series while being a Shannara prequel at the same time. Been a fan of the series ever since Terry Brooks himself handed me a copy of the Sword of Shannara (autographed of course). It’s post apocalyptic setting meets sword and sorcery!
My favorite Brooks/Shannara book is the middle of the three Shannara books, which is I think The Elfstones? I remember being very surprised at the ending and the fate of the Elven Princess.
Woot, Corrina! Congrats on having print copies in hand–while I do read many more e-books these days, nothing beats the experience of turning the pages and holding a physical book 🙂 I just started Susan Wiggs’ The Goodbye Quilt–about a mom’s road trip with her only daughter as they head towards college orientation. Not quite there yet in real life, but I’m sure that time is going to fly… ;p
Congratulations on the print release Corrina! Right now I’m reading Charmed Spirits by Carrie Ann Ryan in ebook, The Edge by Catherine Coulter in audio and The Eden Prophecy by Graham Brown in print. Thanks for the contest!
Congrats on the print release of Phoenix, and thanks for the chance to win a copy. My book budget has been severely curtailed, so every contest is appreciated. Can’t wait to get my hands on one of these.
nancyg5997 at gmail dot com
congrats on the release 🙂 Right now IM reading Seducing the Vampire by Michelle Hauf
meandi09@yahoo.com
I just finished the first in Mercedes Lackey’s Bardic Voices series, “The Lark and the Wren”. I really like her characterization and world building in general and was not disappointed. This is not a new book by any means and bears some resemblance to the early Valdemar books but was definitely written by a more experienced author. After reading her version on how bardic magic could work (from the Bard’s point of view) I wouldn’t mind playing a Bard character. It’s worth a read, and not going to break the budget. 🙂
Congratulations on your release, that’s always an exciting day! 🙂
You all are reading some great stuff! Gaslight Chronicles? Steampunk romance? Hmm…I probably should avoid, given I’m writing a steampunk detective/romance series (not published yet) but that sounds incredibly tempting!
Just finished Mortal Ties by Eileen Wilkes last night. Really love that series. Listening to audio book Ready One Player.
Congrats Corrina! You must be thrilled to hold a hard copy in your hands. I loved Walter Farley’s stories when I was growing up! Any story with horses at that time was a must read. Currently reading Monette Michaels Cold Day in Hell which I highly recommend. It was a pleasure to meet you at RT this year. Thanks for the contest!
Hey Corrina – congrats on the print release. I’ve just finished Cindy Spencer Pape’s Moonlight and Mechanicals, from her Gaslight Chronicles, a steampunk romance series. In the middle of Erin Knightley’s A Taste for Scandal, from her Sealed with a Kiss sereis, which is historical. Highly recommend both series! BTW – Little Black, A Pony (Walter Farley) was one of my absolute favorite childhood books.
Kathy
Congrats on the print release, how exciting! You have a wonderful series and it was a very fun read (0:
Just finished Violette Malan’s “Shadowlands” (the sequel to her “The Mirror Prince”), important to remember what happened in the first book but a great read and I am currently reading Jack Campbell’s “Tarnished Knight”
Corrina,
Congrats on the release. I don’t read e-books and these sound so interesting, so I’m thrilled they are in print now. Even if don’t win, I’ll be going out to buy Phoenix Rising this weekend.
Congratulations! Cover looks fantastic! I’m reading Michelle Sagara’s “Cast in Peril” right now!
Beautiful cover! I have just started reading David L Golemon’s “The Event”. My son raves about this series so I want to see what the shouting is about. I read mostly digital these days since my eyesight has gotten to the point where I need the larger print and my bookshelves have outgrown my house 🙂
I just finished “Gunmetal Magic” by Ilona Andrews and am about to start “The Renegade” by Jack Whyte.
Congratulations on the paperback release! I love the idea of a superhero romance series and will give the first book a try even if I don’t win. Right now I’m reading First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones and listening to Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness and thoroughly enjoying both!
Congrats on your paperback release! I just finished reading Say No To Joe by Lori Foster. It was a great, humorous read.
Great covers!