Guest Blog with Cherie Reich, Author of The Nightmare Collection, Talking about Fear

Fear: What Scares Me?

Thank you for having me on your blog today, Nicole!

Nicole asked me to talk a little bit about fear and what scares me. Everyone has different things that frighten them, and as a horror writer, I try to use various fears to create the scare factor. My biggest fear is the unknown. I like to know things and be prepared for anything, but there are things out of my control, things I don’t know. I think that’s why I have a fear of the dark. The dark itself doesn’t scare me, but it’s what I can’t see that does.

I really dislike most bugs too. They are more creepy than frightening, but I don’t want them to touch me, just like I don’t want to touch them.

Even though I wrote a space fantasy novella trilogy, I have a fear of aliens. This stems back to the unknown ... and watching Signs. Dude, that’s a scary movie because it makes too much sense! Aliens can be anything, look like anyone.

And I also have a fear of talking on the phone. I think that goes back to the unknown too. Why is the person calling me? What do they want? What should I say?

Thinking about fear has made me realize all my fears tend to go back to the fear of the unknown. And I often use the unknown in my horror stories. Anything can happen out there. Are you prepared? *shivers*

What are you afraid of?

Book Description:

A legend is hungry tonight.

A child monster will get its first taste of blood in Nightmare at the Freak Show. Four friend will enter the forest on December night, but only one can survive in Once Upon a December Nightmare. Almost ten years after Cassie's December nightmare, the monster awakens to hunt again in Nightmare Ever After.

Publication Date: November 17, 2012

Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16089321-the-nightmare-collection

Cover art by Nicemonkey at Dreamstime.com. Cover design by Aubrie Dionne. Bookworm logo for Surrounded by Books Publishing created by Cherie Reich.

Purchase Links for the ebook:

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/256004

Amazon US http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A93EMNE

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A93EMNE

DE https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00A93EMNE

FR https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00A93EMNE

ES https://www.amazon.es/dp/B00A93EMNE

IT https://www.amazon.it/dp/B00A93EMNE

JP http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00A93EMNE

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-nightmare-collection-cherie-reich/1113808878?ean=2940015726503

Nook UK http://uk.nook.com/ebooks/the-nightmare-collection-by-cherie-reich/2940015726503

Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Nightmare-Collection/book-NTs2Bn-DK0-ypSR2cseCvA/page1.html?s=K9KRpcbL8UC68DBm7NN-KA&r=9

Purchase Links for the print book:

Createspace https://www.createspace.com/4043291

Amazon US http://www.amazon.com/The-Nightmare-Collection-Cherie-Reich/dp/1480211001

UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Nightmare-Collection-Cherie-Reich/dp/1480211001

DE http://www.amazon.de/The-Nightmare-Collection-Cherie-Reich/dp/1480211001/

FR http://www.amazon.fr/The-Nightmare-Collection-Cherie-Reich/dp/1480211001/

ES http://www.amazon.es/The-Nightmare-Collection-Cherie-Reich/dp/1480211001/

IT http://www.amazon.it/The-Nightmare-Collection-Cherie-Reich/dp/1480211001/

Author Bio:

A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies. Her e-books include the horror series Nightmare, a short story collection with authors Aubrie Dionne and Lisa Rusczyk titled The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk, the futuristic space fantasy novelette trilogy Gravity, and The Foxwick Chronicles, a series of fantasy stories. She is a member of Valley Writers and the Virginia Writers Club.

Author Links:

Website: http://cheriereich.webs.com

Blog: http://cheriereich.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bookworm0753

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcheriereich

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4268457.Cherie_Reich

Rafflecopter Giveaway:

I am giving away prizes to two lucky people. The prize packages are open internationally and include: a signed copy of The Nightmare Collection, a signed copy of Gravity: The Complete Trilogy, and a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal - Cherie Reich's The Nightmare Collection

Book Description:

A legend is hungry tonight.

A child monster will get its first taste of blood in Nightmare at the Freak Show. Four friend will enter the forest on December night, but only one can survive in Once Upon a December Nightmare. Almost ten years after Cassie's December nightmare, the monster awakens to hunt again in Nightmare Ever After.

Forthcoming late November 2012

Add to Goodreads

Cover art by Nicemonkey at Dreamstime.com. Cover design by Aubrie Dionne. Bookworm logo for Surrounded by Books Publishing created by Cherie Reich.

Author Bio:

A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies. Her e-books include the horror series Nightmare, a short story collection with authors Aubrie Dionne and Lisa Rusczyk titled The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk, the futuristic space fantasy novelette trilogy Gravity, and The Foxwick Chronicles, a series of fantasy stories. She is a member of Valley Writers and the Virginia Writers Club.

Author Links:

Website: http://cheriereich.webs.com

Blog: http://cheriereich.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bookworm0753

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcheriereich

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4268457.Cherie_Reich

Covers Reveal for Defying Gravity, Fighting Gravity, and Pull of Gravity by Cherie Reich

Three alien couples in three space fantasy novelettes fall in love in the Gravity trilogy. After a couple months, Cherie Reich decided that her novelettes needed a new cover. She spoke with her cover artist, Aubrie Dionne, and the new covers for Defying Gravity, Fighting Gravity, and Pull of Gravity are now ready to be revealed.

Homesick upon the SS Perseid, Linia, a young linguist, thinks she signed up for a mission of peace, but her crew members have another plan: attack the planet Medusa.

Bored with his dying planet, Alezandros, a space cruiser pilot, joins the Medusan Army in his quest for adventure.

When the SS Perseid clashes with the Medusans’ space cruisers, Alezandros and Linia’s lives intertwine. Sucked through a wormhole, they crash upon a post-apocalyptic Earth and are captured by cannibals. In adjacent cells, Alezandros and Linia cast their differences aside for a common bond: escape. But when romantic feelings emerge between them, they might do the unthinkable because for a Medusan and a Persean to fall in love, it would defy gravity.

To Purchase: iTunes  Kobo  Nook  Smashwords  Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon DE  Amazon FR  Amazon IT  Amazon ES

Forced into executing Aresia’s people, Phoebus escapes the Aresian Guard by flying his spaceship through a wormhole.

The only single woman of marrying age, Marissa flees town instead of becoming a third wife.

When Phoebus’s spacecraft crashes upon an asteroid-ravaged Earth, he is captured by a rogue Earthling youth and thrown into a cellar. Marissa stumbles upon the spacecraft, but it explodes before she can find any sign of the alien. When she awakens, she discovers the alien’s whereabouts and vows to help him. But Phoebus’s Aresians have landed and are searching for him. Phoebus and Marissa must battle against their despair and their peoples in a quest for their freedom. And through it all, an Earthling and an Aresian will find it easier to fight gravity than their love for each other.

To purchase: Apple  Kobo  Nook  Amazon  Amazon UK  Amazon DE  Amazon FR  Amazon IT  Amazon ES  Smashwords

A no-nonsense Earthling corporal, Nike accepts a mission to destroy the winged-people of Cupidis to give her race a chance at a new life.

A spoiled Cupidian prince, Edonys gets whatever he wants until his dying father tells him he must choose a mate and take his rightful place as king.

When Nike’s space cruiser lands upon Cupidis, she’s taken to the royal palace where she crosses paths with Prince Edonys. His arrogance leads her to believe her mission of domination will be easy. Edonys refuses his father’s last request to fall in love, but Nike isn’t anyone. She’s bold and different than any Cupidian female. When he shows her his planet’s delights, Nike and Edonys realize they must discover another way to save their loved ones because it will be easier for an Earthling and a Cupidian to ignore the pull of gravity than the pull of love.

Forthcoming end of July/early August!

Cherie is also giving away the complete trilogy to one lucky winner. All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment. It would be great if you could also follow Cherie's blog and on twitter too, but that's not required. Good luck! And congrats, Cherie!

2nd Annual Flash Fiction Blogfest - The Storm

Cherie Reich is hosting a flash fiction blogfest!

Here are the rules:

1. Entries must begin with the two words: Lightning flashed.

2. Entries must be 300 words or less and be in prose. I'm not versed enough in poetry verse to judge it properly.

3. Entries must be posted on your blog between May 21 - 23.

4. You must sign up in the linky below to have your entry be counted.

On May 25, I will announce the six finalists and open voting through May 28th.

On May 29th, my third year blogversary, I will announce the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners as well as a random winner selected from the participants list. All ties will be broken by Random.org.

Now what are the prizes?

First place - $25 gift card from Amazon

Second place - $20 gift card from Amazon

Third place - $15 gift card from Amazon

Random prize - $10 gift card from Amazon

If the winner prefers an alternate gift of equal value, I'm good with that. Contest in open internationally.

Here's my entry called THE STORM:

Lightning flashed.

Violet smiled. She loved storms, especially the rain. As a small child, she used to spread her arms wide, her face lifted to the clouds, as the rain kissed her.

Thunder boomed. Loud and powerful.

Another flash of lightning.

Violet stepped off her front porch.

Another rumble. This one even louder. The storm was getting closer.

Violet’s short hair matted to her forehead. Her dress clung to her legs, making it hard to walk.

She could feel the crackle of electricity, so close was the next strike.

Most people would not be out in this storm.

But Violet wasn’t like most people.

Her world was crumbling apart. Her fiancé had cheated on her, she had been fired from her job, she was behind on all of her bills, she hadn’t spoken to her father in years…

Yet, somehow, someway, in this moment, she was happy.

She raised her arms toward the heavens.

The thunder screamed and burst her eardrums.

Lightning coursed through her veins.

Violet dropped into a puddle, the murky, muddy water staining pink.

Dead.

Another bolt of lightning jolted her body, and Violet lifted her head.

Alive again.

But no longer human.

She had been wronged so many times in life. Now she had the chance to right those wrongs.

Starting with her no-good fiancé.

Violet was now a monster.

Her body transformed into water, and she slipped down a manhole into the sewers. Revenge would be hers.

And still the storm raged on.

Creature of the Week - Aliens and Their Creatures - Guest Blog with Cherie Reich

Hello, everyone! Nicole has a great creature feature on her blog, and I’ve decided to talk about the creatures from Medusa and Persea in my space fantasy romance Defying Gravity.

 I suppose the first and main creatures are the aliens.

Perseans are from Persea. They have varying shades of blue skin, yellow eyes, and blond hair. On top of their head, they have antennae that detect their moods and can even blush. All Perseans wear a collar with a blue gemstone that regulates their electrical energy. Linia, the female lead, is a Persean.

Medusans are from Medusa. Their flesh is more normal in colors to most humans. Their hair appears like dreadlocks that writhe like snakes around their heads. They usually have thinner facial features (nose and lips), and their eyes are always green. They have a secret third eyelid over their eyes that protects creatures from their infamous Medusan stare. Oh, and we can’t forget their forked tongues. They also heal very quickly. Alezandros, the male lead, is a Medusan.

Persea is a vibrant and verdant planet and has many unusual creatures. These creatures include:

Pegasifly – a small winged horse-like insect known for its sharp bite.

Trorc – an ugly, rather stupid creature that is half-troll and half-orc.

Draken – A feather-coated dragon that can fly and breathe fire.

Fluffter – A furball of an animal, about the size of a small dog. They are often used as pets, but wild fluffters do exist.

Rabbix – This creature has the body form of a rabbit, but its tail is fox-like, and it has a fox’s sharp teeth. Rabbixes are very wild and often vicious and sneaky creatures.

Slithering – The Persean word for “snake.” They come in various colors, like black. One of the more venomous ones is the red and white electric slithering.

Medusa is a dying planet. Very few creatures still exist, except for the few that live underground or hibernate for long times. Their creatures include:

Giant Bulltoad – A toad-like creature about the size of a small dog.

Slog – Half-sloth, half-slug, it is a furry creature that uses its belly to get around. They are slow creatures known for hibernating for many years.

It’s always fun to create new creatures. If you’re a writer, have you ever created a new creature? As readers, what are some of your favorite creatures?

We’re also giving away a copy of Defying Gravity and a first chapter critique (I’ve been a freelance editor since 2010). Nicole will fill you in on the details.

Thanks for having me!

---

Defying Gravity by Cherie Reich

Book Description: Homesick upon the SS Perseid, Linia, a young linguist, thinks she signed up for a mission of peace, but her crew members have another plan: attack the planet Medusa.

Bored with his dying planet, Alezandros, a space cruiser pilot, joins the Medusan Army in his quest for adventure.

When the SS Perseid clashes with the Medusans’ space cruisers, Alezandros and Linia’s lives intertwine. Sucked through a wormhole, they crash upon a post-apocalyptic Earth and are captured by cannibals. In adjacent cells, Alezandros and Linia cast their differences aside for a common bond: escape. But when romantic feelings emerge between them, they might do the unthinkable because for a Medusan and a Persean to fall in love, it would defy gravity.

Book Links: 

Surrounded by Books Publishing 

Goodreads 

Amazon 

Author Bio: Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor and library assistant. She enjoys writing horror, fantasy, and mysteries, but she doesn’t let that stop her from trying other genres. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her e-books include Once Upon a December Nightmare, The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk, and Defying Gravity. She is a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Valley Writers and placed third in Roanoke Valley’s BIG READ writing contest.

Author Links:   

Website 

           

Blog 

           

Facebook 

           

Twitter @bookworm0753 

           

Google+ 

---

To enter Cherie's contest, follow Cherie's blog or twitter account and leave a comment stating which prize you would rather win - it's ok to say both!

Flash Fiction

I hadn't posted the link for yesterday's Champion of Valor blog tour so here it is, over at Steena's. Be sure to check it out for a medieval recipe and a chocolate one.

Cherie Reich's The Flash Fiction Blogfest is today! And before you think that I'm forgetting to post today's blog tour stop, I'm not. I thought that I would stay here today, and use the contest as my stop.

For my piece, I wrote a scene from during the events of Woman of Honor, told from Prince Caelan's POV. For those who don't know the series, Aislinn is a young girl who convinces the king to allow her to train to be a knight. Adamina, a commoner, also wishes to train. The two girls don't much care for each other.

And now, for my flash piece (at 499 words):

Young prince Caelan entered the barracks. He grabbed a dagger from the nearest weapon rack and practiced with it, the feel of the weapon, the thrusts and jabs released some of his tension. A soft sound alerted him to another's presence, and he circled the racks of weapons until he found the source — Adamina.

The commoner played with a short sword, her forefinger testing the sharpness. Some blood dripped, but she paid it no heed. "'ello, prince," she said dryly, not bothering to look up at him.

"Good morrow," he said warily.

She rewarded him with a wry smile. "Would make a lazy spy if I can't see out the corners of me eyes, I would."

He smirked but said nothing, his gaze trained on her and her careless disregard for the deadly weapon in her hand that she flipped in the air and caught.

Her eyes finally turned to him."Surprised you didn't seek me out sooner. Dontcha like to know all the pages and squires for when they're your knights? That's what I was told." With a yank of the dagger, she ripped a stray thread free from her sleeve and dropped it.

"I do," he said, surprised that the others had realized this about him. He was friends with most of the pages, and the squires respected him despite their age difference. "Tell me about yourself," he demanded.

Her eyes narrowed. Despite her common background, Adamina had a rough time with authority, Caelan had already learned from their classes. "I wanna be a spy."

He rolled his eyes. Leaning against the stone wall, he fingered his dagger's hilt. "Tell me something I didn't already know."

She made a show of returning the short sword to its rightful place on the metal rack behind her. After a short pause, she said, "I like it here. Living at the castle, I mean. Back home, it was cold and hardly any food…." She shrugged. "But I don't have to worry about that here."

An ache in Caelan's chest began to grow. His people, he already thought of the Arnhemians as his people, some of them lacked necessary food and shelter. He knew his father helped where and when he could but obviously it wasn't enough. And it was something that Caelan would have to worry about too, when he became king.

Adamina glared at him. "That private enough for your liking?" she snapped. "I almost wasn't surprised you didn't seek me out. Since you spend so much time with her." The bitterness in her voice mirrored the bitterness in Aislinn's when she spoke of the other girl trainee.

"I am not friends with her. Geoffrey is."

She snorted. "Well, she doesn't know how to swim yet, does she? You might want to tell her to start learning how to." Adamina gave him a dark, grim smile. "Some of the boys have been talking about her needing to cool off."

Caelan gaped at the girl as she slinked from the room.

I hope you enjoyed it!

Be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win some signed post cards and magnets. Each comment during the Champion of Valor Blog Tour gives you an entry for the grand prize: a copy of the entire Kingdom of Arnhem trilogy - Woman of Honor, Knight of Glory, and Champion of Valor.

Mertales

My author's copy of Mertales arrived in the mail yesterday! I'll have to post a picture of me holding it on my blog soon. Mertales is a collection of stories of water, fin, and pearl. Fellow bloggers Cherie Reich and Aubrie Dionne also have stories in this wonderful anthology. You can purchase it on Amazon.

In this collection of short stories for teens, readers will be plunged into tales of terror and love, with unimaginable beings of the deep.

From the kelpies and banshees of Tim Reed's 'Waiting at the Water's Edge' to the shark-men of Jerry Sutton's 'Discovery on Neptune Two,' we meet some of the less understood watery creatures.

Dark and dangerous, Mertales will captivate and thrill, as selkies, kelpies, mermaids and river gods keep you captive within its murky depths.

My short story is called 'Beauty is Only Fin Deep' and it's the last story in the collection. You could probably guess this, but my story is not one of the terror ones, at least not in this collection!

Wyvern Publications publishes one anthology each year. Last year was Dragontales, this year Mertales, next year is Fangtales. I plan on writing a piece to send in for this anthology and would love for you to send one in too. The guidelines are here.

Author Interview with Cherie Reich

I'm here today with author/blogger Cherie Reich. I love reading Cherie's blog about her writing journey and her cute animals. :) It's amazing how well she's doing, but I'll let her share her good news herself.

So, Cherie, tell us your latest writing news.

It's been very exciting lately with my writing, especially last week. I received my contributor's copies of the Virginia English Bulletin. Back in March, my alternate ending to Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying won third place in Roanoke Valley's Big Read writing contest, and my winning entry was published in the Virginia English Bulletin, a literary magazine. On Thursday, I had my horror story "Freak Show" accepted into Pill Hill Press's Bloody Carnival anthology, which will be published in September. "Freak Show" is story about the monster in Once Upon a December Nightmare and its origins. On Saturday, I received an acceptance for my story "Tradition" for LL-Publications' Oil and Water anthology. The Oil and Water anthology is very special to me, and I'm honored to have my story accepted into that anthology because all the proceeds will go to help the Gulf Oil Spill victims. Oil and Water will be available in September, as well. In October, my fantasy story "Neptune's Treasure" will be published in Wyvern Publications' Mertales anthology. I also have plans to polish up my novels in the next month or two.

We're in two anthologies together - Mertales and Bloody Carnival. I love being in anthologies with blogging buddies. When did you first consider yourself a writer, Cherie?

To be honest, there are times when I still don't consider myself a writer. I wish I could say that I've always been writing, but I haven't. And, my English grades really told my lack of writing skills (not including grammar/spelling). Then, I began writing when roleplaying. Yet, I didn't consider myself serious about writing until January 2009. I started writing my first novel and never looked back.

I know that feeling. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that I'm a writer, especially with the little ones needed so much of my time and energy! But they inspire me. Speaking of inspiring, what inspired you to write Once Upon a December Nightmare?

In December 2002, my friends and I wanted to go to dinner and a movie. We ended up riding around on an old mountain trail when the truck broke down. We walked to the main road and called my dad to pick us up. I kept thinking about what happened from time to time and thought it would be a great story. Then, I finally wrote it down in May 2009.

How did you come up with the title? I love it, by the way.


The title is Once Upon a December Nightmare. I know it is cliché, but I like the idea of "once upon a time." Usually, those four words denote a fairy tale, but bad things can happen in those tales, so I considered those words. Then, I remembered the song "Once Upon a December" from the movie Anastasia. When I was in choir, we used to sing that song. So I took that part and added the "nightmare" to it, since the story takes place in December and is a true nightmare to the characters. And, thus, Once Upon a December Nightmare was born.


A lot of fairy tales, in their 'true forms' were actually quite gruesome so I think your title is perfect. A lot of times, I struggle to pick a good title. What are your current projects?

I like to work on both short stories and longer works. I try to keep a list of what short stories I would like to write for various anthologies. I also am an author of the blog Raven and the Writing Desk, and I write a short story a month for it. I also write flash fiction every week and post it up on Fridays on my blog. I am also slowly working on a paranormal romance novella titled Panther Moon. Then, I have my novels. My work in progress novel is Moonlight Murders, which is a historical mystery set in 1891 London. Then, I'm rewriting/editing my two complete novels: Virtuoso (a YA Paranormal) and The Phoenix Prophetess (YA Epic Fantasy). In November, I will be participating in NaNoWriMo for the second year in a row. I will write my thriller/horror novel Sarah's Nightmare.

Ah, you're like me. I work on multiple projects at the same time too. If I get stuck on one, I move on to the next. What was the hardest part of writing your book?

I wrote Once Upon a December Nightmare in a few weeks in May. The story, at the time, was a little over 10,000 words, and I didn't find it hard to write it, since I considered writing the story down since the end of 2002. Then, when it was picked up by Wild Child Publishing, I learned the hard truth of writing: editing. It took me from April to the end of July to get through four edits of Once Upon a December Nightmare. The story went from 10,000 words in the beginning, down to 9,000 words at the first edit, to 11,000 words of character building. 

Editing is, at least in my opinion, one of the worst parts of writing. A necessary evil. Well, thanks for coming 'round, Cherie!


Some of Cherie's links for you to enjoy:


Blog
Website
To Purchase Once Upon a December Nightmare