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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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Christine Rains. Her Grammarness Rears Her Crowned Head Again.

By

I’m really excited to have this 
GUEST POST 
by 

TRICK-OR-TREAT

Children run through the halls of the building, giggling and knocking on doors. Their excited energy has rubbed off on everyone, including you. Good thing too, because the elevator is packed, and you have to walk up the stairs to get to your friend’s apartment for her Halloween party. Oh, did I mention your costume looks awesome!
As you’re climbing the stairs, you stop on the landing of the 13th Floor. How had you never noticed there was a 13th floor before? You feel a chill as the door swings open. No kids skip down this corridor, but the jack-o-lanterns decorating the hall tell you people are home. Feeling the Halloween spirit, you decide it might be fun to go trick-or-treating. Okay, maybe you’re a little too old, but it could be fun if you knocked on just one door.
But which one? There are six apartments.
  • 1301 has a wicked looking pumpkin with devil horns.
  • 1302’s jack-o-lantern is painted to look like a wolf.
  • 1303’s is green with a tail. Is that a mini lance sticking through it?
  • 1304’s door is elegantly decorated and the pumpkin is uncarved.
  • 1305’s jack-o-lantern is blinking. Wait… not the pumpkin. Is there an animal hiding in it?
  • 1306 has a pumpkin with long fangs.

Whose door do you knock on and why? If you’d like, tell us what you think might happen when whoever lives there opens the door.
Have fun! Lee will choose the response she likes best, and that person will receive a free digital copy of the 13th Floor Collection.

I’m already scared, but scare me some more and you’ll win that free copy of Christine’s book! And here’s a brief glimpse of what you’re in for come October 13 when it’s released.

Six supernatural tenants

Living in a haunted apartment building
On a floor that doesn’t exist.
Six novellas telling their tales.
A retired demon acquires a price on his head. 
A werewolf is hunted by her pack.
A modern day dragonslayer misses his target.
A harpy challenges Zeus for the soul of the man she loves.
A vampire is obsessed with a young woman he can’t find. 
A banshee falls in love with someone who’s death she has seen in a vision.
And a sweet ghost must battle a primal monster to save them all. 
All the stories take place at the same time intertwining their lives together on the 13th Floor.
*Includes โ€œThe Shadow,โ€ a bonus short story.

About the Author

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 eight novellas and twenty-one short stories published.
Website: http://christinerains.net/
Blog: http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchristinerains
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@CRainsWriter
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4017568.Christine_Rains

Her Paranormal Romance: Thirteenth Floor Collection is here.
BUY LINKS: 

Kobo 

Smashwords 

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Separate Words and Combined Forms

As far as I know standard English still holds to these forms as being correct in standard writing. Anyone disagree? I always double check for errors with these guys. They’re sneaky or my brain’s leaky. 

all ready (adjective phrase) 
The reviewer was all ready to read Snarkle’s book when she peeked through the crack in her door and fainted.

already (adverb of time)
Snarkle’s book was already a New York Times bestseller by the time she heard from the agent.

all right (adjective phrase)
Snarkle’s book seemed all right to me, but the school banned it. 

all together (adjective phrase)
There were seven critics all together. Why were they frowning at Snarkle? 

altogether (adverb, meaning wholly)
Snarkle missed the deadline, so that was altogether a different matter. 

a while (noun)
Snarkle wrote for a while before tossing her computer out the window.

awhile (adverb)
Snarkle wanted the agent to represent awhile longer. “Nope,” the agent said.

may be (verb phrase)
It may be that Snarkle’s work isn’t that good after all.

maybe (adverb, short for “it may be)
Maybe she needs a refresher course in how to write.

Comments

  2. Nick, it might keep you safe if something scarier is chasing you!

    Theresa, hehehe! Awesome answer. Congratulations! You've won a digital copy of my Collection. I'll be emailing you. ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. You guys haven't made choose a "best" comment easy, you know. However, I really liked Theresa's pumpkin guts idea. So I guess I'll choose her.

    The rest of you get hugs.

  4. HaHa! I'm going through 1301's door. I'm hoping that the person there has a wicked sense of humor, and is baking a pumpkin pie and toasting pumpkin seeds with the jack-o-lantern guts.

  9. I would knock on the decorated door with the uncarved pumpkin. I like things that are different.

    As to the words, I get a while and awhile mixed up, so I try not to use either.

  13. Christine's introduction was so creepy! When I was reading it, I swear I heard "Thriller" playing in the background. I'd knock at 1304 because I have no clue what's in there and I love surprises. lol

    Yay Grammar Queen! I must admit I have trouble with all together/altogether and a while/awhile. *blush*

  14. I'd knock at 1304, taking a chance that since the '…door is elegantly decorated and the pumpkin is uncarved.', there won't be any mischievous soul inside ready to scare me half to death.

    Great tips and stuff it's easy to get mixed up.

  16. What a clever post! Loved all of this…

    I would probably choose 1304… because I'm old-school classy Hollywood like that… LOL…

  19. I have The 13th Floor on my Kindle. Need to read it ASAP. Thank you for reminding me ๐Ÿ™‚

    I'm chuckling, reading about Snarkle's adventures (and misadventures) in the grammar world.

  20. Dana, maybe if you're lucky, they'll be giving out designer shoes from 1304!

    SA, you're right about the werewolf, just not the type! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Angela, you're brave!

    Tonja, that it is!

    Klahanie, hehehe! Oh the Halloween puns! Thanks for stopping by.

    Misha, I'm not too surprised if more women go there!

    Barbara, thanks!

    Southpaw, that's true! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Ruth, have a great Halloween!

    Elizabeth, it is a small animal. It might work in your favor to give her a treat!

    Hilary, spooky!

    Cherie, you'd get some good treats! ๐Ÿ™‚

  23. Hi Lee .. one I'd go for 1304 .. the 13th is my lucky number .. yet I'm not keen on being scared .. but an elegant doorway and with a pumpkin uncarved …

    I'd have to get my alligator incisors I keep well hidden, except for terrorising times .. young kids who want to eat and suck sweets … I'd stick my tongue through the pumpkin and suck their living blood out of them .. leaving a shadow outside no 1304 – so safe before .. but now the decoration blisters up … the doorway takes on an unhealthy glow …

    Cheers and enjoy Halloween .. Hilary

  24. My first reaction is to knock on the door with the elegant pumpkin, but since I know from plenty of horror movies that things are not always what they seem, I am going for the blinking pumpkin. I figure if it's an animal, hopefully it's a really small animal if it's vicious.

  29. Hey Lee and Christine,

    I'm going to visit 1306. I always had this urge to be fanged by a pumpkin. Yes, pumpkin, fang you very much for all the fangs I get.

    Alright now. I'm already at the all ready. And now I'm all most, almost about to leave your must-read site n'stuff, or and stuff.

    Yes, time for your starstruckest fan to bid thee a fond fare well, farewell from lil' ol' England.

    Gary

  35. Thank you for hosting me today, Lee! I always have to check those words when I'm editing too.

    Alex, but I bet they have awesome treats!

    Diane, how appropriate! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Julie, thanks! You know Mae might have made something special for a treat. ๐Ÿ™‚