An Interview With Christie Rich

Awww yeeeaaah!  The Blogger Book Fair has kicked off!  I’m hosting three authors who are offering a giveaway of their books!

My first guest is Christie Rich, author of Five, Dark Matter, and soon-to-be-released, Genesis, all of which I am so looking forward to read!  I also adore her book covers!

I met Christie through an online friend and she is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.  I’d like to thank her for visiting my blog and agreeing to an interview with me!  Very excited!

What does Christie say about herself?  She was nice enough to provide me with this:

I love to be creative. It is more than a hobby. It is a need of mine. Whether writing, reading, painting or trying something new, I spend most of my time in the pursuit of freeing the creations inside me. I live in Northern Utah with my wonderful husband, two beautiful children, a spastic dog that thinks she’s a horse, and two extremely lazy cats. Reach me on Goodreads, My Blog, Twitter,  or Facebook.

Okay, so, let the interview begin!

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I love all things paranormal, and I also love romance, so Paranormal Romance was a perfect fit for me.

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I have tried both, and I prefer to see where the story takes me.  The outlining process doesn’t fulfill my need to be immersed in the story as much as writing as I go.  The downside to that is there will be things I need to fix when I am done drafting.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

I know some people get irritated by this, but Twilight sparked my love for reading again.  I had spent several years without reading a thing, and once I read the Twilight series, I was on a quest to read everything I could.  I haven’t stopped, and out of reading came my writing.  I love the series for that reason.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

Genesis is the third book in the Elemental Enmity Series, and I am excited to see the close of Rayla Tate’s story.  It’s getting so close now that in many ways I am sad, yet I am excited to explore other characters too.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

I would have to say all imagination; however, my experiences shape how I write.  I don’t think any writer can really say that they are not part of the story.  We tell a story through our eyes…the way we process life.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

I think I will always be enchanted with the first time Heath and Rayla danced.  There was something magical about it, and I loved writing it.

How did you come up with the title?

My first book Five has a few meanings.  The fivefold symbol is a major part of the story, as it reflects the elemental power the fae and elementals possess.  Also, there are Five fae lords that all hope to make Rayla their queen.

What project are you working on now?

I’m starting the final book in Rayla’s journey, and also a story about dreams.  That’s all I really want to say about it at the moment because it is still solidifying.

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

I love Jett and would like to tell a story from his point of view.  He is the lord of Earth, and very complex.  I wouldn’t actually mind telling a story for each of the fae lords because they are all special to me in different ways.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Always read, and write in similar genres to what you read.  Inspiration can come from so many things.  It is only when we are truly open that we can see and express that inspiration, though.

Which character speaks the loudest, to you? Do any of them clamor to be heard over the others?

Right now, Rayla, speaks the loudest, but there is a character named Seth that is chomping at her heels.  LOL.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends how much time I am able to devote to the book, but I’d say between four and six months at the moment.

Below are Christie’s books!  If you are interested in the giveaway, feel free to leave a comment or contact me!

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords

Rayla Tate was just a child when her mother disappeared from her life forever. Raised by her aunt Grace in a small town, she has lived an extremely sheltered life. Unknown to her, she was hidden from the fae who live secretly among us. Descended from an ancient blood-line of Elementals, only she has the power to crown the first fae high-king.

Sick of provincial living and the dictates of her aunt, Rayla flees the safety of her home and runs away to college with her best friend. Unfortunately, excitement over her newfound freedom is short-lived when she finds herself being chased by a mysterious stranger on her way to school. She is drawn to him immediately; however, she somehow manages to resist the compulsion she feels. As he disappears into the night, she is certain he hasn’t gone far.

Rayla struggles to deal with the encounter while adapting to her new environment. To make matters worse, Aunt Grace reveals that Rayla will be hunted by a pack of fae lords, each hoping to claim her power for his own. She soon finds herself surrounded by stunning men. Could they be fae, or is this just normal college life? More importantly, why does she feel drawn to each one of them? What dark power do they hold over her? She must quickly learn to fend off these beautiful and seductive pursuers using whatever means necessary or find herself lost to the fae world forever.

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords

Rayla Tate’s dreams for the future shattered when she discovered she was an Elemental capable of manipulating matter. Thrust, once again, into the magical fae realm of Faeresia, she has an important choice to make. But now that she has Heath to contend with, deciding between Zach and Luke is the least of her concerns. Tall, dark and lethal to her will, her attraction to Heath eclipses all she has experienced with any other lord, but he is using compulsion to wear her down. If only she could trust her feelings?

In a desperate attempt to escape Heath, she accepts the help of a little troll and finally gets what she wants; however, her relief is short lived. Things go terribly wrong when a dark force closes in on her, threatening to steal her burgeoning power before she even has a chance to test her abilities. Now, with Rayla as their captive, the Order will stop at nothing to create a male Elemental, and willing or not, Rayla is the key.

Caught up in the age-old battle for dominance between human and fae, only one question matters to her now—will she be able to save those she loves most without losing herself in the process? Or will she be forever haunted by the choices she alone can make?

To be released 7/27/2012.

Having just escaped the nefarious plans of the Order, Rayla Tate thinks all she has to do now is rescue her family and sort through her feelings, but bonding with five men might just be her undoing.  Not only does she have to deal with all of them reading her mind, Tabitha informs Rayla that she must choose a bondmate before she will be allowed to venture into the mortal realm to save those she loves most.
She has three weeks to get to know each lord, but her journey turns into far more than a simple choice of the heart.  Rayla comes face to face with the underhanded dealings of the fae political system where good is a matter of taste and evil lurks under beautiful shells.  Long held judgments crumble when she discovers the heart beneath the men she has come to count on.  Rayla must overcome long held fears, discover the truth behind the creatures of the dark realms, and conquer her greatest weakness before she can take her place as the new queen of the fae.

However, her world crumbles when she discovers following her heart’s desire might just mean the destruction of the world.  Will Rayla have the courage to choose the man who has risked everything to win her, or will she succumb to the manipulations of the fae council and those who would use her power for evil?

One choice:  five men.  The stakes have never been higher, but which one will prevail?

Tags: Blogger Book Fair, Christie Rich