Bio: "My addiction to reading emerged when I was ten and down with measles. My
mother, trying to keep me entertained,
brought home a stack of Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew books. Within days,
I’d consumed them all and asked for more. That’s when it truly began−the
pleasure of reading which would eventually lead to my writing.
I can’t pin point precisely when I
knew I was different from everyone else−at least from my tight group of hometown friends. Didn’t everyone have movies
playing in their heads starring beautiful
characters leading adventurous lives in exotic places? NO—they did not. Did that mean they were normal and I was the odd, slightly wacky duck?
My answer to that conundrum came when I attended my first writer’s
conference in Savannah. Nervous about being on my own at the crowded event, a
kindly writer from Texas took me under her wing and introduced me to at least a
dozen writers. Surrounded by so many
writers who were so like me, I fit right in. I wasn’t an “odd” duck after all;
I’d simply been in the wrong pond!
As a result of that conference, my
desire and conviction to write blossomed. Still working a full time job at a Louisiana cancer center, I carved out time to write every night and on
weekends. My first manuscript went through four incarnations, and a year under
the bed, before success came knocking.
Today my family and our two
Labs—Lambeau, the Green Bay Packers unofficial
mascot and Gracie, who is just plain,
sweet Amazing Grace—live in a
picturesque little town in Ohio wrapped around a lovely town square with an
intricately carved gazebo where weekly band concerts take place all summer
long."
Here's Christy's latest release: Maybe Too Good To Be True
BLURB: Gabrielle
March is summoned to an oceanfront estate in Massachusetts by the matriarch of
Atlantic-Hastings International where she is presented with a hefty block of
shares as amends for a crime committed against her family. The stock—worth
several million dollars—can give her the means to make her dream come true if
only she can muster the courage to break free from her past and believe in her
unique creative talent.
Pierce
Hastings, son of Gabrielle’s benefactress, grudgingly agrees to take her under
his wing and acclimate her to Atlantic-Hastings. Never one to mix business with pleasure,
Pierce stuns himself when he ignores his own self imposed rule. Gabrielle’s
complete lack of artifice, unvarnished honesty and quirky sense of humor are
intoxicating to him―and he’s rapidly becoming addicted. He’s blindsided when
Gabrielle confesses that, in spite of her growing feelings for him, she will
never fit into his world of power and privilege and has no desire to try.
Before treating us to an excerpt, Christy Reveals:
From where do you get inspiration and what inspired you to write Maybe Too Good to be True?
Having children is such a blessing. I am sickened when I hear about a child who has been verbally/ mentally abused. Part of the inspiration for Maybe too Good to Be True, came from my growing awareness of the damage done to children whose parents harshly criticize, humiliate and degrade them. In the back story, Gabrielle’s father wasn’t deliberately cruel, but he was controlling and manipulative, bullying her into doing what he wanted her to do. By the time Gabrielle became a beautiful, vibrant young adult; her self esteem and belief in her talent were badly eroded. Part of the story line is her struggle to become the woman she was destined to be.
In a couple of sentences, describe the hero’s character. What do you like best/least about him?
Pierce Hastings is a shrewd, strategist who usually achieves his goals in business and his personal life. He doesn’t steam roll anyone; he simply finesses them into agreeing with him. As a friend, he is loyal, supportive, honest, and generous. His divorce knocked him off balance and he’s struggling to get his life and priorities together. His least attractive quality is his meddling—his family calls him the “fixer,” because he wants to make sure his friends or family get what they want. Pierce considers himself a work in progress, and he’s tackling his control issues. His most redeeming quality is the respect and friendship he shows to everyone, from the gardener to the governor of Massachusetts—he treats them equally.
Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? What would be your tips to overcome it? Absolutely. Start writing anything. Put two people in a coffee shop. The pretty waitress spills a pot of coffee on a cop. Write their conversation. It’s amazing how you can go from zero to “I’m writing” just by a simple writing prompt.
Do you have a writing routine? I write in three chunks each day: 9am to 1:30, 2pm to 5:30pn and 10pm to 12am. I have 2 Labs as my office assistants and have to feed them lunch and toss the ball a few minutes here and there. Usually I put my meals, breakfast and lunch, on a tray and eat in my office on my desk. I like to stay connected to writing all day. First thing, I check my emails and answer the highest priorities. Then I get off the internet—a huge time waster—and do nothing but write. My late night chunk is returning emails, blog stuff and some writing. This is my weekday schedule. If I’m at home on the weekends, I usually write four hours a day.
What is the best writing advice you have ever
received? I don’t know who said
it, but I believe it. Don’t get it right...get it written.
What would you most like to accomplish this year? I want to finish my next contemporary, Too Close for Comfort and write my first paranormal, a dark ghost story.
What is your culinary speciality? First, let me say that my husband is a much better cook than I am. However, the few things I do cook are pretty good. My favourite is beef Stroganoff. Heavy on the wine, lots of fresh mushrooms, served over wild rice with asparagus on the side.
What would you most like to accomplish this year? I want to finish my next contemporary, Too Close for Comfort and write my first paranormal, a dark ghost story.
What is your culinary speciality? First, let me say that my husband is a much better cook than I am. However, the few things I do cook are pretty good. My favourite is beef Stroganoff. Heavy on the wine, lots of fresh mushrooms, served over wild rice with asparagus on the side.
Any exciting plans for the near future? Just a few short
trips. We’re going back up to Green Bay, Wisconsin to see the Packers play.
Every year during the holidays we go up to Chicago to stay for a few days to
take in the Christmas lights and decorated store windows. Michigan Avenue looks
magical with its thousands of twinkling white lights.
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“The fact
is, Mr. Hastings, it is not a reporter’s job to be favorable. They are in the
business of finding and reporting the truth.”
"Nobly
put, Miss March.” The woman certainly didn’t pull any punches.
“I hope this will put you at ease, Mr. Hastings. I own the newspaper. It’s been several years since I single-handedly set out to ruin anyone.”
Sarcasm, even with a lovely Southern accent, was still sarcasm.
"I see.” Pierce sounded duly impressed. “That’s certainly an accomplishment for such a young …” He froze when her eyes narrowed. What the hell was wrong with him? He careened from one blunder to the next.
"Tell me, is it my age or the fact that I’m a woman that bothers you?” Her face was considerably more colorful than the rest of her and he knew it had nothing to do with the heat.
Pierce was no chauvinist and certainly had no prejudice against successful females. After all, he’d been married to a talented trial attorney. Hadn’t he put his wife through law school? Hadn’t he supported Glenna in every way until she made partner in her firm and then announced that she’d changed her mind about having children and, by the way, she didn’t want to be his wife anymore either.
"I didn't mean that you weren't responsible.” His eyes returned to the very entertaining Miss March who had just snapped up the ball and was ready to run with it.
"What would someone like you know about responsibility anyway? You've probably never put in an honest day’s work in your entire over-privileged life. Flying around the world trying to stay one step ahead of reality. One of these days you’re going to have to come down to earth and see what it’s like in the real world.”
Where did the woman get her information? She’d obviously pegged him as some sort of wealthy derelict. Fired up, she was something. Misinformed maybe, but she had balls of steel. "For a newspaper woman, you’re lacking in your facts, Miss...."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I hope this will put you at ease, Mr. Hastings. I own the newspaper. It’s been several years since I single-handedly set out to ruin anyone.”
Sarcasm, even with a lovely Southern accent, was still sarcasm.
"I see.” Pierce sounded duly impressed. “That’s certainly an accomplishment for such a young …” He froze when her eyes narrowed. What the hell was wrong with him? He careened from one blunder to the next.
"Tell me, is it my age or the fact that I’m a woman that bothers you?” Her face was considerably more colorful than the rest of her and he knew it had nothing to do with the heat.
Pierce was no chauvinist and certainly had no prejudice against successful females. After all, he’d been married to a talented trial attorney. Hadn’t he put his wife through law school? Hadn’t he supported Glenna in every way until she made partner in her firm and then announced that she’d changed her mind about having children and, by the way, she didn’t want to be his wife anymore either.
"I didn't mean that you weren't responsible.” His eyes returned to the very entertaining Miss March who had just snapped up the ball and was ready to run with it.
"What would someone like you know about responsibility anyway? You've probably never put in an honest day’s work in your entire over-privileged life. Flying around the world trying to stay one step ahead of reality. One of these days you’re going to have to come down to earth and see what it’s like in the real world.”
Where did the woman get her information? She’d obviously pegged him as some sort of wealthy derelict. Fired up, she was something. Misinformed maybe, but she had balls of steel. "For a newspaper woman, you’re lacking in your facts, Miss...."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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LINKS: http://www.christymckee.com http://christymckeewriter.blogspot http://twitter.com/ChristyMcKee BUY link MuseItUp
Pleasure to meet you Christy!
Christy will be awarding a digital copy of Maybe Too Good To Be True to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop and a $30 Amazon GC to one randomlydrawn commenter during the tour.
