Welcome debut novelist, Christine Warner!

Today I am thrilled to welcome a new and debut author of The Wild Rose Press! Christine is a great lady who visits and comments on so many blogs, I absolutely bow down to her. You will LOVE being a part of the Wild Rose family, Christine. They are the friendliest bunch of authors, ever. Looking forward to getting to know you better, I wish you many, many sales!

1) Did you set any goals for 2011?

I always set goals for myself, both professionally and personally. Not that I manage to meet them all, but I try J Professionally, I set out to improve my writing skills (writing is a non-stop gig of learning) and also to take a chance and put myself out there. I’m a bit shy, more of an observer than one to jump right in. So it’s hard for me to comment on other author’s blogs and use facebook and twitter, but I’m taking it step by step. I’m liking it too!

Personally, my goal is to learn not to sweat the small stuff. Things happen and they can’t all take you down. Tackle the big jobs and leave the small ones for another day J

2) What is the best part of the writing process for you?

Whew, tough question. I absolutely love the creative aspect to writing. The best part for me is getting to know my characters. Starting out by choosing their names, their professions, giving them traits and flaws. What will they look like? What are their fears? And I love coming up with a title. Love it!

3) The worst part?

The middle of the story. And I don’t know if I’d say it was the worst part, but the hardest part. I love the beginning and building the scenes and characters and I usually know the end…so when I’m in the midst of the story I want to get to the end because I can see it like I’m looking through a tunnel. But I can’t rush it…I have to make sure I get all the information and bits and pieces of the story I wanted to tell and sometimes in the middle it just doesn’t go fast enough. I can’t get everything out as quickly as I want. It all boils down to my own impatience. lol

4) What is the book you wish you’d written?

There are so many wonderful books out there. One that really sticks out in my mind is The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Not only did I cry when I read the book, but also when I watched the movie. I just loved all the emotion and how the characters were portrayed. The story of new love, love lost, love found and then ending with trying to hang onto it as it changed and aged. Sad, sweet and amazing. I’m almost tearing up now just thinking about it. J

5) Favourite author/s & book/s?

I love true crime author Ann Rule. I have a deep fascination with crime novels because I find it so interesting that people commit the crimes that they do, and feel that they can get away with them. Makes me shake my head at times.

As far as romance, there are so many wonderful stories by amazing authors I wouldn’t know where to start. And that’s not even including some terrific stories I’ve had the pleasure of reading written by my critique partners. Hard to believe that I know these people and get the chance to read and critique their work before anyone else.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that there are so many books and authors out there I can’t pin point just one to name as a favorite. I love to read and enjoy different genres and writing styles. Variety is the spice of life, even when you’re talking books!

6) Tell us about your latest release?

Yay…I’m so excited to share a bit about my book Some Like it in Handcuffs. This is my debut novel and will be released on March 23, 2012 with The Wild Rose Press.

Sunny Kennedy is a fledgling private investigator and the only girl in a family of protective male detectives. She’s out to prove testosterone isn’t the only qualification required to solve a cold case. Handcuffed while undercover then taken to the precinct by an attractive detective, her domineering family demands she work with Detective Judson Blackwolf, or she’s off the case.

Judson Blackwolf, a seasoned homicide detective, thinks women in law enforcement should work behind the scenes. The prospect of working with his Captain’s sexy daughter doesn’t thrill him. The murder victim in the cold case Sunny is trying to solve was the daughter of his first partner. Judson only agrees to help with the investigation in hopes of giving his one time mentor closure. But when their investigation takes a dangerous turn and one of them is struck by a bullet, they realize their feelings for each other won’t let them stay apart.

7) Tease us with a blurb/short except

“This isn’t how I wanted it between us.” Judson grabbed the neckline of her sweater, dragging her body to meet his with a solid thump. Sunny licked her lips in answer to the question in his eyes. He lowered his head to move his mouth over hers.

Sunny closed her eyes, a small whimper escaping her lips. She didn’t want it like this either, but that wasn’t possible. Unable to resist her attraction she accepted it wasn’t an affair, or a long distance romance she craved, but for him to love her back. It was all or nothing for her. Her heart sank. She accepted this as their goodbye kiss.

With no thought to what was happening upstairs, Sunny rose up on her toes demanding more. Her lips pulsated against Judson’s. When his hand trembled against her cheek in a soft caress she lost touch with reality.

“Judson.” Sunny’s weakened body drifted farther into Judson’s as his fingers glided down her arms, pulling them to her sides where their fingers intertwined. He forced them behind her before his tongue thrust into her mouth.

Their bodies molded together, she heard her own heartbeat and his as well when he curved his fingers around her rear and squeezed.

That’s when the click of the handcuffs against her wrist connected her to the handle of the locked cupboard.

“What the hell…Judson?” She looked up at him, her knees shook, her body still inflamed with fever.

“Like I was saying, you wait here and I’ll go upstairs to check it out. Backup’s already been called, so you’re safe until your brothers arrive.” Judson winked before walking toward the steps to the third level. Once he reached them he turned toward her and smiled. “Gotcha,” he whispered with his notorious grin.

Some Like It In Handcuffs is available to buy from March 23rd 2012 - mark your diaries, folks!

8) What is your favourite attribute of the hero and heroine?

I love Sunny’s spunk and determination. The fact that she puts herself out there, even though sometimes she does it before she thinks everything through. As for Judson, of course the fact that he is tall, dark and awesomely hot doesn’t hurt…lol, but I like that he has humor and the ability to accept Sunny for who she is.

9) What’s next?

You might regret this question Rachel. I can get a bit excited and ramble on…so my apologies in advance if I do. J

I’m actually working on the book featuring one of Sunny’s older brothers. Derek Kennedy’s story is titled Some Like it on the Run. I’m pretty excited about it because his story features a lot of action involving the death of the heroine’s brother. There are characters in this book that were also mentioned in Some Like it in Handcuffs, but the story can still be read as a stand alone. The romance centers around one persons insecurities regarding their past, which they feel makes them undeserving of love and it’s up to the other character to convince them otherwise while coming to terms with their own uncertainties. I want to tell you more, but I’ll save it for another time. I have plans to write a story for each of Sunny’s four brothers.

I also have a few other stories that I’ve finished and I’m waiting to hear back from the publishing houses that are considering them. It’s all very exciting. J

10) Tell me where you write?

I’d love to say the beach or my gazebo, or my hillside retreat by the lake, but no place that glamorous or exciting…lol. Even though I have an office, I like the light in the living room from all of the windows surrounding it, so I tend to gravitate there. I’m usually sitting on the sofa with my feet propped on the ottoman and surrounded by my biggest fans. Two Golden Retrievers, Tess and Libby (Libby snores while I work…lol) and two senior kitties named Chocolate and Smoky. I actually borrowed Chocolate and gave him a slight roll as Sunny’s cat in Some Like it in Handcuffs. This cat has attitude and you can’t help but love him. J

11) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

Okay, here is a secret not too many people know, but I’d love to be an editor for an epublisher. How fun would it be to see all the stories first, get the chance to critique them and then help guide the writer into making their stories as strong as possible before they’re released. An author’s story is like their child, so as an editor I’d feel like I had helped raise this child, like a hands on aunt that is always there to encourage.

I’d also like to have several books out that readers will hopefully enjoy and that will make them look forward to what I have coming out next. And if I could do all of this from my hillside retreat by the lake, sitting in my gazebo with a spectacular view of a beach I think it’d be about perfect. Don’t you? J

12) Where can we find you?

I love it when people visit my blog. Christine-warner.com I post two or three blogs a week and Friday Fun Facts is by far my favorite. I really enjoy reading everyone’s comments. You can also find me on facebook and Twitter as ChristinesWords. Hope to see you soon!

Thank you so much Rachel for allowing me to visit your blog today! I had a great time J

Wow, great interview, Christine! You have so much going on, I feel exhausted just reading all about you. I, too, have a lab who keeps me company when I'm writing, Max is my constant companion. Interesting that you'd like to edit some time in the future, I've always thought that must be one of the most satisfying jobs in the world!

Now i'm off to chase you down on Twitter & FB!

Christine would love to hear from my visitors - comments?