Interview & Giveaway – Ann Christine, author of Safari Moon

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

Today we are welcoming Ann Christine to the blog!  She is the author of Safari Moon, among other books.  She is currently touring Safari Moon with Goddessfish Promotions and is here today to answer some of my questions and share some information about her book.  She is giving away a generous selection of prizes to commenters!

* A Safari Moon bookmark to one randomly drawn commenter at every stop.
* ebook copy of The Gift (part of A Valentine Anthology) and Star Crossed (part of St. Patricks Day anthology) to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
* One commenter during the tour will win the right to have a character named for them in her next release–either Ghost Dance (a western historical romance) or Rebel Heart (science-fiction romance)
* Two randomly drawn commenters during the tour will each win a $25.00 GC to Starbucks

Nice list!  Personally, I want to win the right to have a character named after me….right….don’t think I qualify 🙂  Anyway, you all know how to qualify to win one of these giveaways – leave a comment at the bottom of the post.  To increase your chances of winning, click HERE to get the full list of tour stops and leave comments at as many stops as you can!

Sit back and enjoy!

 

Barb – Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing.

Ann – I began writing in the early nineties, ninety-two seems the right year, but I’m not positive. Even though I’ve been a math teacher for over thirty years, numbers just don’t seem to stick in my head. Six years later, with multiple rejections hanging on my belt as trophies, I was published. I have written western historical romances, regency romances, highland romance, fantasy romances and a contemporary romance, Safari Moon, which is featured here today.

Barb – Tell us about Safari Moon.

Ann – Safari Moon is my first contemporary romance. I am writing with an AKA Ann Christine; my historicals are written as Christine Young. Safari Moon begins in Bend, Oregon, a central Oregon small town which is a mecca for sportsmen and women. The story then moves to the Alaskan wilderness where Solo is employed to photograph wolves for a magazine article and cover. Nyssa and Solo have been friends since college. Even though Nyssa has been in love with Solo, they are comfortable in their best friend relationship. It is not until they are forced into a charade with no redeeming factors that Solo begins to see Nyssa in a different light.

Barb – What is your favorite part about writing?

Ann – For me, creating new characters and weaving their lives together is the most fun It’s like an intricate puzzle and all of the pieces have to match by the end of the story. When the characters evolve into seemingly very real people and they take over my head, look out because anything can happen. Many times the characters surprise me, but they always know what is best. Once I really get into the manuscript, I find the characters talk to me all of the time…when I’m driving, working out, watching TV and sometimes when I’m reading another book.

Barb – What is your least favorite part about writing?

Ann – I don’t really have a least favorite part about writing. But if I had to name anything, it would be the last word of the last sentence of the last paragraph. This ultimately means the end of the story. If there is no sequel—then the characters will stop talking to me. There is always a sense of exhilaration when the book is finished but there is a sadness too.

Barb – Do you start your story with an outline or do you just set the characters free to tell their story?

Ann – My stories almost always begin with the characters. I do in-depth profiles on each main character as well as the significant others. I know all of the noteworthy events of their lives, their favorite flowers, preferred scent, what they take with them in a situation where they were forced to leave their home. I know favored foods, etc. You get the idea. I then do a very basic outline dividing the story into four main parts. I decide the major turning points, three of them, then the black moment which will proceed to the resolution and the end of the book. After that every scene has a detailed outline of its own. But the scenes are not written all at once but as the story progresses. The characters may take over at any time.

Barb – Do you have a favorite character in Safari Moom? If so who is it and why?

Ann – Solo is my favorite character. I love the way he handles awkward situations. Even when there is no need, he tries to be the perfect gentleman. When women throw themselves at him, he doesn’t want to hurt their feelings. He treats Nyssa with such care and love, considering her feelings first. Crazy though, what he thinks are her wishes are really the exact opposite.

Barb – Who encourages you to continue writing?

Ann – My support group has always been extensive. In the beginning my husband gave me the most encouragement. He always believed in me. And he was the only person who knew I was writing. I have heard horror stories of husbands putting down their wives for trying to pursue their dream. I am so blessed not to have had this from anyone in my life. Over time I have had a tremendous support from my friends, critique partners, fans and family.

Barb – How can your fans follow you?

Ann – Links:

http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/

http://www.roguesangels.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=ff85431957b1187086157ac2bfb2bfdd&eu=M43G7mFwzlUHvaIxNutxUw

Barb – Where are your books available?

Ann – All of my books are available at Rogue Phoenix Press http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

All Romance

They are available as print books as well as kindle, ebook, and nook.

Barb – Anything else you’d like to add?

Ann – I would like to thank Sugarbeat’s Books for hosting me today. I hope those of you visiting this blog leave lots of comments. I really enjoy hearing from you and reading your comments.

 I’d like to thank Ann for dropping by and sharing with us about her books!  Make sure you leave a comment with your email address below to be entered in the wonderful giveaway!

Bio – Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master’s degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, Dakota’s Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children. Christine’s newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

Website: http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/

Rogues Angels blog: http://www.roguesangels.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Young/350132315013316

Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/achristay

Publisher: http://shop.roguephoenixpress.ieasysite.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=SAFARIMOON

Solo St. John, a wildlife photographer, is preparing for a trip to Alaska. Suddenly, Solo finds women of all sorts invading his privacy, his home and his office, all cooing nonsense words and blatantly throwing themselves at him. Solo doesn’t know why, and he has no idea how to rid himself of the persistent women. He finally decides to beg a favor of his best buddy Nyssa Harrington.

In love with Solo for the past ten years and knowing he doesn’t return her feelings Nyssa doesn’t want to talk to Solo. She knows if she accepts his phone call, she will not be able to resist the temptation to hope again.

Safari Moon

Excerpt 1

Wanted: A professional wildlife photographer to take pictures in the Alaskan wilderness. Experience first hand a real safari moon. Call(555)381-1252 or send resumes to 2286 Main, Suite 2D Bend, Oregon.

Solo St. John was in the middle of an erotic dream about his buddy, Nyssa Harrington, when the click of his front door shutting brought him to instant alert mode.

Solo looked up, caught a flashing glimpse of a good deal of naked flesh; long legs, perfectly rounded derriere, and a waist he could span with his hands. The intruder’s long blond hair curled around her shoulders an inch above the ties of her bikini top.

Then he saw the skunk. He blinked twice.

This woman and the skunk were not the subject of his brief and very strange dream, a fantasy that made his mind speed along at sixty in a residential zone. This was someone he had never seen before and he resented the intrusion.

“Hello,” she cooed seductively from his living room. “Will you come out and play?”

The skunk stuck a black and white head around the open door to his bedroom. A second later the animal turned and lifted his tail before disappearing into the living room.

Solo was out of bed and pulling on his jeans before the count of five. Yet in that short time, the lady in question, along with the skunk that was now exploring his fireplace hearth, had taken over his living room.

The lithe, supple blond sported an expensive camera, and all the while the lady in question babbled nonsense words.

“I’m willing, able, and eager.” She posed for him, a pose meant to entice.

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