Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Interview with Christine Bell, author of Down on Her Knees - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and signed copy of Down for the Count!

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ABOUT DOWN ON HER KNEES

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Title: Down on Her Knees
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Christine Bell
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Pages: 159
Language: English
Format: Ebook

  Four lessons, no strings…

 Detective Rafe Davenport has always made Courtney DeLollis uneasy. While her instincts whisper, Touch him, her mind says, Run. But since she learned that he’s dominant in the bedroom, she hasn’t been able to forget about it. She should be appalled—she knows all too well what happens when a man has too much control—but a deeper, darker part of her is fascinated... And so is Rafe. The sexual tension between them is thick enough to touch, and damn, does he want to touch. So he suggests something that will benefit them both. Four scenes—because anything more is a relationship, and Rafe won’t go there ever again. Each scenario is designed to tease and torment. To show Courtney that with every submission comes the reward of scintillating pleasure. But once he has Courtney down on her knees, Rafe realizes that she might be the one woman capable of bringing him to his…

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AMAZON

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?
               Parenting and step-parenting four great boys. Of course I realize that nobody’s perfect, but they are kind, and bright and funny. Great kids and I’m very proud of them all.
How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
               Mostly in the sense that I had the balls to do it! My parents were always very supportive, so I was able to kind of jump in with enough strength to know I could handle the rejections and hard parts because I had a great support system growing up.          
When and why did you begin writing?
               I always liked making up stories when I was a kid, but I think I wrote my first poem for a school assignment when I was in fourth grade. It was pretty good for a nine year old, lol, and I still remember it! Here it is, ready? *clears throat*
I am a bubble flying high and free
A bubble with a rainbow inside of me
I’m flying over houses and a tall oak tree
And except for my rainbow, you can’t see me
I know it won’t be long
I’ll hit that oak tree and then be gone
But until that day I’ll fly around
Until my rainbow hits the ground
*curtsies* Not bad, right?!
When did you first know you could be a writer? 
               I didn’t really ever KNOW it for sure until I was doing it and someone paid me for my work. Until then, it was just a hope based on the encouragement of my English professors and family. I didn’t really wrap my head around it until I was like thirty-nine and was able to quit my day job and write full time.
What inspires you to write and why?
               Watching people! Listening to my kids talk, looking at what’s going on around me. People are so funny and quirky, they are a constant inspiration. I try to make sure I incorporate those little weird things we all do into my characters because that’s what makes them relatable.
What genre are you most comfortable writing?
               While I love writing adult romance, I honestly feel most in my element writing YA! I love reading it, love sort of falling into that younger voice.
Who or what influenced your writing once you began?
               I read Stephen King’s book called On Writing, and I love his work anyway, so he is a huge inspiration. I also love Gillian Flynn (author of Gone Girl, Sharp Objects etc.) Her writing is so spectacular. While I’m writing in a different genre than both of those authors, I try to keep them in the back of my head at all times to challenge myself to create relatable characters and use visceral descriptions etc.
What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
               Looking at a blank page and realizing how far you have to go. It seems to me almost as daunting as building the Great Wall of China. Like, how is this even possible? I have to take it in chunks. One chapter at a time. I can write ONE CHAPTER, right?! If I think of it as a whole, especially when I’m writing YA and the books has to be 100, 000 words or so, I would curl into a ball and weep, lol.
Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?
               This book taught me that it never gets easier! Even after more than two dozen releases, I still need to set it aside for a while, go back in and make pretty major changes. I’ve come to the realization that I’m not a one draft write, in spite of how much I self-edit as I go. Although my writing is very clean (i.e. I don’t need a lot of line editing and there aren’t a lot of errors, per se) I still have content issues that require a lot of re-writing and all that. This book was no different!
Do you intend to make writing a career?
               Yes! After three years of writing while working a day job as well, I was finally able to leave the day job last November and begin writing full time. It’s be a dream come true.
What is your greatest strength as a writer? 
               Humor. I try to find humor in everything around me, so that definitely plays into my writing as well. My heroines range from dry and snarky, to maybe a little clumsy and scatterbrained, to an I Love Lucy type character, always getting into jams etc. But one way or another, they always wind up a little funny. I can’t help myself :oD
What is your favorite quality about yourself?
               I guess my determination. When I set my mind to something, I’m not willing to accept defeat. I’m stubborn like that, lol.
What is your least favorite quality about yourself?
               Probably the same as my favorite quality! My stubbornness is a double-edged sword. It’s a blessing a lot of the time, and then at other points, it’s a real problem. I have a hard time admitting when I’m wrong >.< And sometimes, when I should let something go, it takes me longer than it should.
What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?
               I love the Henry Ford quote : “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.”
I believe in that so much. The only thing holding us back many times is ourselves.


ABOUT CHRISTINE BELL

  Christine Bell is a USA Bestselling Author of contemporary romance novels and one half of the happiest couple in the world. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from Young Adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants and playing Texas Hold 'Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate...or, like, a ninja maybe. She loves writing fun, sexy romances, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons. Christine loves to hear from readers, so please feel free to get in touch with her via the Contact Page, or find her on Twitter @_ChristineBell.
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Pump Up Your Book and Christine are teaming up to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of Down for the Count!

Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • 2 winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive each of the prizes
  • This giveaway begins February 24 and ends on March 7.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on March 8, 2014.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

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