Meet Christine Bryant -YA Fantasy Author

Christine Bryant

YA Fantasy Author

      We have the pleasure of introducing you to a fellow Idahoian! She gets to look out over the Snake River, too! Please join me in welcoming Christine! She'll be around this week to answer questions for you so please stop back for her answers to your comments. She's also having a contest drawing; be sure to comment to get in! Please take a moment to look over her books and visit her sites! 

      Christine has always been a writer. Even before she could compose a single word with pen, she scribbled her version of cursive along the open page just to see what it looked like. As a teen, she swiped her dad's old Royal typewriter so her muse could breathe life into what her vivid imagination had created.

       She's spent the last twenty-five years married to the man of her dreams and raising their two sons. After helping run the family restaurant for most of their marriage, Christine finally broken away to pursue her dream of being an author.
       When she's not with her family or tickling the computer keys, she loves camping, reading, scrap booking, listening to all kinds of music, and making new friends.
      Christine is currently living in the middle of sage brush and lava rock with a spectacular view of the Snake River Canyon in South Central Idaho.

 

Reader's Haven: Christine, this is a great location! We're excited you're here with us all week! Tell us a bit about yourself.

CK: I’m a 40-something mother of two boys who’s married to the man of my dreams and lives in southern Idaho. I love the outdoors, playing games, scrap booking and just hanging out with family and friends. When I’m not writing, I’m helping out at our family restaurant or having lunch with a friend.

Reader's Haven: What made you want to become a writer?

CK: I honestly think I was born with writing in my blood. I have a picture of me when I was two where I’m hiding under a table pretending to write. Of course, I was just scribbling on a tablet, but in my mind I was already an author with fans.

Reader's Haven: What type of hero do you like best?

CK: First of all he has to be strong and gorgeous. But most of all he needs a few faults. A guy who’s not afraid to show emotions, but is strong enough to overcome any obstacle. Gentle with the ladies, but can kick the villain’s butt. I’m also a strong fan of female protagonists and heroines.

Reader's Haven: How many plots do you include in one of your books?

CK: I always have one or two subplots in my books. I think it makes the read more interesting and real.

Reader's Haven:  Readers love to hear what we do all day! Tell us about a typical day in your life as a writer.

CK: Very boring. I get up, get myself ready for the day, then go to my office and spend the entire day writing, blogging, marketing or networking on my computer. Of course I take breaks during the day, but because my husband spends a lot of time working at our restaurant and my youngest is 18, I’m able to write full time and enjoy doing so.

Reader's Haven:  Many authors would love to have that freedom! Do your books have a common theme or are they all different?

CK: They’re all different. I tend to write whatever my muse throws at me. I do enjoy writing clean romance. I think kids should be able to enjoy a story without having to deal with a lot of profanity and sex staring them in the face. They get enough of that in real life.

Reader's Haven: It's good for our readers to know they can get that with your books! How long does it take you to write and then edit a story?

CK: I’ve written a first draft in as little as 30 days, but then it takes at least a couple months to do revisions and rewrites. Then my critique group gets to shred it. More revisions. Then the editor has her hand at ripping it up. I’d say all in all it takes about 5-6 months to produce something of quality that I’m satisfied to put out.

Reader's Haven: Do you have to be alone to write?

CK: I’ve written in just about any situation, but I prefer writing alone, in silence. Some authors can crank up the tunes and get a lot done, but not me. I like it quiet.

Reader's Haven: How do you go about naming characters?

CK: Depends. Some names just pop into my head, while others take hours of flipping through baby naming books or online websites to finally find the right one. I’m kind of picky about naming my characters.

Reader's Haven: Is it easier to write about the characters if you find pictures of them before you write or do you write then find character pictures?

CK: I tend to see the character in my head long before I find a photo that fits. Sometimes that makes it hard. Like I’ve never really found the right actor or model to play Octavion in The Crystor Series. He’s one of a kind and at the moment, only exists in my head.

Reader's Haven: How do you pick locations for your stories?

CK: Depends on the genre. In fantasy, I love creating my own world, creatures and situations. But in contemporary settings, I try to find places I’ve been or that are easy to research. I think it’s important to be accurate. The readers will be upset if you describe a place they’ve been and it’s not right.

Reader's Haven:  Tell us about your Bound and your characters. We’d love to read an excerpt!

CK: This is the hardest thing for me. Because I know everything about the story, including the details that never make it into the book, I have a hard time describing it in just a few words. Here’s the blurb from the back of BOUND.  And if you’d like to read the first two chapters, you can go HERE.

YA Paranormal Romance:

     When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia, has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira’s life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior she’s falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive.

BOUND is a heroic tale of true friendship, infinite sacrifice and untamed love.

Reader's Haven: Wow, that sounds like an addicting series and not just for YA's! Thank you so much for being here, Christine.  

Readers, she'll be around all week so be sure to leave her a question or comment

Please visit Christine's websites for buy links!

Follow on Twitter @AuthorCKBryant


***Giveaway*** 

  An e-copy of BROKEN to one lucky commenter. 
Please include your email addy so we can easily contact the winner. Thanks and good luck!

BOUND is free on Amazon, so go grab a copy!