Seven Questions with Christa

Hello! Thank you for having me on your blog today. I’m thrilled to release my latest and last in the Cuffs, Collars and Love series: A Sniper’s Devotion. This story features Hector Castillo, our cocky sniper from Houston Police’s Department’s elite SWAT team and Miguel Delgado a childhood friend of Hector’s. A Sniper’s Devotion is a friends to lovers romance, but it’s also about growing and learning who you are.

Are there any types of scene you find hard to write?

Yes, sex scenes! I know lots of romance authors say this but it is so very true. I don’t want a sex scene to just be a mechanical description of body parts and thrusting. I want there to be emotions involved as well. Sometimes it’s love. Sometimes it’s anger. Sometimes it’s joy. To convey the physical parts and the emotion and the attraction and arousal takes a lot of work.

What do you do when you feel stuck with writer’s block?

Well, after I get over the frustrated cursing, I take a step back for a while. Then I sit down and figure things out. First, I re-read the scene to get a feel for it. Am I trying to force it to go where it doesn’t want to go? Do I not have enough information? Is it in the right point of view? Once I’ve answered those questions, I can usually figure out what I need to do to get back on track.

How do you handle a story that doesn’t go as you planned?

I used to try to brute force a story to go where I wanted. But after struggling with The Detective’s Pleasure to force it into a mold, I realized that wasn’t the way to go. Now, if I have a story that wants to do something different than what I planned, I let it. I save my original plans of course, then I let the story take me in the direction it wants. I am a plotter when it comes to writing, but I’ve learned that it’s okay to deviate from the original script when necessary. Sometimes the story and characters evolve in ways that call for a change. And I’m okay with that.

What else do you use to immerse yourself in the story (music, visuals, etc.)?

Music is a big help in my writing. I always choose a song that fits the mood of the song that I’m writing. I’ll often listen to it over and over again on repeat while I work on a scene or chapter. It really helps me to set the mood and to block out distractions. I also like visuals, although I don’t rely on them as much. I normally only have three or four photos of my main characters, their homes and general style of the story’s environment.

Who do you write for (your audience or who you hope to reach)?

I write for anyone who wants to read about two people falling in love, the struggles they endure to get to their happy endings, and the hot sex they’ll have along the way.

What do you wish people knew about your books or characters?

That they aren’t perfect. My characters are lovely, worthy book boyfriends. But they will mess things up. And that’s okay! They will learn from their mistakes and become better lovers, boyfriends and husbands. I promise.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on re-launching my Champions of Desire series. I initially decided to shelve it because book one didn’t do as well as I’d hoped. But after seeing so much love for Chance and Devin and wishes for Tre and Brandon’s story, I’ve decided to give it another go. Book one is currently being re-edited and will have a cool and sexy new cover. Book 2 is under way and I can’t wait to share it with you all next year. Continue reading →