3/29/2011

C.C. Hunter

C.C. Hunter grew up in Alabama, where she caught lightning bugs, ran barefoot, and regularly rescued potential princes, in the form of Alabama bullfrogs, from her brothers. Today, she's still fascinated with lightning bugs, mostly wears shoes, but has turned her focus to rescuing mammals. She now lives in Texas with her four rescued cats, one dog, and a prince of a husband, who for the record, is so not a frog. When she's not writing, she's reading, spending time with her family, or is shooting things-with a camera, not a gun. C.C. Hunter is a pseudonym. Her real name is Christie Craig and she also writes humorous romantic suspense romance novels for Grand Central. http://www.christie-craig.com/ Born At Midnight Kylie Galen has had a lot of crap tossed in her lap lately. Her parents are getting a divorce for who the heck knows why. Her boyfriend broke up with her because she wouldn't put out. And her grandmother died because . . . well, older people do that. But now, Kylie's acquired a stalker and she hasn't a clue what he wants or how to get rid of him . . . and she really wants to get rid of him because apparently she's the only one who sees him. Thinking she may be losing it, her parents send her off to see a psychologist who gets Kylie sent to Shadow Falls Camp. Kylie and her parents think it's a camp for troubled teens. They thought wrong. Kylie's surrounded by vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches and shapeshifters. And if she believes what they tell her, she's one of them. They're just not sure exactly how she fits in. As Kylie struggles to cope with the realization that these creatures even exist, and the fact that she might not be human, she's got two hot guys, a werewolf and a half-fairy vying for her attention. And they can just keep vying. Kylie's determined that before she lets her heart loose on love, she needs to unearth the truth. What does the ghost want? Who can and can't she trust? And most of all . . . What is she?

CAT: How often do you get lost in a story?

C.C.: As often as possible, whether I’m writing or reading. First, about reading. I love to read. When I’m under deadline I do have a limited time to spend on pleasure reading, but nothing is more rewarding than losing myself in a great story. As for when I’m writing, I love it when I get lost in the story. It means the story has become real to me, that the characters are doing what comes naturally as opposed to doing what I tell them to do. I usually get that feeling by the third chapter but sometimes I’m lucky, and I’m sucked in by Chapter One. When that happens, the book usually writes itself.


CAT: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

C.C.: Pepe le Pew. I love that little guy and his cute French accent. Okay, so I love all skunks and they show up in my books quite a lot, too. In Awake at Dawn, the second book in my Shadow Falls series from St. Martin’s Griffin, a skunk plays an important role. Sort of, anyway. LOL.


CAT: What turns you off like nothing else?

C.C.: Oh, that’s easy. What turns me off are people who think they are above others. People who are bullies. I don’t care if you’re a cheerleader, the president of the US, or a movie star–you’re no better than anyone else. We are all alike and we should treat everyone with the same decency and respect.


CAT: Where do you read and how often?

C.C.: In bed, right before I go to sleep. I keep a book at my nightstand, always. Actually, I keep about a dozen there.


CAT: What sound or noise do you love?

C.C.: Hmm. I think I’d say the sound of slot machines. I admit it, I love the casinos, although I only get to go about once a year. In a way, I think that’s why I was attracted to writing. Every time I sent out a manuscript, it was dropping another coin in a slot machine or putting another chip on my number at the roulette table. Yup, I come from a long line of gamblers. Of course, most of them were also moonshiners. I like to call them good Alabama Stock. LOL.


CAT: Die Hard or Die Harder?

C.C.: Die harder. I don’t give up easy. I wrote for ten years before I sold my first book. And then I waited another thirteen years before I sold the second. And it’s not just writing that I’m stubborn about. My husband jokes that I even fish hard. Put a fishing pole in my hand, and all my attention goes to waiting for the little jerk that says “I got my fish.”


CAT: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

C.C.: This is a little embarrassing but the first I do is a chair dance. I scream out, “Yes, yes, yes!” Then I’ll pick up the phone and call one of my critique partners and scream, ”It’s done. I did it. I really did it.” I know some people think that writing four books a year would make crossing the finish line less of a triumph. But nope. I’m totally psyched.


CAT: What is your favorite tradition from your childhood that you would love to pass on or did pass on to your children?

C.C.: Oh, this is a good question. I’d say laughter and the ability to laugh at our mistakes. When I was growing up in Alabama, laughter was very common in my house. When someone made a mistake or a goof, it was not uncommon to share it with everyone else. We always seemed to follow the old rule, if you can laugh at it, you can deal with it. If we laughed during good times, we laughed harder during stressful times.


CAT: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

C.C.: Several years ago, I was at a RWA conference and Debbie Macomber handed out little green notecards and said to write down your three big goals. I did it. I wrote, “Get a three book contract. Write a book on writing that will help other writers, and make a “big” list, such as in New York Times or US Today.” At this point, the only one I haven’t made is hitting a list but I’ve got my fingers crossed that it will happen.


I believe in the importance of goals and dreams. I believe in working hard to make those dreams happen, too. I don’t believe in giving up. I tell people all the time that my best talent isn’t the craft of writing, it’s my stick-to-it-ness. I’ve met and know so many writers who are much more talented that I am, who haven’t published because they don’t have what it takes to put the effort into achieving their dreams. But honestly, while this is the hardest job I’ve ever had, I wouldn’t change it for the world.


CAT’S GOTTA ASK

If you were a t-shirt, what color would you be and why?


C.C.:’S GOTTA ANSWER

Hmm. I guess I’d say pink or purple. I like happy colors and for some reason, those colors scream happy to me.


GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Writing has always been my life-long dream. What is yours? Better still, what are you doing to make that dream happen?


C.C. will offer one copy of the book with a bag of Shadow Falls swag. Then she will give away another bag of swag to the second place winner. And for our adult vistors only, C.C. offers a copy of one of her romance novels, or Wild, Wicked & Wanton: 101 Ways To Love Like You’re in a Romance Novel.**


C.C. would love to hear from you. Visit her at www.CCHunterBooks.com. On Facebook at www.facebook.com/cchunterfans or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cchunterbooks.



**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

22 comments:

  1. Great interview. This book looks really good. I definitely want to pick it up.

    I would love to own my own bookstore/cafe. I am not 100% sure this is feasable for me but it is what I want to do. If I am unable to do that I would just like to work and be around books in some way. May it be behind the scenes or selling them in a store, or even working at a library. I just want to be around books. I love books.

    iqb99@yahoo.com

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  2. My greatest dream would be owning a bookstore. I don't think that this would be good for me, as I would just want to set and read all the time, considering I would be surrounded by books everyday. I think I had better keep books as my hobby instead.

    This book sounds great, but I must admit that your adult romances would be more my style. I looked at your website and they sound funny and sexy, exactly what I like.

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  3. I would love to be a chef. That or have my own bakery. I love to bake lol :) I want to enroll into culinary school, but there isn't one in town. So I must save!

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

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  4. C.C. welcome to GLIAS. Happy release day. Ever since you announced you were going to write a YA, I've been looking forward to your books.

    Besides writing, I've always loved to travel. I've been fortunate in the last few years to have met a like minded group. Now, it's just a matter of finding the time and money to go as many places as I can.

    Thanks for joining us today!

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  5. Hi, Cat!

    First, thanks again for having me over today to celebrate the release of Born at Midnight. I am so excited that my baby will be out on the shelves today. I feel as if I've been waiting for this day forever. LOL.

    Now about your dream of traveling, I totally can relate. I've been a photojournalist and I've traveled all over the world. Still love to travel.

    C.C.

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  6. Hi,Danielle, June and Vivien,

    Thanks for dropping by and sharing your dreams. I love books, too, Danielle and June, so owning a bookstore makes a lot of sense. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. And, Vivien, I love to cook, so I can relate to your dream of being a chef.

    Best of luck, ladies! Oh, and June, I hope you enjoy my Christie Craig adult humorous romantic suspense novels. I have a new one out in August called Don't Mess with Texas!

    C.C.

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  7. Hi Kat. This was a great interview! I'm glad I've found your blog. :)

    Hi Christie! I recently found you on another blog and on Facebook and I have to say that you're living my dream. I want to be a published author. I want to see my books on the shelf in a real book store. And I want to help other people achieve their dreams.

    I want to pick up Born at Midnight as soon as I get the cash. I read Turned at Dark on the Macmillan site and fell in love. I have to know what happens next! I also saw in an interview that you said you'd like to meet/have lunch with Janet Evanovich because people say your writing is like hers. Right there is why I want to pick up one of your adult books; I love Janet and I think I'd love you too! Which one should I start with?

    Erin
    erindanzer (at) gmail (dot) com

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  8. Hi, Erin,

    I'm so glad you enjoyed Turned at Dark - I had a lot of fun writing Della's story. I hope you enjoy Born at Midnight just as much, and my adult humorous romantic suspense novels.

    Best of luck to you in your dream of becoming a published author. If I could offer any advice, it would be this. Keep writing, keep reading, keep honing your craft, and never take a rejection personally.

    Thanks for dropping by.

    C.C.

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  9. This is a great interview! I am so excited for C.C, can't wait to read the book. I found this blog through C.C.'s tweets! Glad I had a chance to stopy by. Pepe le Pew, a woman after my own heart :-)

    Writing is but one of my dreams, since I was a kid I always loved to read and dreamed of someday becoming a writer (still working on it). I would also love to open a breakfast sandwich shop, open from 6-2. My sister and I create sandwiches all the time for our future menu :-)

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  10. Hi, Stacey,

    Thanks so much for dropping by and posting a comment. I have a serious thing for skunks. Just wait until you meet the one in Awake at Dawn, book 2 of Shadow Falls. LOL.

    Best of luck with following your dream to be a writer!

    C.C.

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  11. WELCOME to GLIAS, CC !
    I love your determination. What an awesome story AND legacy for your kids. Having known you for several years...I can testify that you've understated just how determined you were.

    And being part of your direct competition for more than one contest, I was certainly relieved when you sold again! LOL and big grins! Hugs to you, CC. You truly deserve all your hard-worked-for success!

    ~~Angi

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  12. Hi, Angi,

    Aww, girl. You're the best! And I was so happy for you when you sold to Intrigue.

    Thanks so much for having me here.

    C.C.

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  13. Welcome to GLIAS! Your books sound amazing!

    I love that you want to pass on laughter to you children...I can't think of a better gift.

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  14. Hi, Heather,

    Thanks for the warm welcome. I've had a blast.

    Laughter is a family tradition. Like my parents always said, if we can laugh about it, we can survive it.

    C.C.

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  15. Hi C.C. and Happy Release Day! I'm 20 pages into Born At Midnight and I LOVE it! Darn those kids of mine for needing to fed and taken care of, or I'd probably have it half finished by now. ;-)

    Pepe le Pew...I'm not even surprised. :-) Love Pepe! I'm one of those weird people who doesn't mind the smell of skunks...probably shouldn't have admitted that aloud, huh? LOL

    You should come up to Green Bay for a visit, my husband would have you in a casino every single day; they're on almost every corner up here. :-)

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  16. Welcome, CC! And what a coincidence - I mostly wear shoes too. As little as possible, I'll admit.

    This story sounds so good. YA is really where it's at these days. I so wish this embarrassment of riches had been happening when I was a teen!

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  17. Hi, Donna,

    I'm so excited to hear you're reading Born at Midnight - I hope you enjoy it!

    I love skunks but not their smell. LOL. And thanks for the info about Green Bay and the casinos. Did somebody say Road Trip? LOL.

    Thanks for dropping by.

    C.C.

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  18. C.C., I'm so excited about your new YA series, and can't wait to share them with my girls. I know they'll love the premise.

    I'm so looking forward to so much to Don't Mess with Texas, too. :)

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  19. Hi,

    I just wanted to pop in this early morning and say thank you again to Cat for inviting me to stop by on my release day.

    Also I realized I didn't answer one of Erin's questions. Erin, the Divorced & Desperate series is a trilogy, they are stand alones, but the first one is D,D, Delicious, then Dating, and then Deceived. Now...they are temporarily off the market until a few months. I got my rights back to the books and I'll be posting them back up on Amazon and B&N and all in about a month.

    And a quick wave at Gillian. So good to see familiar names and faces.

    Thanks again!

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  20. This looks like a great book!

    One of my dreams as a child was to be a mom - I always loved kids. And yes, I have realized this dream! THe other was to be a ballerina. Considering that I am very clumsy plus out of shape, this one just ain't happening!! LOL

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  21. Great post! Both books sound very interesting. I'd love to give them a try (not my usual historical romance genre).

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  22. Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! I'm listing all the names now.

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