Getting To Know Me...

I recently realized that I hadn’t filled in my profile for the webpage. And sure, I’ve told you guys about my dust bunnies, my husband’s spot cleaning adventures, and my troublesome friends, but in all reality you might not know much about me. So I decided that this week, I’d post an interview I was forced into doing by my web mistress.

My webmistress told me that I needed to answer some questions for my Christie's Info page. Now, this made me wonder what she'd spiked her coffee with that morning. Doesn't she know I'm Southern? Which basically means, not only am I long-winded, but I seldom tell the truth if a lie makes a better story. Nevertheless, against my better judgment, I agreed.

Web Mistress—Question: What are your goals?

Christie's Answer: (Is she kidding? Fine, I'll do it.) I have three goals in life. (Okay, that's a little white lie, I have more than three, but only three are PC enough to share.)

1. To write entertaining books that will make my readers laugh out loud and want to fall in love all over again. Readers may or may not then want to trade in their husbands for some hunky guys like my heroes or my real-life hero, my husband. (Okay that last part about my husband isn't really a lie, but I might be stretching it a bit.)

2. To help other people reach their dream of publication. (You might be thinking that's awfully generous of me, but I'm really not all that giving. I just love the high I get when I see other people meet their own goals. Plus, I figure they will be indebted to me and buy my books.)

3. To grow taller. (Let's just say that I don't get to enjoy all the rides at the theme parks.)
Now, I know that third goal presents a bit of a problem. Being like most women writers in their early thirties (the age thing is just an out-and-out lie,) I spend most of my time at the computer and enjoy working out my brain more than my body. That's why I'm considering altering the third goal to read…“To grow smaller.” Smaller, as in pants size and not in height.

Web Mistress—Question: Where are you from and where do you live now? Do you have family?

Christie's Answer: Southern from the tip of my hat (which isn't very high) all the way to my toenails, (which needs a good painting.) I was born and raised in Alabama. I say “Y'all” and “Ain't” and don't apologize for it, either.

In 1986, I was transplanted to Texas—the land of larger tales than even Alabama. I live with my husband, my teenage son—a boy who is six-two and wears a size 13 men's shoe—whom I'm convinced was swapped at birth with the baby of some professional basketball player. Also accompanying me in my abode are my four cats, one dog, and a pond of turtles. My daughter, artist extraordinaire, has already flown the nest, gotten hitched, and regularly brings my grandpuppy for lap-sitting visits. (Trust me. It's not as easy as it sounds.) My son-in-law is a nice guy. I’m pretty sure he’s only denied knowing me once. The fact that it was at the wedding stung a bit, but hey…I love him anyway.

Web Mistress—Question: Where did you go to school to get your degree?

Christie's Answer: Well, I went through Harvard. (I was in Boston and we drove right through the campus.) Actually, I graduated from a slightly less prestigious university, The College of Hard Knocks, with a degree in If-You-Want-it--Make-it-Happen and minored in the Art-of-BS—which I prefer to call fiction. Formal education aside, I'm a how-to book junkie, and an advocate of “never stop learning.”

Web Mistress—Question: Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

Christie's Answer: Actually I had my heart set on Pro Basketball. But I always was a dreamer. Writing didn't come naturally, but the art of storytelling—AKA B-S'ing—did. (It might be a southern thing.) Of course, my dad swears up and down that I inherited my talent of making up crap from him. Hey…he is a contractor.

Web Mistress—Question: When and how did you start writing?

Christie's Answer: I started writing in '84 when my husband was trying to get me to go to college to become a Spanish teacher. In addition to BS’ing, I also have a knack for languages. I can say “Where’s the bathroom in about six languages.” Any how, when husband approached about the being a Spanish teacher, I had to come up with something I wanted to do real fast or he was signing my butt up for school.) So I blurted out the first career I could think of using the Alphabet as my guide. Animal Husbandry? I skipped that one. Attorney? Nah, I'm a better person than that. “Author! I want to be an author.” How perfect was that? I get to stay home and sit on my butt and write. Write? Well, there was that little problem. I'd have to learn how to do it first.

That little problem turned into a bigger one than I anticipated. But not being a quitter, I persevered and my Silhouette Romance was published in '94. Then things happened, editors quit, and the magazine publishing business called my name. Six years later, with almost 3000 national magazine credits and tired of being a one-book wonder, I started writing novels again. Breaking back in wasn't a piece of cake. For almost six years, I kicked, screamed and bit (I profusely apologizes to that one editor, too) until I found my break.

And what a break! Four books sold in one day. Still wearing pajamas, I got off the phone with my agent that morning, and sat there and stared at the cursor blinking on my computer screen. When my husband came home seven hours later, I was still sitting there in my PJs, staring at the blinking cursor. And the only thing I could say was…”Boy, I'm glad I didn't go into Animal Husbandry.”

Web Mistress—Question: Where do you get your ideas?

Christie's Answer: Generally, on the clearance rack at Wal-Mart. I hate this question, I'd rather tell someone my weight. (Okay that's the biggest lie I've told.) The truth is my answer is sort of sappy. And the last thing a southern woman wants to be accused of is being sappy. But here it goes… My stories are gifts—little gifts that sometimes show up out of nowhere. I'm not actually saying I have a writing angel who pops in with plots, but I do notice I get a lot more ideas when I'm maintaining a full life and not neglecting my friends, family, pets, or the spiritual side of life. And, yes, I also believe in karma.

Web Mistress—Question: Have you met all your goals?

Christie's Answer: I've met some and I'm working on some. My second goal of helping other writers is in the making. My nonfiction book, co-authored with Faye Hughes, THE EVERYTHING GUIDE TO WRITING ROMANCE NOVELS, is scheduled to hit the stores in September of 2008. I also offer writing workshops that are educational, motivational and entertaining. I love to share what I've learned and if you need to know how to ask about the whereabouts of the bathroom, I’ve got you covered.

Now, for that third goal, getting taller and making the BIG team? Well, I called the Rockets and informed them not to wait up on me. I'm pretty sure that writing novels is about as good as it gets.

So . . . that’s a little bit about me—my goals, my family, and the fact that I always like knowing where the bathroom is at. And to be honest, I’m big on goals. So tell me, do you have some goals you’re working on? What do you want to do when you grow up?

--Crime Scene Christie