Tuesday, April 06, 2010

The Art of Jabbering


Contest! Make sure you pop over to Wild, Wicked & Wacky and leave a comment to be entered in a drawing to win an ARC of Shut Up and Kiss Me.

It’s getting closer. Almost here. Yup, it’s almost time for the release of Shut Up and Kiss Me. Sure, it’s not set to hit the store shelves until May 25th, but about two months before due date, I always start getting anxious. I start hearing from a few reviewers who are reading the book, or booksellers who have been sent a copy of the ARC, and it’s like having false labor pains.

Anyway, I thought today I’d give you just a tiny little peek into the book, into my heroine, and a bit about the title, Shut Up and Kiss Me. You see, Shala Winters, my heroine in Shut Up is a bit of a jabberer, and guess what my hero can’t stand? Yup, you got it. Sky Gomez can’t stand a jabbering woman. In the book he states: He would walk uphill naked and barefoot through the snow and a bed of porcupine needles to avoid a jabbering woman. I bet you can figure out just how that works out for him too, can’t you? There is no uphill path with snow or porcupine needles. He just has to put up with her. Oh, and learns to do it very well.

The crazy thing is that while Shut Up and Kiss Me is the perfect title for the book, I had originally given the title to an earlier book and another heroine who had a habit of talking a wee bit much. So I guess you could say, I have a tendency to write about heroines who aren’t afraid to talk, or who have a tendency to talk before she thinks. Now, why I have so much insight into this character trait is beyond me. I can hear everyone who knows me cracking up right now, and even see a few of you rolling your eyes.

So, fine! I’ll admit it, I’m a bit of a talker, and the ol’ foot-in-the-mouth moment is something I’ve experienced once or twice, maybe a dozen times. Remember the blog about me stepping out into my backyard just in time to hear my next door neighbor, positioned on top of his CB radio antenna, yell down to my husband, “Hey, it works.” And I yelled back, “It should. It’s big enough.” Only to have my husband--after he finished laughing his butt off and after he picked his butt up from the ground--tell me they hadn’t been discussing the antenna, but my neighbor’s vasectomy. Yeah, I had my big toe stuck between my molars for a week on that one. And my neighbor walked a little taller every time he saw me, too. UGG!

Ahh, but when a jabberer isn’t picking her toenails from her teeth, the art of a socially-acceptable jabberer (meaning, they are also good listeners) is evident. Face it, jabberers know how to carry on a conversation and are talented in getting people to open up to them. You simply wouldn’t believe the stories people tell me. And to all you people who are rolling your eyes, you best remember I know a thing or two about your lifes, too. Sure, we’ve all heard the ol’ saying, silence is golden, but have you tried living through those awkward moments of silence? As a matter of fact, ask my hubby why he married me and he’ll tell you it’s because I was a talker. He actually loves my jabbering talent, and believe me when I say that Sky learns to love everything about Shala, too. And I mean, everything!

Oh, my friend and critique partner, Suzan Harden, is blogging/jabbering about Shut Up and Kiss Me at her blog today http://www.wildwickedwacky.blogspot.com/ and I have agreed to give away an ARC of Shut Up to one lucky poster on her blog. So make sure you visit and leave a comment.

I also want to give you all the heads up. On May 18th to celebrate the release of both Shut Up and Kiss Me and Wild, Wicked & Wanton: 101 Ways to Love Like You are in a Romance Novel, I’ll start holding weekly contests and giving away prizes to one lucky person who posts on my website. I will continue the contest until June 22. So make sure you mark your calendars.

So . . . what is your talent/gift/or bad habit? Are you known to jabber when nervous, upset, happy? Come on, share a little.


18 comments:

Stacey Joy Netzel said...

OMG, that hubby/neighbor story is the best! I needed a good chuckle this morning. :) Jabber on, Christie.

Christie Craig said...

Thank, Stacey!!

CC

Suzan Harden said...

Honestly, I wasn't rolling my eyes. That was Faye and Jody.

Christie Craig said...

Oh, Suzan, you wouldn't roll your eyes. You'd just fall over laughing like Steve did. LOL.

Thanks for dropping by.

CC

Teri Thackston said...

I love your jabbering ways...I always learn something or at least get a good laugh from you.

Love ya, girl, and huge congratulations on your deserved success.
Teri

Rashda Khan said...

Oooh, a new CC book! Yay!

Donna Marie Rogers said...

I love to hear you talk, Christie, so jabber on. ;-) Love the neighbor story, too...LOL

I'm actually a bit of a jabberer myself, but it's at its worst with my sister-in-law. Our husband's call us 'lockjaw' when we're together. But in our defense, we only see each other a couple times a year. And I'm sure I have no bad habits otherwise...LOL I only say that because Stacey (my critique partner) already posted and won't read this. *g*

Stacey Joy Netzel said...

Um, unless she checked the box to be notified of follow-up comments. LOL

Donna, I'll simply say you have as many bad habits as me. But I don't have any, either, do I? :)

Donna Marie Rogers said...

Geez, figures you'd check that box. I never think to. LOL

Yep, I'll go along with that...I mean, of course neither of us have an bad habits. :-)

Christie Craig said...

Teri,

Thanks so much! We've had some good laughs, haven't we? Goodness, Faye and I are gonna miss you at RT.

CC

Christie Craig said...

RK,

Thanks, girl. I have to say, I think Shut Up is my funniest book yet. You get to see a lot of my hubby in this book.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Okay, Stacey and Donna, you two do not start fighting now. LOL.

Don't you just love ya your critique buddies?

CC

Brandy said...

I'm a jabberer. I have a tendency to want to put people at ease and will probably talk to much to do so. Plus, I was an only child and despite being shy I want people to be happy and hate silence so-yeah-jabberer.

Unknown said...

Hi Christie congrat on your up and coming release! I love your books and now my sister is hooked, I let her borrow a couple of books of yours and now she is looking for more! Keep up the good work girl and bring on those laughs!

Christie Craig said...

Brandy,

Here's to jabbering!! Thanks so much for posting.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Virginia,

Thanks so much for getting other hooked on my books. I tell people I hope they are like drugs, give someone a little sample, a free copy, and soon people are out having to by them for themselves. LOL.

And thanks for posting.

CC

Sandy said...

LOL Boy, did you ever stick your foot in it. Great story.

BTW, I'm a jabberer too.

Christie Craig said...

Amazingly, sticking your foot in it is always great stories. LOL.

Thanks, Sandy!

CC