Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Release Day!


Winner! Winner! Jennifer Fischetto Jennifer please email me at christie(at)christie-craig.com and give me your snail mail address to mail out the card.


CC



It’s here. Taken at Dusk, my third book in the Shadow Falls Series has hit the bookshelves and is hopefully falling into the hands of many readers. How does that make me feel?


Excuse me, I think I need to throw up.


You know I have given birth to sixteen published books. So, you would think after straining, and pushing out sixteen of those babies, it would have become sort of a “been there, done that” kind of thing. But nope. I still get a big ball of nerves in the pit of my stomach. The kind that a Tums or a Beano pill won’t cure. I’m talking about that ol’ fashioned, “Oh crap, what have I done now?” kind of feeling.


I start wondering if I shouldn’t have gone over the book one more time? I even think of better lines to replace some of those that I’d written. It’s so hard to let go sometimes.


Someone once asked me, “What’s it really like to be a writer?”


I told them it’s both terrifying and exhilarating as the same time. It’s the easiest and yet the hardest thing I’ve ever done. There’s a part of me that can’t wait for readers to delve into my story, but there’s also another part that says…"Stop, put that down right now! When they said they were publishing the book I didn’t know that meant everyone could read it.”


I also think readers sometimes have a misconception about who writers really are. And if they pick up my books and study them really closely, they might see me for who I really am instead of some really cool author. Not that I’m big in the whole pretense thing. Below are four things that people just assume about writers and my thoughts concerning how they really pertain to this writer.




  • Writers can spell and are grammar gurus.



Please! First I’m dyslexic, second, English is my third language, my first is Alabamian and my second is Texan. Below are three of my most famous typos that were either posted in blogs or entered in contests.



Chase glanced down at his bloody shit. (Oops, I meant shirt! I swear he did not take a poo while hiding in the heroine’s back yard.)



Before I go pubic with this. (Wait, did I say “pubic?” I meant “public.”)



She was going to have to resort to blackmale. (You know I meant blackmail, right?)




  • Writers are profound and everything we write is ingrained in symbolism and has a deep underlying theme.




I hate to disappoint you, but I make this shit up. Seriously, the kangaroo and the dragon in Taken at Dusk, do not have a deeper meaning. I was desperate, probably hyped-up on caffeine, and stayed up too late writing the night before. So I dug deep, and that’s all my brain would give me—a kangaroo and a dragon. So, I went with it.




  • Writers get up every day and dress as if they were going into an office. Perfect hair, makeup and high heels.



I know this is going to surprise you, but there are days, many of them, that at five o’clock in the afternoon, I’m still in my PJs, braless, and no makeup. I mean, if my house caught fire and some super hot good looking firemen were outside, I’d probably decide to just burn up before letting them see me like this.




  • Writers are strange people who live mostly inside their head. They talk to themselves, they have been known to make faces in the mirror, and sometimes they forget that their characters aren’t real people.



Okay, I’ll give you that one. It’s pretty much true. But in my defense… okay I don’t have a defense. I’m a writer.



And now I’ll leave you with the thirteen things you’ll learn from reading Taken at Dusk:



<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]--> The only thing worse than trying to help a woman with amnesia remember her name and life is trying to help a dead woman with amnesia remember hers.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Be careful what you wish for—you might just get it . . . and the reality will probably not be anything like the fantasy.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->The person you think is your enemy could just turn into a friend who'll do anything to save you.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->The scariest thing in the world isn't ghosts or rogue vampires bent on murder—it's falling in love.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->5. <!--[endif]-->Explaining why you have a skunk curled up in your arms to your mom and your old best friend is as easy as eating a brownie while brushing your teeth.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->6. <!--[endif]-->We all make mistakes, which is why it's so important to practice forgiveness.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->7. <!--[endif]-->The only thing worse than a pissed-off shape-shifter is a pissed-off shape-shifter in love.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->8. <!--[endif]-->Sometimes the earth really does have to open up and swallow you whole before you can accept the truth that's right in front of you.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->9. <!--[endif]-->Vampires have no sense of humor . . . especially when they get turned into a kangaroo.


10. Free will gives us choices, but even making the right choices can't change destiny...and learning to accept that can be the most painful lesson of all.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->11. <!--[endif]-->People aren’t always who they say they are, even if you really want them to be.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->12. <!--[endif]-->Sometimes when you try to save someone, they end up saving you instead.


<!--[if !supportLists]-->13. <!--[endif]-->Never get between a dragon and a warlock on the war path.





So…now I’d like to hear your beliefs about writers. Tell me your perception, and I’ll tell you if it’s true or not.

I’m also giving away a $10 gift card to either B&N or Amazon, winner’s choice. So make sure you leave a comment. I’ll post the winner tomorrow morning, so you have to come back to see if you’ve won.


Oh…and one more thing. A friend of mine is trying to raise more money for the Star of Hope, a great homeless shelter, so she’s giving away .55 for every copy of her book, Onslaught, that she sells for the entire month of April. If you enjoy reading a suspense novel that features terrifying storms, kidnapped children and, of course, a bit of romance, go snag a copy of her e-book.






CC

39 comments:

Leona said...

YAY! Another one :D I won your books forever ago and have had the most horrible couple of years (and no, there is no cause and effect or even implied!) and one of the happiest things (down like at #3, 1 being that my daughter lived through her brain surgery!) in last few years has been reading those copies. I can't wait until I can buy everysingle one and not just drool when I see your blog release dates!

Quilt Lady said...

Happy release day Christie! I love your books. Although I have not read any of these, shame on me. So many books and not enough time is my only excuse. You always have the cutest post to funny. Thanks for share your new book with us.

Refhater said...

I'm a little late for the party but still wanted to wish you a Happy Release Day!

Anonymous said...

When I read:
Writers are strange people who live mostly inside their head. They talk to themselves, they have been known to make faces in the mirror, and sometimes they forget that their characters aren’t real people.
I went, "wait a minute, that one is completely true..." before I even read on. Anyway, it made me laugh.

Best of luck with your release.

Rebekah E. said...

Happy release day! Your new books looks great.

Brandie said...

I love your post Christie! Your four misconceptions are right on. I guess my misconception was when you get published, writing gets easier. I can write a synopsis, blurb, and the first three chapter (which is always a struggle for me) in a blink of an eye. :-)

Congratulations on your new release!

Brandie

Ruth said...

Yeah it's here and my daughter will quit making frowny face scowls at me. What do you mean my characters aren't real people? Sure they are, especially when they have to meet an untimely demise in a most horrific way. (Did I mention they are the ones that %*&# me off.)

Good luck, I know they will fly off the shelves or through cyberspace into an e-reader you will have one more best seller on your hands.

Corrie said...

Happy Release Day! Can't wait to read it!

CrystalGB said...

Happy Release Day! I loved your post. :)

Terri Osburn said...

Finally! Kiddo has been nagging me about this for months. And of course she's out of town when it finally hits shelves. But I'll remind her when I talk to her. Heck, I'll just go buy it and surprise her with it when she gets home.

I'm pleading the 5th on the writer thing.

traveler said...

Happy Release Day, Christie1 Wonderful news and celebration. best post ever.

Carol said...

Congratulations Christie - going to have to scoop this one up!

Jane Myers Perrine said...

Love your humor. Thanks for giving me a msile to start the day--as I sit here in my nightie reading this when I should be ding line edits.

Jane Myers Perrine said...

Okay--that last comment shows how dyslexic I am, too. SMILE DOING

Christie Craig said...

Leona,

Thanks for stopping in. Sorry you've had a tough time. But I'm glad you can see some positive things, too. We have to keep the chin up.

Thanks again for stopping in.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Quilt Lady,

So good to see a family name. I love writing my zany stories that bring a little laughter to my readers.

Have a great day.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Refhater,

Thanks for stopping. Better late than sorry!!!

CC

Christie Craig said...

scmitchell,

Yup, that's writers. We are very unique creatures. LOL.

Thanks so much for stopping in.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Rebekah,

Thanks for stopping by. Each post is like a little hug.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Brandie,

Thanks so much for stopping in. And nope, it doesn't get easy. Ahh, but I can't ever see myself doing anything else. I'm sure you feel that way, too.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Ruth,

I know exactly what you mean. I change the names of those kill to protect the guilty. LOL.

Thanks for stopping in.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Thanks Corrie!

It fun and scary at the same time.

CC

Christie Craig said...

CrystalGB,

Thanks so much. I love writing my blogs, almost as much as I do my books.

Have a great day.

Christie Craig said...

Hi TerriO,

Thanks for stopping in. I hope your daughter loves the book and loves you for getting it for her.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Traveler,

Thanks, girl. Even as scary as all this is, I do feel as if I have the best job ever.

And with you readers, I wouldn't have this. So thanks to everyone!
CC

Christie Craig said...

Carol,

Thank you so much. I love knowing my readers are scooping them up.

Enjoy.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Jane,

We dyslexics have to stick together. Mistakes on the blog don't count. LOL.

Thanks for stopping in.

CC

Loretta Wheeler said...

Christie! Happy release day! (Offering my Pepto Bismol (sp?) to you;) I loved the post:) And thanks for sharing "the real you":) I understand, completely. I live in fear of something dreadful happening, and whoever answers the 911 call wondering if I'm a morbidly depressed recluse. I stay in my pj's so often, I've begun calling them my work clothes. I recently went to Penney's (because of all the hysterical ads on tv) and bought several pair of Liz Claiborne comfy pj's. Figured I could use them as a write off at the end of the year. Surely work clothes can be included in some way as an expenditure:)
I enjoyed the post...and am wishing you fantastic sales:)
Lo

Jenn said...

Happy Release Day!
I'm still laughing over the hero pooing in the heroine's backyard. LOL

My biggest misconception about writers is not the deep symbolism but that beautiful, poetic and profound words just flow from their minds through their fingers in one long sweeping moment.

Never a struggle to find any word, let along the right one. Never self-doubt and flipping through a thesaurus. Never cursing and wondering if quitting would be easier. ;)

Shari said...

Ah...Release Day...Congrats! Look forward to a great read!
Shari. :)

C.C. Hunter said...

Hi Lo,

Are minds work alike girl!! I bought two pairs of PJs from JCP, too. Although, if they hadn't stopped that screaming commercial I was seriously going to stop going there. LOL.

Thanks for stopping in.

CC

C.C. Hunter said...

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks so much. I'm glad I gave you a chuckle. Believe me, I didn't laugh about it for at least a week. LOL. But later, I decided what the hey, it was funny. However, it was the comments from the judges that really cracked me up.

Thanks for stopping in.

CC

C.C. Hunter said...

Oh, yes, Jennifer,

You mean profound verbage doesn't just flow from you? LOL. Sometimes writing is painful.

CC

C.C. Hunter said...

Shari,

Thanks, girl. It's been a crazy day.

CC

Robin Kaye said...

Happy Release Day, Christie! Twinkle Toes is thrilled, she's been waiting for this since Christmas!

May you have many sales and a really good copy editor!

Hugs...Robin :)

Francine Infortunio said...

Happy Release Day!!! I already bought it and now can't wait to read it. (Doing a happy dance.)
My misconception about writers was that they spoke as beautifully as their writing. Silly me:D

C.C. Hunter said...

Hi Robin,

Thanks so much, dear. You are such a sweetie. And tell Twinkle Toes I hope she enjoys the heck out of it.

CC

C.C. Hunter said...

Francine,

Thanks so much. I'll see you soon at the chapter meeting. Bring the book and I'll sign it for you.

CC

petite said...

Happy release day. Your books captivate. Enjoy, post and write. Live, laugh and love.