Thursday, October 1, 2009

An Interview with C.R. Moss

The wonderful C.R. Moss has agreed to be the first author with our 2 for Thursday Promotion. We met at a local writer’s group meeting and I am proud to say I consider her one of my best writing buddies. I know I wouldn’t be here without her support and help. And now that I’ve warped her brain with lots of questions, please help me in welcoming C.R.! At what age did you realize you wanted to be a writer? Between the ages of three and five I had started creating stories, but it wasn’t until the sixth grade that writing truly became my calling. What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer? My personality. I’m a solitary person and writing suits my lifestyle. Is writing a lonely career for you? Nope. Like I said I’m a solitary person so I enjoy being in my own little world and dealing with the worlds I create rather than the drama of others outside my cave. Granted, there are times when I need to connect to others, but it’s nothing an email or phone call or hubby can’t fix. How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract? Excited. How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale? My first sale was in May of 2008 and since then I have published 16 stories ranging from 4k to 75k words. My 17th story will be out on 10/15/09 and I have 19 other stories in various stages from contracted to gems of ideas. Tell me about your upcoming release. Please include if it is part of a series or a standalone book. My upcoming release due out on 10/15/09 from eXtasy Books is titled In the Spirit. It’s about a woman who was betrayed by her lover. She ends up becoming a Grim Reaper. When she crosses paths with him again, she wants to exact revenge, but his love for her causes her problems. This book is part of an unofficial series, Immortal Spirits, and though it could be read as a standalone it’s better if you read Holiday Spirits first. Do your characters take over the story? Yep, most times they do. And though I don’t like when they do, they normally take the story in a much more interesting and better direction. What was your inspiration for this book? The Las Vegas Marathon (for Holiday Spirits) and In the Spirit was a spin-off. Plans for a third book in this ‘series’ is in the works and will most likely be another December holiday story. How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter? When I first get an idea in my head and the story formulates, I do an information dump. In this ‘dump’ I’ll put down whatever comes to mind – dialogue, brief scenes, one-liners, etc. From that I’ll work on my story, but I give myself leeway to allow for change. So in a way I’m both plotter and pantser. How do you handle the editing/revision process? I have the habit of editing as I go. This slows down my writing process, but that’s all right. After I’ve written a chapter and gone through it a time or two I send it to my wonderful critique partner. She gets a clean document to read and is able to catch ‘story stuff,’ which I’ll then tweak in the manuscript. At this point, revision requires little effort. By the time all the chapters are done and my editor and EIC get the complete story, they don’t have much to do or catch. By spending time in the beginning, it makes the final edits and galley work a breeze. You’re received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why? I like good reviews. They let me know people enjoy my work. Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story? Interesting question and I’m going to have to say ‘No.’ Who and what are you reading now? Galilee by Clive Barker. (As per amazon.com: Over many years and many books, Clive Barker has earned a reputation as the thinking person's horror writer. His novels have mixed fantasy, psychology, and sheer creepiness in almost equal quantities, and while the gore quotient remains relatively low, the tension always runs high. In Galilee, however, Barker soft-pedals the ghoulish in favor of the gothic. His novel (or as the author would have it, "romance") tells the tale of two warring families caught up in a disastrous web of corruption, illicit sexuality, and star-crossed love, with a soupçon of the supernatural thrown in as well.) It was the romance part of the book that caught my eye when I bought the book and so far I’m enjoying the story. It’s not the typical romance read, but it’s my kind of tale. Who is your biggest fan? I would have to say my husband… unless anyone else wants to step up to the plate? What does your significant other think about your writing? He thinks it’s fine that I write. We’re both very supportive of each other’s goals and dreams. Though, he did state once he wonders about the thoughts in my head – said after reading Dirty Little Secret, a horror/erotica story of mine. Where can people find you? http://www.home.earthlink.net/~cr_moss http://www.myspace.com/cr_moss http://themanyshades.blogspot.com/ http://twitter.com/CRMoss http://www.facebook.com/crmoss http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theexfactor/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/devinedestinies/ Thanks, C.R., it was great to have you here! C.R. Moss, resident of the hot, high desert in the southwest, knew she wanted to write at a young age, as early as she learned to read, cooking up stories to entertain herself in the rural, non-kid-laden area she had lived in. But she took a round about way to settle down as a fiction writer, having worked in the corporate pharmaceutical and real estate realms writing newspaper articles, press releases, corporate newsletters, etc. Now that she's settled into the alternative health care industry, she has returned to her first love: creative writing. When she isn't working at her practice or at her computer cooking up another tale, she can be found hanging out with her husband and cat, reading a book, chillin' in front of the TV, or working on a craft project. She has also been known to play WOW.
Thanks for taking part in my 2 for Thursday promotion, C.R. ! Lynn

13 comments:

  1. Hi C.R. I just found your books and am really enjoying them. the interview was great.

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  2. HI CR and Lynn,

    Great interview, Ladies. I enjoyed learning more about CR's writing methods. Thanks for inviting to drop by.

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  3. Debby & Rebecca,

    Thanks for stopping by...and believe me...it is always a joy to be working with C.R.

    Glad you both enjoyed the inteview. I'll put your name in the hat for our giveaway today.

    Thanks again!

    Lynn

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  4. Thanks for having me here today!
    Hi Debby and Rebecca! Thanks for stopping by. Glad to hear you're enjoying my books and liked the interview.
    =)
    C.

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  5. Hi C.R. wonderful interview and thank you lynn for hosting !

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  6. Hi ladies and Thank you for inviting me. In case you need to know for tracking and all, I saw the invite on Author Raine Delight's Digest. :)
    Enjoyed the interview and learning more about CR, I haven't read any of your books yet but they are now on my to get list!Thank you both again and Have a Terrific Weekend!

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  7. Hi Chris J! Thanks for stopping by & letting us know where you found the link.
    =)
    C.

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  8. You gave a good interview. I really enjoy your books.

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  9. Hi,

    It was nice meeting you since I haven't read any of your books. The interview was great. good luck with your book.

    loretta canton,
    lbcanton@verizon.net

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  10. Thanks for stopping by Patsy and Loretta! It was nice 'hearing' from you.
    =)

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  11. Great interview! Thank you for sharing. T.

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  12. Thanks T! Glad I could be here and share my work with you.
    =)
    C.

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