I’M BACK! And I have a new story!

For those who follow my Instagram, you know that I had to take a bit of a hiatus from writing. It was a difficult decision as I had a new book series coming out that I was super pumped about, but lots of things happened. You know, life. And I wasn’t in a great headspace. My mental acuity was shot, I was suffering from depression and terrible anxiety, and just didn’t know how to deal.

So I decided to take a break. To walk away from writing. I was scared that I wasn’t going to be able to come back. Or that I wouldn’t get the love of writing back.

But after taking the time I needed, I can safely say that I did! I got the love of writing back and I gained a few new qualities as well!

I’m in a MUCH better place. I’ve learned what my triggers are, what makes me unhappy, and I’ve defeated that monster lurking in my brain telling me I wasn’t good enough.

I spent the last three years or so working on my mental strength. I read books I’d been putting off reading, I cleared clutter from the house that I’d been procrastinating doing, and best of all, I discovered Korean dramas!

I binged K-dramas like it was my job, and loved every second. They are THAT good! (Soon I’ll do a blog post on my Top 10 favs!) I love the storytelling, the quirky characters, and the emotion between not only the hero/heroine, but among their family and friends as well.

I hadn’t realized it at the time, but I was so immersed in these dramas (laughing, smiling and crying) that it started to make something in the far reaches of my brain long to craft my own story to feel those same emotions again.

I waited to see if it was just a quick fix. Like a small fleeting desire that would come and go. But the more dramas I watched, the stronger my longing became.

So I decided to take a chance. I poured myself into a new story.

I drafted THE BUSINESS DEAL in less than a month (which is astounding since I used to average about 6 months to write 1 book). But this one seemed like it was just in my brain, waiting to be told. Like the dramas I watched on TV, this story spilled out onto the page fully fleshed out.

And I LOVE it. It has so much humor and fun, but it’s also emotional. And of course, lots of swoon-worthy moments too.

The blurb for THE BUSINESS DEAL:

Scott Jenks, despite being a foster home dropout and all-around loner, has experienced massive success with his social media company in the US. All that’s left is to expand overseas, and with the help of Wellington Media Partners, he has a shot at a wealthy investor to take him there. But Mr. Tanaka's offer comes with strings: Scott must prove he’s more than a single guy with a single focus. He must value family above all else. To prove it, Scott must, at the very least, have a wife.

Enter Julia Wellington-Walker. Widow with absolutely zero desire to ever marry again and single mother to a pair of feisty, over-protective, and genius twins. Her focus is on her kids and her family’s media company. Except she’s the least business-minded one in the boardroom, and she refuses to be the reason her father’s legacy goes down in flames. So when WMP stands to gain huge clients in both Scott Jenks and Mr. Tanaka, she leaps at the opportunity. Plus, if she pretends to be Mrs. Jenks, Scott promises to teach her the ins and outs of business. Perfect. But she has a few conditions: her kids won’t take part in the charade, there will be no kissing or touching, and this can’t go further than one dinner.

Insert her twins and their smart mouths. A slip up here, a few more lies there, and before they know it, Scott and Julia are on vacation together playing the happy couple—with the Tanaka family hijacking their entire agenda. And the small fib they thought they got away with has turned into something too real. Which shouldn’t be a big deal, if only Julia’s twins weren’t dead-set on making Scott’s life a living hell.

I’m a twin!

Most people don’t know that I, myself, am a twin. We’re identical. So being able to incorporate that element into one of my stories has been a wish of mine for awhile. But I knew it had to be the right fit and enhance the story in some way. Well, I can safely say this story definitely fits that requirement. Bernie and his twin sister, Bernadette, are two of my most favorite characters I’ve ever written. And the shit Bernie puts Scott through is priceless. I can’t wait for you to experience it as well!

In the meantime, until I have news on when/where you can read THE BUSINESS DEAL, just know that I’m back! And I can’t wait to reconnect with you all. I love you and I really appreciate you allowing me take the break I needed to come back rested and stronger than ever. You won’t regret it. Promise.

xoxo,
Christina

My twin sister (left) and Me (right)

Anywhere With You: A Romantic Comedy -- FREE on KU! Read now!

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It's here!  ANYWHERE WITH YOU: A Romantic Comedy, my beach-themed, destination wedding novella!

I'm so proud of this story. It's classic Christina Elle--fun, spontaneous, quirky, and down right steamy!

For my readers who like to know the romance tropes in a story they're reading, ANYWHERE WITH YOU includes:

  • best friend's older brother 
  • fake relationship 
  • revenge 
  • friends to lovers 
  • secret crush 

This story is a stand-alone and not related to any of my other stories. Also, it's novella length, which means it's shorter than my traditional novels, but still just as entertaining! 

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:

You are cordially invited to. . . tick off the bride. 

Teegan Michaels has attended six weddings for her sorority sisters dateless and she refuses to go to the last one alone. Not when she has a perfectly respectable—not to mention hot—NFL player ready to save her from humiliation. Who cares that he’s the bride’s ex-fiancé and only wants to go for revenge? What's the worst that could happen?

This story is meant to be a quick beach read. So get ready to load up your e-reader--or pack your print copy in your suitcase--and enjoy a fun romantic comedy while lounging in the sand with a drink in your hand!

The e-book is available on Amazon only. Print versions are available from any of your favorite retailers.

If you're a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can read ANYWHERE WITH YOU for FREE. If you're not a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, no problem! You can purchase this story for $2.99 on your Kindle app. 

Apologies to my iBooks, Nook, Kobo, and GooglePlay readers, but since this will be distributed through Kindle Unlimited, Amazon requires the ebook to be sold exclusively through them. If you don't have the Kindle app, you can download it for FREE through your favorite app store!  

While the ebook is exclusive to Amazon, you can still get the print version from any of your favorite retailers.

READ NOW!

Download ANYWHERE WITH YOU through Amazon HERE. 

TEASERS for ANYWHERE WITH YOU: 

Excerpt of ANYWHERE WITH YOU: 

Sliding an arm around her back for support and burying a hand into her hair, he lowered his head. Didn’t think about what they were doing, simply let his instincts guide him. He placed his lips on hers, softly at first. Testing it out. She stiffened in his arms, but only for a second before she softly moaned and relaxed. Her arms came around to clasp the back of his neck, and he almost howled at the delicious feel of her body against his. He dove back in, applying varying pressure, learning every spot that ignited her desire. 

Teegan tilted her head and opened her mouth slightly. He shouldn’t take what she was offering in front of all these people, but at the moment he didn’t care. Wes slid his tongue out for one slow swipe against hers. She whimpered and gripped his neck hard enough to bruise. In any other circumstance, he would’ve grabbed her ass, lifted her up, and had her against the nearest wall. But since they were here with a single mission—and it had nothing to do with either of them getting off—he slowed his pace, placing gentle kisses along her cheek and jawline before drawing back and looking at her.

Her eyes were unfocused and her lips a little swollen. He wanted to carry her back to their suite right now so none of the other man could witness how delectable she looked. 

“That…that was…” She touched her lips. “Wow.”

“We’ve done that a million times, remember?” he whispered.

She sucked in a quick breath and her body tensed as she remembered where they were. Her gaze skated to the right, toward the gathered group watching them intently. 

Thanks as always for your support! I can't wait to hear what you think once you've had a chance to read ANYWHERE WITH YOU!

xoxo, 
Christina 

Anywhere With You: A Romantic Comedy -- Cover Reveal & Excerpt!

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It's here!  The cover reveal for ANYWHERE WITH YOU: A Romantic Comedy, my beach-themed, destination wedding novella!

I'm so proud of this story. It's classic Christina Elle--fun, spontaneous, quirky, and down right steamy!

For my readers who like to know the romance tropes in a story they're reading, ANYWHERE WITH YOU includes:

  • best friend's older brother 
  • fake relationship 
  • revenge 
  • friends to lovers 
  • secret crush 

This story is a stand-alone and not related to any of my other stories. Also, it's novella length, which means it's shorter than my traditional novels, but still just as entertaining! 

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:

You are cordially invited to. . . tick off the bride. 

Teegan Michaels has attended six weddings for her sorority sisters dateless and she refuses to go to the last one alone. Not when she has a perfectly respectable—not to mention hot—NFL player ready to save her from humiliation. Who cares that he’s the bride’s ex-fiancé and only wants to go for revenge? What's the worst that could happen?

This story is meant to be a quick beach read. So get ready to load up your e-reader--or pack your print copy in your suitcase--and enjoy a fun romantic comedy while lounging in the sand with a drink in your hand!

Anywhere With You will be available on Wednesday 27 June 2018. I chose this date so you could grab your copy before heading to your favorite beach for the 4th of July holiday!  The e-book will be sold through Amazon only. Print versions are available from any of your favorite retailers.

If you're a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can read ANYWHERE WITH YOU: A ROMANTIC COMEDY for FREE. If you're not a KU subscriber, no problem! You can purchase this story for $2.99 on your Kindle app. 

Apologies to my iBooks, Nook, Kobo, and GooglePlay readers, but since this will be distributed through Kindle Unlimited, Amazon requires the ebook to be sold exclusively through them. If you don't have the Kindle app, you can download it for FREE through your favorite app store! 

PRE-ORDER NOW!

Pre-Order your ebook copy of ANYWHERE WITH YOU through Amazon HERE. Once it releases on 27 June, your copy will automatically upload to your Kindle device or app.

TEASERS for ANYWHERE WITH YOU: 

Excerpt of ANYWHERE WITH YOU: 

Sliding an arm around her back for support and burying a hand into her hair, he lowered his head. Didn’t think about what they were doing, simply let his instincts guide him. He placed his lips on hers, softly at first. Testing it out. She stiffened in his arms, but only for a second before she softly moaned and relaxed. Her arms came around to clasp the back of his neck, and he almost howled at the delicious feel of her body against his. He dove back in, applying varying pressure, learning every spot that ignited her desire. 

Teegan tilted her head and opened her mouth slightly. He shouldn’t take what she was offering in front of all these people, but at the moment he didn’t care. Wes slid his tongue out for one slow swipe against hers. She whimpered and gripped his neck hard enough to bruise. In any other circumstance, he would’ve grabbed her ass, lifted her up, and had her against the nearest wall. But since they were here with a single mission—and it had nothing to do with either of them getting off—he slowed his pace, placing gentle kisses along her cheek and jawline before drawing back and looking at her.

Her eyes were unfocused and her lips a little swollen. He wanted to carry her back to their suite right now so none of the other man could witness how delectable she looked. 

“That…that was…” She touched her lips. “Wow.”

“We’ve done that a million times, remember?” he whispered.

She sucked in a quick breath and her body tensed as she remembered where they were. Her gaze skated to the right, toward the gathered group watching them intently. 

Thanks as always for your support! I can't wait to hear what you think once you've had a chance to read ANYWHERE WITH YOU!

xoxo, 
Christina 

ANYWHERE WITH YOU Release Information!

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Those of you who have followed me for awhile might recognize this book title from last summer (2017). I was part of an anthology with some awesome authors, which is where I originally released ANYWHERE WITH YOU. After that anthology ended, I decided I wanted to re-release the story with a new cover and a full marketing plan behind it. I also worked with a professional editor to make the story S-H-I-N-E. I'm really proud of it. It's classic Christina Elle--fun, spontaneous, quirky, and down right steamy!

This story is a stand-alone and not related to any of my other stories. Also, it's novella length, which means it's shorter than my traditional novels, but still just as entertaining! It's meant to be a quick beach read. So get ready to load up your e-reader--or pack your print copy in your suitcase--and enjoy a fun story while lounging in the sand with a drink in your hand! 

This story will be available on Wednesday 27 June 2018. I chose this date so you could grab your copy right before heading to your favorite beach for the 4th of July holiday!  It will be sold as an e-book through Amazon only. Apologies to my iBooks, Nook, Kobo, and GooglePlay readers, but since this will be distributed through Kindle Unlimited, Amazon requires it exclusively through them. If you don't have the Kindle app, you can download it for FREE through your favorite app store!

If you're a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can read ANYWHERE WITH YOU for FREE. If you're not a KU subscriber, no problem! You can purchase this story for $2.99 on your Kindle app. 

Preorder on Amazon starts on Wednesday 6 June with the cover reveal!

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:

You are cordially invited to. . . tick off the bride. 

Teegan Michaels has attended six weddings for her sorority sisters dateless and she refuses to go to the last one alone. Not when she has a perfectly respectable—not to mention hot—NFL player ready to save her from humiliation. Who cares that he’s the bride’s ex-fiancé and only wants to go for revenge? What's the worst that could happen?

TEASERS for ANYWHERE WITH YOU: 

Add ANYWHERE WITH YOU to your TBR list! 

Are you on Goodreads? If not, you should join! It's a fun site where you can keep track of the books you've read, the books you want to read, and read updates from your favorite authors. It's an awesome place to catch up and network with fellow readers too.

Click Here to add ANYWHERE WITH YOU to your Goodreads TBR list!

Thanks as always for your support! I can't wait to hear what you think once you've had a chance to read this story!

xoxo, 
Christina 

How Did I Come Up With the Plot for THE MAN I WANT TO BE?

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This seems to be the most common question authors get.  Where do you come up with your ideas? What makes you want to write about a certain character or setting? 

My answer is usually always the same -- I have no idea.  I spend a lot of time walking around with my head in the clouds, thinking about new characters or fun places to set a story. Some are great ideas, others are just that--ideas that don't fully develop into a strong plot. I have a notebook full of things that come to me while I'm trying to sleep, or in the shower, or riding in the car.  Watching movies is a big one too. I'll often watch a movie, and it will spark inspiration for me to write something about a character similar to the one I just watched on screen. 

Sometimes though, it's more personal. 

For THE MAN I WANT TO BE, it was very personal.

It's not a secret how close I was to my grandmother. I dedicated that book to her and I spend a lot of time honoring her memory in the funny grandma characters I write. She was a special lady and I miss her dearly.

When I was coming up with the plot for TMIWTB, I knew it needed some sort of suspense aspect (since it's a romantic suspense novel, after all), but it was taking place at a destination wedding. I didn't want a drug dealer coming in and ruining the perfect day for my characters (much like the what happened in ON HER SIX and IN WALKED TROUBLE), so I tried to tame it down a bit.

But for the life of me, I couldn't think of a good plot that would be fun, suspenseful, and believable for a destination wedding. 

Around the time I starting plotting this book out, we had moved my grandmother into assisted living as it was getting too dangerous for her to live on her own.  It killed us.  We hated the idea of shoving her into a place with people she didn't know, into a room that wasn't her house, with a roommate who yelled at her all day long. But most importantly, we hated the fact that we couldn't watch over her ourselves as much as we wanted to. Everyone in my family works strenuous 9-5 jobs (even me. This author thing is a side gig) so we weren't able to be home to take care of her day in and day out. So we had to do what we could to keep her safe.

One day, during a routine trip to the doctors office, my grandmother's wedding ring (the ring she wore for 50 years that originally belonged to HER mother) went "missing."  No one at the assisted living facility could locate it.  She apparently had it on that morning, got on the transportation bus they use to take folks to the docs, and she wasn't wearing it when she came back to the facility. . . 

The ring was never found.

It happened more than 2 years ago, and my heart STILL hurts to think about. 

So what does any self-respecting author do when faced with an emotional crisis? 

We write about it.

My grandmother's missing ring was the inspiration for the main suspense plot in THE MAN I WANT TO BE.  I needed to use it, to CONTROL the situation, and imagine a different outcome.  In this novel, Kenna McCord's late mother's ring goes missing at the wedding, she thinks someone stole it, so she and the hero, Bryan Tyke, go on an investigation to find it.

Although we never found my grandmother's ring, I made for damn sure that Kenna got her mother's ring back. (Sorry to ruin the ending for you, readers. But all of my characters always get their happy ending!) It was the one thing I could control. I HAD to make sure Kenna didn't have that hole in her heart that I still have today. She deserved to have that piece of her mother with her always. 

And every night I go to sleep, thinking and dreaming about my next big story, I imagine my grandmother haunting the ever-loving hell out of whoever had the audacity to steal her ring. It gives me a tiny bit of solace. And I might even smile about it from time to time. 

xoxo, 
Christina

THE MAN I WANT TO BE is book #3 in the Under Covers series. Although it is in the same world with the same characters as books #1 and #2, it can be read as a standalone.

Join my Facebook Group for FUN & LAUGHS, and a chance to win an Amazon Gift Card!

So I did something today....

I created a Facebook group! CHRISTINA ELLE'S CLASSY & CRAZY BROADS!  If you know me and/or have read any of my books, I'd say it's a fitting title, don't you?? 😜

Where are my classy & crazy broads like me? 😘

But wait, can you be both CLASSY and CRAZY?

Yes, my dear. You absolutely can be both. In fact, I pride myself on that distinction every single day.  

DEFINITION: A classy and crazy broad appreciates the finer things in life like designer handbags and a good Pinot. She strives to be positive every day. And she carries herself with confidence and poise.  But, she isn't stuck-up or stuffy.  She loves to have fun and laugh. . . A LOT. Her humor usually leans a bit sarcastic and off-kilter. A classy and crazy broad tends to chuckle at jokes that stretch right up the line of what is decent and indecent (let's face it, indecent is more fun). Not only does she love to laugh, but she gets the biggest kick out of making others laugh with her off-the-wall comments. Bottom line: she never takes life too seriously. 

See, classy and crazy! 

If that describes you, then let's get together and chat about my books and characters, and let me SPOIL YOU with exclusive EXCERPTS and GIVEAWAYS!!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP! I'm running a contest right now for a SIGNED COPY of my newest release, THE MAN I WANT TO BE (out 2.26!) and a $10 AMAZON GIFT CARD!! 💳 📖 ❤️

TMIWTB giveaway_FB post size.png

GOOD LUCK!!

xoxo,
Christina

 

THE MAN I WANT TO BE Cover Reveal & Teaser!

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It's here!  It's here!  The cover for THE MAN I WANT TO BE!  

This is the 3rd and final book in my Under Covers romantic suspense series and centers around Bryan Tyke, Ash Calder's (from ON HER SIX) and Luke Calder's (from IN WALKED TROUBLE) best friend and DEA teammate. 

It was a fun story to write because it brings back all the players from books one and two who are attending a destination wedding! Ash, Sam, Luke, Reese, and even the old ladies from the 19th Street Patrol! (Remember crazy Estelle?) 

What do you think??  He's beautiful, right?? 

Blurb: 

First rule of weddings – don’t fall for the bridesmaid. 

DEA agent Bryan Tyke hates weddings. He hates them even more when he’s forced to travel to a hot as hell beach resort to watch his best friends say I do, while acting happy about it. He isn’t happy. If those two want to buy into happily ever after, good for them. That isn’t in the cards for Tyke. It hasn’t been since he joined the army years ago and lost everything. That is, until the woman he’s never forgotten shows up as a bridesmaid and puts herself into immediate danger.

Kenna McCord has bigger issues than running into the gruff, sexy guy who broke her heart. Someone is stealing from wedding guests, including her late mother’s sapphire ring, and Kenna needs to find the thief ASAP. Reluctantly, she agrees to let Bryan use his skills and resources to help with the investigation, knowing full well it will lead to nothing but frustration and more broken promises. Unfortunately, there’s still something between them that can’t be denied…

Teaser for THE MAN I WANT TO BE: 

What people are saying about The Man I Want To Be:

“This book has it all. A touch of humor, a bit of mystery, and a ton of heat, heart, and hope. I loved it!”   
- Kira Archer, USA Today Bestselling Author

“When it comes to hot, fun thrill rides, Christina Elle delivers!” -USA Today Bestselling Author Avery Flynn  

"LOVED this book!  This novel has it all - a compelling story, characters I cared about, poignant moments, and moments that made me laugh so hard I cried." - Linda Q., NetGalley

Pre-Order!

Release date is Monday 26 February, but you can preorder now!

Amazon  |   B&N  |  iBooks  |   Kobo  |  Google Play

Check out the entire Under Covers series! 

xoxo, 
Christina

SALE ALERT! On Her Six is $0.99!

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 📣 **$0.99 ALERT!!** 📣 

My first book baby, ON HER SIX, is on *SALE* for the first time ever!! If you haven't read it yet, here's your chance! 

It's only $0.99!  

If you're into FUNNY and ACTION-PACKED stories that don't take themselves too seriously, then this one's for you!  

There's a gruff alpha DEA Agent, a quirky, stubborn wanna-be cop heroine, and a pack of old ladies who run the neighborhood watch -- a hilarious combo that definitely keeps things interesting! 😂😝

This is a great intro to the Under Covers series before my newest release, THE MAN I WANT TO BE, comes out next month!

What people are saying about On Her Six: 

⭐ "I have not read a book with this much HUMOR in it in a long time and it was so refreshing and enjoyable. Christina Elle has done an AWESOME job of mixing ROMANCE, SUSPENSE and HUMOR all together." -Amazon reviewer


⭐ "This is a BRILLIANT SUSPENSE, ACTION PACKED and SO FUNNY - I loved it!"
-Amazon reviewer


⭐ "On Her Six has it all--ENERGY, HUMOR and plenty of HOT SCENES. It's an amazing book and I enjoyed reading it very much." -Amazon reviewer
 

Blurb:

First rule of stake-outs -- don’t fall in love. 
. 
New neighbors are bad news in Samantha Harper’s experience. Especially ones as suspicious and brooding as the guy who just moved in next door. So when the dangerous but sexy stranger seems to be involved in something illegal—the aspiring cop in her takes action. If only she could stop thinking about how he looks naked...
.
All DEA agent Ash Cooper wants to do is lay low and survive this crap surveillance assignment. But after a run-in with his attractive neighbor, he realizes that’s going to be much harder than he planned. Keeping the woman out of trouble is hard enough, but keeping his hands off her is near impossible.

If you've already read ON HER SIX and you haven't had a chance to leave a review, I would be so appreciative if you could. It helps other readers determine if they might enjoy the story.

If you're curious about where ON HER SIX fits into the Under Covers series, this is book 1. All the books in this series revolve around the same characters and the same world, but can be read as STAND-ALONE stories in any order.

Thanks for your support!

xoxo,
Christina 

Amazon  |   B&N  |  iBooks  |   Kobo |   Google 

Check out the entire Under Covers series!

My Recap of 2017 & My Theme Word for 2018!

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Well, folks. 2018 is upon us. I don't know how we got here, but it's time to face it. I'm not one of those people to get wrapped up into resolutions and all that, but I am someone who believes that we have to reflect on the past in order to understand and appreciate where we're heading into the future.

My recap of 2017:

2017 started out well. I spent the first few months finalizing edits for my second full-length novel, IN WALKED TROUBLE, which released 31 July 2017. I was really proud of that story. All the writing classes I'd taken, the resource books I'd read, critique partner advice I'd listened to over the last however many years culminated into a fun, action-packed novel that I'm super proud of. I just felt really good about it. Feedback was really great on IWT, too. So I was flying high! 

Once final edits for IWT were done and off to my publisher for print, I was approached by some members of my local RWA chapter, Maryland Romance Writers, to contribute to a beach-themed anthology. Uh, that was a no-brainer since the beach is my FAVORITE place in the world. If I could live on the beach every day, I would. So I gladly accepted the invite. 

And then had to write my TAIL off.

I had a total of two months to whip together a novella that would be worthy of the other four ladies in the anthology. We're talking USA Today Bestsellers I was publishing alongside, people. I had to bring it! I had never written a novella before and had never written anything in less than two months. This project was great because it ended up teaching me how to fast draft. 

And that's how ANYWHERE WITH YOU was born. Talk about a FUUUUUN story to write. While the timeline might have been restrictive, the plot wasn't. I could write whatever I wanted about a locale that I was super pumped to write about. I'm really happy how that story turned out.  Quirky, contemporary romance with loads of LOL moments. It was published as part of the Destination Love anthology with Christi Barth, Eliza Knight, Misty D. Water, Piper J. Drake, and me, and was only available for a few short months during the summer. We donated 20% of all sales to an organization called Final Salute Inc., who provide housing for homeless women veterans and their children. It's a really great cause, and we were excited to do our part to help.

ANYWHERE WITH YOU isn't available now for purchase; once the timeframe for the anthology ended, all authors got the rights of their stories back to release on our own, so that's what I'm going to do. I want to self-publish it this summer. If you're a blogger or reader and you're interested in helping to spread the word on release day, let me know! I would appreciate the support!

After IWT and AWY released, I had another bit of good career news. I signed with an agent in August! I am proud to say I am now represented by the incredible Jessica Alvarez at Bookends Literary Agency!!  For those who aren't aware of what an agent does, she is the super important business partner who helps sell an author's work to publishing houses, negotiate contracts to get us the best deals, offers constructive criticism on our writing, and all around helps steer an author's career based on the author's individual goals. Agents are also really great sounding boards when we authors are having a tough day.

Which I needed not long after signing with Jessica. I lost my grandmother at the end of August, and it was fortuitous that I wasn't working on deadline, because I would've never been able to finish anything on time. My mind and heart just wasn't into anything. For those of you familiar with my work, I write a lot of humor into my stories, most if it coming in the form of quirky and confident old lady side characters. Usually they are in the form of grandmothers to my main characters. Why? Because my grandmother was a huge influence on my life. I got 99% of my humor and quirk from her. She was a unique lady who loved her family, loved to laugh, and was always confident in who she was. She never gave a damn what other people thought about her. She was unapologetically her. I don't think I intended to write stories with as many old ladies as I have (so far my entire Under Covers series has old ladies, and I have a new, soon-to-be-announced series I just sold that includes them, as well), but I think deep down my psyche was just longing to get my grandmother down on paper. I had to share her with the world. And, as I'm writing this, I realize that was the best idea I ever had. Now that she's gone, I will always have a piece of her with me. Immortalized in my stories that I've shared with you. Her laugh was infectious, and in this day and age, I think we all could use a bit more laughter and humor.

The next few months flew by as I attempted to get my brain back in working order. I'm happy to say that Jessica and I sold a new series, which I'm working on now. It'll be a three book series, this time set in a small coastal town with everyday heroes as the main characters. The first book is about a fireman and wanna-be romance novelist who just can't seem to get their grandmothers to stop fighting and wrecking the town. I can't wait until there are more details available so I can share them with you!

So... what does all of that mean for 2018??

Well, from the outside, you might be saying, Christina, based on what you've outlined, you've had a pretty successful year. You published two books, signed an agent, and sold a new book series.

Yes, I have. But I didn't produce nearly as many results as I'd planned on 1 January 2017. I let myself down. I didn't take care of my health. I let my eating habits go by the wayside. I made excuses as to why I wasn't writing anything new. I chose to surf the internet rather than sit and write a new chapter or two. I downloaded a crap-ton of new resource books to help improve my craft, and didn't crack any of them open. 

No. More. Excuses. 

I've thought long and hard about how I want this upcoming year to go. I'm more serious about my 2018 goal setting because I know that if you don't set a goal and create actionable steps toward it, you won't achieve it. So, here's what I've outlined so far.

What I want to achieve in 2018:

- Write 3 full-length novels 

- Traditionally publish 2 full-length novels 

- Self-publish ANYWHERE WITH YOU 

- Write more blog posts and keep you guys current on the great (and maybe not so great) things going on here in my world.

- Serve as a resource to up-and-coming authors. This is a big one. There were authors I looked up to when I was an unpublished author who offered pointers and tips. I'd really like to pay it forward. (hint, hint. If you're an author and you need help, don't hesitate to send me a message. Writing is an awfully lonely profession sometimes. We're all going through the same things, though we don't always talk about it out loud.) 

- Network more this year. I'm a hermit by nature. I'm only usually outgoing in small groups of people. I'd like to put myself out there more. Attend events. Serve on panels. Talk about myself and my writing without feeling like I'm bragging or like I'm inexperienced.

- I want go to a huge author signing event and, well, sign my books for readers.  I've never done this. And I want to do it so badly! Despite the fact that I'm a hermit, I LOVE meeting new people. Especially readers. I really want to meet them in person.

- Hire a personal assistant to help me keep up with and post on social media. I didn't post very much last year and really want to increase my presence. I need a guru to keep me engaged!

- Get a better handle on my schedule. I'm not a full-time author. I work a full-time job, have two young kids (7 and 4), with a husband who is a cop and works unconventional hours. I want to stop using our crazy schedule as an excuse not to write more. I have pockets of time where I can sit at my computer, I showed that in 2016, so I need to do a better job of setting aside time to do it. I want to start using The Compound Effect again to do it. 

- This kind of goes with the more blog posts thing, but I want to give my readers more of a glimpse into my real life. Apart from my love of Chris Hemsworth, Marvel movies, and hot weather, I don't really talk about other things I love. I want to show my readers that I'm a real person just like them. It's what I love seeing from authors I read/follow, so I want to be able to do that for my readers, too.

- And finally, I want to take better care of my health. Specifically, I want to start making better choices on food. We made the decision back in 2015 as a family to eat clean, but I most definitely didn't follow the basic principles last year. It was so much easier and quick to forgo my meal planning and basic exercise in lieu of ordering out and sitting on my butt binge-watching Teen Wolf, Vikings, and Outlander. (All AMAZING, btw!)

So, in an attempt to wrap up everything I want to accomplish in 2018, I've decided my theme word will be: 

MOMENTUM

It perfectly describes what I need in order to accomplish all of that, but more importantly, it signifies that I simply need to keep going. Keep up the momentum and the rest will take care of itself. The list feels daunting at the first of the year, but it's not if I keep moving forward and ticking items off one-by-one each day, week, and month of the year.

So there you have it, folks. My plan for 2018. I've outlined all this not so I can just say, "Hey look what I'm going to do!" 

No, I laid this out because I know that if I make it public, if I put it out there for others to read, then I'll feel more compelled to hold myself accountable to it.

How about you? What are your goals for this year? Let's do this!

xoxo, 
Christina

 

THE MAN I WANT TO BE - Release date & Teaser!

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Mark your calendar --  **THE MAN I WANT TO BE is coming your way 26 February 2018!** 

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This is one of those books that wrote itself. Tyke had been begging for his own story (yelling at me, really) since I started this series back in 2015.  He was patient and let me get Ash's and Luke's stories out first, and then all hell broke loose. He bugged me morning, noon, and night, wanting me to get his story written.  And he finally got his way!  Though, he might not be too happy with all the crap I put him through for most of the book.  hehe 

I don't have the cover yet, but I have a blurb if you're interested in reading what it's about. It's FUN, it's FUNNY, and it's SARCASTIC as hell. Tyke has finally met his match in this second-chance romance! 
 

Blurb: 

First rule of weddings – don’t fall for the bridesmaid. 

DEA agent Bryan Tyke hates weddings. He hates them even more when he’s forced to travel to a hot as hell beach resort to watch his best friends say I do, while acting happy about it. He isn’t happy. If those two want to buy into happily ever after, good for them. That isn’t in the cards for Tyke. It hasn’t been since he joined the army years ago and lost everything. That is, until the woman he’s never forgotten shows up as a bridesmaid and puts herself into immediate danger.

Kenna McCord has bigger issues than running into the gruff, sexy guy who broke her heart. Someone is stealing from wedding guests, including her late mother’s sapphire ring, and Kenna needs to find the thief ASAP. Reluctantly, she agrees to let Bryan use his skills and resources to help with the investigation, knowing full well it will lead to nothing but frustration and more broken promises. Unfortunately, there’s still something between them that can’t be denied…

What are people saying about THE MAN I WANT TO BE:

“This book has it all. A touch of humor, a bit of mystery, and a ton of heat, heart, and hope. I loved it!”  
- Kira Archer, USA Today Bestselling Author

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Want a sneak peek?  

(*Final passage could change when it goes to print, but here you go!)

Tyke huddled behind a large row of bushes looking at a small two-story cape cod. He and Reese had set up surveillance about two hundred feet away. On their bellies in damp grass, they scanned the front exterior of the house and surrounding area through binoculars.

The place was located smack in the middle of a long street that was lined with about twenty houses along the ocean. The tall hill across the road where Reese and Tyke lay, served as great privacy for the neighborhood from the rest of the resort craziness. This area was dark and quiet. Peaceful. Likely coveted by the resort staff as a way to decompress after servicing the guests.

Some upstairs lights were on in the adjacent houses; people readying for bedtime after a hard days work. Clint Azure’s house was dark and silent. Only a few overgrown bushes and trees out front. No cars in the cracked driveway.

“Area secure,” Reese said beside him. “If you're going, I would say now is the time.”

Tyke placed his binos in the black canvas bag Reese brought with him to the islands. They hadn't planned on anything happening while they were on vacation, but one could never be sure. Reese liked to be prepared.

“Keep an eye out,” Tyke said, getting to his feet in a crouch position. “If you see anything—” He spotted movement at his two o'clock, so he threw himself flat on the grass and scrambled for his binoculars. “Who the hell is that?”

Reese was already on it, following the person with his own equipment. “A woman. And by the looks of it, Kenna.”

“What?” Tyke snapped his binoculars back up and confirmed that surer than shit, it was her. He'd recognize that profile anywhere.

Her red hair was pulled up into a pile on the top of her head. She wore a black tank top that showed off her full chest and black shorts that were just short enough to give her that curve that drove him nuts. Despite the dark clothing, the way she was tip-toeing out in the open across the front yard, Stevie Wonder could've spotted her.

Goddamn woman. He'd told her to stay put.

“Are you going after her?” Reese asked in an honest tone. Like he didn't pick up on Tyke's ire.

“Yeah, I'm going after her.” He sprang to his feet. “Keep an eye out and let me know if you see anything else.”

“Copy that.”

Tyke veered right to come in behind her so she wouldn't see him approach. He followed her path down to the front of the house, his boots lightly touching the cement driveway. She knelt under the front bay window when he caught up with her.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

She squealed and whirled on him with a…

What the—?

He plucked the item out of her hand and examined it. “You're gonna break into someone's house with a plastic knife?”

“Yes,” she said, clutching her chest. “Now give it back and get out of here. You're going to blow my cover.”

“What’s with you and your cover?” he said. “Honey, if you even had one, it was blown the second you stepped on the lawn.”

She made a pfft sound between tight lips. “Please. I'm covert.”

“Nothing about you is covert.” He slid the plastic knife into his shorts pocket. “What exactly were you gonna do with that thing? Saw someone's hand off after an hour? Would that be before or after they easily snapped it in half?”

Kenna gave him a once over, seeming fixated with the belt he wore that contained rope, pepper spray, a small subcompact handgun, and a six-inch tactical knife. Stainless steel. Not plastic.

“Whose wedding did you think you were coming to? The Soprano's?” she asked. “Why would you need all of that stuff?” She started to reach for his dagger, but he swatted her hand away.

“Kenna, get out of here so I can search this house before Javier gets home.”

“No.”

“Get out of here.”

“No.”

“Kenna, I’m serious. Go.”

She gathered her lips together and crossed her arms like a stubborn kid who didn’t get the pony they wanted for Christmas.

He closed his eyes and counted to five. Slowly. When he opened and she hadn’t disappeared, he groaned. “You're going to follow me in, aren't you?”

She patted his shoulder. “Now you're getting it.”

“Reese,” Tyke said, touching his earpiece. “How we lookin’?”

Kenna leaned in and said, “Hi, Jason!”

“Whoa. What are you doing?” Tyke pushed her back. “No. Just no.”

“Hello, Kenna,” Reese said, even though she couldn’t hear him.

Tyke rolled his eyes. “Am I good to go or what, Reese?”

“Kenna said hello. I didn’t want to be rude by not responding.”

Tyke waited.

Nothing.

“Are you gonna tell me if we’re clear to enter the premises?”

“As soon as you tell Kenna I said hello,” Reese said.

Tyke mumbled the words.

“Aww, that’s so sweet,” she said. “Thank you, Jason. You’re thoughtful. Unlike some people.” And she glared at Tyke.

Yeah, whatever. “Reese, any time now. I’d like to check this place out sometime before this guy gets home.”

“All clear,” Reese said.

“So how are we going to play this?” she asked. “Break in through the window? The back door?” Her gaze bounced to everything around them.

“You're asking me?” he said. “You were the one coming down here on a mission. What was your plan?”

She looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, “I didn't really have one. Just figured I'd wing it once I got here.”

“Wing it? Woman, you don't just wing it when you're breaking and entering into someone's house.”

“Then what are we going to do, super-secret spy man?” Her tone was sarcastic. He didn't appreciate it one bit.

“First off, let's get one thing straight—I'm a DEA agent. I chase dangerous drug dealers for a living. Completely different and way cooler than CIA spy shit. Keep talking that garbage and I'll ship you back to the resort right now. Got it?”

She twisted her fingers over her closed lips like she was locking them and then throwing away the key.

Tyke rolled his eyes. “Second, this is a beach house on a remote island that overlooks the ocean. I'm sure there's a window or door unlocked somewhere.”

They spent a few minutes checking all the first floor windows and doors without any luck.

“Second story,” Reese said. “ Front right side. A window is open.”

Tyke made his way to the front of the house and positioned himself under the window Reese referred to. He assessed the situation. And then, in realizing what he'd have to do, he pressed his fingers into his eye sockets. “I'm going to regret this.”

“What?” Kenna asked. “What are you going to do?”

“Not me. You.”

“Me?”

“I'm going to hoist you up onto the roof and you're going to climb into that window. Then you're going to come down and unlock the front door for me.”

Her expression was a little too excited.

He latched onto her arm. “But you're not going to search any part of the house without me, understood?”

She was bouncing on her toes. “Sure. Yeah. Let's do this.”

Making a basket with his fingers, he said a few choice words under his breath before bending and letting her step in. He counted to three and then propelled her upward to where she could reach the edge of the first floor roofline.

“Pull yourself up,” he said as he hoisted her higher.

“All good!” Her head came into view over the edge of the first floor roof.

“Get to the window.” He stepped back to watch her climb inside.

Then he went to the front door and waited for it to open.

And he waited.

And waited some more.

“Goddamn it, Kenna,” he said.

That's it for now!  Stay tuned for updates on THE MAN I WANT TO BE here.  I'll have more teasers and goodies coming your way soon!

In the meantime, check out all the books in the Under Covers series!

ON HER SIX is $0.99 for a limited time!

xoxo,
Christina

Giveaway: Enter to win a Kindle Fire, plus a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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**GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.**

I'm really loving this whole giveaway thing!! It's fun!

In order to celebrate the release of my second published novel, In Walked Trouble, I gave away a $20 Amazon gift card on July 31st.  Well, guess what??  I have ANOTHER novel, Anywhere With You, that released on August 1st! So I would be remiss if I ignored celebrating that one!

So here's the deal. . .

There are FIVE total authors (Christi Barth, Eliza Knight, Piper J. Drake, Misty D. Waters, and me) that each wrote a story in the Destination: Love anthology. All of these stories are set in exotic locations and are STEAMY -- and not just because of the tropical weather! You definitely want this book in your life!

We're making it worth your while because for a LIMITED TIME, the entire set, including ALL FIVE romances, are $0.99! That's it! And you want to know the best part? 20% of ALL sales are being donated to Final Salute, a nonprofit that finds suitable housing for homeless female veterans. 

It's a win-win! 

One click now! 

Amazon
iBooks 
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Google Play

Now to the giveaway. 

1) To enter for a chance to win the Kindle Fire, go here.  It's a scavenger hunt, so be ready to have some FUN as you learn about the five authors in this anthology. 

2) To enter for a chance to win the $20 Amazon gift card, go to my Facebook page and click on Photos. Find the ANYWHERE WITH YOU photo album. There's a picture in there that matches the one in this blog post. Read the instructions, do as it says, and you'll be automatically entered!  That's it! I'll pick a random winner for the gift card on Sunday August 13th at 9pm on my FB page. 

So you have TWO chances to win something. Is that great or what??

To recap: click the link to complete the scavenger hunt in order to be entered to win the Kindle AND follow the instructions in my Facebook post to enter for the $20 Amazon gift card. Simple!

As always, thanks for your support! As long as you keep coming back, I'll keep running giveaways and sharing the joy!! 

xoxo, 
Christina

IN WALKED TROUBLE Cover Reveal!

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It's here!  It's here!  The cover for IN WALKED TROUBLE!  

This is book 2 in my Under Covers romantic suspense series and centers around Luke Calder, Ash Calder's (from ON HER SIX) best friend and DEA teammate.

All the players from book one are back.  Ash, Sam, Tyke, Reese, and even the old ladies from the 19th Street Patrol! (Remember crazy Estelle?)

I feel like the action and humor factors were really AMPED up in this book compared to book one.  If you loved ON HER SIX, then you'll definitely be on the edge of your seat and also laugh more while reading IN WALKED TROUBLE.

Here's the blurb: 

With a deadly target on his back, DEA agent Luke Calder’s plan is to drink away his impending demise. Except instead of getting blessedly drunk, in walks a woman with a much deeper story than she’s leading on. And he definitely wants to know more. Especially when he learns she might have intel he needs. He’s not cool with lying to her, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And what starts out as simple surveillance turns into so much more.

Cassandra Stone is having a bad night. Her boyfriend’s been cheating because she’s not “adventurous enough” in bed. So, she does the next logical thing—she goes in search of a dark, dangerous one-night stand. Instead, she finds smoldering eyes, deep dimples, and the killer smile of a guy who won’t leave her alone. Damn him. He says and does all the right things, making Cass believe that good men still exist. Until she learns why he took an interest in her in the first place.      

Teasers for IN WALKED TROUBLE: 

(check out more teasers here)

Release date is Monday 31 July, but you can preorder now!

Amazon  |   B&N  |  iBooks  |   Kobo  |  Google Play

Enter to WIN a print copy of IN WALKED TROUBLE on Goodreads!  CLICK HERE to enter!  Don't forget to add it to your TBR pile while you're there!

 

xoxo, 
Christina

ANYWHERE WITH YOU Release Info!

***UPDATE:  This was a novella that released in an anthology in 2017. That anthology is no longer available for purchase.  But I will be re-releasing ANYWHERE WITH YOU in 2018!  Stay tuned!  More details to come!***

Surprise! Not only is IN WALKED TROUBLE, the second novel in my Under Covers romantic suspense series, coming out this summer, but I also have a novella releasing, too!  (They are releasing within one day of each other, so be prepared to get your Christina Elle fill!)

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I was asked by four really talented authors to participate in an anthology that centered around exotic locations.  Uh, destination love?? Count me in!  It was a no brainer for me to do because I got to write about one of my favorite things -- the beach!!

And so. . . ANYWHERE WITH YOU was born!

Here's the blurb:

Teegan Michaels has attended six weddings for her sorority sisters dateless and she refuses to go to the last one alone. Not when she has a perfectly respectable—not to mention hot—NFL player ready to save her from humiliation. Who cares that he’s the bride’s ex-fiancé and only wants to go for revenge? What's the worst that could happen?

Sounds fun, right? It was a blast to write. Since it's a novella, it's much shorter than my usual full-length novels, so it's the perfect read while you're on vacation! I can't wait for you to check it out. 

It releases on Tuesday 1 August, but it's up for preorder now as part of the DESTINATION: LOVE anthology. We're donating 20% of ALL sales to an organization called Final Salute Inc., who provide housing for homeless women veterans and their children. It's a really great cause, and we're excited to do our part to help. For a limited time, you can pick up ALL FIVE stories in the anthology for $0.99!

Want to read more? Maybe check out some promo teasers with some excerpts from the story? Head over to my ANYWHERE WITH YOU page for more information!

Preorder now!

Amazon  |   B&N  |  iBooks  |   Kobo 

Teasers for ANYWHERE WITH YOU:

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts about this, or any other story I wrote. Go to the contact page to send me a message or follow me on social media, or you can leave a review on your favorite book retailer's website.  

I hope you have an AWESOMELY BEAUTIFUL and SUNNY summer!

xoxo,
Christina

 

 

IN WALKED TROUBLE Release Info!

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IN WALKED TROUBLE, book 2 in the Under Covers series, is coming your way July 31st!!  I'm so excited for you to check it out!

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Everything is being finalized right now--including the cover (stay tuned for that!)--but in the meantime, I'd love it if you saved the date and celebrated with me on release day!

This one was definitely a labor of love. It took a lot more time, effort and tears (lots of tears) to whip this book into something worthy of reading. I knew where I wanted to go with the plot, but neither my hero or heroine would cooperate. After lots of coaxing, they finally decided to tell me their story and it came together even better than I expected.

This one is Luke Calder's book. You might remember him from ON HER SIX. He's Ash's best friend and DEA teammate. Luke gets himself into trouble with Jose Serrano, the dangerous drug supplier from book one, who now wants to kill Luke out of revenge. 

Who is Luke's love interest, you might ask? Her name is Cassandra Stone and she's a guidance counselor for a Baltimore City high school. From the second she walks into Luke's life, she's nothing but trouble for him!  In all the best ways, of course!

I worked really hard to bring more action, more humor and a lot more heart to this one. And guess what??  The old ladies are making a big appearance in this book, too!!  Get ready for some more craziness from Estelle, Maybel, Celia and Rose!

I can't wait to hear what you all think! Check it out on July 31st!

If you haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, you can do that HERE.  It's a great place to get sneak peeks of my upcoming novels, snippets of things that inspire me, and prizes/giveaways!  

If you haven't had a chance to check out ON HER SIX, it's a great time to do that since all the characters from that book carry over into this one.  It's available now!

Getting Published is HARD

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It is. 

There are so many factors that play into getting published:

Writing your novel.
Editing your novel.
Letting other people read and critique your novel.
Querying your novel.
Finding an agent.
Finding an editor.
Selling your novel.
Editing your novel again.
Editing again.
Rereading your novel. 
Hating your novel.
Loving your novel.
Hating it again.
Falling back in love with your novel.
Getting excited that your novel's pre-sale links are up.
Getting reviews from real readers.
Your book going on sale officially.
Sharing your story with others.
Enjoying the glow of being a first-time author!
Writing another book.

But if I could tell an aspiring author one thing that matters most about the entire publishing process, whether she is choosing traditional or self-publishing, it's have PATIENCE.  

This industry takes A LOT of patience. But it's totally worth it. The first time you see your book cover. The first time you see buy links. The first time you get a review--someone other than your mom or sister actually READ your freaking book! It's exciting.  

But it can feel like a roller coaster too. There are MANY times I told my husband I was going to give up. I wasn't sure I was good enough. I wasn't sure I had anything important enough that anyone would want to read. I wasn't sure I could do it.

I read a ton of stories from other authors who talked about their road to publication. How the road was bumpy. Some had hills, while others had pot holes, flat tires, and natural disasters to contend with. Hearing their stories gave me hope. I realized it's not meant to be easy. It's not meant to be quick. 

I had to earn it.

So if you're interested, or you need a boost of confidence like I did, below is my story of how I got published.

I started writing seriously around the summer of 2010. I was pregnant with my first son and something happened to my brain.  I'd always had a creative side, but it was amplified by a million while I was pregnant.  All I knew was that I had characters talking to me (got worried for awhile that I had actual voices in my head) and they had to be heard.  So I started writing. I listened to what they had to say about their struggles, their family, and their secrets. And I found that I really loved learning about them. And I especially loved using the things they told against them. I purposely put them in funny situations just to see how they would react.

But during that same time, since I was writing for my own enjoyment, I also realized that my stories didn't have a lot of structure. So I joined some writing groups and took online writing classes to learn about plotting.

And the entire time I was in the "learning" stage, I was dying. I didn't want to take the time to slow down and learn. I just wanted to get words down! I wanted to be published NOW! Which would explain why a lot of my early works had small bright spots, but as a complete novel they lacked depth and substance. 

I'd joined Romance Writers of America and Maryland Romance Writers, and found critique partners that were far more talented than me. But instead of backing away from their skill, I tried to leverage it. I asked questions. I listened to their advice. I read their work. And I started to see a difference in my own writing.

After about a year and a half, I had finally completed what I would call my first REAL novel. I felt more confident that it had three dimensional characters, it had the semblance of a plot, it had suspense, humor, and my voice. I feel like the last is the most important piece. Finding your voice as an author will help you more than anything. It's you. It's how you phrase things. No one can take that from you. 

So once I'd found my voice and my style of writing, and had a viable completed manuscript, I started querying agents. Also around the same time, I entered contests. RWA has a lot of great local chapter contests where you can submit the opening pages of your MS, and if you final, those pages can be viewed by judges, who are agents and editors in your genre. I focused a lot of my time on contests. I had a good number of requests for partials and fulls, and it really helped to boost my confidence. But it also helped me to see that I was on the right path. My writing was up to par. My hook was garnering interest. I was onto something.

I started to become more active on Twitter, attempting to network with other writers and experts in the industry. That's when I came across #PitchMadness.  It's a contest that Brenda Drake hosts with a slew of other really awesome authors and bloggers. I can't say enough about Brenda and her peeps.  Holy cow.  They go the extra mile for non-pubbed authors and really help give exposure to our work that I honestly feel we normally wouldn't get. It was a fantastic experience. I have to give major props to Summer Heacock, who is SUPER GIRL! She supported my pitch from day one.

If you're interested in reading my pitch, click here.  That contest was in September of 2013.  Three years after I started writing for real. Like I said, patience. I received a great number of requests from agents from that one pitch. It took two additional months to allow the agents to read through the partial or full they'd requested. I spent that time updating the MS based on their comments/wishes. Then November 2013 (Thanksgiving evening, actually) I received an email from my agent, saying that she'd like to represent me. I couldn't believe it. After three long years of blood, sweat and words, I had landed an agent!

But the story doesn't end there, folks. After I signed with her, we spent the next few months cleaning up the MS and making sure it shined. Then by January 2014, we had put my MS out on submission.

This is where the most patience comes into play.  This part of the process can feel like it takes FOREVER. For me, it was an entire year.  I signed with Entangled Publishing in January 2015. Five years after I'd started writing. And two years after I entered the querying/contest world. 

I continued to write to pass the time, honing my craft and working on stretching my abilities as an author. By January 2016, my editor and I were knee-deep in edits for my debut novel. And I'm happy to say that on Monday May 23, 2016, my novel, ON HER SIX, published!

Six years. It took me six full years of learning, trying, succeeding, failing, loving, hating, and learning some more before I was able to make it happen. I am a published author!!  

I know it might have taken much quicker for some authors, or much longer for others. To that I say CONGRATULATIONS. You didn't give up. You held onto your dream, and that's what matters. It's so easy to doubt yourself. To say that it isn't worth it.

But it is. Hold onto that feeling you get every time you sit down at the computer. Hold onto the feeling you get when you laugh/cry/love something your characters say or do. Hold onto it.

It's worth it.

Keep writing.

xoxo,
Christina

Cover Reveal, Pre-sale & Giveaway for ON HER SIX!

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The day is here!  I can't believe it.  My debut novel has a cover and is available for preorder!  It officially releases on Monday 23 May, but you can grab your copy now! 

Amazon
B&N
iBooks
Kobo

This was a really fun novel for me to write. It's based in Baltimore, which is where I'm from, so I used a lot of my own knowledge and memories to paint the setting for readers. 

Let's meet a few of the characters, shall we?

  • Samantha is a wanna-be  Baltimore cop
  • Ash is her brooding, but sexy DEA Agent neighbor
  • Sam's grandma runs the neighborhood watch with three other grannies
  • And Viktor Heinrich is a drug dealer determined to turn the entire country into incurable addicts

Sounds fun, right?

Check out the full description below for more sexy entertainment:

First rule of stake-outs – don’t fall in love. 

New neighbors are bad news in Samantha Harper’s experience. Especially ones as suspicious and brooding as the guy who just moved in next door. So when the dangerous but sexy stranger seems to be involved in something illegal—the aspiring cop in her takes action. If only she could stop thinking about how he looks naked...

All DEA agent Ash Cooper wants to do is lay low and survive this crap surveillance assignment. But after a run-in with his attractive neighbor, he realizes that’s going to be much harder than he planned. Keeping the woman out of trouble is hard enough, but keeping his hands off her is near impossible.

GIVEAWAY!

Want to WIN a print version of ON HER SIX?

My publisher is giving away a copy on Goodreads.
Check it out and enter or your chance to win!

xoxo,
Christina

How to Write in Deep POV

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Deep Point of View is essentially getting into your character's head and letting the reader view the world as the character sees it and interprets it. It's the ultimate SHOW, DON'T TELL method.  It creates first-person intimacy with the reader even when writing in the third-person.

It means avoiding words like

felt, thought, saw, hoped

. . . and just recounting what the character actually felt, thought, saw, and hoped.

Why? 

rivet your readers with deep pov-third person point of view-amazon-kindle-writing tips-romance-author-publishing tip-how to-write

Well, first because it pulls the reader deeper into the story. It invokes deeper emotion and attachment from the reader toward the characters and story.

Second, because the character wouldn't tell someone a story by saying, "When I opened the door, I saw the bird fly away." She would simply say, "When I opened the door, the bird flew away."

The key is to pull the reader into the story and let them experience the excitement, fear, suspense, and happiness with the character.

Example: 

Not deep POV -

"He smelled her perfume and then felt her come up behind him and wrap her arms around his waist. He figured she was trying to butter him up."

Deep POV -

"Her alluring floral scent hit his nose seconds before heat infused his back as she wrapped her arms around him. Must be her way of trying to butter him up."

The first is a boring account that he smelled her and felt her come up behind him.  The second is a first-hand account in his words how her coming up from behind affected him. He's explaining to the reader how it made him feel, without saying, "It made me feel..."

Another example: 

When you hear a car horn, you don't think, "I hear a car horn."  Instead, your brain says, "That's a car horn."  Do the same with your writing.  Filter out the extra unneeded words that TELL the reader what the character is experiencing. Get right to what's happening instead.

You wouldn't think to yourself, "I think brussels sprouts are gross." You instead think, "Eww, brussels sprouts are gross!" 

One of the best books I've read about deep POV is Rivet Your Readers with Deep POV by Jill Elizabeth Nelson. She gives great, specific examples to show the difference between telling the reader what happened and showing them.

Here's one: 

Shallow POV: "Noxious fumes filled the air."

Deep POV: "Was that sulfur? Her nose scrunched and she pinched her nostrils closed with her thumb and index finger as she held her breath."

I like to think of deep POV as the character telling their best friend a story. Recounting exactly what happened in their own words.

I wouldn't tell my best friend a story and say, "I felt the ground shake so hard." Instead, I would tell her, "The ground shook so hard that I had to grab onto the wall for balance." See how the second example is more interesting? It also gives the reader a more specific gauge of how hard the ground shook.

What I love about deep POV is the fact that it's different for EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER.  

Based on who they are, where they're from, their education, background, beliefs, and values will dictate HOW the character describes the story. They will use certain dialect, profanity, and direct thought exclamations that are specific to them. Two characters who are in the same situation will react to and recount the situation MUCH different.

This is especially helpful because then the reader knows exactly who is talking without the use a dialogue tag. 

What is your experience with deep POV?  Have you tried it? I'd love to hear your thoughts about how you make it work in your writing.

xoxo,
Christina 

How to Write a Query Letter to a Literary Agent

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If you're going the traditional publishing route, meaning that you want to land a literary agent and want your novel pitched to big-NYC publishing houses, then you have to learn how to write a query letter.

This is probably even more important of a task than actually writing your novel. 

Why?  Because a query letter can make or break your chance at getting an agent or editor interested in your novel. If you don't peak their interest right away, then it won't matter how amazing your novel is.

There are four parts to a successful query letter: 

  1. The Intro/Hook
  2. The story (think back-cover blurb)
  3. Your credentials/accomplishments
  4. Call to action

The Intro/Hook

This is the opening paragraph in your query when you hint at what your novel is about and hook the agent/editor into wanting to read more. This is (some say) the most important piece of the query.  I would agree.  A good hook shows that you have a great handle on what your book is about and you know exactly where it fits into your niche.  Think about what it is you have to offer and what would make an agent/editor stop and take notice.

It's good practice to include the word count, genre, and title of your work in the opening paragraph. It also helps to offer if your work is similar to another author they either represent or might be aware of.

The Story

This is where you introduce the agent or editor to your story. It is usually two (but no more than three) paragraphs showing the plot, characters, and conflict. Keep it short and interesting. What is the theme of the novel? Who are the characters and what is their main struggle? If it's a romance novel, how does the romance either help or hinder the characters in achieving their goals? Did you summarize the story enough that it's intriguing without being confusing?

Summarizing an 80,000 word novel into two paragraphs can be a feat.  But if you know who your characters are, what their main goal is, and who/what is keeping them from it, then that's most of the battle. Agents and editors want to see that you recognize and can define your plot and conflict.

This is a great part of the query to think about what sets your story apart from others in its genre. Mention it. Sure, your story has to fit into a niche somewhere, but what is it that helps it stand out from just another romance novel?

Your Credentials/Accomplishments

This paragraph is where you'll speak about your experience and accomplishments. 

  • Did you final or win a writing contest? 
  • Do you belong to a local or national writing chapter? 
  • Did you work for a publishing house as an assistant editor?
  • Did you query this agent before with another project and they requested a partial or full? (This shows that they like your style and voice, the previous project just wasn't right for them, but the new project might be)

Don't be shy and don't be afraid to toot your own horn. Agents and editors want to know if your story resonated and/or generated interest with others. 

Call To Action

Invite the agent/editor to contact you if they'd like to read more. If you've been querying and have had interest from other agents, be sure to say that you have the partial or full MS out for consideration. (No need to say you're querying other agents. That's a given.) Again, if agents are requesting a partial or full of your MS it shows that your story is garnering interest from others and is worth taking a look. 

Closing

End the query thanking the agent profusely for their time. Make sure to include all of your social media links in your signature so they can see how serious you are about helping to promote your work. (This is of course IF the social media links you're including are up to date.)

Writing a query takes a lot of time and patience.  Most authors don't get it right on the first try. Even veteran authors have to write and rewrite their queries to get them just right.  That's why valuable critique partners or writing friends come in handy. You HAVE to have someone in the industry read through your letter to make sure it shines.  

You get one chance to make an impression -- make sure it's a great one.

Below is an example of a winning query I used for my debut novel, ON HER SIX (the original title was changed).

Dear Ms. NAME,

I am seeking representation for my 86,000 word single-title romantic suspense novel, ON HER SIX. This story has placed first in the Smoky Mountain Romance Writers Laurie Contest and the North Texas RWA Great Expectations Contest, and placed second in the Maryland Romance Writers Vixen Contest. It has also been requested in full by an editor at XXX Publishing House.

<<NOTICE THAT I INCLUDED THE WORD COUNT, GENRE, AND TITLE IN THE OPENING SENTENCE. I ALSO WANTED TO SHOW RIGHT AWAY THAT THE STORY GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM MY PEERS AND OTHER AGENTS/EDITORS IN THE INDUSTRY THROUGH CONTESTS.>>

New neighbors are bad news according to Samantha Harper. Especially ones as suspicious and brooding as the one who just moved in next door. So when Sam learns of a new highly-addictive drug sweeping the city, threatening those she loves—and her neighbor seems to know everything about it—the aspiring cop in her takes action. Leading her elderly, all-female neighborhood watch in a stakeout to learn as much as they can about the new guy, the group instead sees more of their buff neighbor than they bargained for.

<<I WANTED TO SHOW WHAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS ROMANTIC SUSPENSE AND SHOW THE QUIRKY, HUMOROUS SIDE TO IT BY MENTIONING THE ELDERLY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.>>

After his screw-up in South America, resulting in a demotion and loss of his team, all DEA agent Ash Cooper wants to do is lay low and survive this crappy surveillance assignment. But after a run-in with his annoying neighbor and a pack of meddling grannies, he realizes that’s going to be much harder than he planned. Doing all he can to keep the women at bay, Ash begins to repeat his past mistakes and does the one thing he swore he’d never do again—trust a beautiful woman.

I am an active member of Romance Writers of America, Maryland Romance Writers, as well as an online critique group. 

<<IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO LIST ANY CREDENTIALS YOU HAVE SO AGENT/EDITOR KNOWS YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR WRITING CAREER.>>

As stated on your submissions page, below you will find the first chapter and synopsis of my manuscript.

<<SO IMPORTANT TO READ HOW AGENTS WANT YOU TO SUBMIT QUERIES TO THEM. SOME WANT ONLY THE QUERY LETTER, OTHERS WOULD LIKE A FEW PAGES OF YOUR MANUSCRIPT AND/OR SYNOPSIS.>>

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time.

There you have it.  Now go out and send yours off! Good luck!!

*If you'd like to check out my publishing journey, from writing and sending out my query letter, to getting an agent, and releasing my first published novel. You can read that here. 

xoxo,
Christina