Hello! Thanks for stopping by. It’s my first time here at Coffee Thoughts, and yes I have a big cup of java right beside me ïŠ
I’m a fairly new author, published for a year. In fact, this is my anniversary month! My first release was No Fantasy Required with Lyrical Press last November. Since then I’ve published another with them, Being Ariana which came out this past August and my debut with Ellora’s Cave titled Hot Fusion was release in October. Whew! It’s been a busy year of writing and submitting. My next scheduled release is Being Bound, a sequel to Being Ariana and it will be out in February 20, 2012. Plus there are a number of submissions I’m waiting to hear back on. That’s the hard part, the waiting. Just because you’re published doesn’t mean each submission is a guaranteed contract.
I also work full time in a very interesting field. I’m surrounded by Forensic Police Officers ïŠ. Yes, I hear a whole of interesting ‘things’ at work. My job is to provide electronic disclosure for court purposes, all audio and video. So I do have quite a variety to keep my mind hopping and have lots of bookfodder.
Throughout the day, I’ll be posting my covers, blurbs and answering any questions you might have.
Cristal,
Did you know there would be a sequel before you wrote Being Arianna?
How do you know a story is sequel-worthy?
In your opinion, should a sequel have the same tone, subgenre (if the first story has BDSM, should the second story have BDSM?), etc?
What about consistency with characters? Do you have any tricks to keeping characters consistent from the original to the sequel? Or should they have grown/changed between stories if time has passed?
Hi Cynthia!
Thanks for stopping by.
Yes, I knew there would be a sequel to Being Ariana, but the main character changed in book two 🙂 I thought it would be the story of Ariana coming into book two instead it's Rourke's story. He is soo yummy. I had thought there would be a third, but now I'm not so sure.
Since this is my first multi-book story I went by the seat of my pants and what the characters told me they wanted to do. Their characteristics stayed the same, but they did have to experience something new and outside their comfort zone. Which is exactly what happens to Rourke!
I believe the tone of the book should be true to each one prior, but that's just me. Other's may have a different opinion 🙂 But on the heels of that, a surprise or change that fits to the storyline could be interesting as well.
Cristal
Ahhh… I love that about the character having to experience something new.
So they grow yet again in the second story.
Do you track information on a spreadsheet or do you simply reread the story or?
Are you thinking about a sequel for Hot Fusion? Why or why not?
We have a new, exciting character in Being Bound. I hope everyone loves her as much as they did Ellie/Ariana.
I’ve been thinking about spreadsheets for numerous things. It’s almost becoming chaotic!
I’d love to do a sequel to Hot Fusion and have been tossing around some ideas but haven’t decided which direction to go in. I’m open for suggestions from the readers 🙂 What would you like to see happen?
Wow! You do have a lot going on in your life. Do you ever watch any of the crime shows (csi, ncis, etc) and point out things that aren’t true?
Hi Danielle,
Oh yes, I watch the *shows*. Although not really true to life I do enjoy them and try not to be too critical.
That's quite a jump, from forensic science to writing – what genre do you write, and does your day job give you ideas – or do you write to clear your mind of work?
Grace x
LOL, well the writing was around a lot earlier than the area of my day job. I write contemporary erotica and a little bit of intrigue seems to find its way into the plot on some manner. But I do love sci fi and hope to cross into that genre as well. Believe me, work constantly sparks ideas and some of my co-workers are good to bounce things off.
Hi, Cristal. I'm also new to Coffee Time Romance (as an nterviewer, reviewer and chat assistant mod) and I think you're doing great! Please forgive me if I confess to being unfamiliar with your work. I feel like I know nothing.
I'm a member of several writers' groups. Some are published; most are not.. We're all still trying to figure it out.
How many books are fighting for space in your head? When you sit down at the keyboard, do you know where you're going or do the characters lead you on? What about short stories, plays and poems? I used to be a reporter and a technical writer and editor, so this is mostly new to me.
Thumbzup, darlin'! Keep doing what you do so well (and I'll kind of stumble around)!
Hi Laura,
I’m very new too, pubbed only a year. So it’s okay not to know my work 🙂 To date I’ve done novellas but do want to build into longer works.
Stories are constantly fighting to be told, trust me. I send emails to myself with a subject line stating the idea and maybe a line or two, then it gets saved into my “Idea Folder”. They must learn to be patient. I’m a pantser and an idea usually begins with a quick scene or other trigger, then the story flows from there.
I used to work in advertising sales for a daily newspaper and did the odd article, so I know where you’re coming from.
Thanks for the thumbzup!
Your job sounds fascinating. Never a dull moment at work for you!
As to your writing, how exciting!
I know what you mean about waiting on submissions… feels like I refresh my email about a thousand times a day when I have one out and am waiting on a response. 😀
Hi Virgina,
It is an interesting place thats for sure.
Keep refreshing those emails, I do too 🙂 Good luck.