Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Interview with Christie Palmer








Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?

            I have always loved Fantasy and Romance, and have been writing since I was a teenager. But it wasn’t until Urban Fantasy really took off that I felt compelled to actually finish a book and try and get it published. The readership had finally caught up with what I loved most in a book.

What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
            Its all about the unknown, the possibilities of what is out there when the lights are out. For example, have you ever been out late by yourself (not something I recommend by the way) and the night is dark and you stand beneath a street lamp. The shadows are alive at that moment in time. That is what I love about the paranormal aspect. ANYTHING is possible.


Please tell us about your latest release.

            Shadow Play is being released soon which is my debut novel and I can’t wait. It’s the story of Kyra an Air Element and Ryder a Tracker. It’s a great love story that touches on several paranormal aspects.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?

             I go a little nuts on character names, they have to fit perfectly and I have to know the meaning of the name so that it fits the character profile. But I don’t let that alone build my character. I have a general idea of who my characters are then research names and fine the right one. For me it gives my character more depth. I always start my search with names from old Gaelic, Irish, or Scottish and Celtic names.

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?

            Yes, the bad guy in Shadow Play the blackness in the mountain, he was so difficult I could never seem to get a bead on what he was until maybe the fourth or fifth read through. Then I had to change a great deal of the book in order to accommodate who he had evolved into. But it was worth it.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?

My favorite character right now is Astrid a young elemental. I can’t wait to tell her story.

Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?

            I do all my notes in Notebook, and I get pictures of them from images online that I can refer back to. I list all the important characteristics so that I don’t forget. After I have an idea what they look like I let them develop into what and who they are. Its fun as a writer to do that , its new to me as I go.

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?

            My favorite scene is the bonding ritual between Ryder and Kyra, I usually have a difficult time writing love scenes but this just flowed out of me. To me is beautiful and hot. Can’t say anymore without spoiling anything.

 Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?

            I try to throw a little of myself in all my characters. For example Kyra’s favorite breakfast is Waffles with whip cream, bananas, and caramel syrup. OH my gosh the best breakfast in the world.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?

            I do suffer from writers block. To the point that I can’t write a greeting card much less anything for a book I am working on.  And I have tried everything from changing the sided of the bed I sleep on. Different foods, I have even killed off main characters in a bid to get my imagination to kick in. But in the end, the only thing that truly works is time. I might walk away from a piece of work for months until I can get the feel for it again.



When did you consider yourself a writer?

            Believe it or not, I didn’t consider myself a writer until recently. The whole process of being published has been so surreal. That until someone said to me recently oh you’re a local author how wonderful. I didn’t consider myself an author until that moment.

What are your guilty pleasures in life?

            I love one hit wonders, and can’t write without music. Another one that makes my husband crazy I love dried fruit. Especially pineapple, weird I know but my husband and kids know exactly where it is in the grocery store so when I am running low they know where to get. Definitely a guilty pleasure.

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
            Reading , Cycling, Weight training, shooting guns with my family,

What was the last amazing book you read?

            So many, contemporary:  Seducing Cinderella by: Gina Maxwell

            Fantasy: Madly by: M. Leighton

            Urban Fantasy:  Highland Warrior by: Anita Clenney

Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?

            My bed, I love to curl up in my bed and read.

What can readers expect next from you?

            Book 2 is due out in February, Lost in Time. And I am working on book 3 another Tracker novel for Skylar and a Fae named Tabatha. Its been a work in progress for over six months.

Where can readers find you on the web?

Twitter: @christieauthor


Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?

Kyra couldn’t agree more. “So why the sniffing thing?”

“You don’t know much about Trackers, do you?”

“No, not really. Until I met Ryder, I thought he was a myth,” Kyra admitted.

Marlee laughed. “Aren’t we all. Trackers have special senses; the strongest being taste, touch, and smell. They have a special gland in the back of their throats that gives them the upper hand in those areas. So if they get a taste or smell of something, they can track it anywhere.”

. “Does anything stop them?”

Marlee shrugged. “Funny enough, cloves. They are highly allergic to cloves. It kills their senses. And the amount and length of contact will determine how they’ll react and how long it’ll take them to recover. The original Trackers were nomads. They moved around, never in the same place for long. Basically they’re the same now. Hard to find, and even harder to hire. You have to have a pretty good reason for them to pick up a track. The Reapers use them. Creeps me out.”

That sent a chill up Kyra’s spine. “Why was he sniffing me?”

“One of two reasons: he either likes the way you smell or you were telegraphing your mood in your scent and it interested him.” Marlee patted Kyra on the back. “You’ll get used to it if you hang out with them long enough.”

Kyra was furious. “So is nothing private?”

Marlee smiled it was more wolf than human. “Not really. Not unless you can learn to mask your scent or always be downwind. If worse comes to worse you can use the cloves, like I said their allergic but only as a last resort. The last thing you want is a pissed off Tracker.”

Kyra had the strongest urge to walk back into the kitchen and punch Ryder in the face. He wouldn't be smelling anything if his nose was broken. He couldn't just go around sniffing her. 

She thanked Marlee and walked to the front of the house instead, putting distance between them rather than slamming her fist into his face. She pushed open the front
door and stood in a ray of morning sunlight. She soaked it up, trying to put the horror of yesterday behind her.


Shadow Play
Book 1 of the Tracker Series, Book 1 of the Others
Christie Palmer

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal


ebook: 978-0-9885557-0-9
Paperback: 978-0-9885557-1-6

Word Count:  375


Book Description:

A small town in the mountains of Marshall, Montana is being plagued by an unknown entity. It’s mutilating and killing the women of the town. At his wits end the Sheriff of Marshall has nowhere to turn but to a friend. A friend, with the abilities to track and kill any prey.

Ryder doesn’t normally do mortal issues. However, he can’t turn his back on a friend. Besides he is the best at what he does. After all he is a Tracker, an ancient race with unparalleled abilities to track down any prey. With one of the three essential elements: Taste, Touch or Smell. Heartless and cold, Ryder knows what needs to be done and performs his duty without feeling.

Kyra, an Air Element and the only female Elemental Enforcer, is sent on a fact finding mission to Marshall, by the Druid Council. She needs to find out exactly what is happening in Montana before the Tribunal goes in and kills everyone.

The last thing she expects to find is a Tracker, and is even more surprised to find out that he is on her side. But can they get past their initial feelings upon meeting and the sexual tension? Or will the evil that is living in the mountain kill them both.

Ryder and Kyra must learn to work together to destroy the shadow and save Kyra from a fate worse than death. When pure evil is involved is love enough?

Author Bio:

Christie was born and raised in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Ut. She lives less than a mile from the home she grew up in. World traveler she is not. But what she lacked in travel she more than made up for in her imagination. Within her vivid imagination she has traveled the world over as well as different worlds and different times.

She works a full time day job to pay the bills but loses herself in books and her writing whenever possible.

She is a loving mother of two wonderful children that she admits she is obsessed with. She has been married for 18 years to a very tolerant man that is grounded in reality in order for her to fly to the heights of her own imagination.

She started writing when she was a teenager after reading a book that she didn't like the ending too. Took a hiatus to raise her wonderful children but has dedicated herself to becoming a published writer for the last several years.



Twitter: @christieauthor


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2 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for hosting me and the interview. I had a great time.

Christie

bn100 said...

I enjoyed the excerpt and interview.

 
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