Author Interview ~ Christa Paige

Hi all! I hope that everyone survived Christmas and your New Year. Hopefully, no one did anything I wouldn’t do… that’s not saying much but still. LOL

Well, it’s author interview time and today we have with us, the lovely Christa Paige, writer of in her words, “writes vampires, so I am ok with a nip here and there from a hot alpha male!” I told her she’d fit right in here at The Menagerie. So let’s all give her a nice warm welcome and make her feel right at home (so hide the whips until she gets to know us a but better!). Just to let y’all know I sprained my ankle yesterday and I’m not as verbose as I usually am.

Welcome, Paige, so glad you could hang out with us on the couch today. Make yourself comfy and we’ll get started. So, where are you from?

I am from Southern California, right near the beach in sunny Orange County.

Oh, wow, near the beach? How great is that! I love to walk on the beach but I can’t swim in the ocean… long story. Why don’t you tell us your latest news?

I have two new contracts with Liquid Silver Books, the second in my vampire series Bound By Rebellion and a new contemporary romance featuring a cop hero, it is titled Irish Kiss.

YAY, congratulations on your publishing news! I get more excited for everyone else than I think I will for myself… we’ll see. When and why did you begin writing?

I am sure most writers say ‘since I could hold a pen.’ This is true with me as well. I wrote my first novel at about age 12. The whole entire thing was written in a Steno notebook, the pages were a bright pink. I used a glittery purple pen, giving new meaning to the phrase, purple prose. I titled it Kara and it was a tragic love story based during the Civil War. The way my mother tells it, she says she knew I was going to be an author as long as I stopped writing in page long run-ons. (I bet everyone wants to know this, so, yes, I still have the story packed away in a box in the garage!)

After my schooling, I forgot about writing fiction and settled down with my dreams of being a mom and wife. I happened upon the A&E mini-series of Pride and Prejudice a few years ago. Consequently, I bought the book and devoured it. Lord of the Rings followed and soon I was scouring the internet for fan-fiction. (Because, I really wanted to read a scorching hot scene between Darcy and Elizabeth!!) I did try my hand at writing in the LoTR fandom. I believe being around all those creative minds woke up my muse from the stasis it had been hibernating in. I was very lucky to find a wonderfully talented group of writers at a small archive where I could practice writing. They have been incredibly supportive of my leap into original fiction as well.

Wow, and lol on the steno pad… I can certainly relate to finding a great group of people who let you practice. That’s the best kind of support to have sometimes. When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I have often felt like there were specific things I needed to achieve in order to say: I am a writer. The first was actually writing a story from start to finish. I was so nervous about how it would turn out and if anyone would read it. Next, came having readers leave me comments. When I moved into the publishing realm each of the submissions hurdles led me closer to the ultimate goal as a writer.

A great way to look at it. What inspired you to write your first book?

For about a year, I had been working on a paranormal historical romance based in London and Greece. I hit a point where I was not writing it very often and my creativity lagged. We were on our annual RV trip to Lake Havasu when the vampire story invaded my brain. It is a six hour drive which honestly, can be utterly boring. As the desert tumbleweeds sprawled out for miles and miles, the plot of a new story unfolded in my mind’s eye.

By the time we arrived, I had the writing jitters. All I could think about was sitting down and writing. While my husband and father were rigging up the motor-homes, we decided to cool off in the lake. The kids were swimming and splashing, having a blast. Mom came and joined me in the lagoon and asked how my writing was going. I told her about my new idea. We spent most of the trip talking about this new culture of people. At one point, we were floating at Disneyland Cove, and my mom looked up high at the craggy rocks where sparse vegetation wound around boulders and suggested I go with the altered DNA theme we had been musing on. That day, the Blood-Vine series was born.


Funny how the stories work that way… out of nowhere and bam you have a story idea. LOL Do you have a specific writing style?

Yes, I like to be witty. The original manuscript for Bound By Deception started out with the heroine Anna, musing about the rite she was facing. Her inner rambling had her thinking about her choices like bachelors from the Dating Game. I ended up taking most of the funny repartee out though. As the series progressed, I knew it needed to have a more serious tone. I am happy to say that Irish Kiss has some of the lighter scenes I so enjoy writing. Male machismo, sarcastic rejoinders and one-liners are fun to see unfolding on the page. I prefer to write in third-person fixed and I am a shameless “pantser”.

I too enjoy snarky-snappy dialogue. How did you come up with the title?

This is terrible but I don’t really remember the “aha moment” when the title popped into my head and I said, “That’s it, that’s the one.” I did juggle with ‘Bound in’ or ‘Bound by’ as the tie between all the stories. When I brainstormed the theme of the novel, I realized it had to do with a great deception that changes the course of the heroine’s life. From there I put the two together and voila, Bound by Deception. Let me tell you, the first time I looked at cover art ideas for the book, I actually wanted a sexy couple tied up together. What better way to explain being bound?

The second story title came to me right away. The heroine Kat and her mate, Luke have been estranged for almost ten years. She is ready to find a way out of her blood-bond. Her rebellion against the dictates of her people and her relationship with Luke start a downward spiral she isn’t sure she will make it out of. Bound By Rebellion, fit the story perfectly.

Oh, good… so very glad to hear that I’m not the only one who has no idea what my stories will be called until I’m usually halfway through… or submitting.
How much of the book is realistic?

Actually, I did pull a lot of the historical aspects from real moments in history. I did want a longevity mythos that could be tied to something authentic. My research took me to a little village in Georgia called Abkhazia. I went back in time about three decades, found interesting facts and tied them to the culture of the Kan Asma, the people of the Blood-Vine. The stories take place in present day Los Angeles. I chose West-Hollywood because there is a huge Russian community there and figured it would be the best place for a group of Russian vampire refugees to hide out in.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

If I could sit down with Jane Austen, I do believe I would end up awe-struck and speaking gibberish like a fan-girl at a Twilight movie premier. Same with Tolkien. But, if I had to point out an author who’s example propelled my desire to write in the romance genre, it would have to be Laura Kinsale. She is an amazing author, writes stories that provoke emotions and hold me captivated by the plot arcs. But, she also stood firm in her beliefs regarding her writing career, writing what she wanted to write instead of what the publishers told her to write. Not many authors would do that. On an aside, I can’t wait for her Lessons in French to come out in 2010! Regarding the paranormal genre, there are so many amazing authors out there to choose from. But, I would sure love to sit down and be mentored by Lora Leigh. She successfully published from e-fiction to mass-market and beyond. (Just maybe, while we were talking about the craft and industry, I would let slip a few eager fan-girl remarks too!)

What book are you reading now?

I have never had such a TBR list before in my life. Writing sure takes up a lot of my leisure reading time. But the ebook I’m reading is Alanna Coca’s Wyoming Solace (totally deserves its wonderful reviews.) and I’m currently reading the paranormal: Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I just cracked open my Regency fix too, Jillian Hunter’s A Wicked Lord at the Wedding.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Just recently I started reading Maya Banks. But, becoming part of Liquid Silver Books has opened up new options for my reading pleasure. If my kids weren’t so expensive, I would be spending all my money working my way through Dee Carney’s books, Trina M. Lee’s Vampire series, the westerns of Gem Sivad, and Rebecca Royce’s Wolf Series too. There are so many great authors at LSB. I have to take it one at a time these days with buying books but it is so hard to be patient when I want them all.

What are your current projects?

Wait, you mean I need to keep writing? Just kidding. I am working on Traian’s novel, which is the third in the Blood-Vine series. I am having fun writing him and his brother Mikhail together, something about how two alpha males take jabs at each other while they are together keeps me intrigued. Those two are riot and when I am writing them, I find myself laughing out loud at some of their antics. Tray’s story starts off fairly light, but rather quickly things get tense. His book is tentatively called Bound By Temptation, and I will let you all wonder exactly what that temptation is. I am working on another cop romance as well. It is in the early stages, but the hero is Tyler Mason, and he is simply one sexy detective! I am happy to say that my Regency muse decided it wanted face time too, so I have been working on Ere Mercury Rises, my paranormal regency novel, here and there. Eros and Mercury are up to no good setting a wager between them, the prize is one Lady Sarai. The winner of their bet will claim her innocence. So far, Mercury has the upper hand, but Eros isn’t about to give up.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

At first, I read this as like a spiritual guide type thing. Then I figured out entity could be anything. So, outside of family members, I would have to say the critique group I am a part of and the small network of friends I still have left-over from my LoTR fanfic days. All those ladies are simply the best. From, virtually holding my hand while I waited for news on my submission, to proofing my manuscript with candid, honest, remarks, to celebrating with me when I got my first contract, I really don’t think I would have gotten this far without their support.

Do you see writing as a career?

After seeing all the things I am doing for the publishing industry, one of my very close friends said she would stick to writing as a hobby. At this point in time, I see writing as a part-time job that I’m privileged to have. However, I do aspire to one day be a professional author. Maybe sooner rather than later. Nevertheless, my kids come first in the scheme of things, so it is a matter of juggling being a mommy and a writer. Don’t get me wrong though, if by some amazingly lucky stroke of fate I am offered a three-book deal, I won’t turn it down.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I am a very picky reader. There are things I simply can’t stand to read in a book. After a few of those annoying plot devices in some of my favorite authors’ works, I ended up with the incredible urge to write my own stories with all the things I love, beautifully executed on the page. Also, if I wrote it, then I would be positive none of those issues I don’t like in stories would ever crop up.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Sure. Here is an excerpt for Traian’s novel, Bound By Temptation:

The room was empty. A prim, stultifying assistant had shuttled him into the office to “await the doctor, who would be along in a few moments”. He didn’t mind the wait. It gave him time to examine the chamber, to look for things that could help him deduce what occurred in the past. Yet, when he scanned the walls, the file cabinet and even the bookcases, there was nothing of any personal value. No pictures, no mementos, not even a whimsical figurine to give the space a womanly touch. Instead, the white walls held diplomas and licenses with a few award certificates to make the display complete. The shelves on the bookcase were immaculately dusted and the reference books all arranged in alphabetical order. Atop her desk, sat a plain blotter and the squares of the calendar had neatly written entries. A Mont Bloc pen stood perfectly straight, in an efficient looking contraption, which held paper clips and other office supplies. A flat screen monitor faced away from him and he wondered if perhaps, there, she had some small part of her waiting for discovery.

Cocking his head to the side, he concentrated on all the sounds in the general reception area. He heard the secretary on the phone scheduling appointments, papers turning as clients read celebrity rags and the low hum of the television, set to a talk show. No one walked this direction. In a quick move, he turned the monitor to face him. The screen saver bumped around and he watched in awe as a picture of two smiling girls zipped from corner to corner. The littlest had missing teeth on the top and the older one had pig tails tied off in pink bows. They wore matching outfits and it didn’t take a genius to figure out the two were sisters. God, were those her daughters?

Was she married?

For a moment, he ceased to breathe. A killing jealous rage kindled in his gut as he thought about the man who had married her, fathered her children. God damn the man who had touched her, who had made love to her, who had taken her from him.

He nearly knocked the monitor over when he shoved it back into place. He couldn’t stand to look at that picture. It reminded him of the past, of losing Bethany. Again.
Soft footfalls drew his notice. Settling back in his chair, he tried to tamp down the aggression simmering in his blood. He just needed a minute to see her. To make sure she was happy. Then, he would get the hell out of there and continue on with his miserable, lonely life.

The door opened and he couldn’t help his automatic response. The instant she walked through the threshold, he turned his head and watched her stride into the chamber. Oh Christ, she had grown up and the infatuation he had felt those many years ago shattered into a million bits. It was replaced by a desire so great, so intense that miraculously he didn’t bolt out of his chair, back her to the wall, claiming her, irrevocably, as his.

Making a fist, he clenched every muscle in his body, forcing himself to remain seated. But it was a hard task to endure. She brushed past him and walked behind her desk. A mixture of expensive perfume and natural femininity tickled his nose, teasing his senses. He tracked her every step, watching the way she moved. Beautiful did not even begin to describe the woman now standing in front of him. Though, it was immediately apparent that she tried to stifle her looks by hiding them with nondescript clothes. But that hardly mattered. The way her plain black, A-line skirt hugged her hips and tight ass did something to his pulse. It kicked up, pumping double time as he imagined running his hands over those curves, gripping tightly and pulling her against him. Then they would be thigh to thigh, chest to breast with no space separating them.

But she is a mother, married, not available for your torrid needs, he admonished himself. However, he had no power to rip his stare away. It settled at those lovely swells, gently hugged by a silky pin-striped blouse. He could make out the line of her bra. It was plain white with a front clasp. Perfect for easy removal.

Hell! Shaking his head, he battened down the lustful images flitting through his mind and steeled himself for the moment when their eyes would meet. Would she recognize him? Damn, but he wanted her to remember him. It would make things a little easier. Perhaps, it would soothe the beast inside which he struggled to keep caged behind an aloof mask.

A sliver of a second ticked by and he tipped his head back just enough to see her face. The instant he saw her mouth, the line of her lips pursed together, he wanted to soften them with his kiss. He longed to nip, suckling until they were swollen and bee stung. As if somehow his thoughts reached her, the tip of her tongue slid out and moistened the bottom lip. His pulse jacked up and his body hardened an instinctual reaction to such an evocative sight. She had pale skin, tinged with a natural blush which highlighted her cheekbones. That pink flush stood out a little too much for his liking. It wasn’t age causing them to draw his notice. Instead, he realized, belatedly, that her entire body lacked healthy curves. Thin didn’t adequately describe it. Undernourished, did.

What the hell had happened to all those luscious curves?

Forcing his gaze up, he finally met her penetrating stare. Beth’s eyes had always drawn him in and this happened once again. Wide and elegant, the almond shape gave her an air of innocence. The light brown had little flecks of gold dotted throughout the darker color. Most people would not be able to make out the different shades of amber but his preternatural eyesight allowed a deeper inspection. She met his look, lifted one finely arched eyebrow at his perusal.
“Are you finished?”

Her voice washed over him. Soft and yet concise, she knew that he had been checking her out. He grinned, “Not yet.” Taking his time, he deliberately continued his inspection allowing his stare to linger as he took in the fall of her long hair. His palms tingled wanting to touch and grip the thick tendrils as he brought her close, guiding her up to his hungry kiss.

God! And he was hungry. Starving even. It took all his power to keep his fangs right where they were, retracted within his gums. No way in hell, would he allow his base needs free rein. Not at his age. He did not pant and salivate like a randy youth! After all, he was the scary one of the family, cold and calculating. Deadly. Beth looked like the type who should have a man that cuddled and doted upon her. The kind of affection he gave would probably leave bruises.

The instant he thought of that, he found his stare fixed at her throat. He could almost see two neat puncture wounds, left from his claiming. An overwhelming desire to bite her there, marking her as his, hit him like a fiery hot bolt of lust. Shifting in his seat, he gritted his teeth and willed his demons into submission. Not today. Not ever!

“Ok,” he said his tone a tad deeper than normal. Luckily no other of his kind was around to hear that telltale edge in his voice.

“Ok, what?” she asked him with a business-like efficiency.

“I am done,” he almost laughed but only smirked.

“Very well then,” Beth retorted before sitting down into her big, leather chair. She leaned over and retrieved a file folder. Opening it, she set it on top of the blotter. Reaching for the pen, she looked directly at him, smiled, and asked, “What brings you here today, Mr. Komar?”

He drew in a lungful of air, waited and exhaled. Finally, he said, “You, Beth.”

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Once upon a time, way before I began writing my own original fiction, I attempted to write in the Lord of the Rings fandom. I got myself the prerequisite beta readers and dove right in. When I received my first return email from my beta, I was so excited and eagerly opened my file. Except there were more edits in the entire thing than I think actual prose. I set out to learn all the things not to do and vowed to myself I would never do them. This still causes me tons of irritable moments while writing. The dreaded passive voice, the overuse of pronouns, the repeated word nightmare, are not left for the revision stage, instead I get stuck revising the first draft while I write it. I would so love to sit down, open the file, and let the words flow. My revision OCD is a challenge I am slowly learning to overcome.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Talk about being put on the spot, hmmm. There are so many to choose from and I have such a diverse liking for different genres. Definitely would say Austen and Tolkien. Iris Johansen introduced me to the alpha-male in her Wind Dancer trilogy and she is still an auto-buy for me. Laura Kinsale is right up there with Austen. But, the author I read the most of, the one I will stay up all night to read, is Lora Leigh’s Breeds. Guilty Pleasure but oh so satisfying!

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

Haven’t traveled at all. I would love to visit Turkey and Abkhazia. Would be so cool to see where my vampire story began and what the people are like. Oh, and of course Greece too, so I can absorb all the beauty of Corinth, see the ruins and visit the places in my Regency novel. For the Blood-Vine series I can actually say I have been to some of the places described in my novels. Bound by Deception takes place in West Hollywood, I have been there many times. Bound By Rebellion has scenes in Westwood, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood as well. The setting of Irish Kiss is South Los Angeles and in a gang infested area of Lynwood, CA. I did a quick drive by through that neighborhood but only to hop on the 710 freeway and I was too nervous to stay much longer.

Who designed the covers?

I am so lucky to have Dawn Seewer as the cover artist for my debut release of Bound By Deception. I can’t wait to see the cover for Luke and Kat’s book, Bound By Rebellion.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

I fought within my mind about the destiny of the story. It was a lot of hard work, trying to convince myself that people would want to read it. Eventually, I came to terms with the content, realizing it was what I liked to read. So, I went with some archaic themes, indulged my fancies, wrote a story I knew I would pick up and read. Fighting my confidence was the biggest hurdle. I just did not know if what I saw unfolding on the page was good enough to captivate a reader.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Yep, that no matter how hard I try, I am never going to get comma placement right. I am so thankful for crit partners and even my mom because if it weren’t for them, my stories would be riddled with creative comma abuse that I pepper in where I see fit.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Yes, thank you, thank you, and thank you, for being my readers. Okay, for something with more depth, I would love them to know I am approachable, just a regular person. Also, I want them to have fun when they read my stories. It is all about the entertainment and I feel incredibly humbled that they chose my books to enjoy.

How long does it take you to write a book?

This depends on the book and the deadlines. The first historical romance I wrote has been lingering on the hard drive for four years now. The Roman god regency has been around a few years too. When I started writing the Blood-Vine series, I actually wrote the beginning chapters of Aleksi’s story first. Alek is the leader of the refugees. Thirty pages in, and I realized I needed a whole lot of back-story explained. Not one for info-dumping, I devised the plan to go back in time about a year and start the series there. I ended up writing Anna’s story in a few weeks. Since it is novella length, it didn’t take all that long. The revision stage took the most time. Nine-months later I had three stories done and the first novel-length story about a third of the way through. When the call for the holiday stories came, I put all the vampire stuff on hold and wrote Irish Kiss in ten days. It seems to me that I am writing longer things in a shorter amount of time. Practice and determination play a big part in how quickly I can complete something. The revision stages pre-submissions still take up a big part of the time I spend on each story. I am a perfectionist so often times I get stuck editing instead of writing. Wish I could break that blasted habit!

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I am a busy homeschooling mom of two exceedingly active daughters. If I am not driving them to gymnastics or dance team practice, I am teaching them how to recognize Latin root words or working on their literature projects. So, writing is squeezed in between their silent reading time, when they are at their sports or in the early morning when everyone is asleep. One of the great benefits of homeschooling is having the kids sleep in while I sip my coffee. When I write, I try to schedule a block of time where I attempt some word-count goal. Usually, it is hit or miss. If there is a pressing scene, well, I will have the kids do something engaging while I write.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

My family is very close knit. We do a ton of things together. During the late fall and through the winter to early spring, we take our RVs to the desert. After setting up camp, we go dirt bike riding. My youngest rides a pink and white Yamaha pee-wee motorcycle while my oldest rides a TTR 90. Even I hop on my YZ100 here and there, to just enjoy family trail rides. Summer time often means trips to Havasu for swimming, boating and relaxing. My husband and I have a classic car hobby. (Which I actually got to put in my first ever straight romantic contemp- Irish Kiss.) Right now, we are restoring a 1970 Camaro- woo boy does that engine rumble. On a more individual level, I enjoy cooking. Especially when it comes to making desserts.

What does your family think of your writing?

Everyone is excited for me. The only thing I am having trouble with is owning up to the erotic content. I really get mortified thinking that my aunt and uncle, or close cousins are going to read my naughty stories. I can’t even explain how nervous I am for my Dad to read it. The interesting thing about the support my mother has given me is that it is what propelled me into the publishing sphere. After she read Bound By Deception, she began to prod me to submit it. I drug my feet for a while, not really eager to begin garnering those much prophesied rejections. So, she began her Christa Will Submit Her Stories campaign at Christmas last year. First, she gave me an ornament saying: “soon to be published author”. Next she wore me down by calling and emailing me with a “Have you subbed it yet?” theme. Finally, when my husband and I were planning to go out for a much needed romantic evening, my mother bribed me. She said, “submit your story and I will babysit your kids”. Well, that night I wrote up my query. An hour of dithering followed which forced me to look up later movie show-times because I was sitting on my ass wasting time. With my hubby standing in the doorway saying “Do it,” my mouse cursor hovering over the “send” button, I impulsively, sorta, hit it. I swallowed back the lump in my throat, scooted away from the desk and vowed not to look at my email for a month. Twenty minutes later, I packed my kids up and dropped them off at my parent’s house. Three weeks later I was signing a contract and my mother was smiling at me with a smug, I told you so, grin.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I have different voices for different themed stories. If I am writing the vampire stories, I can’t even open a historical and attempt to write in it. My contemporary voice will sound wrong and I end up making my sexy duke sounding like he belongs in Beverly Hills.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

Currently I have finished three Blood-Vine stories and one Detective story. I have about 4 WIPs in various stages.

And now for the “absolutely nothing to do with writing” questions: What were you doing at midnight last night?

Trying to fall asleep while watching a couple of DVRed shows. We spent the day at Disneyland and it was exhausting.

What’s a saying you use a lot? Where did it originate from?

“Holy Crap!” Oh man, I say that way too much and now my kids are doing it too. I have no idea where I got it from. I just know I say it often and usually with a bit of a flair.

What is your favorite animal?

Okay, this one is going to fall into the wow, interesting answer, category. My favorite animal is a baby white rhino. Why, you ask? Well, when I was pregnant with my first child, there was a diaper commercial that featured baby animals with their mommas. One frame had a baby rhino chasing after its mom. I awwwed at the cuteness and from then on, I began collecting rhino figurines, stuffed animals and other novelties of Rhinos. I know, not an average selection one chooses for favorite animal. As a caveat, I am sure my set could easily find its way to a fair display. Though, my oldest daughter’s crocodile figurine collection would be stiff competition for the blue-ribbon.

Have you ever cried during a movie?

If yes, which one and why? Terms of Endearment and Steel Magnolias made me bawl. I think it is because of the loss the characters go through and how the deaths of those characters make a monumental amount of grief. Did I just show my age? Are there a few readers out there shaking their heads thinking, huh what’s a steel magnolia? Ok fine, I digress and will bravely and proudly fess up to weeping like a baby during Disney’s Up movie. Talk about tugging the heart-strings, that one did us all in.

What is your favorite pizza?

I am a plain ole pepperoni and cheese pizza gal. Sometimes I will walk on the wild side and eat a veggie pizza especially if it comes from Haus of Pizza one of the best Italian restaurants around.

What stereotype would you label yourself as?

I am no June Cleaver but I probably fit the Stay-at-Home Mom stereotype fairly well. I try very hard not to be a stage-mom when my youngest is dancing (Woe is me for never getting stage make-up on my kid correctly) and I fight every impulse I might have to ignore the gym-mom in me when my oldest does her gymnastics (But, gah, the balance beam can be so utterly nerve wracking on a poor mom’s sanity). Often, I can be found driving a carpool to the gym with a bunch of chattering little girls. I have spare tights and bobby-pins, leotards and butt-glue in the back-back row of my huge, gas-guzzling, not PC in any capacity SUV. To add to the stay at home mom stereotype, I cook almost every meal from scratch. My youngest has celiac and is unable to eat wheat products so I am constantly baking bread ala Mrs. Cleaver, sans the frilly, paisley apron. Ok, enough about me the mom, its making me feel like I need to go dust something.

Are you a morning person or a night person?

If you had asked this question a few years ago my answer would be a resounding NIGHT Person. I loved to stay up late and enjoy the solitude. The older I get the more a morning person I become. I never used to understand why anyone wanted to crawl out of bed before 9am by choice. These days, I am lucky to stay in bed until 8:30. So, I guess that makes me a morning person now. But, it doesn’t make me a sane person. Not until I have a few cups of steaming hot coffee. Yeah, totally caffeine addicted.

Do you like thunderstorms?

Not in Lake Havasu. Usually a thunderstorm means lightning which means getting out of the boat and passing the time doing nothing inside the RVs but wishing the storm would pass so we can get on with our lounging around, doing nothing on the water. They also mean that something might get struck by a lightning bolt which means, no power. Consequently that means no air conditioning. Trapped in a small, metal box-aka the toy-hauler- with no air in 120 degree heat, sucks and for this California girl, heat is a serious kill-joy. Long story short, anywhere but at Lake Havasu, they are kinda cool.

Do you sleep with the light on? Why or why not?

I am such a wimp. I can’t sleep without my hubby there. When he works graveyard, I end up leaving the dimming lights on in the living room, the curio cabinet light on in my room and the TV going all night long on low volume. I simply feel too vulnerable when I am by myself in our bed. The first few nights my husband worked the night shift, I slept with my cell and house phone on his pillow and a can of pepper spray in my hand. Yeah, I am a fradey cat, I will own up to it.

Well, thanks for hanging out with us today, Christa. It was a blast getting to know you better. It’s been a pleasure and I hope you had fun as well.

Christa Paige started her writing career as a critique partner for aspiring authors.
Prompted by the crit-group, to attempt writing her own, she embarked on the fascinating
journey of being a novelist. She has a passion for the paranormal genre and decided to
create a unique twist on vampire lore. A Southern California native, she is happily
married to her very own alpha male. Together, they restore classic cars and often go RVing.

When she isn’t writing, she is a busy mother of two little girls. Her days are spent
home-schooling. At night, she continues working on the next installment in her Blood-
Vine series.

You can catch up with her online at her website: www.christapaige.com. Or follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChristaPaige

Bound By Deception by Christa Paige

To find a compatible mate, Anna will undergo the ancient blood-rite of her people. While she hopes that the outcome is a good one, she knows a love-match is only a remote possibility. Life and death hang in the balance and she, alone, must choose her destiny. She draws upon all her courage to complete this duty but is unaware of the underlying deception which will change her fate entirely. Once her mate is revealed, her shock is replaced by an all-consuming passion.

Dimitri is starving for Anna, his hunger is relentless. Burning desire unfolds between them. His blood-lust flares out of control and combines with the overwhelming need to claim her in every way he can. Danger lurks in the shadows, though, and a spurned male waits for his revenge.

Dimitri has to win Anna’s heart and protect her from the menacing threat because he can’t survive without her. Through any means necessary, he must make sure nothing stands in the way of their bonding. Anna is his blood-mate and he will never, let anything or anyone take her from him.