Welcome to a special Holiday Edition of Sunday Speed Dates. This week I welcome Christine Ashworth.
Christine Ashworth has been writing since 2000. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her actor/dancer/guitar-playing/hippie husband and their two tall sons. Someday, she hopes to pass her father’s record of over 350 published fiction books.
Welcome Christine! I’m just going to jump in here and start asking questions. :)
Thanks, Christina! I’m thrilled to be here. Ask away!
First, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Well, I’ve been writing with an eye to publication since 2001, and I joined Romance Writers of America in 2002, at my dad’s insistence. I have a day job, am married to an actor, and have two sons, a dog, and a cat.
Tell us a little about your holiday story.
It’s a sweet story about a girl who thought she’d grabbed the brass ring when a superstar actor asked her to marry her…only to find her heart is won by the personal chef at the ritzy resort where she’s supposed to get married.
Uh-oh… sounds like trouble is brewing…
You come from a writing family. How much of an impact did that have on your choice to become a writer?
Well, of course it had a huge impact. I fell asleep to the sound of my father’s typewriter for years and years. But it took me a long time to finally feel I had enough to say, to actually start writing.
You father is such a prolific author, it’d be strange if you didn’t write at all. But 350…that’s a pretty big number to meet…
If you could have any job in the world (other than writer), what would it be? Why?
Hm. I’d either like to work as a chef (I love to cook), or work as a taster in a Champagne house in France. That’s a thing, right? Because champagne. As well, I would be happy to work in the tasting room of a Champagne house…
Foodies unite! Both sound like wonderful–and tasty–options.
What is your favorite holiday story or legend?
There are so many! I love the one that says when you hear bells, an angel is getting their wings. I also love wishing on the first Christmas star.
That’s a good one. Now I feel like ringing a bell…👼🏻
When did you write your first book/story?
I’ve been writing, on and off, since third grade. In my twenties, I wrote Lord Peter Whimsey fan fiction, though I never finished it. I finished my first novel, 100,000 words, in 2002; it took me nine months to write it. My second novel, which I wrote targeted to the Desire line of Harlequin after pitching at Denver RWA conference, only took me 9 weeks to write. So I got faster, lol.
Wow. It took me over a year to write my first book. I can’t imagine writing one in 9 weeks! We’ll just call you Speed Fingers. ;)
Do you write more by logic or intuition, or some combination of the two?
Hm, interesting question. Logic in that I know how stories should flow; intuition (or instinct) in that I don’t plot out to the nth degree what turns my story will take. I know the beginning, I know the end, I know some of the struggles that must happen, I know the growth that must happen – I just don’t know what shape those will take until I sit down to write, when it is then revealed by my subconscious.
Balance between the two is good. There’s some structure, but still room for surprises. I love surprises.
Do you have a talisman or mascot? Maybe something that has to sit on the desk, or a favorite pen? Pictures please!
Yes! I have my Dragon, her name is Blue (for obvious reasons); I also have incense, and my gargoyles.
Oh, I love Blue and Crew! I think mascots like this make writing so much fun. Even more fun than it already is!
Your story is Christmas Star. Where did you get the idea for this story?
I had just been to RWA 2014 in San Antonio, and had a good talk with the folks at Boroughs Publishing. I was pitching them a 3 book series at the time, and they were very interested. When I learned they wanted Holiday stories, I asked if there would be room if I got one to them in time – and they assured me there would be room.
So, in the airport on the way home, I thought – okay, I’ve got the StarTide Agency (which is what the series is based around); but I don’t want my heroine to be a star, because the heroine of book 2 in the series is a star. I chose to go with a movie makeup and prosthetics gal, instead, who had been wooed on set by the leading man…and when he asked her to marry him (before the novella begins), she is shocked into saying yes.
Who wouldn’t be! I’d say “lucky girl” but somehow I don’t think it plays out that way…
What was the hardest part of writing this story?
Making it believable that she would a) have second thoughts about the wedding the week beforehand, when he is in New York doing pickup shots for the movie; b) have Luc, the chef that she has feelings for, be someone worthy of her; and c) find a believable reason for her to dump her fiancé before the wedding that both the character will understand, and the reader will understand as well.
Ooh…that’s a tough combo to pull off.
Give us an insight into your main character. What challenges does he/she face in this story?
Elle’s challenge is to take control of her life. When push comes to shove – when she meets Luc, the chef who changes her life, she has to decide what to do about her fiancé…who apparently loved her family background, more than just her.
But truly, Christmas Star is…well, here’s what Lynne Marshall has to say about it… “A modern-day, sweet-as-hot-chocolate fairytale with dialogue reminiscent of black-and-white movies from the forties. A fabulous beta male chef hero who constantly made my mouth water, and a real-sized heroine who deserved more in life than her unreachable super star fiancé. Toss in a chance meeting at an exclusive resort the week before Christmas, add immediate attraction, fold in a little magic and wrap with gauzy lensed settings and ultra-romantic scenes, then watch as Christmas Star’s charm brightens your holiday spirit.”
That is a wonderful recommendation…well done!
Alright, it’s time for Random Silliness…Holiday Edition!
When do you start decorating for the holidays?
LOL…lights on the house go up Thanksgiving weekend. So does the tree.
What is your favorite holiday memory growing up?
Laying underneath the Christmas tree with all the lights in the living room turned off, and staring up at the lights on the tree. Pure magic.
Oh yes, especially with Christmas music playing in the background! My parents would literally drag me out from under the tree and into bed when I’d fall asleep there.
It’s Christmas Eve. Are you wrapping presents or still shopping?
Usually wrapping presents. But when my sons were little, yeah, sometimes it was shopping, too.
If you could sing a holiday duet with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
Adele. Why? – lol I could hum and no one would care, because Adele.
Good point…😑
What other projects do you have in the works?
I’m currently working on book 3 of the Caine Brothers series, called Demon Rage. That one should be out in January (fingers crossed), plus there are a couple more that will be out next year. I have a possible 4th book in the StarTide Agency series (the others are already out); and I’m currently putting a proposal together for another series.
It sounds like you’ll be busy in the new year! A busy writer is a happy writer.
To find out more about Christine and what she writes, visit her on…
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Amazon
This has been so much fun. I can’t wait to see you around online. Thanks again for stopping by!
Thanks so much for having me, Christina – I had a blast!
Christmas Star is now available at Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo