Crystal Green's Blog, page 24
May 4, 2012
Character Interview Questions
Hi, EVA writers (and everyone else)!
Here are some questions I often ask about my characters before I begin my actual writing:
*What do you do for a living? Why?
*What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?
*What is your worst fear? (This one figures into the plot because I try to make sure their worst fears are realized.)
*What kind of clothing do you wear? Why?
*What is your “foil”’s hair/eyes, etc. like? (Here, I work up descriptions from the hero or heroine’s POV—How would the hero describe the heroine’s red hair, for instance? What does this description say about him or his experiences? Is the color somehow reflective of the heroine’s personality as he perceives it or is it reflective something the hero has experienced in his own life?)
*How would you describe your own appearance? How do you feel about your body?
*What is your favorite saying/motto? (This is usually the character in a nutshell. Maybe it’s a cliché, like “What comes around goes around.” Or maybe it’s something different, like “Screw me once, yea for me. Screw me over, you’re gonna pay.”)
*What kind of hobbies do you have? (Anything quirky? How do these round you out as a person? Any evidence of them in your apartment or workplace?)
*What would people have written about you in your high school yearbook? (What’s written beneath your picture? Any awards or dreams that have since died? How did other people view you?)
*What is your love history?
*What would you find in your purse or wallet?
*What tangible object would symbolize you? (This could tie in with the theme of the story.)
*What kind of education do you have?
*Where do you live? Why?
For those who attended the workshop on Saturday the 5th, thank you! I hope these questions help you. I hope they help all you other writers out there, too.
Happy writing!
Here are some questions I often ask about my characters before I begin my actual writing:
*What do you do for a living? Why?
*What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?
*What is your worst fear? (This one figures into the plot because I try to make sure their worst fears are realized.)
*What kind of clothing do you wear? Why?
*What is your “foil”’s hair/eyes, etc. like? (Here, I work up descriptions from the hero or heroine’s POV—How would the hero describe the heroine’s red hair, for instance? What does this description say about him or his experiences? Is the color somehow reflective of the heroine’s personality as he perceives it or is it reflective something the hero has experienced in his own life?)
*How would you describe your own appearance? How do you feel about your body?
*What is your favorite saying/motto? (This is usually the character in a nutshell. Maybe it’s a cliché, like “What comes around goes around.” Or maybe it’s something different, like “Screw me once, yea for me. Screw me over, you’re gonna pay.”)
*What kind of hobbies do you have? (Anything quirky? How do these round you out as a person? Any evidence of them in your apartment or workplace?)
*What would people have written about you in your high school yearbook? (What’s written beneath your picture? Any awards or dreams that have since died? How did other people view you?)
*What is your love history?
*What would you find in your purse or wallet?
*What tangible object would symbolize you? (This could tie in with the theme of the story.)
*What kind of education do you have?
*Where do you live? Why?
For those who attended the workshop on Saturday the 5th, thank you! I hope these questions help you. I hope they help all you other writers out there, too.
Happy writing!
April 30, 2012
Latest Winner!
Congratulations to Audrey Larson, who won the most recent contest. She'll receive a Priority Mail box full of books. :)
I just want to mention that my email has been very wonky, so if you've tried to reach me (or if you've been expecting an email from me), I've either answered or the email has been lost. You can always get a hold of me on this blog in the latest comments section, though. So sorry about this--I'm checking into my options.
Have a great week, and you can enter the new contest at http://crystal-green.com/contest.php !
I just want to mention that my email has been very wonky, so if you've tried to reach me (or if you've been expecting an email from me), I've either answered or the email has been lost. You can always get a hold of me on this blog in the latest comments section, though. So sorry about this--I'm checking into my options.
Have a great week, and you can enter the new contest at http://crystal-green.com/contest.php !
April 28, 2012
Contest is back up!
My contest at crystal-green.com is back up! So sorry for the error. :)
Sorry about the contest page...getting on it...
Hey, you all,
I've been informed that my crystal-green.com contest entry isn't working, and I've let me page designer know. I hope to have this fixed soon, so please bear with me, and thank you so much for your patience. I'm also waiting for the last contest winner to respond to my email, so hopefully I'll have her name for you soon!
Thanks. ; )
I've been informed that my crystal-green.com contest entry isn't working, and I've let me page designer know. I hope to have this fixed soon, so please bear with me, and thank you so much for your patience. I'm also waiting for the last contest winner to respond to my email, so hopefully I'll have her name for you soon!
Thanks. ; )
April 27, 2012
Great E-Read Recommendation
Did I tell you all how much I love my Kindle? One of the reasons is because I get to read books that aren't necessarily available in print, such as Mary Leo's amazing TRUSTING EVIL (a book about Richard Speck's influence on a group of young girls in the neighborhood where the massacre occurred and how one of them grew up haunted by the killings).
Here's another fabulous tale available as an e-read only. It's a novella called THE VAMPIRE PENDANT and it's the first story in the BLOOD GENIES series from Sheri Whitefeather. I'm her critique partner, so I got a preview--and, let me tell you, it's hot.
Sexy.Evocative.Hotness.
As you can tell from the series title, it's about a hybrid vampire and genie, and the action takes place in old school Hollywood. It's a highly emotional story, too, which you don't find often in erotic fiction.
I highly recommend this for a romantic and steamy weekend read!
Click here for a buy link! http://www.amazon.com/The-Vampire-Pendant-Novella-ebook/dp/B007XIFQZG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335531383&sr=1-1
Here's another fabulous tale available as an e-read only. It's a novella called THE VAMPIRE PENDANT and it's the first story in the BLOOD GENIES series from Sheri Whitefeather. I'm her critique partner, so I got a preview--and, let me tell you, it's hot.
Sexy.Evocative.Hotness.
As you can tell from the series title, it's about a hybrid vampire and genie, and the action takes place in old school Hollywood. It's a highly emotional story, too, which you don't find often in erotic fiction.
I highly recommend this for a romantic and steamy weekend read!
Click here for a buy link! http://www.amazon.com/The-Vampire-Pendant-Novella-ebook/dp/B007XIFQZG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335531383&sr=1-1
April 5, 2012
New Book Deal!
I can finally announce that I sold a new series to Ace!
From Publisher's Marketplace:
Chris Marie Green (AKA Christine Cody)'s "Jensen Murphy: Ghost for Hire" series in a three-book deal with Penguin. The urban fantasy trilogy features a justice-seeking spirit who takes on assignments to haunt/punish humans for the crimes they have committed. Editor: Ginjer Buchanan, agent: Pamela Harty of The Knight Literary Agency.
Back in October, I blogged about how this idea came about...
Sometimes ideas for new books/series are slow in coming. They evolve, pieced together bit by bit--a magazine article here, an experience you've had in life there...
And one day, it coalesces, and you flesh it out until it's ready to hit your editor's desk.
Then there are some ideas that run you over like a freight train.
That's what happened to me last week, while I was at the World Fantasy Con in San Diego....
My fellow paranormal writer Linda Thomas-Sundstrom and I were having lunch with a wonderful fantasy author who shall remain anonymous when we got into a powerful conversation about the death penalty. When Linda and I were walking back to the workshop area, we exchanged thoughts, as you do, then veered into a related subject: true crime books, like the ones written by Ann Rule. I asked Linda if she had read any John Douglas books, in particular THE CASES THAT HAUNT US. I told her about the stories in it--Jon Benet Ramsey, Jack the Ripper, OJ Simpson.... Linda paused, then referred back to the title of the book as well as our main topic, saying something that jerked me toward this new idea (and, yes, I am remaining vague here on purpose. ).
I blurted out the concept of the book, because it was triggered that quickly, and Linda and I stared at each other for a second then started laughing maniacally. She said jokingly, "If you use that, you have to acknowledge me." I said I would dedicate the book to her, LOL.
What Linda said, after I repeated the name of the John Douglas book, THE CASES THAT HAUNT US, was "People like that *should* be haunted."
And that's when I immediately pictured a ghost who works with an organization/agency that hires out spirits to exact vengeance on people who might be guilty of committing a crime. Boom--just like that. While I was walking home that day, I kept stopping, whipping out my notebook and fleshing out this ghost character, Jensen Murphy. She's a ghost who died in the 80s, and I kept picturing her, not as a Valley Girl, but more as one of those cool heroines from a 70s or 80s horror movie, like Sue in CARRIE or Ginny in the second FRIDAY THE 13th flick. Also, I knew I wanted to set the action in Southern California, and I thought of Elfin Forest in North County--the perfect place for Jensen to die.
(If you don't believe me, do a search on Elfin Forest. Perfect!)
I'll be working on this project after summer, since I've got other books to finish before then. Until that time, though, there just might be another big announcement coming down the pike. In fact, I guarantee it!
So stay tuned....
From Publisher's Marketplace:
Chris Marie Green (AKA Christine Cody)'s "Jensen Murphy: Ghost for Hire" series in a three-book deal with Penguin. The urban fantasy trilogy features a justice-seeking spirit who takes on assignments to haunt/punish humans for the crimes they have committed. Editor: Ginjer Buchanan, agent: Pamela Harty of The Knight Literary Agency.
Back in October, I blogged about how this idea came about...
Sometimes ideas for new books/series are slow in coming. They evolve, pieced together bit by bit--a magazine article here, an experience you've had in life there...
And one day, it coalesces, and you flesh it out until it's ready to hit your editor's desk.
Then there are some ideas that run you over like a freight train.
That's what happened to me last week, while I was at the World Fantasy Con in San Diego....
My fellow paranormal writer Linda Thomas-Sundstrom and I were having lunch with a wonderful fantasy author who shall remain anonymous when we got into a powerful conversation about the death penalty. When Linda and I were walking back to the workshop area, we exchanged thoughts, as you do, then veered into a related subject: true crime books, like the ones written by Ann Rule. I asked Linda if she had read any John Douglas books, in particular THE CASES THAT HAUNT US. I told her about the stories in it--Jon Benet Ramsey, Jack the Ripper, OJ Simpson.... Linda paused, then referred back to the title of the book as well as our main topic, saying something that jerked me toward this new idea (and, yes, I am remaining vague here on purpose. ).
I blurted out the concept of the book, because it was triggered that quickly, and Linda and I stared at each other for a second then started laughing maniacally. She said jokingly, "If you use that, you have to acknowledge me." I said I would dedicate the book to her, LOL.
What Linda said, after I repeated the name of the John Douglas book, THE CASES THAT HAUNT US, was "People like that *should* be haunted."
And that's when I immediately pictured a ghost who works with an organization/agency that hires out spirits to exact vengeance on people who might be guilty of committing a crime. Boom--just like that. While I was walking home that day, I kept stopping, whipping out my notebook and fleshing out this ghost character, Jensen Murphy. She's a ghost who died in the 80s, and I kept picturing her, not as a Valley Girl, but more as one of those cool heroines from a 70s or 80s horror movie, like Sue in CARRIE or Ginny in the second FRIDAY THE 13th flick. Also, I knew I wanted to set the action in Southern California, and I thought of Elfin Forest in North County--the perfect place for Jensen to die.
(If you don't believe me, do a search on Elfin Forest. Perfect!)
I'll be working on this project after summer, since I've got other books to finish before then. Until that time, though, there just might be another big announcement coming down the pike. In fact, I guarantee it!
So stay tuned....
March 8, 2012
Tucson Festival of Books
Just a reminder: I'll be at the Tucson Festival of Books (tucsonfestivalofbooks.org) this weekend with some friends, Judy Duarte, HelenKay Dimon, and Linda Thomas-Sundstrom! I was able to get on a couple great panels as well as have a signing with Mysterious Galaxy. Here's where I'll be:
Saturday, 11am
Booth #255 Mysterious Galaxy signing
2:30pm, ILC Room 141
Who Loves Ya, Baby?: Embracing the Bad Boy Hero panel
Brenda Novak, Rachel Gibson, Me (AKA Chris Marie Green)
Sunday, 10am, Koeffler Room 216
Villains, Vixens, and Vipers: The Role of Evildoers panel
Brenda Novak, Shayla Black, Me (AKA Chris Marie Green)
After the panels, we're scheduled to be at the Tucson RWA booth. They'll be giving free books away there for as long as they last, so you'll probably want to hit their booth first. :)
If you're planning to go, please say hi! I'm really excited to meet new people and catch up with old friends, as well as to sit in on some of these fabulous panels....
Saturday, 11am
Booth #255 Mysterious Galaxy signing
2:30pm, ILC Room 141
Who Loves Ya, Baby?: Embracing the Bad Boy Hero panel
Brenda Novak, Rachel Gibson, Me (AKA Chris Marie Green)
Sunday, 10am, Koeffler Room 216
Villains, Vixens, and Vipers: The Role of Evildoers panel
Brenda Novak, Shayla Black, Me (AKA Chris Marie Green)
After the panels, we're scheduled to be at the Tucson RWA booth. They'll be giving free books away there for as long as they last, so you'll probably want to hit their booth first. :)
If you're planning to go, please say hi! I'm really excited to meet new people and catch up with old friends, as well as to sit in on some of these fabulous panels....
March 6, 2012
Thank you :)
Thank you for the party yesterday! I'm happy to announce that Cynthia, Nikki, and Gena won the books, but I hope to see everyone around cyberspace (and Barbara Vey's Beyond Her Book blog)!
March 5, 2012
Party Time--Lots of Giveaways!
It's party time!
Several of us authors have banded together to give away a Kindle and an Amazon gift card during the Publisher's Weekly Beyond Her Book Anniversary party over at Barbara Vey's wonderful blog. There's *a lot* going on there—a virtual party, as a matter of fact, which includes drop-ins from Chris Marie Green/Christine Cody/Crystal Green (choose one or choose all my names, LOL) plus other authors who would love to chat with you!
All you have to do is imagine that you've hopped a slow-moving train to the eerie region of Transylvania, where you hear the howl of wolves as you climb the mountains to a castle that's rumored to hold all manner of paranormal creatures...then click here!
(http://BeyondHerBook.com)
As I mentioned, I'm on a team of authors, headed up by Lisa Kessler, who wrote the fabulous NIGHT WALKER. Some of us are giving away a prize today, just for checking out our blogs. Here, at my blog, I'm giving away three prizes to three different people—and there are four ways you can win either a signed copy of BLOODLANDS, a signed copy of A DROP OF RED, Vampire Babylon, Book 4, or a signed copy of A PATH OF RAZORS, Vampire Babylon, Book 5!
• Leave a comment on this blog (and please leave your email so I can contact you if you win)
• Join my Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/ChristineCody
• Subscribe to one of my newsletters at crystal-green.com (mailing list form on the right-hand side), chrismariegreen.com (click on the "sign up for the Chris Marie Green/Christine Cody Newsletter Here" near the top)
• Sign up for my most recent Crystal Green contest at http://crystal-green.com/contest.php (You can win books here, too!).
This contest's deadline is midnight Pacific time tonight, and I'll notify the winners this week. : )
Here are the links for everyone else's pages, where there are even more giveaways! (And you'll discover some great new authors, to boot):
http://LisaKessler.wordpress.com
www.rachelfirasek.blogspot.com
www.bellastreetwrites.blogspot.com
http://nataliedamschroder.blogspot.com
http://authorkinleybaker.blogspot.com
http://blog.sarahmakela.com
http://linda-wisdom.blogspot.com/
(Note: If the authors' party posts aren't up yet, they should be at some time today, so please check back!)
Hope to see you all around the parties today....
Several of us authors have banded together to give away a Kindle and an Amazon gift card during the Publisher's Weekly Beyond Her Book Anniversary party over at Barbara Vey's wonderful blog. There's *a lot* going on there—a virtual party, as a matter of fact, which includes drop-ins from Chris Marie Green/Christine Cody/Crystal Green (choose one or choose all my names, LOL) plus other authors who would love to chat with you!
All you have to do is imagine that you've hopped a slow-moving train to the eerie region of Transylvania, where you hear the howl of wolves as you climb the mountains to a castle that's rumored to hold all manner of paranormal creatures...then click here!
(http://BeyondHerBook.com)
As I mentioned, I'm on a team of authors, headed up by Lisa Kessler, who wrote the fabulous NIGHT WALKER. Some of us are giving away a prize today, just for checking out our blogs. Here, at my blog, I'm giving away three prizes to three different people—and there are four ways you can win either a signed copy of BLOODLANDS, a signed copy of A DROP OF RED, Vampire Babylon, Book 4, or a signed copy of A PATH OF RAZORS, Vampire Babylon, Book 5!
• Leave a comment on this blog (and please leave your email so I can contact you if you win)
• Join my Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/ChristineCody
• Subscribe to one of my newsletters at crystal-green.com (mailing list form on the right-hand side), chrismariegreen.com (click on the "sign up for the Chris Marie Green/Christine Cody Newsletter Here" near the top)
• Sign up for my most recent Crystal Green contest at http://crystal-green.com/contest.php (You can win books here, too!).
This contest's deadline is midnight Pacific time tonight, and I'll notify the winners this week. : )
Here are the links for everyone else's pages, where there are even more giveaways! (And you'll discover some great new authors, to boot):
http://LisaKessler.wordpress.com
www.rachelfirasek.blogspot.com
www.bellastreetwrites.blogspot.com
http://nataliedamschroder.blogspot.com
http://authorkinleybaker.blogspot.com
http://blog.sarahmakela.com
http://linda-wisdom.blogspot.com/
(Note: If the authors' party posts aren't up yet, they should be at some time today, so please check back!)
Hope to see you all around the parties today....
February 21, 2012
Appearances
Just a reminder: I'll be at Passion and Prose this weekend in Long Beach (www.passionandprose.org). They lowered the price to $65 for the day, which includes lunch and lots of opportunities to mingle with authors!
On the weekend of March 2-4, I'll be at ConDor (www.condorcon.org). Here's my schedule:
Friday, 2pm
American Remakes of Other Countries's Movies and Television panel
Saturday, 10am
Vampires: A Dead Trend Or Very Much Undead and Kicking?
Sunday, 3pm
signing in the Dealer's Room
After that, on the weekend of March 10 & 11, I'll be at the Tucson Festival of Books (tucsonfestivalofbooks.org). My schedule is:
Saturday, 11am
Booth #255 Mysterious Galaxy signing
2:30pm, ILC Room 141
Who Loves Ya, Baby?: Embracing the Bad Boy Hero panel
Sunday, 10am, Koeffler Room 216
Villains, Vixens, and Vipers: The Role of Evildoers panel
Hope to see some of you all in the next few weeks!
On the weekend of March 2-4, I'll be at ConDor (www.condorcon.org). Here's my schedule:
Friday, 2pm
American Remakes of Other Countries's Movies and Television panel
Saturday, 10am
Vampires: A Dead Trend Or Very Much Undead and Kicking?
Sunday, 3pm
signing in the Dealer's Room
After that, on the weekend of March 10 & 11, I'll be at the Tucson Festival of Books (tucsonfestivalofbooks.org). My schedule is:
Saturday, 11am
Booth #255 Mysterious Galaxy signing
2:30pm, ILC Room 141
Who Loves Ya, Baby?: Embracing the Bad Boy Hero panel
Sunday, 10am, Koeffler Room 216
Villains, Vixens, and Vipers: The Role of Evildoers panel
Hope to see some of you all in the next few weeks!
