Debut Author Christina Phillips Gabbing About Witches, Writing, Life and Clive!

Alisha: I'm very excited to introduce Christina Phillips to you today! Welcome, Christina!

Christina: Thank you Alisha for having me on your blog today to talk about Foretaste of Forever. I’m thrilled to be here!

This is my debut release and is a dark erotic romance with paranormal elements, from the Scarlet Rose line of The Wild Rose Press.
Scarlet Rose

Alisha: Foretaste of Forever sound so delicious! How did you come up with the idea for this story? BTW, I can’t wait to read this!

Christina: Thank you! The premise for Foretaste of Forever actually came to me in a dream – no, not that kind of dream!!! A recurring dream of one scene haunted me for about four years. I knew nothing about this couple who met on a storm tossed beach at midnight except that they were desperately in love and destined to be forever apart.

Eventually I decided to write their story down, just to get it out of my head – and amazingly the dreams stopped. But it wasn’t until a few years later I went back to it and added the spice and submitted to The Wild Rose Press.

Alisha: Wow! I just love dreams! Do you love all things paranormal? I know I do!

Christina: Yes I do! I love reading both light and dark paranormal, and anything with a strange or quirky twist on reality. Give me tortured vampires, drop dead sexy weres, irresistible immortals and I’m a happy girl!

Alisha: Mmmmmm....me too! When did you first begin writing?

Christina: I first tried my hand at writing while learning to drive (not at the same time… lol!) I hated learning to drive with a passion and the writing took my mind off it. The writing sucked and I received form rejections, but at least I passed my driving test.

However, the writing bug bit me big time. And although I gave it up for a few years while I had a few babies, after moving to Australia I decided to give it another shot. So I started writing seriously nine years ago last Easter.

Alisha: What inspires you to write?

Christina: I have to write, or go completely mad! I’m compelled to write down the stories clamoring in my mind, it’s like an addiction and take that away from me and man, I’m a real meanie! Plus of course I enjoy being the Goddess of my own Universe far too much to give it up!!

Alisha: Do you do anything to get into the mood to write? Music? Food? Beverage? Scenery?

Christina: Music distracts me when I write, as I just sit there singing along to the songs. Although I have a weakness for Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell and play the CD non stop at full volume while in the kitchen. My muse appreciates it! Food? Ah well if I started eating at the computer I dread to think what size my butt would be right now (actually I dread thinking about my butt at all, but let’s not go there!) Ditto with the beverage since I’m a total coffee-holic and could drink the stuff all day!

Scenery – Well, not quite scenery but this is my current scene. I’ve recently moved into the spare bedroom (eldest daughter left home) and it’s all pink and girly and ALL MINE!!! *evil cackle* I love it soooo much. I have all my photos of my babies up, all my lovely romance novels within easy reach and best of all I can close the door when I’m writing steamy scenes! (up until recently I wrote in the corner of the family room and there was NO privacy! Tricky when writing an erotic scene!)

Alisha: Ahhh...that private pinky room must be sublime! I envy you! What is your very favorite kind of hero?

Christina: One who would do anything for his heroine, preferably involving great personal sacrifice, emotional torture and a complete reassessment of everything he believed in (yeah I’m pretty evil, huh!)

Alisha: Snicker...wow...you really write about the fantasy man don't you? Let me know if you run across the real thing...tee hee. Do you plan your stories or do you write by the seat of your pants?

Christina: When I first started writing contemporary romance I used to meticulously plan every single chapter, right down to lines of dialogue and the precise moment each chapter would end. But over the years my outlines became less rigid, and by the time I began writing paranormal my notes were very sketchy. Now I’m writing erotic romance I don’t have any kind of outline, and only a vague notion of how it might end (romance = HEA – but apart from that nada!) It’s exciting but also scary not knowing where I’m going with it!

Alisha: I know exactly what you mean. I'm a pantster too. What is your favorite time of day to write and why?

Christina: Ideally I much prefer to write first thing in the morning when I’m fresh. Since that only happens in a blue moon, my typical day consists of the school run, a session at the gym (I would rather be writing but I NEED the gym, you know?!) shopping, errands. So usually I’m at the computer by 11 am. I find I can’t write at night, my brain leaks.

Alisha: Please tell us about yourself. What do you do when you aren’t writing?

Christina: Apart from the above… I have one husband and three adorable children who keep me on my toes. For some strange reason they expect to be fed every night which means I have to cook. This is not a pretty sight. I chat with writer friends on MSN (but that’s always in the line of research *cough cough* it’s not like we gossip or do anything like that). Reading, of course! Catching up on movies. Drooling over Clive Owen (hehehe had to get Clive in here somehow!)

Alisha: Ooooh...no you didn't!!! Giant cackle! Oh yeah...those Clive movies are um...hero research, er..among other things! For those of you reading this that don't know...Clive is taken! Christina THOUGHT he was hers but I corrected her on the matter. We decided to share him. So far it's worked out beautifully.

(Doing the hair flip and getting back into interviewer mode)Okay..ready now...Do you write other genres? If so, please elaborate.

Christina: I started out writing contemporary romance and I still enjoy writing them, although I haven’t worked on one for a year or so now, since I discovered the delights of erotic romance!

Alisha: Wow! I did the exact same thing! Once I read my first paranormal, I was hooked! What are you reading right now?

Christina: I’m totally addicted to Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series. They rock! Next up I have Alisha Paige’s Nocturnally Vexed, which I can’t wait to get my teeth into!

Alisha: Oh! Nalini Singh is so wonderful! (Blush..let me know how you like my book, Christina.)

Please tell us where we can find you and let us know what you’re working on now!

Christina: You can find me at my website Christina Phillips

Or check out what I’ve been up to lately at my blog Christina's Blog

I also have a MySpace page
Christina's My Space
(come and friend me, I’d love to see you!)

Manic Readers

Currently I’m writing another erotic romance set during the Roman invasion of Cymru. This is a full length novel, not a short story, and I’m really enjoying it.

Alisha: Sounds fascinating! You’re an erotic author so I just have to ask… what is sexist to you?

Christina: Ooooh, I am totally in love with my current hero, a powerful Roman centurion, and basically everything he says and does while with his heroine I find incredibly sexy and adorable. In real life I would probably have to give him a slow and painful death for being so impossibly Alpha but as a fantasy, well, he rings all my bells!!!

Alisha: What one word or phrase will get you all hot and bothered?

Christina: Well I’m not sure I should share, considering I have Issues when it comes to this hot guy(!), but let’s say if Clive Owen were to magically appear in my office, give me his sexy smile, hook his finger at me and say, “Now,” it’s pretty much a cert I wouldn’t just get hot and bothered but probably incinerate on the spot!!!

Alisha: Swoon! Well, if that happens, you better let me know ALL THE DETAILS!

Blurb from Foretaste of Forever
Elyesha, last surviving descendant of a line of powerful witches, finally finds the only man she's ever loved, the man who deserted her countless years before. But Ben is torn between desire and despair when Elyesha, his only love, eventually penetrates his protective retreat. He knows what she wants, but the price of their love is too high. At midnight, on the beach, a battle of wills and erotic seduction ensues as each confronts the other's darkest fears.

Excerpt from Foretaste of Forever
Elyesha hooked her ankles around Ben’s waist as he strode through the castle’s crumbling entrance. For a fleeting moment, she wished it had retained its former glory, but her ancestors had allowed the magnificent stronghold to fall into ruins centuries ago.
Besides, it didn’t matter where she had Ben. So long as she had him. And soon – she would have him forever.
In the Great Hall, with its soaring arches and remnants of ancient grandeur in the carved four poster bed, he paused and she slowly slithered from his grasp. “What shall we do now?” she said, tilting her head to one side and allowing her long hair to tumble provocatively over her shoulder. She traced one finger over the hard ridge of his erection and hid a smile as Ben clenched his jaw.
“No suggestions?” She raised one eyebrow and trailed her finger over his groin and toward his chest. She didn’t know why he fought against her some nights. What did he hope to achieve? Sooner or later, she’d get her way and then he would see how foolish all his protestations had been. “Perhaps I’ll strip you naked,” she suggested, loosening the ties on his scarlet linen shirt.
He didn’t reply, except to give the merest grunt of a laugh. She tugged his open shirt from his britches and admired his perfectly sculpted chest, before sliding the shirt over his shoulders and along his finely muscled arms.
“Enjoying yourself?” There was a rasp to his voice, as if he tried to deny the rising desire between them.
She shot him an exasperated glance. “I intend to enjoy myself far more before this night’s over.” She tugged at the fastenings at his crotch, deliberately prolonging the procedure as she massaged his rigid shaft. Occasionally she found Ben’s inhuman self-control infuriating, but even that didn’t matter. Because, in the end, he always succumbed.
But sometimes, she wished for the early years. Before Ben had rebelled against their relationship. Before his misguided sense of honor had risen its unwelcome head and corroded their perfect world.
Impatiently she thrust the thought aside. She admired his honor, but had no intention of destroying what they had at its altar.
“So long as you’re enjoying yourself.” Ben’s sardonic comment penetrated her thoughts, and wet heat flared deep in her pussy at the look on his face. He was no longer rigid with self-control but lust, and his eyes glowed with rising desire. “I exist for your amusement, Elyesha.”
She ripped the last fastening free and dragged his pants down his muscled legs. “Never forget that.” Her voice was uneven, her heart hammering against her breast. How could he do this to her, after so many years? She had only to think of him to want him, had only to see him to desire him. And when he teased her, she knew in her heart she would willingly die for him.
If she was only given the chance.
He hauled her to her feet. “And now it’s your turn to entertain me.” There was no hint of reluctance in his eyes now. Only love. For her. She wrapped the knowledge around her heart and knew it wouldn’t be long before Ben made the final commitment to her.

Purrrrrrr.......Okay, I think I have to go wake up my husband now. Whoa! That was delicious! I look forward to reading this yummy Halloween treat! Thank you for being my guest today, Christina! I had a blast!

There's only two days left to enter my Halloween contests! Scroll down to Is Making Love In A Graveyard Creepy, leave a comment and you'll be entered into a drawing for my latest release, Nocturnally Vexed. Go to my Contests at my web site and enter my Wicked Halloween Writing Contest at Alisha Paige for a chance to win a basket of scary books! And come back on Halloween for my Haunted Blog and a chance to win many books and prizes and participate in a multi-author Halloween Scavenger Hunt!

~Happy Halloween
Alisha