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Feature Friday - Interview with Christine Feldman

22 Nov 2013
Feature Friday is a new item on Bookish Treasures. Every Friday I will be featuring an author through either an interview or a guest post. If you are interested in taking part please send me an email. I have a slot available for next week - Friday 29th.

This week I am featuring contemporary romance author Christine Feldman whose latest book is a just released Christmas themed novella.

Pastels and Jingle Bells by Christine Feldman



Synopsis

Trish Ackerly never expected to cross paths with Ian Rafferty again, but when she spots the former bully of her childhood years through her bakery window, she thinks she may just have been given the best Christmas gift ever: the opportunity to finally give Ian the comeuppance he deserves.

But clearly she does not have a knack for this whole revenge thing, because before she can make good on her plans, Trish gets inadvertently drawn into Ian’s life in an unexpected way that lets her see just how different the man is from the boy he used to be. In fact, much to her astonishment, she actually starts to like the guy.

A lot.

Trouble is, Ian doesn’t know who she really is, and explaining it to him is going to be a little difficult now—which is bad news, because Trish is starting to realize that all she really wants for Christmas this year…is Ian.


Try it for yourself! Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK

Interview with Christine Feldman


Why did you decide to become an author?

I had a love affair with writing (and reading) ever since I was a very young child.  I’d type up paragraph-long stories about the Black Stallion on my parents’ typewriter and illustrate them myself.  Writing was a way I could really exercise my imagination, and I just had a blast doing it.  I set aside writing for several years as an adult, but I missed it so much that I found a way to make time for it again.  And I’m very glad I did!
How do you balance writing with other things in your life?

This year I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to take a leave of absence from my day job:  teaching kindergarten   So this year I have a lot more time to write, which is a good thing since there are so many aspects to the writing world that I didn’t fully know about before I was published.  Writing, marketing, social networking…everything takes time.  Prior to this year, I just squeezed what writing time I could into evenings and weekends.  It’s challenging sometimes to find the right balance (there are lots of friends whose faces I haven’t seen in a while since I’ve been in my “writing cave”), and I don’t have any easy solutions.  I do, however, have a very sweet and understanding husband, and that helps a lot!
What is your favourite thing about being an author?

Just the chance to let my imagination run free—I love creating storylines and populating imaginary settings with characters I’ve dreamed up!  And I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside when I hear from someone who has read one of my books and enjoyed them, too.  To me, that’s a win-win kind of situation.
What are your favourite books?

I love all sorts of genres, so I don’t think I could ever limit myself to just one genre, let alone just one book.  But one of my favourites that I come back to every so often is Lord of the Rings, and I love to get swept up in its epic storyline.  But I also love mysteries, chick lit, romance… lots of stuff.  It’s just all so good!
Are there any books/authors that inspired you to write?

Well, I loved the Black Stallion books as a kid, along with the Narnia series.  Nancy Drew was another favourite.  What else did I read… I read lots of Piers Anthony books, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien, Julie Garwood, Nevada Barr, LaVyrle Spencer, Stephen King—Oh, boy.  This could take a while…
Describe your book in one sentence.

When Trish Ackerly crosses paths with former childhood bully Ian and plots a little much-deserved comeuppance, a mistaken identity and an unexpected set of circumstances lead to a sweet holiday romance instead.
Where did you get the idea for Pastels and Jingle Bells, did anything inspire you to write it?

I like unexpected romantic pairings in stories, and I thought a romance between a former bully (now reformed) and the person he used to pick on could create an interesting dynamic.  I also like the idea of showing how people can change and overcome their pasts, so…voila!  A story was born.
What made you decide to write contemporary romance novels?

Well, for one thing it’s one of the genres I enjoy reading, too.  Plus, let’s face it—I’m a sucker for a little romance and a happy ending.
What would you say makes your book unique and worth reading?

It’s lighthearted in tone yet has some meaningful underlying messages that combine to make a wonderfully satisfying holiday read—or so many reviewers seem to think so far!  :)
Is there any specific message you wanted to convey in the book?

Don’t let your past dictate your future.
What are your plans for future books?

Oh, man…there are so many projects I want to work on that it’s hard to focus on one at a time.  Right now I’m working on the third novella in the Heavenly Bites series, and after that I plan to rewrite one of my screenplays as a novel.  I’ve got another contemporary romance storyline, too, along with a romantic suspense book I’m excited about.  Just not enough hours in the day, you know?
Do you have any hobbies and Interests unrelated to books?

My favourite would be ballroom dancing.  My husband and I met while dancing at a local ballroom, and I can say that he literally swept me off my feet!  But I also like to dabble in lots of other things, from arts and crafts to bellydance.  Keeps life interesting!
Would you ever consider putting these (answer to above) into any of your books?

I’ve often thought it would be fun to write a story or even a series around the various ballroom dances, although maybe that’s the kind of thing that’s more engaging to watch than to read about.  I don’t know—what do you think?

FUN STUFF
If you could meet any one author (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

Tolkien, because he created such an amazing and memorable world in his books.
Tell us one interesting fact about yourself.

Um…I know how to ask where the post office is in Japanese!  By saying it out loud, though, not spelling it, so I won’t attempt to do that here.
What is your favourite food?

Ice cream.  It’s a toss-up lately between cookies ‘n cream and mint chocolate chip.
What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?

Wrestled an alligator.  (No, not really, but wouldn’t it be cool if I had?)  Hmm…I took a fencing class once.  Didn’t get to use a sword on anybody for real, though.  Bummer…
If you could be any supernatural creature which would you choose?

Is it cheating to say something that can shapeshift into any other form?  Because some days I might be in a dragon sort of mood, but other times I might prefer an underwater jaunt as a mermaid.  Why limit myself?  :)
 

About the Author

 
Christine S. Feldman writes both novels and feature-length screenplays, and, to her great delight, she has placed in screenwriting competitions on both coasts—and has even won a couple of them.  In 2012 one of her screenplays was featured as a staged reading in New York City at the Gotham Screen International Film Festival (http://www.gsiff.com/content/staged-screenplay-reading-1), and later that same year she signed her first publishing contract.  When she is not writing, she is teaching kindergarten, puttering around in her garden, ballroom dancing with her husband, or doing research for her next project.  Please visit her at her website http://christinesfeldman.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChristineSFeldman, or follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FeldmanCS.
 
 

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