Interview & Giveaway: Christine Young - HIGHLAND HONOR

Hi Everyone. Please help me welcome Christine Young to AsianCocoa's Secret Garden today! Christine's novel Highland Honor was released last month.

AsianCocoa: Welcome Christine and congratulations on the release of your novel, Highland Honor. It’s a pleasure having you here on the blog today!

Please tell us a little about yourself and why you became a writer.

Christine Young: Writing stories in my mind has always been a part of my life. I made up stories when I played with my dolls and now I make up stories on the computer. Ideas come from everything and anything. Soooo many stories and soooo little time. I became a writer because writing and creating are my passion. 

For the last 35 years I have taught school. Now I'm retired and enjoying all possibilities, including travel and more time to write. I have 3 children and 2 grandchildren who I adore. I spend free time knitting and at the moment remodeling my kitchen. 

AC: Your book, Highland Honor was re-released last month (November 28^th).

Would you tell us a little about it? Is this book part of a series?

CY: Highland Honor is the first book in a 3 book series: Highland Honor, Highland Magic and Highland Song.

Highland Honor is set in the rugged Highlands of Scotland. After watching her evil stepbrother and the man she is supposed to wed, Callie flees her home. She means to find the one man she believes her deceased father trusted, Colin "Hawke" MacPherson. Unbeknownst to her Hawke blames her father for the cruel murder of his father. 

From the first they are drawn to each other. But when Colin discovers who Callie is, he is torn between needing her in his arms and the revenge he has sought against the Whitcomb family. 

Their story revolves around the strength of their love and their need to discover the truth about the horrific day Colin's father is branded a traitor to the English King and sentenced to die. Colin's worst fear is that Callie will do something impulsive that will jeopardize her life.

AC: Can you tell us about the research you did in preparation for writing Highland Honor and the series?

CY: The most valuable information for this series came from attending the Highland Games at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham Oregon. I ate authentic food, found many books and two maps of Scotland one a Historical map and the other a clan names map. I also have a travelers map of Britain. Watching men in kilts actually toss a caber made the adventure real. Many visits to the Library is also a part of the research that goes into my work.

AC: Can you describe to us your writing process?

CY: I usually have a story line in my head. After that I begin with my name book and find names that are suited to my characters. Then I go into a detailed analysis of their characters. To create personality conflicts I use the Mind Styles by Gregore. Every character has a detailed past.

A basic plot comes next. And it is very basic because my characters usually take over the story line. My in depth plotting comes with each scene. I write a first and last sentence so I know where I'm starting and I have a page turner at the end of the scene. Within that plot I include, POV, Setting, Internal and External Conflict. Foreshadowing, Motivation, the plot to a twist, to name a few. Then I write the scene.

AC: What genre do you enjoy writing most?

CY: I love historical romance. It doesn't matter if it is a western, a regency or a highland book. I would like to try my hand at steampunk but don't know enough about it yet.

AC: If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?

CY: That’s hard because my characters all seem to have a difficult past. If I looked beyond their past and concentrated on the person they become, I would have to say Lainie MacPherson in the last of the Highland series. She overcomes so much. She is smart as a whip and strong in spirit.

AC: Do you have an all time favorite book? What was the last amazing book that you have read? 

CY: I don't have an all time favorite book. The book that launched my romance writing career was A Pirate's Pleasure by Heather Graham. Although an avid reader, I had never read romance until my mother-in–law gave me that book to read. And then I was hooked on romance—and pirates.

AC: What is your favorite supernatural character and why?

CY: Have to go with Superman. Loved Christopher Reeves in the movie.

AC: Who is your favorite sexy actor?

CY: Going to have to date myself and say Sean Connery. 

AC: I know you’re an avid reader of romance and other than writing, what other things interest you?

CY: Swimming. I coached a high school swim team for 13 years. I love to ski, snow and water although I don't get out there much any more. Knitting and needle work are great when watching TV and I've been a fan of Jazzercise for over 30 years.

AC: Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers? Are there any new projects you’re working on? 

CY: I'm finishing an April Fools anthology and I started a regency series several years ago that would entail 12 books. The first three are done and should be released soon and I would love to find time to work on them. And of course there are other stories in my head just waiting to be written.

AC: Thank you so much for visiting, Christine.

Highland Honor
by Christine Young

Release Date: November 28, 2011

Willfully stubborn, innocently courageous, Callie Whitcomb braves a journey through the treacherous highlands to the MacPherson castle. Callie flees from an unwanted marriage as well as her ruthless half brother. Naively she believes Colin MacPherson, the head of the clan, is loyal to her father and will give her sanctuary, protecting her from the vile plans that have been made for her.

As hard and as unyielding as the winter storms that sweep through the countryside, Colin is irresistibly drawn to the impetuous beauty who has magically appeared on his doorsteps. Despite his vows of revenge against her father, she stirs his passion as well as his sense of justice...but to love her would violate all his vows of revenge.

Excerpt:     

"Where are we going?" she asked as they rode side by side across a vivid green meadow. Even before she asked the question, she had guessed his intentions. They were two-fold.

"To find a private spot, a place where we can eat and," he paused thoughtfully as he turned to look her way. Then his roguish smile captured her heart. He could make her heart melt with just a smile. 

"And?" she queried even as her cheeks heated, knowing the answer before he spoke.      

His grin widened, then he winked. "Race ye to the trees." He waited silently for her

to accept the challenge he tossed her way. 

"Ye would like that wouldn't ye? But I won't fall for the bait ye toss my way. We both know who has the fastest horse." 

"And who would that be?" he asked, laughing.

"I do." She had waited long enough for him to drop back a few strides, giving her more of a head start than she knew he would have allowed. She gave a silent command to her horse. The mare lunged forward. 

"Callie--" she heard him cry out her name, laughingly. "Cheater. I'll get my revenge."

Author Bio: 

Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, Dakota's Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington. She is the author of 10 published romance books and 2 novellas. Christine is a retired high school math teacher. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children.  Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

Links:

http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/

http://www.roguesangels.blogspot.com/

http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

Giveaway:

Christine will be giving away:

* A $50.00 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter for the blog tour. 
* A Clan MacPherson book mark awarded at each stop to one randomly drawn commenter.

 

To Enter:

Leave a comment or question with your email address.

Be sure to visit the other blogs on this tour. Click on the tour button below for a list of participating blogs.