C.K. Bryant might be the poster-child for the changing publishing market. She believed in the traditional route, worked hard and got that elusive publishing contract—only to have it ripped away due to internal issues with the publisher. Did she wallow in self pity? Maybe for a moment, but then she went to work, taking her success into her own hands.

What are the biggest challenges for you in your writing career?

The biggest challenge for me is time and space. While I don't have a "real job," I do have a son with autism and just recently moved my mother-in-law in with us. She has a mental illness which makes life a struggle for all of us. Finding a quiet moment and a peaceful place to write is nearly impossible now. All the storage we had in the room now occupied by my MIL is now stacked in my small office and I'm constantly distracted with uncontrollable insults shouted by her and pestered by my son for no reason. I need a sound proof room with an awesome view, but I don't think I'm going to get it any time soon.

Where are you from? Does that impact your writing?

I like this question because I think about it all the time. I live in a small town located in south-central Idaho and there aren't many people around and only a handful of writers, at most. But the biggest difference to living here as opposed to, say . . . Utah, is that I don't have the connections that most writers have who can surround themselves with like minded individuals. The networking aspect of marketing is lacking in my career and I'd love to build that up, but moving isn't an option. This is where the internet helps. I've met a ton of wonderful authors online and made some great friends.

What difficulties have you encountered writing in the YA paranormal genre?

The hardest thing for me when writing for young adults is finding the right voice for my characters. It's been a long time since I was a teen, so getting the feel for realistic dialogue and believable reactions to the situations around them, was a struggle at first. I think that's why I tend to write more in the NEW ADULT age group (17-25). It's easier for me to connect with them.

As far as writing paranormal romance goes, I have such a warped imagination, it's not a problem for me.

Why have you chosen YA paranormal romance over other genres? Do you plan to write in other genres? Why or why not?

I grew up reading adult romance novels that I borrow from my mom's enormous library. So in the beginning of my writing career, that's what I wrote. I have one adult romance that I plan to publish soon. But as much as I love adult romance, I realized early on that in order to sell it in the national market, I'd have to "spice it up" and include scenes I'd rather not write. It was then that I started reading a ton of YA romance and discovered that my book ideas would fit right in. My debut novel, BOUND started out as an adult romance, but the story craved something else so I dropped the age of the characters, rewrote the dialogue to be younger and added the paranormal. I LOVED writing it, LOVED the freedom of creating unique worlds and situations. I plan to write the majority of my future works in this genre, although I would like to dabble a bit in urban sci-fi. Contemporary isn't even in my vocabulary at this point in my career.

What do you see happening or plan to do in the next five years?

I'd need a crystal ball for this one. But if I had my way and everything worked out as planned, I'd have the sequels to BOUND all published and be reaping great rewards from their sales. A girl can dream, right? RIGHT? I also have another series that I'm working on that I'd like to have out by then. Being self-published gives me the freedom to put as many books out as I want, whenever I want, so I think that's doable. And as long as I put out a great product and the quality remains high, I don't see why the sales shouldn't reflect my efforts.

Has your publishing experience, working with editors, agents, publishers, etc. been positive or negative?

Negative, in the traditional sense. BOUND was picked up by a publisher on my first query. Great news, right? Not so much. After a very long process, which included major rewrites, edits and even changing it from first person to third person, the publisher cancelled my contract. They've since closed their doors completely. At first I was crushed and it took me several months to get back on my feet and begin the querying process again--this time to agents. Several rejections later, and some great advice from a best-selling author, and I made the choice to go INDIE. I haven't looked back once. I love having control of what goes in my book, what the cover looks like and how my work is promoted. And with the increased interest in e-readers, and the future of the publishing industry uncertain, I know I've made the right choice for me.

Can you give us one word that sums up what writing means to you?

EVERYTHING!

When Christine is not with her family or tickling the computer keys, she loves camping, reading, scrapbooking, listening to all kinds of music, and making new friends.

 

Christine currently lives in the middle of sage brush and lava rock with a spectacular view of the Snake River Canyon in South Central Idaho. You can find Christine and learn more about her books on her blog or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.