Sunday, March 8, 2015

Author Interview- Christina Hollis

Happy Sunday readers.
To kick this week off right, I've got author Christina Hollis as today's guest. Please give her a warm welcome as she answers a few questions and gives us a peek at her new book.




Tell me three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C.

Among many other things, I’m an affable, beekeeping, cake lover.

What are your three favorite things?

My God, my family, and my garden.

Are you self- published or with a publishing company (if so, which one?)?

My Modern/Presents Romances are published by Harlequin http://books.harlequin.com/search#w=christina%20hollis 
and 
http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/search?q=christina+hollis)
while my current release, His Majesty’s Secret Passion, is published by The Wild Rose Press  http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_175_133&products_id=6061)

How much is your character like you?

Sara, the heroine of His Majesty’s Secret Passion, starts out like me in that she’s a perfectionist who doesn’t know when to stop working. She mellows over the course of the book, as Leo the hero encourages her to relax. Sara also gets stressed when she doesn’t manage to clock up the 12k steps her doctor told her to do every day.That’s me too, but Sara solves her problem by ditching her pedometer. I don’t have the nerve to do that!

Describe your perfect day?

I’m on a writing retreat somewhere isolated, but luxurious. The sun-drenched Paradise Spa in His Majesty’s Secret Passion would be ideal! It’s just me, my writing pad and a pencil than never needs sharpening. Meals come and go without any need for me to cook, or wash up afterwards. Then as the evening draws on, a gorgeous guy (my lovely OH, of course!) arrives to escort me on a starlit walk to listen to nightingales.

Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books?

His Majesty’s Secret Passion is the opening book in the Princes of Kharova series.The second book, Her Royal Risk, is published by The Wild Rose Press in April this year. Her Royal Risk tells the story of what happens when Leo’s quiet and clever personal assistant, Krisia, is sent to sort out the office of his reckless, womanising younger brother, Prince Athan.

When not writing, what can you be found doing?

I love growing things, especially edible crops I can use in cooking, which is another of my hobbies. And of course keeping bees. They help me get bumper crops of fruit, as they love the apple, cherry and plum blossom in the spring.

When writing, which do you prefer to write with, computer or paper and pen?


Definitely paper! It’s portable, and feels so good beneath a nib. I love writing with cheap Woolworth pencils. I bought up our local store’s last packets when it closed, but I’m down to my last one now. It’s barely three inches long! At the end of every writing session, I use Dragon Dictate to translate my written work onto the computer for editing.



Published by The Wild Rose Press

Release Date: 4th February, 2015

ISBN(s):
978-1-62830-753-5 Paperback
978-1-62830-754-2 Digital

US Price: $3.99 digital, $12.99 paperback. Available from:



UK Price: £2.63 digital, £8.50 paperback. Available from:


Blurb:

Leo Gregoryan is determined to be the perfect king. Loyalty to his country means sacrificing his own happiness, but he’ll divert the energy he once poured into his dream of becoming a doctor toward royal duties. All he needs right now is a stress-free vacation–no future queen need apply. Sara Astley escapes to the luxurious Paradise Hotel after she’s dumped by her partner, who then stole the promotion she’d expected. She hides her broken dreams behind a tough exterior. Her stubborn streak makes her a challenge Leo can’t resist. His special brand of hands-on persuasion seduces Sara into enjoying the holiday of a lifetime. Their fling can't hurt either of them–or so they think. Leo's focussed on being the ideal hero. Sara knows what she wants, and that’s independence. Then a revelation tears them apart, meaning things can never be the same between them...


Excerpt:

The sea was so calm, Sara felt a wonderful sense of release. The Neroli swept across the surface like a swallow. She loved it. “You handle this boat like you were born to it, Leo.”
He seemed to find this funny. Seeing him look so happy made her heart do a little dance in her chest. The tousled man who kicked off his shoes and commanded his vessel barefoot and windblown was a world away from the sleek seducer of the night before...
Sara had a sudden crisis of conscience. She hadn’t texted her PA since the night before. Digging in her bag for her mobile, she switched it on. “Why do I get the funniest feeling I’m being watched?” she said without looking up from the keypad.
“Because you are. And there are two good reasons for that.”
 “You’re going to moan at me for checking mail when I should be taking a break.”
“That was one of the reasons.”
She guessed the other before he put it into words. “Blushing suits you, Sara.”
“It’ll look a whole lot better when my skin’s lost this pasty white colour.”
Leo clicked his tongue. “A woman like you should be sophisticated enough to accept compliments with better grace.”
“Sorry, but I don’t take orders from a guy who looks like a pirate.” She lolled back against the rail. It felt good to let the sun pour over her body. “Stop laughing, Leo.”
“If I’m a pirate, then the sea should be my only mistress. Is that what you want?”

BIO:

Christina Hollis writes contemporary fiction starring complex men and independent women–when she isn't cooking, gardening or beekeeping. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and she’s sold over two million books worldwide.
 You can catch up with her at 
http://www.christinahollis.blogspot.com

on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ChristinaBooks), 

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christina-Hollis/741758692557706?fref=ts
and see a full list of her published books at 

http://www.christinahollis.com/books.html

Her current release, His Majesty's Secret Passion, is published by The Wild Rose Press.

4 comments:

  1. Welcome Christina, I feel like we're kindred spirits. The majority of my books are always written with paper and pen- I can't type as fast as I can think and then I get confused :) I am also trying my hand at a garden again this year. We've been able to grow squash and green beans from seeds before. This year I'm hoping to add more. Best of luck with your book, it looks absolutely lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Angela, it's lovely to be invited here. I hope we all get some good growing weather this year!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great cover! Very hot. It's so fun that you're a beekeeper. I have a friend who is as well and it is such a worthwhile - exhausting endeavor, so kudos for that. Much luck with the new release. It's sounds very intriguing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the good wishes, Peggy, and for commenting. The bees are just beginning to come out and investigate all the spring flowers. This is a lovely time of year—when the sun decides to come out!

    ReplyDelete