Hi, Heather! Thanks for having me on your blog today – it’s been a CRAZY two weeks. My debut book released on June 4 – and that still has me happy dancing around my house! – and my daughter turned 4 – an interesting age to say the least. So far! What has kept me sane? Well, I have a lot of work on my plate, so I have to stay focused.But more than that, my favorite comfort reads allow me to escape the cray-cray moments and enter a kind of zen that only comes from a good book! What can I say? Books aren’t just what I write, they’re also what keeps me sane. When I’m looking for a zen read, I look for characters first – character driven stories are so fun to fall into, whether they’re contemporary, historical, romantic suspense or paranormal.
Two of my favorite authors for character-driven novels are Emily March and Lisa Wingate. Both have a way of painting characters with such depth that they jump off the page. They turn into the kind of characters you’d want to have an actual conversation with…they kind of characters whose stories you just don’t want to end. I like falling into characters like that, and so I’ve done a lot of reading – and re-reading over the last few weeks, trying to keep my mind calm and focused. And I’ve tried to create the same types of characters in my own books. Here’s the blurb for What a Texas Girl Wants:
BLURB:
Kathleen Witte is a down-to-earth girl. She has to be, with the family ranch on the verge of success. After seven months of keeping it all together by swearing off men, however, Kathleen needs a bit of fun in the sun. Waking up with a husband she can’t remember isn’t how she planned to blow off steam.
The last thing Jackson Taylor wants in his life is a down-to-earth girl. He has four weeks of freedom in which to find his birth mother. He’s done well avoiding commitment until now, so when he wakes up on a Mexican beach with Kathleen his first reaction is curiosity. When he spies the matching wedding rings on their left hands curiosity turns to concern.
Neither Jackson nor Kathleen want to stay married, but when her family shows up, they have no choice. Once back in Texas, however, can they keep this all-business marriage from turning into an all-consuming love?
Thank you so much for stopping by Kristina!! I already have your book waiting on my kindle. I can’t wait to dive into it soon!!
17 pings
Heather says:
June 21, 2012 at 8:19 am (UTC -4 )
Thank you so much for being here today, Kristina!
Kristina Knight says:
June 21, 2012 at 9:28 am (UTC -4 )
Hi, Heather! Thanks for having me on your blog today! And, readers, who are some of your comfort reads?
ChristineWarner says:
June 21, 2012 at 9:38 am (UTC -4 )
Hi Kristi…I’m with you…I love a good character driven storyline. There’s nothing like getting to know a character so well you can picture them as a friend.
Congrats on your awesome new release….I can’t wait to read it!!!
Liz Flaherty says:
June 21, 2012 at 10:17 am (UTC -4 )
I’m with you on character-driven. Great post!
Kristina Knight says:
June 21, 2012 at 10:38 am (UTC -4 )
Thanks for visiting today, Liz and Christine!
D'Ann Lindun says:
June 21, 2012 at 10:50 am (UTC -4 )
Hi, Kristi!
You’ve written a super book! Hope it sells a million!
Neecy Kelly says:
June 21, 2012 at 11:35 am (UTC -4 )
I need a good comfort read, Kristi, I’m looking forward to reading your book.
Nice meeting you, Heather.
Neecy
Heather says:
June 21, 2012 at 11:47 am (UTC -4 )
Thanks for stopping by everyone!! It’s nice to see some new names in the comments section!
@Kristina, I keep trying to think of who my favorite comfort reads are and I’m drawing a blank! How terrible is that?? I definitely love character driven novels, but I also love a plot that really keeps me on my toes and needing to find out what will happen next!
Kristina Knight says:
June 21, 2012 at 1:08 pm (UTC -4 )
Thanks, Neecy & D’Ann – hope you both love the book!
Heather, one of my favorites is Jayne Ann Krentz – her books are packed with character and she does *amazing* twists & turns that keep me glued. I bow down to her amazingosity!
Heather Rodney-Diaz says:
June 21, 2012 at 5:27 pm (UTC -4 )
Hi Kristi and Heather, nice website! I agree with Heather on a plot that keeps me glued and Kristie with strong and driven characters. They go hand in hand to make for a great book. Congrtas to you both!
Shay Lacy says:
June 21, 2012 at 7:52 pm (UTC -4 )
I love a story and characters I can connect with. Right now I’m de-stressing with the author who got me started writing stories. It feels like coming home.
jean maxwell says:
June 21, 2012 at 8:18 pm (UTC -4 )
I really need to buy this book. Texas, surprise marriage in Mexico, and a ranch. I’ll move to the back of your buyer line. Much success.
Here is a book I just loved RED HOT HONKY TONK BAR by Pamela Morsi (sp). I still remember the details from this read of around a year ago. I read about a book a day.
So high praise from me.
Heather says:
June 21, 2012 at 8:21 pm (UTC -4 )
Jean, you read a book a day?!?! That’s amazing. I’m a fast reader but it still takes me a week or two to read a book. Unless of course I get completely absorbed in one and then it goes everywhere with me until I finish. Including, but not limited to, the bath tub while the kids get clean, the car while I wait for school pickups, and even the stove while I burn pancakes! But one a day? Wow.
jean maxwell says:
June 21, 2012 at 10:26 pm (UTC -4 )
Heather, The difference is you have a busy life and around your age, so did I. Now the dust bunnies and things can be ignored for the fun of a good book.
Sara Walter Ellwood aka Cera duBois says:
June 21, 2012 at 8:34 pm (UTC -4 )
I totally agree with you, Kristi… A book has to have great characters. One of the best series that I’ve read for fantastic deep POV and wonderfully drawn characters is J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood (which I devoured just this past spring).
Kristina Knight says:
June 21, 2012 at 9:23 pm (UTC -4 )
Heather and Shay, thanks for stopping by. Characters definitely do it for me, too!
Sara, I haven’t read the BDB books…but I hear *great* things!
Jean, a book a day?!? I bow to you! I’m about 3 books/week – depending on the other ‘stuff’ going on! lol I hope you love my Texas Girl, she’s been one of my favorite characters to write!
jean maxwell says:
June 21, 2012 at 10:31 pm (UTC -4 )
Kristina, I have no doubt I’ll like it. But I’ll go you one better I’ll write a review on it after I read it. Can’t do that until July since I have new reads lined up until I get to St. Louis where I can probably buy the book without the shipping of amazon. No, I rarely do e-books, but will if I ever breakdown and buy a nook or such.
I review under a different name, so I’ll be in touch when I post it.