SORMAG: Please give the readers a brief bio on you the person and the writer.
Ann Christopher: Well, I’m a “retired” lawyer who specialized in litigation and family law, especially divorces. I’m also a native Cincinnatian, and I live here with my husband, son, daughter, and 2 cats. We’ve recently had lots of snow and ice (nothing like Oswego, though!) and several snow days, so I’m counting the days till spring.
I’ve always enjoyed love stories, and started writing them in 2001. My first completed novel, A DELICATE SITUATION, was truly awful, and I’m glad it never saw the light of day. I found an agent in 2004, and she sold my second novel, TROUBLE, about two brothers in love with the same woman, to Kensington in 2005. It was published last July. I also write for Harlequin, and my first book for them, JUST ABOUT SEX, debuts this month.
SORMAG: Tell us about your current book?
CHRISTOPHER: JUST ABOUT SEX
A Dirty Little Secret?
Sex therapist Dr. Simone Beaupre is living large. Her popular dating-and-advice column, 'Just About Sex,' has made her the toast of Cincinnati . And that's not all. Her column is about to go national. A 'phat' syndication deal is in the works. But Simone's big-time future teeters on the brink of disaster, when an obnoxious lawyer threatens to expose her. At thirty-four years young, Simone is still—a virgin?
Prominent attorney Alex Greene is on a crusade to 'out' Dr. Simone as the fraud he believes she is, until he meets the good doctor in person. Then his campaign turns from prosecution to one of sizzling seduction.
SORMAG: What do you do to make time for yourself?
CHRISTOPHER: I used to practice yoga (which I highly recommend), but my schedule got crazier and I’ve REALLY slacked off. I read a lot, and the time I spend writing is wonderful because I love it so much. I also love to cook and bake (and eat, unfortunately!)
SORMAG: What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?
CHRISTOPHER: I love planning, writing and editing. I’m not very wild about research, but maybe that’s a side effect from my days of a lawyer, when I did tons of legal research all the time. When I was unpublished, I never realized how much time writers spend on marketing their books. That really cuts into the writing time, but if you don’t market, then no one will know you have a book out there.
SORMAG: What’s something you wish you’d known earlier that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?
CHRISTOPHER: Wow. Hard question. People told me lots of things, but I sort of had to learn things for myself, you know? That the business is hard, that it can take a long time to get published, that you have to have a thick skin, that it can be very frustrating.
The advice I’d give to any aspiring writers who might be interested is a) don’t give up (remember what Winston Churchill said, “Never, never, never quit”); and b) study hard. Check books out of the library and study the craft of writing. Learn everything you can about plotting, dialogue, description, etc. Your writing will thank you for it.
SORMAG: What was the last book to keep you up at night reading it?
CHRISTOPHER: Up at night … up at night … let me think … Probably one of L.A. Banks’ Vampire Huntress novels (I’m thinking of THE HUNTED, when Carlos was a pretty naughty boy) or J.R. Ward’s LOVER AWAKENED. These two authors really have a knack for writing larger than life characters that get into your head and won’t let you sleep.
SORMAG: How can readers get in contact with you?
CHRISTOPHER: I love to hear from readers through my website at http://www.annchristopher.com/.
Ann Christopher: Well, I’m a “retired” lawyer who specialized in litigation and family law, especially divorces. I’m also a native Cincinnatian, and I live here with my husband, son, daughter, and 2 cats. We’ve recently had lots of snow and ice (nothing like Oswego, though!) and several snow days, so I’m counting the days till spring.
I’ve always enjoyed love stories, and started writing them in 2001. My first completed novel, A DELICATE SITUATION, was truly awful, and I’m glad it never saw the light of day. I found an agent in 2004, and she sold my second novel, TROUBLE, about two brothers in love with the same woman, to Kensington in 2005. It was published last July. I also write for Harlequin, and my first book for them, JUST ABOUT SEX, debuts this month.
SORMAG: Tell us about your current book?
CHRISTOPHER: JUST ABOUT SEX
A Dirty Little Secret?
Sex therapist Dr. Simone Beaupre is living large. Her popular dating-and-advice column, 'Just About Sex,' has made her the toast of Cincinnati . And that's not all. Her column is about to go national. A 'phat' syndication deal is in the works. But Simone's big-time future teeters on the brink of disaster, when an obnoxious lawyer threatens to expose her. At thirty-four years young, Simone is still—a virgin?
Prominent attorney Alex Greene is on a crusade to 'out' Dr. Simone as the fraud he believes she is, until he meets the good doctor in person. Then his campaign turns from prosecution to one of sizzling seduction.
SORMAG: What do you do to make time for yourself?
CHRISTOPHER: I used to practice yoga (which I highly recommend), but my schedule got crazier and I’ve REALLY slacked off. I read a lot, and the time I spend writing is wonderful because I love it so much. I also love to cook and bake (and eat, unfortunately!)
SORMAG: What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?
CHRISTOPHER: I love planning, writing and editing. I’m not very wild about research, but maybe that’s a side effect from my days of a lawyer, when I did tons of legal research all the time. When I was unpublished, I never realized how much time writers spend on marketing their books. That really cuts into the writing time, but if you don’t market, then no one will know you have a book out there.
SORMAG: What’s something you wish you’d known earlier that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?
CHRISTOPHER: Wow. Hard question. People told me lots of things, but I sort of had to learn things for myself, you know? That the business is hard, that it can take a long time to get published, that you have to have a thick skin, that it can be very frustrating.
The advice I’d give to any aspiring writers who might be interested is a) don’t give up (remember what Winston Churchill said, “Never, never, never quit”); and b) study hard. Check books out of the library and study the craft of writing. Learn everything you can about plotting, dialogue, description, etc. Your writing will thank you for it.
SORMAG: What was the last book to keep you up at night reading it?
CHRISTOPHER: Up at night … up at night … let me think … Probably one of L.A. Banks’ Vampire Huntress novels (I’m thinking of THE HUNTED, when Carlos was a pretty naughty boy) or J.R. Ward’s LOVER AWAKENED. These two authors really have a knack for writing larger than life characters that get into your head and won’t let you sleep.
SORMAG: How can readers get in contact with you?
CHRISTOPHER: I love to hear from readers through my website at http://www.annchristopher.com/.
3 comments:
Hi, Ann.
Great interview. I loved Trouble, your debut novel. I'm loving Risk, your second novel. And I look forward to reading Just About Sex. It sounds funny and sexy. Keep thrilling the masses! Patricia
Hi Ann! Plan to read Trouble soon but all of your books sound delicious. I spent nearly 10 years in Cinti after college. Lots of friends there. It's still one of my favorite places.
Hi, LaShaunda, Patricia and Patricia--
It's really nice to be here. Thanks for the kind words! Patricia W., have you found a replacement for Graeter's ice cream, Skyline chili and LaRosa's Pizza now that you've moved from Cincinnati? ;)
Ann
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