Hi all! *CJ waving to everyone*

I wish I could say that I write all day, every day with my cat on my lap and my muse on my shoulder, but talk about fiction! lol Life isn't quite that cooperative. I work part-time as an Information Technology Manager, so my day begins at 5:30am. After the kids get on the bus, I head to work. The day job is the usual mix of computer issues, application design and programming. Then it's home to make an early dinner followed by softball, Little League, Boy Scouts, piano lessons, gymnastics or whatever else we have scheduled. By 9pm, everyone is heading to bed, and I'm at my computer writing. On the days I don't work, I get everyone off the school/work, go for a walk and then sit down to write between loads of laundry. Is that glamorous or what? I try to manage 15-20 pages a week. Sometimes I get more, sometimes less.

I started writing novels on June 8, 1998, so about six years now. Wow, it doesn't seem that long. I never saw writing as a viable career when I was younger, although I did enjoy it. I wrote a few short stories and tried children's stories, but that was about it. Then I just decided one day that I was going to become a novelist, and I started writing. One page led to another and before I knew it, Unchained was finished. It's still astonishes me that I am a writer. What a great gig, huh?

I don't believe so. I think the voices just eventually wore me down. Maybe it came from my love of reading and an all-too-vivid imagination. I did have a wonderful creative writing teacher in High School who was very encouraging. I also think it's in my genes somehow, because my sister is a published author as well, my brother write songs, and my other sister is working on a cookbook.

My first romance novel was Sweet Starfire by Jayne Ann Krentz. I picked it up, because I wanted something different from the straight SF I had been reading to that point. The romance added a whole new dimension that I quickly fell in love with-the melding of two fascinating genres into one. When I first started reading them, I never dreamed I'd be writing them one day. I just knew I wanted more!

That's a good question. I think every book I write would have to have some strong paranormal element in it to keep me happy as a writer. But paranormal covers a lot of territory, so you never know where my imagination will take me next. ;-)

I am writing the fourth book in the UN-Forgettable seriesUnmasked. This is Zain's sister, Torrie's book. She's a shoot first, ask questions later kind of heroine teamed up with a super sexy space pirate. I'm having a great time writing it, so I hope that means it will be a good book.

As it stands, Unmasked is the final book in my current contract with Dorchester. I guess the fate of the series will rest with them.

I mentioned the vivid imagination above that has haunted me my entire life. I finally found a good use for it! There's a great line in Batman when the Joker says, "Where does he get those wonderful toys?" That's me! I've loved gadgets ever since I saw my first James Bond movie. Sometimes, I simply need a tool for a specific scene, so I'll invent something that would be viable within the technological grasp of my worlds. I also spend a lot of time reading up on emerging technologies to what's on the edge of possibility and beyond.

Reene is probably my all-time favorite secondary character. Like many of my characters/gadgets, he grew out of necessity. It would make sense that a fugitive like Zain Masters who spends all his time in space would need an intelligent, interesting companion. So that's where Reene initially came from, but he developed into a character that I simply adored. He tries so hard to be accommodating and uses the Old West slang to try to make Lacey feel more on Earth. A very sweet gesture that takes Zain aback. One of my favorite parts in the book is when Zain realizes that his computer has better people skills than he does. lol Reene had to be a strong character, because it was basically the three of them together for much of the book. Should we tell your readers what happens to him at the end? ;-)

I don't think they'd forgive us CJ. lol

Of the three, Unearthed, Unraveled and Unleashed, do you have a favorite book or character?

Oh on, I can never answer this question! It's like choosing a favorite child. : Believe it or not, my favorite characters tend to be the secondary ones. I loved Nish in UNE, Elvis in UNR and Reene in UNL. In UNM, it's a little guy named Nod. They are fun, challenging characters to create and write.

When you are not writing, what are you doing?

Sleeping and eating. Okay, maybe it just feels that way. I like to garden, and entertain family and friends in my spare time. I'm also busy with my local RWA chapter as the Vice President, and hope to be President next year.

Is there a book that you have, that you have read and re-read so much the pages are falling out? Lol

Sweet Starfire is looking pretty raggedy right now, as are all my futuristics-old and new. I probably have most of JAK's books. I have a keeper pile that includes Jennifer Crusie, Linda Howard, Elizabeth Lowell, Clive Cussler, Nora, and naturally, all the wonderful new futuristic authors.

What do you love most about being an author?

I think the writing itself. The privilege of being a storyteller. The pure joy of creating something from nothing. It's a magical process that I will never fully understand or grow tired of. And of course, hearing from happy readers. It doesn't get any better than that.

I've seen your website and you have received many awards. Is winning an award now just as thrilling as the first one?

Absolutely! I'm thrilled at the awards my first books are garnering. Being a new author, I entered UNE & UNR in a lot of contests this year, thus the flood of awards. I really had no idea how they would fare, so this has been simply amazing.

Of all the awards that you've won, is there one that is special to you?

I have to say that they each have a special meaning to me. The Prism is the biggest award in my own genre, paranormal readers vote for the PEARL, the HOLT is very prestigious, RIO is a reviewer vote and NRCA is chosen by readers. Can you tell I don't like picking favorites? lol

For one day, if you could do anything, be anyone…what would you do?

I'd definitely be a space explorer. I would give anything to see our beautiful planet from space, and discover the wonders that lurk beyond our solar system. I'd be the one in the front saying, "Hey, let's see what's behind that star!"

Is there anything you would like to add to this interview?

Just thank you for having me and for supporting the genre. Happy reading everyone!

CJ, I just wanted to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books in this series. Readers are definitely in for a treat! Thank you for taking the time to interview with us.

Interview by: Jaymi