Author Interview & Giveaway: Christina Smith author of Fated Dreams

1. How did you come up with the concept for this book?
I read LJ Smith’s series about soul mates, and I fell in love with the concept. The idea that one person out there is meant for you and only you, really intrigued me.

2. How did you come up with the names for the characters?
For the main character Sarah and her friend Emma, I wanted names that lasted over a span of years. Names that were not trendy, and would still be popular years from now.

With the main male character Lucas, I wanted to find a set of names with the first letter the same. He is a twin, and I’ve noticed that a lot of parents do that with twins. His brother’s name in Logan.

3. How much are you and the characters alike?
I’m not sure if I’m like any of them. Sarah is who I wish I was in high school, but wasn’t. I love humor, and I think you need it to survive in a world that isn’t always easy. So I tried to bring some laughter into the story through some of the characters. I would have loved to have friends like this group when I was younger.

4. Do you read a lot and what are you reading now?
I don’t read as much as I used to, because I find that when I’m reading I can’t put the book down and it keeps me from writing. Since I'm taking a tiny break, right now, I'm reading Bully, by Penelope Doulas.

5. What made you decide to go Young adult?
Well, I wanted to write books that I read, and I read both young adult and adult romance, so I’ve dabbled in both. Although I have more ideas for young adult.

6. How did the cover come about?
Well, I wanted an original model, and I just happened to have a niece that had brown hair, and looked young enough for the character of Sarah, so I asked her to be in it. In the book she is given a dozen roses, so I wanted her to hold one. I took a few pics, and did another cover in the back yard of my sister’s house. When I published the cover, it didn’t look as professional as I wanted so I asked Stephanie Mooney, at Mooney designs to fix it, and this is what she came up with.

7. So what is your next project and when is it due out?
I just published the third and final book in my Moon’s glow series. But right now I’m working on a ghost story based on a true story of a park I used to play on. I’ve just started it so I don’t know when it will be out.

8. Do you have a daytime job or are you a full time writer?
I had a day time job, working at home for my husband but since we are in the process of closing the business, I guess I’m a full time writer now.

9. How did you get into writing novels and were you worried about people’s reactions to your books?
I was watching Oprah when she had Stephanie Myer on, and she said that she thought everyone made up stories in their head. When Oprah told her that no, normal people didn’t do that, I looked at my husband and said, “They don’t?”

I had been telling myself stories since I was a child, and when she said that I thought I’d try it. I thought of a few of the stories I had made up, and Fated Dreams was one of the ones I could remember.

I was terribly worried about people’s reactions. What I write is very personal, and if people didn’t like it, it would devastate me. I’ve since grown a thicker skin, and I know that everyone has different taste in books, so I try not to take it too personally.

10. One last thing do you collect anything personally?
Books, and Christmas snow globes. I love them.
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Order Fated Dreams HERE
and check out Christinas other books HEREa Rafflecopter giveaway