Ask Christina
Marcia Nelson-Perone: How old were you when you recognized that you wanted to be a writer?Christina Dodd: I always wrote, although not seriously, & I decided to become a writer when DH & I had our first daughter—bcz how much work can 1 little baby be? (…If you don’t stop laughing I’m not going to answer any more questions. Like you never did anything dumb?) Marcia Nelson-Perone: What were your motivations for becoming a writer?Christina Dodd: My motivations were the usual: fame & fortune without any training or having to work. (I told you to stop laughing!) Took me 2 kids, 10 years & 3 completed manuscripts before I was published. The great part—I discovered how much I love to create stories, to write. Writing is what I was born to do. Christina Kaufmann Freas: Do you find ideas from people & places you know?Christina Dodd: I go on vacation & think, “This is a great place to set a series.” I read books & newspapers, watch movies. Case in point: Darkness Chosen was inspired by Fiddler on the Roof while I was analyzing why vampires are so successful. I *have* to read, to input words, to write. Words in=words out. For more information on how I get my ideas: http://christinadodd.com/paranormal_dc_idea.html#top and http://christinadodd.com/paranormal_idea.html Kristi Eljuri: Have you ever had other job interests?Christina Dodd: You mean—have I had any other jobs? Oh, honey. In Idaho at 14 I went to work in topping corn (worst physical job I’ve ever had.) I thinned & packed fruit (peach fuzz is miserable.) I hoed weeds around baby pine trees. Clerk at a Target-like store. Went to Vo-Tech, became a draftsman & designed roads, mines & sawmills. Was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Learned to write the hard way—which, btw, is probably the best way to learn. J Perry Stone: How do you write hot sex scenes when you're not in the mood?Christina Dodd: Writing sex when I’m not in the mood is the mark of a true professional. <g> Honestly, if I’m in the “mood”, I’ll write the scene out of order. Or I write the scene & I get in the “mood.” It’s sort of a win/win. Frankly, a lot of the time I’m not in the mood to write, but it’s my job. So I do it. Stephanie Soliah Werckman: Would you consider writing a marriage manual?Christina Dodd: Bcz I’ve been married since the earth’s crust cooled? I only know 1 thing. Love isn’t everlasting. It’s fragile. Treat it very very carefully: watch what you say, what you do, cherish your partner bcz at any moment, you can ruin the relationship…Also, never try to make love in a hammock. Patricia Conroy: How did you keep motivated after rejections?Christina Dodd: Rejections are 1 reader’s opinion of my work, & rejection stung less when I was working on the next project. So I kept moving ahead, kept my eye on my goal & not on the obstacles between me & my goal. Besides, rejections toughened me up for reviews. A published author has to learn not everyone is going to love her work. Get used to it. Vicki Smith Oland: How do you pick names for your characters?Christina Dodd: I use http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/ I like this site bcz I can search by origin & gender, important with the international type books I’m writing, plus when I need something really odd, they have categories like ancient Egyptian names. Beyond that, I want my readers to be able to pronounce my main characters, so even if they’re not common names, I keep them simple. Kristi Eljuri: How old were you when you started writing?Christina Dodd: 26, & it took me 10 yrs to get published. My husband supported & believed in me the whole time. Yes, he really is the best man in the world. I need to remember that when he’s being a guy…
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