Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Christine Young - Highland Honor - Author Interview

My thanks to Christine Young for stopping by The Plot Thickens for a guest post during the blog tour for her book, Highland Honor.

Author Interview

1. Who is the plot based around?
Hawke and Callie are the primary characters in Highland Honor. Their journey and how they overcome the demons that chase them is the basis for this story.

2. What is the main idea of the plot?
Callie is the daughter of James Whitcomb. Hawke believes Lord Whitcomb tried and convicted his father of treason against the English King. And he further believes his father was innocent of any wrongdoing. When Hawke and Callie first meet there is instant chemistry between them. But Callie doesn’t know Hawke seeks revenge against her family. All is thrown asunder when the most unlikely couple fall in love.

3. When does the plot take place?
November 1512

4. Where does the plot take place?
Scottish Highlands, Boars Head Inn, and the clan MacPherson castle.

5. Why did the plot develop the way it did?
Both Hawke and Callie were on a mission. They both wanted to prove their fathers innocence and they both needed to discover who was responsible for framing their fathers.

6. How did you come up with the idea for the plot?
The characters seem to write their books. First I write the conflict. If the conflict doesn’t carry the story, the story will lose interest. I love to write bad guys and so the plot develops with the antagonist in mind and the protagonists have to come up with the answers to ultimately win. In Highland Honor both antagonists, yes there are two, want money, land and power. One believes he will gain all this by marriage and the other by the death of the heroine. They are both totally deranged.

I usually have a beginning, middle and end in mind. But sometimes the characters will say, “Hey, wait a minute. I don’t like the way this is going.” In this case they begin to write the story for me. It’s great when this happens because it makes the story easier to write and I don’t get bogged down in a mire looking for a way out.

About the Book
Highland Honor

Book Details:
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: ebook
Price: $5.99
Buy Links: Kindle

Blurb:
Willfully stubborn, innocently courageous, Callie Whitcomb braves a journey through the treacherous highlands to the MacPherson castle. Callie flees from an unwanted marriage as well as her ruthless half brother. Naively she believes Colin MacPherson, the head of the clan, is loyal to her father and will give her sanctuary, protecting her from the vile plans that have been made for her.

As hard and as unyielding as the winter storms that sweep through the countryside, Colin is irresistibly drawn to the impetuous beauty who has magically appeared on his doorsteps. Despite his vows of revenge against her father, she stirs his passion as well as his sense of justice...but to love her would violate all his vows of revenge.

Excerpt:
"Where are we going?" she asked as they rode side by side across a vivid green meadow. Even before she asked the question, she had guessed his intentions. They were two-fold.

"To find a private spot, a place where we can eat and," he paused thoughtfully as he turned to look her way. Then his roguish smile captured her heart. He could make her heart melt with just a smile.

"And?" she queried even as her cheeks heated, knowing the answer before he spoke.

His grin widened, then he winked. "Race ye to the trees." He waited silently for her
to accept the challenge he tossed her way.

"Ye would like that wouldn't ye? But I won't fall for the bait ye toss my way. We both know who has the fastest horse."

"And who would that be?" he asked, laughing.

"I do." She had waited long enough for him to drop back a few strides, giving her more of a head start than she knew he would have allowed. She gave a silent command to her horse. The mare lunged forward.

"Callie--" she heard him cry out her name, laughingly. "Cheater. I'll get my revenge."

About the Author
Christine Young

Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, Dakota's Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington. She is the author of 10 published romance books and 2 novellas. Christine is a retired high school math teacher. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children. Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

Connect With Christine:
Blog 1
Blog 2
Publisher


GIVEAWAYS:
* a $50.00 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter for the blog tour.
* a Clan MacPherson book mark awarded at each stop to one randomly drawn commenter.
* Antique Gold Double Thistle Broche for the blog host with the most comments (excluding Christine's and their own).

Posted by Unknown at 12:01 AM
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9 comments:

  1. Mary PrestonDecember 7, 2011 at 4:08 AM

    A good author interview: you got down to facts about the book. I like that.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Goddess Fish PromotionsDecember 7, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    Thank you for hosting Christine today.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Karen HDecember 7, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    Ok, so you write the conflict first then build the story around that? Seems a bit unusual, but sounds like it works. Now then, about those deranged antagonists..you couldn't stop at one, you had to go with two? Oh, I can't wait to read the rest of the story!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Genene Valleau, writing as Genie GabrielDecember 7, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    LOL, Chris! I love how you describe the antagonists as "totally deranged." Seems to fit them perfectly!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chelsea B.December 7, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    Thank you for sharing this great interview! Highland Honor sounds absolutely fantastic!

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Christine YoungDecember 8, 2011 at 12:01 AM

    The Plot Thickens thank you for hosting me today. And thank you for all who commented. I will announce the winners on Saturday for this week.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Carol L.December 8, 2011 at 9:07 AM

    I enjoyed reading how you came up with your plot. It's always so much more interesting meeting the Author behind the book.I can't wait to read Highland Honor.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownDecember 8, 2011 at 12:13 PM

    Christine - it was great having you here.

    Thanks to everyone who commented.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Christine YoungDecember 10, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    Congratulations! Chelsea B you have won the Clan MacPherson bookmark. Please email me at achristay@aol.com so I can get your address.

    All commenters names will be placed in the drawing at the end of the tour for the $50.00 GC

    ReplyDelete

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