Interview With Chris Redding
by Lorie Ham
This week at the Café we have paranormal suspense author, Chris
Redding. Her latest book, CORPSE WHISPERER, just came out from Enspiren
Press. So grab a cup of your favorite coffee and join
us.
CAFÉ:
Chris, tell us about your latest book.
CHRIS:
Corpse Whisperer is a paranormal suspense. It has a bit of
romance. Grace Harmony has murder victims talk to her. She's about to lose
this power and she's glad until she doesn't solve the murder. Each times
she rewinds in time the situation is different. So she must solve the
murder, have the hero fall in love with her several times and figure out who
is changing things.
CAFÉ:
Sounds interesting. How long have you been writing?
CHRIS:
Seriously for nine years. Not seriously since I was ten.
CAFÉ:
A lot of writers seem to start when they are young. When
did your first novel come out? What was it about?
CHRIS:
The Drinking Game came out with Wings Press in August 2004. It
is about a homicide detective and an FBI profiler trying to track down a
serial killer.
CAFÉ:
Have you always written mysteries and suspense?
CHRIS:
I've always written suspense. I tried to write romance, but I
always seemed to end up with a dead body in my story.
CAFÉ:
I had a writing teacher once that tried to get me to write
mysteries and I kept doing the same thing. What brought you to choose the
setting and characters in your latest book? Tell us a little about them.
CHRIS:
I live in NJ so it's easier to write about this area. I
highlight a little known area of NJ. Most people know the Shore and a lot of
people know there are oil refineries, too. Where I set it is more country.
Less city and that actually exists in NJ. Grace is a paramedic. She's
sworn to save lives so helping murder victims is just an extension of
that.
CAFÉ:
What is the main reason that you write?
CHRIS:
Because I have to. When I don't write, even if it is for a few
days, then my brain gets all fogged. When I unload the dishwasher and I put
items away in the wrong place, that's when I know I HAVE to get back
to writing.
CAFÉ:
LOL. Sounds like you need to write for everyone’s sake. Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers
to take away from your work?
CHRIS:
Pure entertainment. I hope the reader has as much fun reading
it as I have writing it.
CAFÉ:
I’m sure they do. Do you have a schedule for your writing or
just write whenever you can?
CHRIS:
When school is in I'll write a little in the morning, but
mostly after the kids are on the bus.
CAFÉ:
Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting
way that you keep track of what's going on, or what needs to happen in your book
when you are writing it?
CHRIS:
I am truly writing by the seat of my pants. I can usually keep
the details straight. I write a rough draft with the main story. Then I layer
in the subplot and the descriptions next. By the time the manuscript is
ready for public viewing I've been through it a minimum of three times.
CAFÉ:
I don’t think the average person realizes how much work goes into
writing a novel. If you had your ideal, what time of day would you prefer to
write?
CHRIS:
Morning.
CAFÉ:
I really am surrounded by morning people. Do you have a day
job?
CHRIS:
I work for both my local rescue squad and my local hospital's
EMS office. I can really make my own hours so I can't beat the
flexibility.
CAFÉ:
That must give you a lot of material for your writing. Did you
find it difficult to get published in the beginning?
CHRIS:
Of course. I have my "Box of No," as I called my nearly 100
rejections.
CAFÉ:
Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you'd
like to share?
CHRIS:
Yes. It was my birthday and my husband was putting the kids to
bed. Something compelled me to look at my e-mails one more time for the
evening. And sure enough the e-mail from Wings was there. I screamed. My
husband ran down the steps because he thought someone was hurting me. I
dragged him back to the computer and told him to read the e-mail just in case
I was wrong. He read it and confirmed what I thought and then
we hugged.
CAFÉ:
How exciting. What kind of promotion do you find most
affective?
CHRIS:
I am such a newbie at the promotion thing. I didn't do much
for the first book and now I'm just trying to have an online presence. I
really don't know if it is working since I haven't received my first
royalty statement.
CAFÉ:
Most interesting book signing story — in a bookstore or other venue?
CHRIS:
I honestly haven't done too many of them so no good stories.
Well, there was a woman who handed me her number on a slip of paper. She told
me if I wanted to read her story I could call her and she'd mail it
to me.
CAFÉ:
I think that happens a lot. Future writing goals?
CHRIS:
NYT Bestseller list?
CAFÉ:
I wish you luck on that one. Any heroes?
CHRIS:
Mary Buckham and Margie Lawson. I call them my two mommies.
Mary is very business savvy and I learn a lot every time we get
together. Margie is the greatest cheerleader on Earth. There are people
who suck the energy from you. Margie is the antithesis of that. You spend
some time with her and you feel you can conquer the world.
CAFÉ:
Person you would most like to meet dead or alive?
CHRIS:
William Shakespeare since we share a birthday.
CAFÉ:
What a cool person to share a birthday with. When you have
time, what do you read?
CHRIS:
Romance, horror, suspense, thrillers and whatever my book club
wants.
CAFÉ:
What are your hobbies?
CHRIS:
Cross stitch. And I can sew, but I don't do it much.
CAFÉ:
Favorite TV or movies?
CHRIS:
Grey's Anatomy even though it is so unrealistic. I love the
characters. It's a Wonderful Life. I've seen it over 100 times.
CAFÉ:
I have friends who will be sad to hear it’s unrealistic.
It’s a Wonderful Life is definitely a classic. Any pets?
CHRIS:
A dog, a cat and a rat.
CAFÉ:
Okay, you’re my new favorite person now — I do rat
rescue. Family?
CHRIS:
Husband and two kids.
CAFÉ:
What part of the country/world do you live in?
CHRIS:
NJ and I couldn't tell you what exit because I don't live near
the turnpike.
CAFÉ:
Any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
CHRIS:
Learn your craft every chance you get. Gain a thick skin and
never give up.
CAFÉ:
Good advice. Anything you would like to add?
CHRIS:
Writing is not nearly as simple as I originally thought, but
it is what I wanted to do since I was 10.
CAFÉ:
Website?
CAFÉ:
Where can people purchase your books?
CHRIS:
At lulu.com. By October it will be on Amazon.
CAFÉ:
So I have to ask you our signature question — are you a coffee or
tea drinker? And do you have a favorite coffee shop you would like to
share with us?
CHRIS:
I drink both. Green tea usually at home. When I get coffee it
is at a locally owned coffee shop called Amour Bagel. I feel like Norm
walking into Cheers because they all know my name.
CAFÉ:
Thanks so much for being with us here at the Café. Good
luck with the new book.
©2007 Lorie Ham. All rights reserved.
|
