Author Christi Barth Talks About The Opposite of Right

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I’m delighted to welcome author Christi Barth back to Thoughts in Progress. Christi joins us to talk about her rock star romance novella, The Opposite of Right, book 1 in her Bad Decisions trilogy that’s available today.

Christi has graciously answered some questions for me, but first here’s a brief synopsis of THE OPPOSITE OF RIGHT. I’m also sharing my thoughts on this fascinating read.

      Kylie Stafford has spent her whole life doing exactly what’s expected. The right major, the right sorority, the right guys, just like her mother and her sister before her. But when everything falls apart for her, Kylie wonders if doing everything right has been utterly wrong. There’s only one way to find out.
      She decides to try making all the wrong choices for three months. Hit on a tattoo-covered rock musician? Check. Go back to his dressing room for a hot hook-up against the wall? Gulp. Drop everything to be a roadie for him to binge on more of the best sex of her life? Maybe. Start falling for him despite her better judgment? Um….yeah. Figure out why doing everything that seems wrong feels so darn right?

My thoughts ……….

The characters in Author Christi Barth’s appear to be complete opposites but find they are very much alike. Their traits and faults will have readers relating and pulling for them. They are well-developed and likable.

The setting sizzles much like the chemistry between the main characters. Readers are quickly pulled in and find themselves immersed in the actions of the characters. The story flow at a good pace, smoothly and with heart-pounding romance.

This is a quick read that will leave you smiling and taking a different look at how you perceive your choices. THE OPPOSITE OF RIGHT is romance, passion, self-awakening and insight rolled into an entertaining steamy novella you won’t put down until the very end.

The Opposite of Right by Christi Barth, Bad Decisions trilogy Book #1, Amazon Digital Services, @2015, ASIN: BO14VR2YEW, 3770KB, 86 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Now, join me in giving a warm TIP welcome to Christi as she answers some questions. Welcome, Christi.

MASON - Did the idea of THE OPPOSITE OF RIGHT come first or the ideal of the Bad Decisions Trilogy?
 
Christi:
Both? Simultaneously, almost? I was attempting to be strategic - rock star romance is popular right now. My friends thought it'd be a good fit for my voice, so they urged me to write a rock star series. But there was zero story idea attached to that bullet point on the business plan. So in the same day, I tried to think of what makes rock stars so hot, and I kept circling back to the appeal of a Bad Boy. How was I supposed to make a bad boy the right guy? And that's when the idea for The Opposite of Right hit me.

Mason - What is the hardest part of creating a story for you - the setting, characters, dialogue or something else?
 
Christi:
Oh, I love wallowing in setting and dialogue. The only place I get hung up is when it comes to conflict. With my stories being set right here and now, there really aren't any serious obstacles to a woman being with the man she loves. Contemporary romance conflict is tough.

Mason - Who designed the cover of THE OPPOSITE OF RIGHT and did you have any input in the decision?
 
Christi:
It is my favorite cover EVER! Pickyme did the cover and I've already lined her up to do the rest of the trilogy. And it is all her brilliance, because here is what I told her (besides the blurb): I would love a series logo. Don’t know if making Bad Decisions into a concert ticket would work? I’m very, very bad at this. I would like it to be scorchingly hot. I feel like I really need ½ naked male abs to make it fly off the shelf.

Mason - What is a typical writing day like for you?
 
Christi:
I have a day job, so a typical writing day entails me working all day, going to the gym, cooking dinner, maybe watching an hour of TV with my hubby, I start writing about 9 p.m. and go until I freak out about how late it is around midnight and run for bed.

Mason - What one question do you wish readers would as, but no one never does?
 
Christi:
I have two books that have sequels semi-plotted but unwritten. I'd love for readers to ask me what happens next and if I'll be writing the sequels! (They weren't sold as part of a series, so this is me just falling in love with my characters and wanting to stretch things out.)

Mason - What new projects are you currently working on?

Christi:
I’m working on book two in the Bad Decisions trilogy, The Reverse of Perfection, which release in May. But I’m beyond excited for the launch of my Naked Men series with Loveswept, kicking off in March with Risking It All. It centers around five men who survived a high school tragedy, how it made them into the men they are today, and of course, the women who complete them

Christi, thanks for joining us today and sharing this insight on how your story came about. The book cover is very catchy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author Christi Barth, Amy Jones Photography

Christi Barth earned a Master’s degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage.

A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.

Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

For more on Christi and her writing visit her website and blog, as well as connect with her on Pinterest, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon Author Page, and Facebook.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Christi’s visit. Are you a fan of novellas? Have you ever dreamed about being a rock star or being with a rock star?

Author Christi Barth Answers Questions … Back To Us

It’s my pleasure to welcome author Christi Barth back to Thoughts in Progress. Today Christi is talking about her writing and especially about her latest release, BACK TO US, a Shore Secrets romance.

Christi has graciously answered some questions for me, but first here’s a brief synopsis of BACK TO US.

          Ward Cantrell always went for the long shot. But that recklessness cost him his college scholarship and his chance to play pro ball, and—worst of all—it ended his relationship with the girl next door. Neither the town nor the girl has ever forgiven him. Now he’s taking one last long shot by opening a boutique distillery on the family farm he inherited.
          Piper Morrissey spent high school in Ward’s shadow, but she’s come into her own in the years since. Maintaining her spotless image, and that of her family’s winery, is priority number one. Nobody knows that she still yearns for her golden-boy ex. Or at least they didn’t—until Ward agrees to sell Piper the land she needs to start her precious port line. The caveat? She’ll need to date him for one month. 
          Ward hopes a month is all it’ll take to convince his former sweetheart that while he’s changed, his love for her hasn’t. But when the chance arises to thumb his nose at the town that turned its back on him, he can’t afford not to reject Piper’s offer. Will that make her reject him and his love—for good?

Mason: Welcome, Christi. When writing, do you have a favorite space to write in and do you enjoy noise (music) or silence as you create? 

Christi:
My favorite space is on my recliner couch in front of the big TV. But my husband has pointed out that our new house has a beautiful office for me, with a brand new desk chair, so I'm relegated up there most of the time. Sniff. As for music, as a former musician it is far too distracting for me. I only play it when writing sex. Not make out scenes - just sex.
 
Mason: Has anyone author or book influenced your writing or has numerous elements contributed to it?
 
Christi:
Yes and no. When I sent my very first manuscript out to be critiqued, everyone SCREAMED at me that I couldn't head hop on every page. I didn't know - my idol, Nora Roberts, indulges in that quite often. So I apparently picked up the wrong thing from her (but she is the queen and makes it work!). I've never been a person who looks to mentors - too independent. I think I just forge my own way.
 
Mason: Which comes first for you - the characters' physical descriptions and traits or their names?
 
Christi:
I have to do the names first, especially when I am writing a multi-book series, because otherwise it is immediately too confusing for my thought process. Book 2 Hero hangs out with Book 3 Heroine...aargh. Nope. Gotta start with names for my own sanity. But I can't start writing until I've found a movie/TV hunk to be the role model for my hero.

Mason: What one thing do you wish readers would ask about that no one ever has?
 
Christi:
Because I have a gooey, chocolate-covered marshmallow for a heart, I wish someone would ask about my romance, seeing as how I have the absolutely best husband in the world....

Mason: Are you currently working on any new projects?
 
Christi:
In the fall I’m releasing The Opposite of Right, the first novella in my Bad Decisions series about hot rock stars. 2016 kicks off with the release of Risking It All - Book One in the Naked Men series. It centers around five men who survived a high school tragedy, how it made them into the men they are today, and of course, the women who complete them. I finished book one on Sunday night, and started writing book two on Monday!

Christi, thanks for joining us today and giving some this insight into your writing. Sounds like you’ve got a busy and interesting time ahead.

Now to entice your reading taste buds, Christi is sharing an excerpt from BACK TO US for your viewing pleasure.

Excerpt:

      “Don’t you ever go with your gut?” He sauntered closer.
      “That’s risky.”
      A devilish smile flashed across his face. “That’s the fun part.”
      “We can argue over business strategies—or lack thereof—later,” she said archly, giving him a disapproving glare down her nose. “I’m going to have to insist on time to weigh the pros and cons.”
      “It’s Wednesday. I’ll give you until this time on Friday.” He closed the distance between them in one long stride. “I’ll give you something to start off that pro/con list with too.”
      Ward bent, putting his lips on hers before Piper could decide whether to scoot out of reach or not. Probably because a part of her couldn’t believe it was actually happening. There was a very strong possibility she’d passed out from exhaustion and this whole thing was a dream. It was the likeliest explanation for the morning’s strange turn of events.
      But the warm slide of his lips pulled her straight out of her head and rooted her firmly in the moment. This moment. What she’d dreamed about and hoped for didn’t hold a candle to the reality of Ward, her Ward, finally claiming her again with a kiss that seared her down to her core.
      He planted his hands at her waist and lifted, lips never breaking contact. Lips, heck—tongue never breaking contact. Even as he raised her high enough that her feet left the floor, Ward’s tongue swept around every inch of her mouth. Every nerve-laden inch. Every sensitive, tingling inch.
      Piper needed to touch. Needed to greedily take him with the same heat he was lavishing upon her. Her hands fisted in his hair. Ward nipped at her bottom lip in response. So she wrapped her legs around his waist. That elicited a growl, and Ward braced her back against the wall. Then he pushed close. Pushed that muscled chest and those ripped abs against her body. Canted his hips to push something else even harder against the vee where her legs met. At that, they both moaned.
      The rasping brush of his stubble burned in an oh-so-sexy way as Ward angled down her neck. At her indrawn breath, he paused to suck and lick at the spot right on top of where her pulse fluttered rapidly. Because, oh, the things he did to her. The shivers that raced through her just from the strong, wide span of his hands at her waist. The way he crowded out all thought as he crowded his body against hers.
      Even the roughness, the harsh press of his jeans inseam and the scrape of the hair on his chin and the hard grind of hip against hip surged a sexy thrill from her head to her toes. Piper couldn’t squeeze her legs tight enough, couldn’t rake her nails down the back of his shirt hard enough, couldn’t recapture his mouth fast enough. Nothing was enough.
      On a gasp, Ward pulled away. His eyes had darkened to midnight and a satisfied smile played at the edges of his mouth. And when had his hands shifted down to support her ass?
      “That’s my pitch.”
      She tried—and probably failed—to sound aggrieved. “That? A kiss was your pitch?” Best. Marketing. Ever.
      “No. The pitch was my carefully laid-out reasons why a month of your time is more than reasonable to secure the land you need.” Another flash of that wicked grin that would’ve turned her knees to jelly if she’d been standing. “The kiss was my closer.”

BACK TO US can be purchased at the following sites: Carina Press * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iBooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christi Barth earned a Master’s degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage.

A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.

Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

For more on Christi and her writing visit her website and blog, as well as connect with her on Pinterest, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon Author Page, and Facebook.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Christi’s visit. Do you enjoy learning about an author’s writing habits? What question would you have asked Christi?

Author Christi Barth: Never Too Late

It’s a pleasure to welcome author Christi Barth back to Thoughts in Progress today to tell us about her participating in Harlequin’s More Than Words philanthropy.

Welcome Christi.

When I was a member of the Junior League of Baltimore, it amazed me how I could give back to the community, help people, and still have such a good time. Helping others who are less fortunate is an imperative to me. Unfortunately, life got in the way, as it does for so many of us, and my volunteering came to an end. 

So I was thrilled to be asked by Harlequin to participate in their More Than Words philanthropy. Every year, Harlequin solicits nominations of women who have made extraordinary charitable contributions to their communities. Harlequin readers vote to select three women who do so much to improve the lives of others. Harlequin not only provides financial assistance to those charities, but they raise awareness for them. Three authors are chosen to craft stories highlighting these worthy causes.

I had the honor of writing a story around Megs Yunn, who founded the Pittsburgh-based charity, Beverly’s Birthdays. Beverly’s Birthdays believes in spreading birthday cheer 365 days a year, and that every child, regardless of personal or financial circumstances, deserves a birthday celebration. 

Megan Yunn and Beverly’s Birthdays currently serve ten homeless shelters in the Pittsburgh region by throwing birthday parties for the children living in the shelters. In the future, Beverly’s Birthdays hopes to provide a birthday celebration for every child living in transitional or emergency shelters in the Pittsburgh region. Amazing and selfless and joy-filled, right? When I chatted with her, I was blown away by her energy and big heart. I’ve never wanted so much to get a story right as I did this one, because Megs and her organization deserve the spotlight.

As of today, if you go to http://www.harlequinmorethanwords.com/ you can download for free this year’s three new stories, including my own NEVER TOO LATE. (The stories are slated to go up Monday, so if you click on the link and can’t find the stories, please try again later in the day). They are all short, sweet, and will make you feel good about these wonderful charities.
 
So here’s the blurb for my story:
 
        Everyone thinks brilliant designer Chris Kessler is the playboy of the architectural world. Truth is, he's strictly a one-woman man. But how can he reveal his feelings when Ali Montalvo's his fiercest rival for junior partner? And now they've been teamed up to volunteer at one of Pittsburgh's most popular charities.
        In addition to helping underprivileged kids celebrate their special day, there's something else at the top of Ali's wish list. If only she and Chris didn't clash on just about everything! Now he's planning a circus outing-this from a man who never had a birthday party. That's when Ali comes up with a surprise of her own. Because it's never too late to give the gift of love...

Christi, thanks for joining us today and telling us about this incredible project.

For those not familiar with Christi, here’s a bit of background on her.
Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes award-winning contemporary romance.  

Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

For more on Christi and her writing, visit her website and blog and connect with her on Pinterest, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon Author Page, and Facebook.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Christi’s visit. Do you know anyone who does extraordinary charitable contributions for their communities?

Author Christi Barth’s Newest: Love at High Tide

I’m delighted to welcome author Christi Barth back to Thoughts in Progress to share an excerpt from her newest release, LOVE AT HIGH TIDE.

First here’s a brief synopsis of LOVE AT HIGH TIDE:

    Darcy Trent is lucky Cooper Hudson is on hand to sweep her off her feet—literally—when she nearly drowns while swimming in the ocean. But life-saving aside, Mr. Perfect's timing stinks: Darcy's career is about to take her to the complete opposite side of the Atlantic. Still, a little summer loving with the tall, blond and sexy former cop is far too tempting to pass up.
    When his plans to enter the Secret Service went south thanks to a bum knee, Coop retreated to the family beach house to mull his future. Romance is the last thing on his mind, until he fishes a curvy brunette out of the sea. Now, spending time in Darcy's arms seems like the ideal distraction, even if it is just for a week.
    But with Darcy's departure date fast approaching and their careers on the line, can they realize in time that their beach fling might become the real thing?

Now to entice your reading taste buds even more, here’s an excerpt from this delightful summer read…..

    “Thanks for the rescue. If you hadn’t grabbed me, I’d still be doing somersaults underwater. In my book, that qualifies you for hero status.”
    An unreadable emotion flickered across his eyes so fast she almost missed it. In a low mutter, he said, “Don’t call me a hero.” He hit the hard-packed sand at the edge of the water and stopped walking.
    Modest, heroic and gorgeous. And it didn’t take even a fraction of her eight years of training in cultural anthropology to figure out he was attracted to her. They’d long since hit land, and yet he made no move to put her down. Not that she was complaining. She’d happily continue to sit cradled in his arms. It gave her an up-close view of his chiseled cheekbones, sharp enough to etch glass. Her fingers brushed through the salt-spiked tips of his blond hair. No doubt about it: she’d found the man candy Trina had promised. One bite of him would be as sinful and addictive as a chocolate honey truffle.
    “Well, I can’t call you Mr. In-The-Right-Place-At-The-Right-Time.” When his lips curled up showing off his dimple, Darcy’s interest kicked up a notch.
    “Good point. I’m Cooper Hudson. Coop, to my friends.”
    “Darcy Trent.”
    “It’s been a long time since I met an ocean virgin.”
    “Oh, but only in the aquatic sense, I assure you.” What? Why wave her long-vanished virginity under his nose? Now he probably thought she had the morals of an alley cat. But hearing the hottest man she’d ever seen use the word virgin threw her for a loop. Not the standard nice-to-meet-you conversation, by a long shot.
    He flashed an easy smile. “Don’t worry. I hadn’t planned on delivering you as a virgin sacrifice to appease the volcano gods over at the mini-golf course.”
    Okay, now Darcy could add funny to the list of his overwhelming awesomeness. Maybe she really had blacked out and was hallucinating her ideal man while unconscious, underwater. What else could explain such perfection?
    “Darcy, what happened?” Trina’s yell preceded her appearance in front of them. After a quick yank upward to her scrap of a top, she rested her hand on Darcy’s leg. “Why’s he carrying you? Did you get stung in the foot by a jellyfish? ’Cause if you did, I’ll pee on it. That’ll take the sting away.”
    That certainly settled the whole am-I-hallucinating question. Never, ever would Darcy fantasize about her best friend peeing on her. The situation had to be real. And if Trina in all her adorable annoyingness was real, then her hot hero hunk had to be real, too.
    To her dismay, Cooper lowered her to the ground.
    “Your friend’s fine,” Cooper announced. “A wave almost rolled her, so she’s a little shaken up, but uninjured.”
    “You keep your distance,” Darcy warned with a hand raised to keep Trina at arm’s length. “Don’t even think about peeing on me. Not even if I get attacked by an entire school of jellyfish.”
    Trina wrinkled her nose. “Okay, but if the situation arises, just remember that I would be willing to make that sacrifice.”
    “Friendship is a beautiful thing.” Cooper’s sardonic tone belied the sincerity of his expression.

LOVE AT HIGH TIDE is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.  

Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.
For more on Christi and her writing, check out the following sites: Website | Blog | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page |Facebook

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have you ever had visions of being sweep off your feet by a handsome stranger?

Cruising Toward Love Featured

It’s my pleasure today to feature, CRUISING TOWARD LOVE, the latest release by author Christi Barth.

Want to end the summer with a funny, sexy romp through the Caribbean? Of course you do! So dive into the pages of CRUISING TOWARD LOVE. Here’s a blurb to get you started. If you really want to get your feet wet, there’s another excerpt below the banner.

Can an unexplained breakup and ten years of heartache be cured by the romance – and endless buffets – of a tropical cruise? When her sister is left at the altar, small town librarian Zoe Balis jumps at the chance to take the bride’s unused ticket for the honeymoon cruise. But she didn't count on sharing a cabin with the man who broke her heart ten years ago!

Army medic Nate Hyatt never told Zoe goodbye when he enlisted - or the real reason why he dumped her on prom night after a year as high school sweethearts. And he never stopped dreaming about the girl he left behind. Could this voyage be his chance to fix the worst mistake he ever made? After all, a Caribbean cruise should be romantic… if he can convince her to move past ten years of bitterness and hurt. 

Once aboard the luxury liner, Zoe befriends a bored Internet mogul with more heart than tact. Nate vents his problems to a ship’s photographer battling PTSD. The four team up on an island hopping treasure hunt. The stakes grow higher with each of Zoe’s mysterious brushes with death. They race to discover why she's a target and who's behind it, while still competing in the treasure hunt. Zoe’s never gotten over her first love, and is tempted to let Nate back into her life. But she already lost him once. She’s not willing to risk loving a man whose career keeps him in a combat zone. Can Nate breach her defenses and suture her broken heart? Grab a deck chair and see if they survive the stormy relationship seas as they cruise toward love!

 

"Did you stop kissing me because you weren’t enjoying it? You see, I’ve dealt with the first time you rejected me, when you left all those years ago. There’s no need to rehash the past. But I don’t think I could bear you rejecting me a second time. So I have to know—did you not take me to bed the other night because I didn’t turn you on, or was it because I somehow wasn’t good enough at it?"

The world stood still while she waited for his answer. Zoe focused on the squawk of sea gulls and the muted slap of the surf at the base of the wall. The lyrical lilt of Spanish from the group of teenagers passing by. A low buzz which must be some exotic insect in the shrubbery along the path. Every sound in her immediate vicinity rang with absurd clarity—except the sound she waited on with bated breath—Nate’s reply.

"If you still don’t want me, just say so, damn it!" she burst out.
Was it anger that hardened the lines of his body? Disinterest? Annoyance? Zoe couldn’t get a read on him. Nate advanced slowly. She backed into the turret, the space tight and cramped even for her stature. Built for the far shorter men of an earlier century, Nate had to duck his head as he edged ever closer. His sheer presence commanded as much area as his physical body. Something, some emotion rolled off him in waves, shimmering like heat above asphalt on a summer day. Why couldn’t she tell what was going on in his head?

"The sky is blue," said Nate, his face separated from hers by only a breath.

Huh? "Is that a military thing? Are you talking in code?"

"The sun rises in the east. Play with fire and you’ll get burned. These are all absolute truths. Indisputable facts. Well, there’s one more absolute you need to file away in your mental card catalog."

Nate brought the lower half of his body so close Zoe felt the heat radiating from his legs. Despite the heat, her goose bumps had goose bumps. The anticipation of his touch brought her every sense to high alert. He raised his arms up, planted his hands on either side of her head to cage her in place. Then he tilted so his forehead bumped hers. Her field of vision narrowed to the indigo sea of his eyes, pupils flooding black in the shaded darkness of the narrow turret they shared.

"I want you, Zoe." He forced the words out in a heavy rasp. "I wanted you the day we met. You wore a red ribbon in your hair, dropped a stack of books on my foot, and apologized adorably for ten minutes. All I could think of was wrapping the ribbon around my hand to pull you in for a kiss. I wanted you the first time we kissed, on the bridge in a storm. One by one, I licked off every raindrop that clung to your skin. I wanted you when I saw you covered in mud last Friday. Wanted you badly enough to crawl right into the mud to be with you. I want you now, and I will always want you."

Zoe let her eyes flutter shut in preparation for a kiss. Such a heartfelt, utterly romantic speech could only end one way. Just as whipped cream hungered for a cherry, his words demanded to be topped off by a kiss. She didn’t care about the past. With a handful of sentences he’d put her insecurities to rest. Nate dazzled her, and she was ready for more.

What was taking him so long? From beneath her lashes she snuck a peek. No Nate. Hoping the knees he’d melted to jelly would hold her, Zoe scrambled out onto the dirt path. Twenty strides ahead, Nate bellowed at her over his shoulder. "Hurry up. We don’t want to miss the reading of the clue." 

From confusion to relief with paper hearts dancing overhead...right back to confusion, all in less than five minutes. Zoe trudged after him with one thought uppermost in her mind—now what?

For more on author Christi Barth, CRUISING TOWARD LOVE and her other books, stop by her website, Christi Barth. On Friday, Sept. 9, she will be at Desert Island Keepers for an interview and on Wednesday, Sept. 14, she’s visiting Carol at Under the Tiki Hut for an interview. 

Celebrate The Holiday!

 

I would like to wish everyone who celebrates the holiday a safe and Happy Labor Day. For those who don't celebrate, may you have a safe and joyous day just the same.

Stop by tomorrow for a spotlight on Christi Barth's newest release, CRUISING TOWARD LOVE.

Guest Blogger: Christi Barth

Please join me in welcoming author Christi Barth as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Christi’s current release is ACT LIKE WE’RE IN LOVE, a contemporary, single title romance.

Here’s a brief blurb: When two people make beautiful music together onstage, can their love survive once the curtain falls? Linnea Larson is willing to do anything to keep her family's Minneapolis dinner theatre from going under. Anything, that is, besides accepting a date from the Hollywood hunk her father hired to inject a dose of star power into their production of Guys & Dolls. It's a toss up whether his greatest claim to fame is playing a superhero on screen, or a super stud off screen. Neither fact convinces her he's got what it takes to share her stage. And thanks to a life long pact with her best friend, she never dates actors.  

Luke Powell has fame, fortune, and an endless string of women, but also a lingering dissatisfaction with his picture perfect life. Looking for a change, he escapes to his theatrical roots. What he finds are wary cast mates, a nervous best friend convinced the show will ruin Luke's career, and an adorable costar who stubbornly refuses to go out with him. Suddenly singing and dancing aren't the only challenges he'll tackle over the summer. Far from the spotlights of Hollywood, can he find happiness in the footlights of a tiny theatre?   

Despite Luke dragging her into his daily paparazzi nightmare, Linnea can't deny her mounting attraction to his irresistible charm. And even if she's crazy enough to chance getting involved, their fling would have a guaranteed expiration date. He's leaving at the end of the run, and she's tied to her family's theatre. Why risk the inevitable heartbreak? Their job is to act like they're in love, but will they decide it's worth the leap to fall in love for real?
Christi stops by today to talk with us about ‘A Writing Recipe.'

I love to cook. One of my favorite things to do is have people over so I have an excuse to browse cookbooks, come up with menu plans, shop for ingredients and stand over a stove for hours. Every part of the process is fun for me. When I think about trying to describe the process of getting 98,000 words down in book form, it reminds me very much of cooking.

Random browsing: I don't wait for a party to find good recipes. Each month I rip pages out of Bon Appetit and Cooking Light, and bring home cookbooks from the library. Book ideas are the same thing. I don't wait until I'm ready to begin writing the next great romance novel to come up with a plot. One sentence blurbs occur to me all the time. Sometimes I scribble down a fully fleshed blurb, and sometimes it might be no more than a 'what if' scenario. At this point I have about twelve plots ready to go at any moment, with several more possibilities stuffed in a drawer. All I do is browse my idea file, and find the one that's right for the moment.

Menu plan and Ingredients: Writing doesn't begin immediately. The simulatenous process of planning (outlining the plot) and choosing the ingredients (character development) can take up to a month. First I scroll through lists of names. In a recent book, the heroine's family had a Greek background, so I relied on the web to give me authentic first and last names. I try to select as many minor character names as possible before hand, otherwise I'll get stuck in the middle of writing for a few hours while I look for just the right one. 

Smart Art tools in Powerpoint make outlining the story a breeze. I make a chart for each main character's development, as well as one for the overarching story line. My current WIP takes place in Chicago, and the heroine is a wedding planner. So I have another chart listing iconic Chicago spots I want to work into the story, as well as wedding locations. When I need one, I can just refer to my list and plow ahead with writing.

Chained to the stove: for all of its fun, cooking has a decidedly non-glamorous side. Sautéing is sexy with the sizzle, and baking is magical. But nothing happens without prepping, which usually includes lots of chopping. Last night I made turkey soup, and I still had to shop carrots, onions, mushrooms, turnips, as well as walnuts for a dessert. To quote the great Nora Roberts, as a writer you have to put your butt in the chair. After all the planning and outlining, there comes a point when the dirty work begins, and I simply sit and write.

Since I'm not a mega best-seller yet, I do have a day job. All my writing occurs at night. Sure, there are nights when I find it difficult to pull myself away from my television addiction, but this is a job, and I treat it as such. I have a word count I must hit every week. Occasionally on the weekends I can squeeze out a few pages at my desk during the day. My home office is on the third floor, so I've got a great view of the treetops and nothing else to distract me. But most nights will find me on the couch with my laptop, banging away. 

The exception is outlining. Although I do outline the whole book in a general way before I dive in, I still generate an outline for each chapter, which  can only be created once I start. That can occur on the fly - I do much of my outlining on the elliptical machine, while driving, and at the symphony.  I come home from almost every performance with notes scribbled along the edges of my program. The beauty of writing is that you can commune with your characters anywhere. Stuck in line at the store? Plot the next chapter. Stuck in traffic? Figure out the next big plot twist.  

It is highly recommended to taste while cooking, to be sure the seasoning is right. Far easier to make adjustments as you go than try to fix at the end. In the same vein, I revise as I go. Perhaps I don't churn out as many pages at a time as some people, but I do deliver a final draft of every page each night when I shut down. So in essence, my first draft becomes my finished product. Once I type the end, I don't do much revising. Because once you take a cake out of the oven, there isn't much you can do to change it!

Christi, thanks for guest blogging here today and sharing how you cook up a wonderful story.

For more information on Christi, check out her website at www.christibarth.com and she blogs at htt://wordwranglers.blogspot.com  An e-book version of ACT LIKE WE’RE IN LOVE can be purchased at Eternal Press, while the print copy can be found at Amazon.com

What are your thoughts on comparing writing to cooking?