Hooked on Books Promotions: Claddagh Author Interview With Christy Pastore

Welcome Christy Pastore and thank you for taking time out to do our questionnaire.

🍀Book Questions🍀

Tell us your latest news?

I just returned from a trip to the UK where I did some research for my Calum series. Book two, Calum Me Maybe, is scheduled for release in late June, and I will be signing it at the event in October.

What book are you reading now?

I just finished Us by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. I love this series! Next up is Ride Hard by Laura Kaye. She is a must-buy author for me.

Your books are so emotional. How long does it take for you to be able to get the characters out of your mind and move on to the next?

I won’t lie, it’s hard to move on. I try to scrub my mind with something familiar - a favourite book, film, or even album - before I move on to the next project. If I’m working on more than one project at a time, which often happens, I try to work on scenes that pull me completely out of one universe and into another. Usually funny scenes or *ahem* love scenes.

Are the names of the characters in your novels important?

Only to me. I often use names that I’ve always liked, but names that haven’t been used very much in the books I’ve read. When I wrote The Calum, for instance, I didn’t see any other books with the name “Calum”. Since then, I’ve seen a few. “Lovie” is still unique, as far as I know. In the case of Falling Stars, I wanted my hero to have a name that reminded me of the leading men from Hollywood’s golden age. “Sam Newman” seems very classic, no?

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

Having a life outside of writing. In my case, also being a musician, it’s a matter of putting on a different hat. But even so, I manage to spend time with friends and family. It’s so easy to stay glued to your laptop, typing away, lost in worlds of your own creation. It’s important to spend time in the real world, not only to preserve your sanity, but also for inspiration. Life makes for great fiction.

What is the most demeaning thing said about you as a writer?

There are a lot of assumptions about the type of fiction I write based on the colour of my skin. I’ve had a number of readers and bloggers tell me they’re not interested in reading my work because they don’t think they’ll be able to relate to what I write, or what they think I write. It’s insulting. I don’t let it get to me, though, or I try not to let it. It’s not always possible. I’m grateful for every reader that takes a chance on me, especially being an unknown author. It’s a gamble they don’t have to take, so I’m always appreciative when they do.

How do you react to a bad review of one of your books?

I’ve been fortunate that most reviews of my books are positive. When I do encounter a negative review, I hope I can learn from it. If it’s a critical review about style, plot, or characterization, I take it to heart and ask myself if it’s something I need to improve. I’m always learning, always willing to learn. On the other hand, you can’t please everyone. Not everyone’s going to like what I write, and I’m okay with that. Though I can be very thin-skinned at times, I try not to let a bad review get me down.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

For me, the hardest part of writing any book is knowing when it’s finished. I’m a perfectionist and I can spend months editing. The problem with that is, the more I edit, the more I risk losing my “voice” in the process. I’ve developed a method to help with that, though. Once I finish a first draft, I put it aside for a few weeks and then come back to it with fresh eyes. So far, so good. I hope.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned that I love to torture my characters. LOL! Seriously, though, I enjoy the journey that my characters take from point A to point B, with all of the bumps and scrapes that happen along the way to their happy-ever-after.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I write a lot about second-chances. We’re all human. We all make mistakes. We often let those mistakes define us and, most of the time, we shouldn’t. We should learn from them, yes, and grow from them, of course. But so many of us have a tendency to dwell on our mistakes and punish ourselves for them long past their expiration date. In my writing, my characters learn that it’s okay to forgive yourself. It’s okay to admit that a choice was bad, make amends if necessary, and then move on from it. Everyone deserves to be happy. I suppose that’s my central message: find your joy and believe that you’ve earned it.

Have you ever read or seen yourself as a character in a book or a movie?

Maybe in bits and pieces, sure. I can’t say I’ve ever seen or read a character that I completely identified with on every level, not even in my own books.

Describe in 5 words, your writing:

Passionate, emotional, sexy, snarky, and uplifting.

What do you use to write your book?

I stopped writing longhand years ago (it’s actually kind of pathetic when I try it these days), so most of my writing is on my laptop. I use MS Word, Scrivener, and various other tools to complete my manuscripts. I do, however, write a lot of notes by hand. I have a nice, little collection of notebooks scattered around my house.

Do you listen to music while you write or read?

Both. I need music on when I write. Oddly enough, it helps me focus. I also have certain albums or genres that I’ll listen to for certain scenes. For The Calum, I listen to a lot of Scottish music, both contemporary and traditional, and Indie rock. For Falling Stars, it’s more top 40 pop, and trip-hop, even a little Nine Inch Nails. For love scenes, my go-to album is Mezzanine by Massive Attack. So sexy!

If you could write with any other author(s) who would it be and why?

Wow. Well, I’m currently writing a serial on Wattpad with Kim Golden. I’ve known Kim a long, long time, and she’s one of my favourite authors, so writing with her is thrilling. As for other authors, if I had a wish list, Sierra Simone would be on it. So would Sarina Bowen, Hugh Howey, and Kaia Bennett. They’ve all mastered aspects of storytelling that I aspire to master myself.

🍀NON- BOOK QUESTIONS🍀

When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

I grew up in the music industry, but I never thought I would be a performer when I grew up. In fact, I didn’t really take my music seriously until after university. I wanted to be an actor, and my degree is in Theatre. That lasted about a year, lol.

Did/Do you have a nickname?

My dad calls me “cookie”, but other than that, no. Most people just shorten my name to one syllable. A few readers have taken to calling me Lady Xi. Not sure what that’s about, haha.

What are your pet peeves?

I really dislike close-mindedness. It’s so limiting and I think we should have grown out of it as a species by now. Sadly, we haven’t. As for little ones, I’m not crazy about wearing shoes in the house. We Americans still do that, lol.

What is your favourite coffee shop drink?

I love a good Iced Vanilla Latte. And now I want one.

What's your favourite tv show?

Outlander. No surprise there, really. I watch a lot of television, though. So many favourites, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Lucifer, etc, but Outlander is at the top.

What is your favourite kind of cookie?

Chocolate chip, especially when it’s right out of the oven.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you have and why?

A Kindle Fire, a satellite WiFi device, and a solar charger. I think they’re self-explanatory.

Where would you go if you had a time machine?

I would travel forward about 500 years, just to reassure myself that everything is going to be okay.

Which is your favorite quote?

“Feed the truth, starve the lie.” Dr. Robin L. Smith

If you were an ice cream what flavor would you be?

Butter Pecan, sweet and a little nutty.

What song best describes you?

“Stranger” by Sierra Hurtt

🍀THIS OR THAT🍀

Pepsi or Coke

Coke

Michael Fassbender or Colin Farrell

Fassie

Cows or Sheep

Sheep

. Castle or Town house

Town House

City or Country

City

Lover or Fighter

Lover

Pop or Rock Music

Rock

80’s or 90’s

90s

Singing or dancing

Tough one! Singing gets the edge, but only by a hair.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & LINKS

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Christy Pastore lives in the Midwest with her husband, two lovable dogs and their crazy cool cat. When she's not writing flirty and dirty books or updating her celebrity fashion blog, she loves shopping online, binge watching her favorite shows and daydreaming.

She believes books, especially love stories are an escape from the real world.