Welcome, Christy Poff is with us today to answer a few questions, and let us know about her newest releases.  Thanks Christy for taking time to answer a few questions. Can you please tell us a little about yourself? When did you first decide that you wanted to be a writer?

I live in Southeastern Pennsylvania with my family.  I've been involved with the fire service since 1973 and love researching the Civil War.  Besides writing, I love to read and music of all kinds - especially Brooks and Dunn, Gary Allan and Linkin Park.  As to when I decided to become a writer, I made a miserable attempt at a novel in the early '90's and went into writing articles for the local newspapers as well as regional fire service publications.  My first book came out of a family trip to Gettysburg almost ten years after my first try.

What or who are your most important writing influences and why?

I don't know if I really have any major influences because I want my work to be just that - mine.  I try to keep my ideas as fresh and unique as I can.  I can say I'm influenced by the world today, some of my stories coming from events in my life, in the news, etc.

What is your favorite part of being a writer? What do you like the least?

I love writing and researching various aspects of the stories like locations, history, etc. Many times, my writing has helped me keep whatever sanity I might have intact.  I think what I don't like is the wait for the reviews to come back because of the time factor but in the end it is all worth it.

What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?

I think a good story needs good character development, great plots and exotic or unique locations.  If the reader can't love or hate the character, then what's the point.  If the reader can't escape for a little bit, then - I feel - the author hasn't done their job.

Do you follow a specific routine when you write?

Not really.  I think I'm constantly writing because if I'm not putting a book to paper them I am making notes for it or another one.  To actually schedule time is impossible considering I do most of my writing when my husband is not around.  He doesn't support what I do so I tend to not aggravate an already bad thing between us.  It is also non-productive with
me because I can't write on demand - I go blank.  I am lucky in that I've not had to deal with deadlines so I really haven't had to deal with a brain freeze while on routine writing time.

Most romance authors are also avid readers. What do you like to read the most?

Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, Aimee and David Thurlo's Lee Nez series, John Jakes, Christine Feehan, Jackie Collins, WEB Griffin's Badge of Honor series to name a few.  I love Civil War stories, shapeshifter, erotica and some mystery.  I guess my reading is well-rounded.

What is your favorite genre to write? Is there anything you feel uncomfortable writing?

I have several favorites between Civil War, vampires and weres, romance with an erotic twist and stories based in the fire service.  I really don't like science fiction because of the scientific research needed to be done on some of these things.  I know a lot of it is imagination but everything is based on fact - even if loosely - and it is just not me.

I have just read Spark of the Wolf, what inspired this terrific werewolf story?

I'm glad you liked it.  I've always loved these kind of stories and decided to trying my hand at writing an established idea while adding my own twist to it.

Sean and Rhiannon are wonderful characters, did their story come easy to you or were they difficult to write about?

They were easy to write about as are all my characters.  I've only had three I've had difficulty with writing and the problem never came from my characters.  They speak to me and I go from there.

Is Spark of the Wolf part of a series? Are there any other books that are related to this story?

This is the second in the EYES OF DARKNESS series which alternates between vampires - DANTE'S FLAME and LOVE HURTS - and werewolves.  I have two more in the development phase as well.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Do not let an "expert" tell you that you can NOT write.  It happened to me in my senior year of high school and I was stupid enough to believe the woman who made the comment.  Twenty-five years passed before I really tried again.  I met up with a children's author who ran into the exact same thing as I did and she wasted the same amount of time as I did before getting her work out.  She is a best selling children's author as well.  I made the mistake of listening to others and can pass my lesson on to others.  I wrote for newspapers and got published but writing novels is what I really enjoy.  I guess my point it - If you want to do it - GO FOR IT!  

Can you tell us about any projects that you are working on at the moment?

I have several waiting to be edited with my awesome editor Chere Gruver.  Right now, we're starting on my first novel - Chase for an Angel - set during the Civil War and set to be released in March 2006.  There are several others including two more in the INTERNET BONDS series.  Like I've said, I'm constantly writing with five kicking around in various stages in my mind.

Where can readers find your books, and how can they contact you?

Right now all of my work with the exception of two novellas is available from Whiskey Creek Press.  Readers can contact me at either christysflame3@aol.com  or at my journal page at Christy's Web Journal - Bravenet Web Journal.

Finally, any last thoughts you would like to leave with our readers?

My work has been well received by the readers and reviewers alike and it means a great deal to me.  I hope this keeps going for a long time to come.  Thanks for letting me sit down and chat with you.

I want to thank Christy Poff on behalf of Coffee Time Romance for chatting with us today.

Susan
Interviewer