RWA – A Day in the Writing Life…Christina Phillips

Welcome everyone to another Day in the Writing Life post. Joining us today is Christina Phillips.

Warning : Some content may not suitable for under 18.

In one or two sentences, please tell us what genre you write in and what made you decide that particular one is your calling.

As Christina Phillips I write erotic historical romances about sexy warriors and magical heroines with a dash of strong-willed goddesses for good measure.

As Christina Ashcroft I write about bad ass archangels and the women who capture their hearts.

I always loved reading paranormal and fantasy stories as a child, although I never thought of them in that way – it all seemed very normal to me that a magical land could be found through the back of your wardrobe. So I’ve always enjoyed writing stories with a touch of magic or fantasy elements.

Where do you write? Do you have your own special place? Does the location vary?

 I’m lucky enough to have one of the spare bedrooms as my very own office. I love it! So do the cats!!

What’s the first thing you do before you begin to write?

I have to check my emails. Now I have an iPad I tend to read through my emails and check Twitter and Facebook while I’m having breakfast, so once I get to the laptop in theory I can open my current wip without any other distractions. If only this tactic actually worked in practice!!

 Do you spend much time reading over the previous day’s work? Do you have a special system in place in order to begin writing or go with the flow?

I always read over the previous day’s work so I can get back into the mood and scene. Then I just hope the muse is going to behave and let the words flow! This doesn’t always work. I have tried thinking out the next scene in advance, when I’m in bed the night before, but so far my brain refuses to cooperate!

 Are you a plotter / planner or a pantser? Do you edit as you go or prefer to edit after completion of the ms?

I’m a bit of a hybrid. I don’t plan everything out in advance but I do like to have a few major plot turns in place before I start writing. Although I have no idea how to get to any of those points until the words appear on the laptop screen, which can be a bit unnerving!

I have to edit as I go along. I send my fabulous CPs anything between one to four chapters at a time and then work on any questions or suggestions they might have. If at any point I think of something that should be either added or deleted earlier in the book then I’ll usually go back and either thread it through or pull it out, otherwise it bugs me.

When I finish the book I go back and read it through with an eye to continuity and to double check I haven’t left any plot threads hanging.

Is your writing space messy, organized or somewhere in between? Are you prepared to show evidence of your claim with a desk photo?

Organized? What’s that?! My desk is covered in… stuff. I sometimes think I need a bigger desk, but know it doesn’t matter how huge it is, it would still be overflowing. I also invariably have a cat or two sprawled across my diary or story notes. Sometimes they lend a paw on the keyboard despite my best efforts to discourage this 🙂

Thank you for being our guest Christina. For more information of Christina’s wonderful books please visit her websites.

Christina Ashcroft’s Website

Christina Phillips Website

As Christina Ashcroft the first book in my hot Archangel series has just been released, ARCHANGEL OF MERCY. I’m delighted that this book finalled in the 2012 Australian Romance Readers Award for Favourite Paranormal Romance!

Blurb

When Aurora Robinson attempts to open a rift between dimensions to embrace her true heritage, an arrogant Archangel is the only one who can save her from the jaws of hell. And while she owes Gabriel her life, she’s determined not to fall at his feet-despite the desire she feels whenever they’re together.

After his wings were brutally destroyed millennia ago, Gabriel has no compassion for humans like those who ruined him and betrayed the ones he loved. But when he inexplicably finds himself defying ancient protocols to rescue a woman from a fate worse than death, he is shocked by the searing attraction he feels for a mortal.

As the ancient forces that seek to punish Aurora for her actions close in, Gabriel offers the tempting woman protection at his private sanctuary. But as they both succumb to their desires, they discover an even deeper connection-one that threatens to consume them.

Posted by Efthalia on February 15, 2013

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