Author Christie Rich ~ Dark Minds Book Tours

Please welcome Author Christie Rich onto the Road to Hell. Christie is the author of Five (Elemental Enmity Book I). Other books written by Christie are Dark Matter (Elemental Enmity Book II) and Genesis (Elemental Enmity Book III).

Now, it’s time to create a little hell and get to the good stuff by revealing all of Christie’s wicked secrets while on the Road to Hell. LOL  Yeah, you wish! ;-D 

Grab your favorite drink, sink your teeth into something decadent, sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know Christie…

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GRACEN:  Tell me three things about yourself that we cannot find on the internet or in your bio?

CHRISTIE: 1. My older brother used to call me Rogue because I have a white birthmark in my hair just like the comic book character.  It was either that or skunk.  I preferred Rogue. 2. I once peed in a bucket and threw the water on my brother and his friends for picking on me. I know, I know, eww, but you just had to be there. 3. I held a human heart in my hands and found it fascinating.  It was cold and rubbery, but oh, so cool to think about how it functions.

GRACEN: What hobbies and interests do you participate in when you’re not writing?

CHRISTIE: I love to paint, make flower arrangements, and take photos.  Anything creative and I’m so there.

GRACEN: Do you have any writing quirks or certain things you MUST have or do before beginning the writing process?

CHRISTIE:  Not really.  Unfortunately for me right now, I only write part time, so I take what I can when I can get it.

GRACEN: If you were plotting to take over the world, how would you do it?

CHRISTIE:  Muhuahahahahaha (rubs hands together).  Oh, did you hear that?  No seriously, who wants that responsibility?

GRACEN: If you could make one statement that the entire planet would hear and remember, what would it be?

CHRISTIE: Love one another. We all desire to be love and to love, so what’s the problem?

GRACEN: What genre do you write and why that genre?

CHRISTIE: Paranormal Romance.  I’m a sucker for a happy ending, and I love all things paranormal, so it was a fantastic fit for me.

GRACEN: For those who are not yet familiar with Christie Rich, can you please give us some details about the book and/or series?

CHRISTIE: I’d be happy to.  Rayla Tate was hidden in a sanctuary to protect her from the fae. Rayla holds power to control all five elements. The fae have prophesied of her coming for millennia.  Too bad for Rayla, she doesn’t know any of this when she disobeys her controlling aunt and runs away to a bright new future at college.  Rayla quickly gets an education that she is not a normal human and human rules don’t apply to her. Five men have come to claim her, and each lord has the ability to make her think she loves him.  Every encounter with the lords becomes harder to resist, until Rayla is faced with a decision she is barely equipped to make. Will she be able to see through fae manipulation to her true feelings before she is claimed for her power?

GRACEN: Do you have any new stories in the works and can you tell us a bit about it/them?

CHRISTIE: Absolutely! I’m finishing up the Elemental Enmity series with the final book, Horizon, due out the end of December. I’m also working on a new series called Netherworld.  The first book, Dreamscape, will be out shortly after Horizon.  It combines some of the mythology of Morpheus and Hades.  Somehow I made a connection between the two and Seth's character was born.  He is a keeper of dreams and requires a mortal's help to stop the evil Erebos from taking over his realm.  Little does Amelia Blake know she has become his target until she finds herself trapped in his lair with the only way out through her dreams.  The only thing is, by the time she figures out how to leave him, will she want to?

GRACEN: If you could describe your writing with one word or brief phrase, what would it be? Please delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they’ve finished reading your story.

CHRISTIE: Emotional.

GRACEN: What, in your opinion, makes your story unique and what makes it stand out from other stories in your genre? Think of this as a pitch to convince readers to pick up your books.

CHRISTIE: Elemental Enmity combines fae mythology with the idea the fae have bargained to be on our planet and are basically in servitude to the creator.  Elemental powers are divided among five houses, earth, air, water, fire, and space (void).  The fae must use their power to benefit and protect the earth, but in recent times, the houses have been warring, creating havoc in the mortal realm.  If they don’t find a way to get along, they will be evicted from earth.  Worse, the fae have become dependent on bonding with Elementals for enhanced power.  The more powerful the Elemental, the stronger the house.  When Rayla Tate shows up on the scene, her power is unprecedented.  Rayla has been hidden from the fae.  Unfortunately she doesn’t know this until it is too late and her world is forever changed.  Her dreams for the future are shattered when she discovers her role in the age old battle between the fae and the Order that breeds Elementals for world dominance.

GRACEN: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?

CHRISTIE: I followed a couple around because I was so captivated by their open display of love for each other. Somewhere down the road, that scene will end up in one of my books.

GRACEN: Of all your books, which character did you have the most fun creating and why?

CHRISTIE: In all honesty, I don’t believe I’ve created any of my characters.  They’ve shown themselves to me piece by piece. That being said, I love Styx.  He’s a midnight black pegasus that breathes fire.  He’s got an attitude the size of Australia and isn’t afraid of anything.  I just love him.

GRACEN: If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why?

CHRISTIE: I’d totally love to meet Styx.  I’d hitch a ride to Faeresia so I could meet all the other characters.

GRACEN: Which of your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

CHRISTIE: Ainessa. She’s scary. I’d never know if my thoughts were my own. I’d never be able to trust myself.

GRACEN:  If you were interviewing yourself, what is the one question you would ask yourself and please give us the answer to that question?

CHRISTIE: Good question (Grins). Why do you write? I write to free the stories swimming around in my mind. I write to discover. It’s the closest thing to living forever I can think of.

GRACEN:  Thanks so much for joining us, Christie!  It’s been a treat getting to know you better! 

CHRISTIE:  Thanks so much for having me here, Gracen.  I’ve really enjoyed answering your questions.  I hope you all will accept a small gift from me and download a copy of Five from your favorite e-retailer.  I’d also love to hear from you.

Get your free e-copy of Five on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords.

Connect with Christie Rich

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BLURB: Rayla Tate’s life is about to turn vertical…again. As if it wasn’t bad enough her mother disappeared under questionable circumstances leaving Rayla to be raised by her aunt in a horrendously small town. Her overprotective guardian is determined to ruin Rayla’s life. She refuses to let Rayla out of her sight or out of the state. Provincial living might be what her aunt demands of her purposely sheltered niece; but, Rayla has other ideas. In a desperate attempt to follow her dreams she flees the safety of her home and runs away to college with her best friend toward a bright future in the art world.

However, excitement over her newfound freedom turns into terror when she is chased by a mysterious stranger on her way to school. When his motorcycle suddenly morphs into a fire-breathing pegasus, Rayla questions her sanity. Worse, the man riding next to her stirs a burning desire in her soul she has never known or could have ever imagined. Using all the will she owns, she manages to resist the compulsion she feels; yet, as he disappears into the night, she is certain he hasn't gone far.

Rayla quickly dismisses the encounter to her overactive imagination. She is determined to settle into her new life, yet the images and feelings of that night still haunt her. To make matters worse, her aunt seems to be in on the act, insisting that Rayla will soon be hunted by a pack of fae lords for a power over the elements she never knew she possessed—a power that could change the world. Quicker than she ever thought possible, she finds herself surrounded by stunning men that all seem determined to win her heart. Why does she feel drawn to each one of them? More importantly, what dark power do they hold over her? Rayla must quickly learn to fend off these beautiful and seductive pursuers using whatever means necessary or find herself lost to the fae world forever.

EXCERPT: 

I hurried to class, trying to sneak to my spot on the back row.  If I could get my supplies out quickly, maybe Professor Brown wouldn’t realize I was late.

He saw me the moment I opened the back door.  He shook his head.

I mouthed, “Sorry,” trying not to interrupt class.

For once the girls were quiet.  They were all focused on something at the front of the room.  The way the easels were positioned, I couldn’t see what it was.  I picked up my new canvas and lifted it into place.  I pulled out my palate and sprayed some fresh water on the dobs of color.  Then I looked up.

Luke’s tropical gaze collided with mine.  His warm smile washed over me.

Great.  He was all I needed.  What was he doing here?  Men weren’t supposed to be in class.  Mr. Brown didn’t count.  He was the instructor.

I had forgotten we were doing a human study.  I peaked over the canvas again.

Luke’s golden flesh gleamed under the florescent light.  My gaze traveled over the solid curve of his bare shoulder, down the chiseled line of his stomach and on to his…oh-my-stars.  I did not just see that.  Luke was a million shades of sexy with his clothes on.  He was lethal without them.  I couldn’t do this.  I had thought they would bring in a female model and it was supposed to be later in the semester, too.

“Is there a problem, Rayla?” Professor Brown asked from behind me.

My mind raced for an acceptable excuse.  I could pretend I was sick and leave, but then I would fall behind.  I wasn’t going to jeopardize my future just because of Luke.  “I’m trying to figure out the colors to mix for his skin.”

“Try burnt sienna, purple, and…”  He peered up the aisle, angling his neck and straightening it again.  “Why don’t you start with a rough sketch like the rest of the class?  I’m going to have to give more thought to the mixture.”

Good luck with that.  How could you synthesize tiny particles of ethereal gold luster from ordinary human paint?  I hid behind my canvas until Mr. Brown cleared his throat.

Okay, no problem.  If I focused on the parts and not the whole, maybe I could do it without passing out.  I looked at some of the sketches.  Not likely.

I started with his face.  I traced the line of his square jaw.  No.  That wasn’t right.  It was angular with square points.  There.  That was it.  His hair came next.  Soft waves formed around his linear brow then on towards his broad cheekbone.  I became obsessed with getting the lines perfect, just like he was.  By the end of class, I had his flawless lips down on paper.

My heart was no longer hammering, but it wasn’t calm either.  I packed up my supplies, praying he would let it be.  As long as he left me alone, I would be okay.

No such luck.  He stood next to me as though appraising my work.  Thankfully, he’d wrapped a towel snuggly around his hips.

“You show promise.  Would you like to learn from Da Vinci’s tutor?”

And so it began.  He had found the one thing that could get me to want to go with him.  In that moment, I realized he could give me everything I was working toward and more.  If I stayed in his realm for centuries, I could hone my craft to perfection.  I could become anything I desired by the time he brought me back to my human existence.  I stopped my thoughts from going any further.  I couldn’t let myself go there.  I raised my gaze slowly to his.  “What would it cost me, Luke?”

A muscle twitched near his eye.  “How did you find out?”

“Does it matter?”

He shrugged nonchalantly.  “Compulsion can only intensify feelings that already exist.”

I turned away.  Why did he affect me so?  “Please leave me alone.”

“Rayla—”

I looked at him squarely.  “I do not carry your mark.  You have no claim to me.”  I exposed my right shoulder.

He pulled the cloth lower running his fingers over my skin.  His touch sent a rush of heat through my frame.  I leaned into him momentarily, savoring his nearness.  I could have him for an eternity if I gave in.  I straightened with effort.

He shook his head warily, searching my face intently.  “It has to be here.  I can feel you.”

“Maybe you need a vacation,” I said coldly.

His faint smile turned serious.  “You must come with me quietly.  We have to find out what has happened here.”

My body didn’t want to obey my mind.  I could hardly think because I had to use all my concentration to keep myself from leading him to the door.  “Like I told Taylor, I want you to leave me alone, Luke.  I don’t wish to scream, but I will.”  I forced myself to stare boldly at him even though I felt as weak as a newborn kitten.

He traced the line of my jaw.  “This isn’t over.”

CONTEST

Five (Book 1 in the Elemental Emnity Series) is FREE on Smashwords and Barnes & Noble, so go grab your copy and enter the giveaway for your chance to win Book 2 & 3!

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