PLEASE MAKE WELCOME DEBUT AUTHOR AND HOLLYWOOD MUSIC ASSISTANT, CJ BAHR!

Before we get down to the nitty gritty, I have to tell you I fell in love with "Walking Through Fire" when I read it!  Simon is an outstanding hero, and I believe you all will enjoy the awesome and talented CJ as she talks about her life, her dream, and her plan for more books!

 

Faith: Good morning, CJ! It is so good to have you with us here on the blog.  Please tell us a bit about yourself for those who don’t know. 

 

CJ: During the day, you’ll find me editing music for ABC’s hit comedy, The Middle.  As a music editor for Film and Television my career spans over 25 years with credits ranging from The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Father Of The Bride, to Northern Exposure and The Following.

 

When I’m not editing music, I’m editing words.  I was first published in 1994 with a short story called “Does The Shoe Still Fit You Now?”, a sequel to Cinderella, in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Sword & Sorceress Anthology.  Walking Through Fire is my first novel, published by The Wild Rose Press.

 

I live in sunny Burbank, California, working in Television and writing two WIPs at the same time, while sneaking out to ride my horse and find time to cuddle with my cats and read.

 

Faith: Working in Hollywood has to be way exciting. On a scale of 1-10 how does having your book contracted and published compare?

 

CJ: Having my book contracted and published is a solid 10!  Hollywood really isn’t all that exciting in post production, and achieving a life long dream definitely out weighs the glamour of Tinsel Town.

 

Faith: Is there anything particularly memorable for you about being contracted?
 

CJ: My first sale (the short story) I was notified by mail, so selling Walking Through Fire was my very first “call”.  I don’t think there’s a single author out there who doesn’t find her/his call special, but mine might be one for the books because I received my call on April 1^st.  That’s right, April Fool’s Day.  I was so happy it wasn’t a prank!  It made the day very memorable.

 

 

Faith: When growing up, then you dream of being an author? If so why or why not?

 

CJ: Growing up, I was always an avid reader, which I think inspired me to start writing.  After all, there were stories I wanted to read, but hadn’t been written!  The idea of being an author gradually snuck upon me.  I always excelled in my English classes, and wrote for a few school papers, but it wasn’t until a friend showed me the open submission for Sword & Sorceress, I decided to try and get paid for my writing.  There was nothing like your first acceptance letter to instill confidence.  It was after that I thought I might have the talent to continue and aspire to my dream of writing a novel.

 

Faith: How did you come up with the plot and characters for “Walking Through Fire?”

 

CJ: It’s an interesting story how I came up with the idea for Walking Through Fire.  I don’t usually dream, or should I say, I don’t ever remember my dreams.  But one day, I was in that weird place where I wasn’t quite asleep but wasn’t awake and a very vivid scene in full color unspooled in my mind like watching a movie.  There was a man chained to a wall inside a cave, and the tide was coming in.  He couldn’t escape.

Why the heck did I dream that?  I still don’t know to this day.  It wasn’t like I was under a bunch of stress.  And I don’t dream of men drowning.  Completely bizarre.  It was very detailed.  So I wrote it down and got to thinking.  Who was this man and why did he drown?  Once I answered those questions, Simon MacKay, my hero was born, and the story of a Scottish ghost romance came together.

 

Faith: Who is your favorite character in the book?

 

CJ: I love writing villains, but if I have to be honest, Simon steals my heart.   It was so much fun writing a ghost, but making it an original/different take on ghosts.  Plus he ran the gamut of emotions of bitterness to kindhearted; it was great being inside his head.  And of course there was the fabulous conundrum of Simon’s:  If he fulfilled his family’s legacy he would lose the one thing he had wanted most in life—a true love.

 

Faith: Is there anything you would change about your book if you could do it over?

 

CJ: I’m very happy with Walking Through Fire.  I worked very hard on having a complete polished tale.  I can’t think of much I’d change, maybe perhaps having more time with my villain, Alex MacKenzie.  I think he might have gotten short changed.

 

Faith: Speaking of ghosts, do you have any type of paranormal background or experiences?

 

CJ: No personal experience, though I’d love to have one.  I’m addicted to all the ghosting hunting shows on TV (which I made my heroine and her best friend fans of).  I even went ghost hunting a time or two, but sadly had no luck.  My favorite time was in San Diego’s Old Town, which is famous for the Whaley House, the most haunted house in Untied States.  It was major fun writing the ghost-hunting scene in Walking Through Fire.  At first I was having trouble writing it until a critique partner suggested I write it from Simon’s POV, then everything clicked.  That chapter still makes me smile—ghost hunting from the ghost’s point of view.

 

Faith: Is there anyone in your life that may have influenced your desire to write?

 

CJ: My parents were most influential in me becoming a published author.  They instilled my love a books and reading through example.  I can’t remember a time when they didn’t have a book in hand.  I have three older sisters and they always read as well.  I was reading well above my pay grade by the time I entered school.  My mother was an avid romance reader and my father loved all those military suspense books by Dale Brown, Tom Clancy and Clive Clusser.  I have quite the eclectic reading list.  Currently I read mostly paranormal romance, urban fantasy and straight fantasy, I suppose leaning toward what I like to write.

 

Faith: What do you have planned next in the way of books?

 

CJ: I’ve got two.  While I was waiting to see if anyone wanted to publish, Walking Through Fire, I decided to challenge myself in my next endeavor and write in first person, which lent itself to an urban fantasy.  It stars a snarky, kick-ass time cop heroine, and might even be series worthy.

 

I normally only work on one manuscript at a time, but when your editor tells you she loves a particular character in my novel and I should tell that person’s story, who would be crazy enough to say no?  So I put my thinking cap on, needing to solve a few tricky problems and have come up with, Forged In Fire, a spin-off starring a certain character from Walking Through Fire (I can’t tell you or there will be major spoiler alerts!).  No ghosts this time, but there is a Highwayman.

 

Faith: Is there anything you would like to say to aspiring authors?

 

CJ: Never give up!  If you want to be an author, first, write, and keep on writing.  It’s easy to throw in the towel when all you get are rejections.  I’m super glad I didn’t else I wouldn’t have a novel published today.  You can do it.  Perseverance is the key.

 

Faith: Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?

 

CJ: Thank you for picking up my book and giving a debut author a chance.  I have received some lovely reviews I cherish, since people not only took the time to read my story, but then decided to share their opinions and get the word out about Simon and Laurel.  It means a great deal to me.  Thank you!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME AND SO MUCH MORE!

I know ya’ll are extremely tired of excuses from me for not keeping up my end of the blog.  I am so sorry!  I have been slammed with school stuff, and working out a plot for a new book, and getting over being sick.

My wonderfully planned Thanksgiving holiday with fellow and fantastic author Lil Gibson who does an awesome Feline Predators of Ganz series did not happen.  Both my daughter and I came down, she a day before and myself the evening before we were to leave, with something akin to the flu.  Not fun at all. We had to make an emergency run to the grocery store for food, since the cupboards were bare due to our planned trip.  There we stocked up on munchies, food for Thanksgiving dinner, and meds.

I was bummed in so many ways, because we had planned to get together with Eliza March, who ya’ll know is an extraordinary author, as well as queen of the freelance articles, Jen Akers and her darling husband and sister. Oh well, we are going to try the trip again in the Spring.

Now, keep an ear and eye open because debut author CJ Bahr is going to be on my blog, yes right here, on the 18^th of this month. Her fabulous ghost romance “Walking Through Fire” is totally awesome!

Okay, a lot of you already know, but today is my birthday.  Not saying how old, but old enough to take it easy…lol.  However, I had to take a Criminology Final today and Praise the Lord, I made 97!  I am thrilled since I was exempted from my History final due to an A in that class.  I had to stand in line to get car tags and then developed a headache, but headache be gone in the name of Jesus. I want to celebrate my life. God has been so good to me, and I want to get caught up so I can get back to writing and not just plotting.

Don’t forget that tomorrow is release day for Mary Morgan’s latest book, book two in her Dragon Knight’s Series, called, “Dragon Knight’s Medallion.”

I will try to do better on Thursdays and my weekend recaps.  And if I don’t, then send me a note and tell me to get the lead out!

Hugs to you all and happy holiday!  God Bless!

Faith