Ask the Author: Christine Goff
Answered Questions (7)
Christine Goff
This is a tough one, but...all of my life I've grown up hearing that one of my ancestors was a Native American, born in L.A. in 1851, who married my great, great, great grandfather, a wealthy, white attorney and rancher in Southern California. Because it wasn't "fashionable," my great, great grandmother's heritage was "whitewashed," and all trace of her actual beginnings seems to be erased. As I grew up and my father and aunts grew older, I asked them questions about their great, great grandmother. My father's comment was, "Well that would explain some things." My aunts both reacted in horror and said I should never speak of such things. Someday, I hope to have time to dig into my genealogy and unravel the mystery.
Christine Goff
I love Jamie and Claire Fraser from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, DD Warren and Alex from Lisa Gardner, Rizzoles and Isles (I know they're not technically a "couple", but they are a twosome) from Tess Gerritsen. It's hard to pull couples from the fiction I love to read--thrillers and some mysteries--because in many of my favorite books someone dies or moves on. It's hard to maintain a relationship if your a spy, or a fed, or a cop.
Christine Goff
My most recent novel is DARK WATERS, a story about a Diplomatic Security Service agent who finds herself faced with an untenable decision. The idea actually came to me years ago, during a two year visit to Israel. I was staying in Tel Aviv with my daughter, who was there to receive some alternative medical treatments, and I found myself fascinated by the people and culture, and how everyone there lives "normal" lives while continually at the brink of war.
Christine Goff
The second in my thriller series, RED SKY. In this book, Raisa Jordan accompanies the Ambassador's wife to Kiev, Ukraine and finds herself in a race to prevent an attack that could mean the end of diplomacy.
Christine Goff
Study the craft and stay true to your story. Only you can tell the story you have to write. You are the filter. But it requires tools to get that story down on the page. Make sure you understand how-to write character and dialogue, how to construct a plot, what is meant by point-of-view and voice. There are no rules for writing, but there are techniques and conventions. Once you know those, you are actually freed up to write great things.
Christine Goff
The freedom to people watch with impunity. Character is what drives story, and watching people is a luxury writers are free to indulge at all times.
Christine Goff
I do my best to ignore it. If I need to, I will edit a few pages of what I wrote the day before to help jump start myself. But if I can't go forward, it's usually because something is wrong. By going back to where I last felt things were on track with my story, I can usually find my direction.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more