Ask the Author: C.J. Anaya
Answered Questions (20)
C.J. Anaya
The weary mother stealthily searched the freezer for her Rocky Road ice cream. Upon opening the carton, she discovered it empty.
C.J. Anaya
I have so many folks asking about this spin off series, and it hurts my hear that I haven't been able to write it yet. I needed to finish Paranormal Misfits first, and then the pandemic hit. It's been a good three years of very little writing for my spinoff series, but I still plan to get that written once time permits.
C.J. Anaya
I do plan on doing this. With COVID and homeschooling, I did not get much writing done over the last three years, but I'm still adamant about creating a spin off series for Angie once I actually have everyone back in school all day.
C.J. Anaya
My Fair Assassin was actually a 10,000 word story put into an anthology for Halloween. The idea was paranormal romances, and I thought writing a book for my niece with a focus on accepting the beauty from within and without would be a nice theme. Then I completely pantsed it. In other words, I just started writing with no plan at all. I don't do that very often. The short story became popular enough that folks wanted a longer book. So I gave it much more detail and pretty soon I realized I had a series on my hands. I find that laying out goals, wants, and needs for characters help me plot the books. I find I can't outline too heavily mainly because when I do outline I inevitably change it to something that strikes me in the moment.
C.J. Anaya
You can buy The Healer Series on Amazon, kobo, iBooks, and B&N The complete box set of all four books is available on all the major sites.
C.J. Anaya
It's out right now, Alisa. The official release date is December 12th, but I published it a little early to make sure it was actually ready to go. Amazon and the other retailers didn't take as long as I thought they would to get it up there so you can grab it whenever you want. http://myBook.to/theprophecy
I am so glad you love the books. I hope you enjoy the last one.
I am so glad you love the books. I hope you enjoy the last one.
C.J. Anaya
I am planning on writing more contemporary romance. The first book I wrote, which ended up becoming a series was a young adult paranormal romance that dealt with Japanese mythology. It was fun to write, but it was also a learning experience for my process and the kind of topics I enjoy writing about. Though I'll definitely dabble in paranormal topics again, including paranormal romantic mysteries, I am thrilled that contemporary romance is pushing its way front and center on my radar. The good news is, I have a bunch of fun ideas just waiting to be explored. I honestly can't wait to get started. Thanks for your question. I'm so happy you enjoyed Marry Your Billionaire.
C.J. Anaya
Hey Aria,
It's not a problem at all. My Healer series is geared for teens, and any adult books I write are all clean so being a high schooler isn't a problem. Also, it doesn't matter where you live because I can email ecopies of my books for you to review. I'm jazzed you're interested in joining the team. Welcome aboard, girlfriend.
It's not a problem at all. My Healer series is geared for teens, and any adult books I write are all clean so being a high schooler isn't a problem. Also, it doesn't matter where you live because I can email ecopies of my books for you to review. I'm jazzed you're interested in joining the team. Welcome aboard, girlfriend.
C.J. Anaya
That answer would be in the mornings when my three oldest are in school and my one-year-old is sleeping. I finally have two straight hours to knock out around 2,000 words during the school days. Before school started it was pretty much hit and miss unless my sweet husband took the kids to the park.
C.J. Anaya
The black blossom....mwahahaha. That's actually the title of the second book in the series. Your questions about this were spot on, though. Very perceptive.
He is relieved because he definitely wants her to make her own decision about whom to love, but his love for her is overruling his judgment.
Is he going to play the hero or the villain? Sometimes it is such a thin line between the two, and the intent behind the actions may justify the villain or condemn the hero.
You will learn exactly what the black blossom is used for when you read the prologue of the second book in The Healer Series entitled, The Black Blossom.
He is relieved because he definitely wants her to make her own decision about whom to love, but his love for her is overruling his judgment.
Is he going to play the hero or the villain? Sometimes it is such a thin line between the two, and the intent behind the actions may justify the villain or condemn the hero.
You will learn exactly what the black blossom is used for when you read the prologue of the second book in The Healer Series entitled, The Black Blossom.
C.J. Anaya
When I was researching which Japanese gods to use for my story I found that Musubi-no-kami (Tie) was described as blonde and light-complected even though he was a Japanese god. The Japanese felt that his appearance represented the light or purity of love and the job of uniting others. He was described as appearing how a lover should appear. I ran with that, finding the information fascinating.
I wondered if they also gave the god this look because white, blonde people were such an enigma. It wasn't like they were traveling around the world or migrating to other countries during that time period. Perhaps they thought the coloring and appearance of a white, blonde male was so unique that it fell under the realm of one hunky lover, the only way a true god of love could appear.
My personal preference is always going to be one hot Latin lover. That's obvious by my choice of hubby. LOL.
These are just my musings after doing research, and are in no way factual, but I took the info and made up my own facts as to why and how. You'll see more of that in book three. Thanks for your question.
I wondered if they also gave the god this look because white, blonde people were such an enigma. It wasn't like they were traveling around the world or migrating to other countries during that time period. Perhaps they thought the coloring and appearance of a white, blonde male was so unique that it fell under the realm of one hunky lover, the only way a true god of love could appear.
My personal preference is always going to be one hot Latin lover. That's obvious by my choice of hubby. LOL.
These are just my musings after doing research, and are in no way factual, but I took the info and made up my own facts as to why and how. You'll see more of that in book three. Thanks for your question.
C.J. Anaya
I chose the picture of Hope on the cover because that is exactly how I pictured her. I couldn't believe how perfectly the model on the cover fit the Hope inside my head. The other characters have pics that I posted in an interview, and funnily enough forgot to post that interview on my website. Thanks for the reminder. Here is a link to my web page where you can see the people I feel are the best physical representation of my characters. http://www.authorcjanaya.com/the-heal...
C.J. Anaya
Dreams are a great source of inspiration...when I can actually remember them. People watching is also a great way to get ideas for characters and personalities. I try not to be too creepy about it, though. :)
I've been writing for most of my life, though I started out writing fun little short stories for friends and family. I'm a performer by nature and started writing songs when I was a Junior in high school.
About five years ago I joined a writing group when an author friend of mine invited me. I've been working on full length novels ever since.
I've been writing for most of my life, though I started out writing fun little short stories for friends and family. I'm a performer by nature and started writing songs when I was a Junior in high school.
About five years ago I joined a writing group when an author friend of mine invited me. I've been working on full length novels ever since.
C.J. Anaya
In all honesty it was the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer I don't care if people start giving me the eye-roll either. That series was awesome, people. LOL
I also love The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan. My grandmother got me hooked on those books. Before that I was only reading clean romance novels, mysteries and thrillers.
When I began writing my own novels I wanted to explore that fun world of supernatural beings and powers. It's great escapism and just as fun to write as it, as it is to read what other people in the paranormal and fantasy genres write.
I also love The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan. My grandmother got me hooked on those books. Before that I was only reading clean romance novels, mysteries and thrillers.
When I began writing my own novels I wanted to explore that fun world of supernatural beings and powers. It's great escapism and just as fun to write as it, as it is to read what other people in the paranormal and fantasy genres write.
C.J. Anaya
Writing must be something you love and not something you do for a paycheck. When it becomes work it simply builds pressure to provide for yourself, and that kind of pressure takes your creativity switch and flips it off. If it is enjoyable, then your writing tends to flow easier because you're not worried about the bottom line, deadlines or another person's opinion.
C.J. Anaya
My inspiration comes from everything. I could walk along the street and witness interactions between loving couples and write their love story, or what I htink is their love story in my head. People will pose "what if" questions, and I explore the possibilities. I also get inspiration from the things that interest me.
C.J. Anaya
The Healer was an idea inspired by a nightmare. I had a horrible dream about spirits trapped in statues, and once I woke up I had to know how they got there. I satisfied my curiosity by answering my own questions myself, and The Healer grew from there.
C.J. Anaya
I'd say the best thing about being a writer is that your writing possibilities are endless. The only one who can put restrictions on your creativity is you, and whenever the creativity thief comes to steal your imagination from you, all you have to do is take a break for a bit--for me, this usually involves hefty amounts of chocolate, a TV show marathon of Bones, Vampire Diaries or Buffy--and then you can jump back into writing crazy stuff that just might entertain the masses.
C.J. Anaya
I'm currently writing the second book in The Healer Series. The tentative title for that is The Black Blossom. I am also involved in a YA Paranormal Anthology with nine other fabulously gifted authors. The anthology is called Strange and Lovely: Ten Paranormal Tales of Thrills and Romance. My short story in this anthology is called My Fair Assassin. Here is a little blurb about it.
"Vampires, changelings, and ghosts...oh my!
From fae assassins to subjugating the dead, Strange and Lovely is a collection of short stories that seamlessly blends spine-tingling chills and swoon-worthy romance.
This anthology of supernatural creatures from ten talented authors, serves up short stories with heart-stopping storytelling that will haunt you long after you've put it down.
If you love tales of the paranormal variety, but can't decide which ghostly, supernatural or otherworldly creature to focus on, here's the perfect book for you. Whether humorous, suspenseful, or romantic, the stories in Strange and Lovely will leave you feeling wickedly entertained."
It's been so much fun to collaborate with these amazing authors. The anthology will be released Oct 4th 2014, and we'll have a release party that all of you can attend. I'll add the event to my author page once the details are finalized and you and all of your friends are more than welcome to celebrate with us.
"Vampires, changelings, and ghosts...oh my!
From fae assassins to subjugating the dead, Strange and Lovely is a collection of short stories that seamlessly blends spine-tingling chills and swoon-worthy romance.
This anthology of supernatural creatures from ten talented authors, serves up short stories with heart-stopping storytelling that will haunt you long after you've put it down.
If you love tales of the paranormal variety, but can't decide which ghostly, supernatural or otherworldly creature to focus on, here's the perfect book for you. Whether humorous, suspenseful, or romantic, the stories in Strange and Lovely will leave you feeling wickedly entertained."
It's been so much fun to collaborate with these amazing authors. The anthology will be released Oct 4th 2014, and we'll have a release party that all of you can attend. I'll add the event to my author page once the details are finalized and you and all of your friends are more than welcome to celebrate with us.
C.J. Anaya
I once read an article by Charlie Jane Anders, entitled, "The 10 Types of Writer's Block (and how to overcome them)" that lessened my feeling of panic every time I thought I might be experiencing such a terrible mental malady! LOL
I learned that the term writer's block "sounds so dreadful and insurmountable [because] nobody ever takes it apart. Treating a broad range of creative slow downs as a single ailment just creates something monolithic and huge." Anders suggests we take the term, writer's block, apart to better understand it, and then conquer the particular creative slow down we may be suffering from.
One of the types of writer's block stuck out to me. It was #3 on the list. "You have an outline, but you can't get through this one part of it."
Holy cow, how that spoke to me. Whenever I get stumped it's usually because I have an outline, but the next scene I need to write isn't speaking to me. I generally tend to mull over the scene I am going to write for about a week or two as if I were enacting the moments in my head. I repeat lines that should be said, give my characters their blocking...or physical cues...it's the same process I went through when I did some acting in college and high school. The scene simply wasn't right until my fellow actors and myself had the blocking, props, intent and lines down with perfect precision.
When a scene doesn't play out for me in my head like that, I can't get excited enough to write about it, so then I'm stuck. Anders suggests two reasons for this. Maybe your outline doesn't make sense and you can't get from point A to point C because point B is way off base. Another cause could be you have two cool moments but you can't figure out how to connect them.
I fall under both categories, and I always know this is happening when I can't direct the scene in my head like I would in the theater. I realize my well-laid plans are being frustrated by my own independent characters, and for some reason they want different lines and blocking. My characters are soon calling the shots...for the better, I might add.
It's time for a slight detour or even a major tangent. Just remember no writing is considered a waste. Whether your tangent actually becomes your outline or takes you even further from where you wanted to be, always keep it for future reference. You might need it later.
Once I reluctantly let go of my game plan, I find myself getting excited about shooting from the hip and writing the scene as I go, letting it naturally unfold. It might suck, but then again it might not. So long as I'm writing and pushing through it instead of letting my crazy mind games get the best of me.
I learned that the term writer's block "sounds so dreadful and insurmountable [because] nobody ever takes it apart. Treating a broad range of creative slow downs as a single ailment just creates something monolithic and huge." Anders suggests we take the term, writer's block, apart to better understand it, and then conquer the particular creative slow down we may be suffering from.
One of the types of writer's block stuck out to me. It was #3 on the list. "You have an outline, but you can't get through this one part of it."
Holy cow, how that spoke to me. Whenever I get stumped it's usually because I have an outline, but the next scene I need to write isn't speaking to me. I generally tend to mull over the scene I am going to write for about a week or two as if I were enacting the moments in my head. I repeat lines that should be said, give my characters their blocking...or physical cues...it's the same process I went through when I did some acting in college and high school. The scene simply wasn't right until my fellow actors and myself had the blocking, props, intent and lines down with perfect precision.
When a scene doesn't play out for me in my head like that, I can't get excited enough to write about it, so then I'm stuck. Anders suggests two reasons for this. Maybe your outline doesn't make sense and you can't get from point A to point C because point B is way off base. Another cause could be you have two cool moments but you can't figure out how to connect them.
I fall under both categories, and I always know this is happening when I can't direct the scene in my head like I would in the theater. I realize my well-laid plans are being frustrated by my own independent characters, and for some reason they want different lines and blocking. My characters are soon calling the shots...for the better, I might add.
It's time for a slight detour or even a major tangent. Just remember no writing is considered a waste. Whether your tangent actually becomes your outline or takes you even further from where you wanted to be, always keep it for future reference. You might need it later.
Once I reluctantly let go of my game plan, I find myself getting excited about shooting from the hip and writing the scene as I go, letting it naturally unfold. It might suck, but then again it might not. So long as I'm writing and pushing through it instead of letting my crazy mind games get the best of me.
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