Hi Christie! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me.
I am soo EXCITED about DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS!! I’m Texas born, Texas raised and have all that Texas pride we are famous for, I say we because I know you are currently a Texas girl also.
The first book I ever read of yours was SHUT UP and KISS ME, and I clearly recall my daughter looking at me like I had lost my mind because I was laying in bed laughing so hard tears were flowing down my cheeks (this would’ve been at the skunk/pink robe scene). I then went on to devour, I mean read, your Divorced series, Gotcha and Weddings Can Be Murder. I love the your sense of HaHa, mystery and steamy sexin’ in every book, oh and the fact they are all in Texas, not only in Texas but in or around the Houston area, which I am very familiar with =)
 |
| Visit Christie Craig |
Don’t Mess With Texas blurb:
Nikki Hunt thought her night couldn’t get worse when her no-good, cheating ex ditched her at dinner, sticking her with the bill. Then she found his body stuffed in the trunk of her car and lost her two-hundred-dollar meal all over his three-thousand-dollar suit. Now not only is Nikki nearly broke, she’s a murder suspect.
Former cop turned PI, Dallas O’Connor knows what it’s like to be unjustly accused. But one look at the sexy-though skittish-suspect tells him she couldn’t hurt anyone. The lead detective, Dallas’s own brother, has the wrong woman and Dallas hopes a little late-night “undercover” work will help him prove it . . .
Naughty D’ chats with Christie:
Naughty D: What drives you to have your books based in Texas?
Christie: I’m not a native Texan; however, I was probably here only a few weeks when I knew this was where I’d hang my hat for good. Texas and Texans are just . . . well, unique. I mean where else is it illegal to put graffiti on someone else’s cow, shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel, or own more than six dildos? Yup, those are real laws in this fine state, I know because I checked those out when I decided to live here. (Not that I’m into drawing graffiti on cows, shooting buffaloes or stockpiling dildos. I just like to know the laws of the land I’m calling home, so I can poke fun of them in my books. LOL.) So I guess what drives me to base my books in Texas is that this place is one of a kind. And since I try to write one-of-kind books, it just fits. (Naughty D: brings to mind that sayin’ “I wasn’t born TEXAN, but I got here as fast as I could, lol)
Naughty D: Your books never fail to make me laugh. Where does your sense of HaHa come from?
Christie: Yeah, I know I sort of have a warped sense of humor. It’s not all my fault, I think I was partially born this way. And what wasn’t hereditary, was ingrained into me from my childhood. I was the only girl between two brothers and parents who were . . . well, let’s just say all my heroes’ and heroines’ families in my books are actually toned-down versions of my own real family. We lived with the motto in our home: If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. As a child, my family laughed a lot. There was the time my father accidentally built a bomb and my mom accidentally stole a car, and then there was the time mom lost her false teeth on Continental Airlines. We just laughed. It was either that or cry and laughing felt better. (Naughty D: I’ve a warped sense of humor also, and I can relate to umm…family antics, must be why I was instantly addicted to Shut Up and Kiss Me)
Naughty D: What is the premise of the Hotter In Texas series?
Christie: Hotter in Texas is about three ex-cons, all ex-cops, who are exonerated of a murder they didn’t commit after sixteen long months in a Texas state prison. They don’t know who they’re angrier at—the big-shot drug lord who framed them, the women who turned their backs on them, or the system who let them go down. Using some of the money they got from the state for their mistake, they open a PI business.
In each book, one of my guys meets a woman who needs the firm’s help. Nobody wants to fall in love, but everyone is going to. And falling in love has never been so much fun.
Naughty D: I was a crushed (drama queen much?) when you told me you weren’t sure if you would be able to return to Precious TX and the cast of Shut Up and Kiss Me due to switching publishers. Any update on the return to Precious?
Christie: First, thank you so much for saying that. I’m hoping that after I finish the Hotter in Texas series that I can write a couple more Precious books. I probably won’t know for another eight or nine months how it will all work out, but I’m still hoping. Shut Up And Kiss Me was one of my favorite books to write. And after what I put Jose through, I think he deserves his own story and to meet his soul mate. (Naughty D: oooh me too and I squealed like a rabid fangirl with the possibility of returning to Precious)
Naughty D: In between the release of SUaKM and DMWT, you published a young adult book, Born at Midnight, under the name CC Hunter. What made you decide to try your hand at YA Fiction?
Christie: That one is a funny story. Here’s what happened – one day my agent called me with the news that an editor had called her, wondering if I would consider writing a YA series. I was very surprised. I wrote humorous and sexy romantic suspense novels. However, my agent reminded me that the editor had read a proposal of mine several years back for a humorous paranormal romance and while she didn’t buy it, she had loved my voice. Still, I didn’t know why she believed I could write a YA, when to be honest, I wasn’t even sure I could. She called and talked to me about it, and I just came right out and asked her. “Why me?”
Her answer surprised me. She said, “Because you are a smartass. And I think teens will relate to that.”
I laughed. Basically, she liked my smartass humor. When I started working on a YA, I realized my writing voice did lend itself very well to that genre. All my characters, good people with lots of heart, have a tendency to speak before they think, and this is a trait seen in a lot of teens, too. I was honored and still am that she gave me the opportunity to expand my readership. And I’m so happy that a lot of my readers bought Born at Midnight and loved it.
 |
| Click here to watch Born At Midnight book trailer |
Naughty D: I’m chompin’ at the bit to read DMWT. Are there going to be three books in the Hotter in Texas series?
Christie: There are three books in the series: Don’t Mess with Texas, Blame it on Texas, and Texas Hold ‘Em. I’m working on Blame it on Texas now and I’m loving it. It’s hot, funny and has a great mystery.
Naughty D: Anything special you would like to mention to our WTFbr followers?
Christie: Well, I’d like to let everyone know that all my backlist Dorchester titles are now up at Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble’s Nook, with other ebook retailers to follow. People can find out more at my website, www.Christie-Craig.com. I also have an autographing coming up on August 27th and a wine and author chat/signing with tax attorney and debut humorous romantic mystery author Diane Kelly on November 12th.
Naughty D: I noticed your books Gotcha! and Divorced Desperate and Delicious (bk 1 of Divorced trilogy) are both only $.99 and your other titles are only $3.99, on amazon for Kindle and Barnes & Noble for Nook. Those are AWESOME prices and I may just have to go buy them for my Kindle, I have them all in paperback =)
Naughty D: Thank you so much Christie for chatting with me. AND for giving away a copy of Don’t Mess With Texas and the special necklace you’ve had designed to go with the book.
WTFbr fans and followers, comment here, welcoming Christie to WTFbr for your chance to win a copy of Don’t Mess with Texas and the beautiful necklace set Christie is giving away today. One winner will be chosen at random, the winner will be drawn Friday, 8/12/11, at 3:00 pm CST.
If you are in the Houston Area Christie will be at:
Katy Budget Books on August 27th, where she will be signing Don’t Mess with Texas.
Christie will also be at:
Plots and Pinot Grigio,
Characters and Cabernet,
Romance and Riesling:
How Much Wine Does it Take to Write a Novel?
Have you dreamed of writing a novel, or wondered how writers come up with their plots and characters? Are you looking for a great new book to read?
Join Christie Craig and Diane Kelly at WineStyles The Vintage, 10300 Louetta Road, Suite 150, Houston 77070 on Saturday, November 12th from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. If you would like more info, message me at didi@guiltypleasuresbookreviews.com and I will email you the flyer for the Plots and Pinot Grigio event
Please participate in our book review surveys:
Book Readers: click here to take your survey
Book Reviewers: click here to take survey
Book Writers/Authors: click here to take survey
Great interview! I’ve read Don’t Mess with Texas and loved it. Can’t wait for the next two books in the series.
Thanks Faye, I am excitedly waiting for my copy =)
I just can’t wait for this to come out. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading this book yet, but I can say that everything I have read so far is GOLD! I can’t get enough of Christie Craig. Her writing style is fantastic and so like my own life that it makes me roll on the floor laughing (that is when I am not looking around for the person observing my disfunctional life). Everything Christie writes just cracks me up and draws me in… Holding my breath till I get my own copy of Don’t mess with Texas. Hope I don’t turn Blue before then!
lol Anneliese, just a few more days. But I feel the same about her books.
BTW please follow our blog, we review a variety of romances. We started the blog a little less than a month ago and it’s been getting great feedback
I only discovered Christie Craig books a couple of weeks ago, through a Barnes & Noble search on my Nook, and now I’m on my 4th book from her. I can’t put these books down, once I start reading them. She truly knows how to spin a story with delightful yummy characters, and take you on a fun adventure with those characters.
Hey Christie I love your books I can’t wait to read this one I too find myself laughing out loud.
I just love all of Christie’s books. Can’t wait to read Don’t Mess with Texas! Christie never fails to make me laugh out loud!
Robin thanks for stopping by…Christie’s book crack me up…like your do too =) Can’t wait for Wild Thing either =)
Great interview! Thanks for introducing me to another author…though my wallet isn’t too happy. Looking forward to books based in Texas!
SHUT UP AND KISS ME will forever bring to mind PISSED OFF SKUNK.. Great interview and now have Dont Mess with Texas on preorder…
Love her books can’t wait for this one!
The books sounds great and a lot of fun to read.
I love Christie’s books and can’t wait to read this one!!
So excited I can be a GFC follower! Never gonna miss a post!
I love the cover of Don’t Mess With Texas. The necklace is beautiful.
Naughty D – Love the site.
Thanks for the giveaway.
jepebATverizonDOTnet
I LOVE Christie Craig’s books. I finished “Born at Midnight” and I didn’t connect that Christie wrote it – I got it from the library and then had to go out and buy it!
I can’t wait to read “Don’t Mess With Texas”.
Jacki
Hi Guys! Wow! What a treat to come over here and find so many comments. I’ve got my nose to the grindstone working on the second book in the Hotter in Texas Series. It is the book the will never end. Yikes!!!!
But I’m having so much fun. It’s sexy, funny, and I love the mystery in this one. To give you guys an idea. When Zoe Adams sees a younger picture of herself on an unsolved cold case TV show, saying she was the kidnapped daughter of a millionaire, she heads to Texas to find the truth. The fact that the show also says they found the girl’s body is a tad upsetting. But she knows that’s her in the picture, and having had haunting nightmares about things all her life, she wants the truth. Even if it means learning her that the parents who raised and loved her were kidnappers. Tyler, one hot smart PI, with the Don’t Mess With Texas Team, is pretty sure she’s a fruitcake. That is until someone tries to kill her.
Okay, thanks again and I so appreciate Dawn for having me here today. I’m really excited about this series.
CC
Okay second try….first time I got thrown off the site!
I loved this interview. I love books with humor in them and I really need to find time to fit some of these into my reading schedule. They sound awesome.
Terri
OMG!! So many comments. CC’s books are all great. And the pissed off skunk is very memorable, it’s up there with Lorelei’s fainting goats in Saddled and Spurred, Bachelorette party in Cowgirl Up and Ride and the margarita emergency in JC Wilder’s Kissing Cowboy .
Christie THANK You for sharing your time with us 🙂
I’m a HUGE fan of Christie. I can’t wait to read DMWT. I know she won’t disappoint. She never does.
Jenn!
If you’re in the area, go out and see Christie. She’s as entertaining in person as she is in her books and blogs!
As one of Christie’s early readers, trust me. Dallas’s dog Budweiser in DMWT will make you forget all about the pissed-off skunk.
I can listen to Christie Craig all day long and never tire of her hilarious stories and fabulous sense of humor. Both are reflected in her witty writing. Hopefully, one day she’ll write a memoir. I just hope my bladder can hold up under all the laughter.
See you at the book signing, Miss Craig.
oh boy Suzan…I’m at work and I just got my ARC of DMWT…it’s sitting on my desk taunting me and now I’m really dying to get it started =)
This has been an amazing post, since posting the interview, about 24 hrs ago, we have had almost 300 views to the site =)
If you posted please follow us, we have all kinds of reviews, interviews and special feature blogs planned 😉
I move my only child into her freshman dorm, 3 hrs away from me, on 8/26…so I am thinking I will need CC’s humor on 8/27. I am definitely planning on going to the book signing. Going to try to get some of my book club friends to come with me as well.
Great. I have more books to buy for my Nook. CC, you know I love your stories. They are laugh out loud funny.
I’m a huge Christie Craig fan!! Love her humor and she’s an amazing story teller!!! So happy for her success! She deserves it!
don’t forget, if you want to read some of Christie’s back list, Amazon and Barnes & Noble have great prices for them right now.
Great interview. And what a fun cover!
This was such a great interview! I can already hear the humor in Christies voice from the answers to the questions. There is nothing I love more than a good laugh combined with a sexy romance. I am on my way to Amazon to add Christie to my Kindle 😉
Howdy guys,
Thank you all for stopping in. I’m to the point I’m writing down the last scenes I need to write to finish the book. I think I lack about 30 pages. Cross your fingers and toes that I can finish this puppy and it all comes together.
CC
I haven’t had the pleasure of reading Ms.Craig but if they make you laugh that hard I really need to! Sounds like some awesome books. Enjoyed the interview.
What an amazing interview with my favorite author. I was there.
I’m going to bookmark this site.
Christie is as funny in person as she writes. Big quandary. Pre-order right now or wait to see if I win! I know this one’s another winner, Christie!
Best wishes,
Joan Reeves
so I’m about 35% through the ARC of DMWT and loving it =) Pretty clever Christie, as I was reading I realized the main men’s names were all cities in Texas…Tyler, Dallas and Austin =)
I so enjoyed this interview, Christie. Can’t wait to read DMWT. And thanks for introducing us to WTF? It’s going to be a fun must-read.
I have to say I haven’t had a chance to read any of Christie’s books though this one sounds very good.
I am now a follower.
Larena
lrwirum@q.com
Drum Roll please……And the DMWT winner is Lisa Kait…Lisa please email your contact information so I can forward it to Christie, send it to me at naughtyd69@yahoo.com
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Thank you everyone for checking out Christie’s interview and WTFbr. Make sure you go buy some of Christie’s back list and pre-order DMWT!!
Christie thank you for your time and the give aways. This has been the most popular blog to date =) Good Luck on release day!!!
KurvyK, Becky and I hope you either follow us or at least visit frequently. We plan on doing interviews and give aways at least a couple of times a month. We have lots of plans coming down the pike =)
Have a great weekend!
Dawn,
It has been a blast. Thank you for having me here. And I can’t wait to see who wins and I hope they enjoy the book and the necklace and earring set.
Happy reading everyone!
CC
Well, Christie, I’m a couple days late and a couple dollars short, as usual…LOL But I just can’t bring myself to miss an opportunity to learn more about you. Great interview! And count me among those who would love read more Precious books. You know I’m a huge fan. 🙂
ahhhhh I just finished DMWT and I LOVED it!!! I’ve already done my review and it’s scheduled to post Tuesday, 8/16/11. Christie you made me chuckle and tear up in DMWT. And reading it brightened up my weekend after having a hellish week =)
Thank you girl!
CC
As a fan first of CC’s YA series, I have come to LOVE her writing as Christie Craig too! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she will be able to revisit Precious, TX again. Thanks for the giveaway!