Welcome Cherie to The Books Machine!
TBM: How do you imagine the ideal reader of your book?
CC: I imagine readers of my book
as thrill seekers who enjoy strong main characters, have a passion for all
things paranormal, and love a romance worth dying for.
TBM: How was the writer inside of you born?
CC: I’ve always loved making up
stories, but it wasn’t until my husband said that I should write one of my
stories down that I entertained the idea of being a writer.
TBM: What genres do you work with and why are you
attracted to these forms of writing?
CC: I write young adult
paranormal because the unknown fascinates me. Anything can happen and the rules
aren’t bound to what we know to be true. They can be bent and stretch to create
intriguing characters and worlds that exit right alongside our own.
TBM: Why young adult?
CC: I love to read YA, and I’ve
never lost touch with my inner teen. Teens are passionate, discovering
themselves, and open to new ideas. They’re determined and strong and
independent. They’re everything I want my characters to be.
TBM: As a reader, what elements of a story do you love,
or do you hate?
CC: I’m not a fan of predictable
plots or books that follow a formula. My favorite books are the ones that I
can’t put down—you know the ones that have you reading just a few more pages
and before you know it an hour or three has gone by.
TBM: What inspired you to write Challenging
Destiny and what do you hope your readers will take away from this
book?
CC: The inspiration
for Challenging Destiny came to me when my husband and I were
driving on a two lane road in what felt like the middle of nowhere. There was
nothing but fields for as far as the eye could see, until we approached a
crossroad. There a plan white building void of any landscaping loomed in front
of us. It had tall narrow windows and a rickety old porch that led up to pale
wooden doors. As we drove closer, we were able to read the sign that said it
was a church. I remember thinking, it doesn’t look welcoming. It didn’t take
long for a story to emerge and my characters to be born.
TBM: How long did it take you to write this book and
what did you do the day that you finished it?
CC: Several years had passed
since I’d first seen the church and thought about this story to when I actually
sat down to write it. By this time, I knew the characters and the danger they’d
face. It took me about a year to write Challenging Destiny. When I
finished, I shared it with a few trusted readers and waited sort of patiently
(I don’t do patient well) for their comments.
TBM: What would you like to say to your readers?
CC: To my readers I want to say
thanks for being so supportive of me and my books. Your enthusiasm means the
world to me.
TBM: Lastly, a direct message to the readers, about why
they should read Challenging Destiny.
CC: I’m thrilled to be able to
share Challenging Destiny with all the wonderful readers who enjoy their
young adult novels served with a large helping of the supernatural and a swoon
worthy romance. I hope you’ll join Logan and Ariana in a battle against good
and evil. If I've done my job, you’ll be rooting for these teens to save
themselves right along with mankind.