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Showing posts with label My Dream Guy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Dream Guy. Show all posts

Monday, November 14, 2016

Christina Hollis—Back In The Old Routine...

In sickness and in health...
I've had to take a break from writing over the past few weeks. My son was born with several health problems, and now sees consultants for three different conditions. This involves regular cross-county trips to hospital for check-ups and treatment. 

I fit my writing around these, and school runs. My system worked well until my husband was felled by Campylobacter. This is a horrible form of food poisoning. He spent the best part of three weeks in bed (and the bathroom), except for the times when I was ferrying him between the emergency department, various tests and doctor's appointments, and pharmacies. 

Join me on Facebook at  http://on.fb.me/1Ee1urM
Quite frankly, during that time writing was the last thing on my mind. I rarely had time to think, let alone sit down. I'm still trying to catch up, but what happened to my husband has made me take a long, hard look at my own life. 

My Other Half has a high pressure job, and he's on call around the clock as his firm has clients around the world. In many respects it's like writing (apart from the size and regularity of his earnings!).  Pressure is good—it's what drives us to succeed. Writers can react to the pressure of deadlines, get the work done and move on. The stress of a piece being rejected, or lack of recognition for the novel you've battled to create is bad. Very bad. 

Too much stress crushes your immune system. Problems snowball until your health breaks down, and you're forced to take a break. When you return, clearing the backlog while trying to push forward traps you in a downward spiral.

http://mybook.to/MyDreamGuy
Find out more at myBook.to/MyDreamGuy
I cope by planning. I schedule my writing time, to include regular breaks to take the dog out for a walk. That gives both of us fresh air and exercise. A good thing too, as I love to relax by baking. Those calories have to be burned off somehow! 

I stop work well before bedtime, and spend an hour or so relaxing and looking for laughs. Nobody can function at the top of their game if they're too wound up to get enough sleep. 

From now on I'm not going to answer the phone on its first ring, or reply to emails the second they come in. I only wish I could persuade my husband to do the same!

Incidentally, although the Department Of Public Health have investigated us, our relatives, friends, neighbours, work colleagues and everywhere we've visited (from several weeks before my husband fell ill until after he stopped being infectious), the source of his infection has never been traced. 

What's your tip for a productive working day? I'm offering a copy of my short romance My Dream Guy for a comment picked at random, on 21st November.

When she isn't cooking, gardening or beekeeping, Christina Hollis writes contemporary fiction starring complex men and independent women.  Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and she’s sold nearly three million books worldwide. You can catch up with her at http://www.christinahollis.blogspot.com, on Twitter, Facebook, and see a full list of her published books at christinahollis.com
Her current release, Heart Of A Hostage, is published by The Wild Rose Press and available at myBook.to/HeartOfAHostage  worldwide, and from http://bit.ly/2f8dKp1 in the US.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Christina Hollis: My Favourite Things...

myBook.to/MyDreamGuy
On sale 15th September! myBook.to/MyDreamGuy 
My family and good health top the list of my favourite things, of course, but I've been very lucky in that three more things I enjoy combined to make this a great week for me... 

Countryside: I've lived out in the countryside nearly all my life. When things are going well and the weather's nice, there's nothing like it. It's not always sunshine and holidays, though. One winter we couldn't get the cars to within half a mile of our house for nearly three weeks! 

By the middle of an English September, nights are noticeably drawing in. This year there's been a real nip in the air, which isn't always the case but makes it important to enjoy good weather while we can. 

I hope summer still has a while to run. Just in case we're shivering from now until next spring, I've written a short, summery romance, My Dream Guy, to capture some of the fun. It's set in our local countryside and will be published tomorrow, Tuesday, 15th September. You can reserve a copy of My Dream Guy from Amazon by clicking on this magical link: http://myBook.to/MyDreamGuy

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_175_133&products_id=6061
Find out more at http://bit.ly/1ujX5zc
Holidays: When I worked in an office, I lived for the weekends and holidays. As a full-time writer living the dream, holidays are a lovely treat—but I never stop work. I've always got a notebook and pencil to hand, so I can jot down anything and everything that takes my fancy. 

My holiday notebooks really turned up a treat when I wanted to escape from one particularly dark, cold, and wet February day. I got the idea for a romance set in sun-drenched Greece. His Majesty's Secret Passion turned into my perfect escapist fantasy, with an exhausted businesswoman and a king in disguise finding fun in the sun at a luxurious spa.

His Majesty's Secret Passion was the first book in my Princes of Kharova series for The Wild Rose Press. It's up for nomination in The Romance Reviews Readers' Choice Awards, Winter 2015, so if you're feeling kind I'd be really grateful if you could cast your vote for His Majesty's Secret Passion by clicking here! 

http://bit.ly/1GQPIIq
Find at more at http://bit.ly/1GQPIIq
Romance: If you follow me on Facebook, you'll have seen the spectacular surprise my OH sprang for our wedding anniversary a few days ago. I love romance, especially when a story involves two contrasting characters discovering they can turn there lives around by becoming first a team, and then a couple. This is how it happened for me and OH in real life.

In the second book of my Princes of Kharova series, Her Royal Risk, I gave Krisia and Athan some enormous challenges before they found their happy ever after. Their story touched a nerve, and readers tell me they identify with the frustration both Krisia and Athan feel when conflicts between life and duty put them on opposing sides of a problem.

Her Royal Risk also qualifies for inclusion in The Romance Reviews Readers' Choice Awards, Winter 2015. I'd love you to cast your vote for Her Royal Risk by clicking here. Thank you so much! 

Will you be able to enjoy your favourite things this week? There's a signed copy from my backlist on offer for a comment picked at random next Sunday, 20th September.

When she isn't cooking, gardening or beekeeping, Christina Hollis writes contemporary fiction starring complex men and independent women.  Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and she’s sold nearly three million books worldwide. You can catch up with her at http://www.christinahollis.blogspot.com, on Twitter, and Facebook