~ She Persisted ~

Today fellow Wild Rose author C. J. Bahr shares her writing journey and most recent romance books with us. If there is one thing she wants all writers to know, it is to never give up.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was first published in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s “Sword & Sorceress” anthology, after always writing just for myself.  Believe it or not, my Cinderella sequel was the first short story I ever sent out to the first place I submitted.  My luck wouldn’t strike again until fourteen years later!  The Wild Rose Press published my first novel, “Walking Through Fire”, a Scottish ghost romance.  I’m currently working on the third book in The Fire Chronicles, as well as, a new Urban Fantasy starring a kick-ass Time Enforcer.

When I’m not lost in the world of my stories, you can find me busily cutting and tracking music for film and television. I have close to twenty-eight years of music editing experience, with my credits ranging from “Northern Exposure” and “The Muppets Christmas Carol,” to “The Kill Point” and “The Middle.”

I currently live in sunny southern California with my two cats, great friends, and my horse.

Is writing something that comes easy to you or not?

I work hard for my writing, because it doesn’t come easy.  The story ideas are simple and jump out at me from everywhere, but words on the page, not so much.  I don’t outline (though believe me, I’ve tried!), so I write by the seat of my pants, which probably attributes to lack of word count.  Also having a full time day job, doesn’t make fitting writing time into my schedule convenient either.  But no matter how frustrated I get by staring at a blinking cursor, I won’t give up.  My first novel (unpublished) took me close to eight years to finish!  Forged In Fire took a little over two years, so things are getting quicker and looking up.

What was the most interesting place you ever visited?

China.  I was lucky my college orchestra got to perform and tour this amazing country.  The Great Wall blew my mind.  Also, I visited Tienanmen Square the year before the student led protest.  The Square is the largest in the world, bigger than Red Square in Moscow, and to have been in that space and know personally how large it was, it had such an emotional impact.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

I first tried the traditional method.  I queried about eighty-five agents and received either rejections or non-responses from them all.  So I pulled my proverbial bootstraps up and submitted to publishing houses that took unsolicited manuscripts, which at the time, weren’t many.  So when I finished Walking Through Fire (actually my second completed manuscript), I decided to try a different method.  I went the contest route.  I carefully targeted contests where if you finaled, you be in front of agents or editors.  I ended up getting requests for fulls from Harlequin and Wild Rose.  I got “the call” on April 1^st, 2014 from my editor, Amanda Barnett.  I’d never been more excited!

Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

As mentioned above, I’m working on the third book in my Fire Chronicle series.  Though each book in the series is meant to be a ‘stand-alone’, there is a potential for seven books.  Each book is tied together by one of the seven Archangels.  All will have a paranormal element, but will be set in different times and places.  My first, is set in the Scottish Highlands, with a ghost in present time.  Forged, book 2, is set in 1795 Yorkshire, England.  The third, Playing With Fire is set in present day New Orleans with a supernatural serial killer.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Absolutely.  I am proud owner of a “she persisted” award.  Writing, at least for me, is hard, as I mentioned.  Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but it is work for me.  Don’t ever give up and believe in yourself!  Look at me, it took be another fourteen years before I got published again. It can happen anytime in your life.  I was in my late forties when “Walking” was published.  It’s never too late!  It can and will happen if you keep plugging away.  Also, it helps to surround yourself with supportive people.  I’m very lucky to have some talented writers who are friends.  It’s wonderful to bounce ideas off each other when one of us gets stuck, or if we need to just talk things out.  So yeah, keep writing, don’t give up, and have a support group.

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Forged in Fire

The Fire Chronicles #2
A Paranormal Romance by C. J. Bahr

Beth Leighton moved to Scotland to marry the love of her life. But then he betrays her and she is fatally shot.  However the Archangel Remiel interferes, and she awakes to find herself in 18th century England. Alive but confused and lost, she wants to go home. Despite a roguish and handsome highwayman.

Christopher “Kit” Locke is haunted by his past mistakes and lives on danger’s edge, not caring if he lives or dies. He will leave that choice to Fate. Intrigued by the spirited Beth, he is drawn from his spiraling descent and is enlisted to help steal an evil artifact, the Viper’s Eye, a demonic soul-stealing jewel.

While the Archangel and the Duke of Hell battle it out, both Beth and Kit must also fight evil. When the stone seeks Kit’s soul can Beth’s love keep him from falling victim to the Viper’s Eye or will she lose Kit to Hell’s fire?

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Find C. J. Bahr here:

 

WEB  |  BLOG  |  TWITTER  |  GOODREADS  |  AMAZON AUTHOR

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Come say hi! #Romance author C. J. Bahr interviewed today by Zara West #paranormal #WildRoseWednesday

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C. J Bahr is waiting to hear from you and answer her questions.

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