Welcome to C.R. Moss' guest blog

Do you feel your writing is character driven or plot driven? How do you balance these two elements?

Character driven. I’m always more heavy on the character aspects of my stories when I start—knowing who they are and their internal conflicts—than I am with what they need to do and the obstacles they have to overcome. To try to balance all this out, I have some worksheets I complete.

Could you tell us a little about how you develop your characters? Who has been your favorite character to write? The most challenging?

Sometimes the characters just show up, like someone I meet for the first time who I get to know real quick. Other times I have inklings and vague ideas of who the characters are and I’ll create astrological charts for them to get a deeper sense of them. I don’t really have a favorite character overall, mostly favorites in each series…bad boy Cor in The Mystics; from my Dirty Little stories it’d be bad boy Ash followed closely by Jay (she’ll be in Dirty Little Girl coming out this May and in the 4.1 story); Calissa from The Si’Ludo Prophsey stories; Tressa from my Immortal Spirits stories; Myrddin in my ‘Cat’ stories. As for the most challenging, right now I’d have to say Julie in the ‘Cat’ stories and that’s probably just because of the external conflict issues. I know her and where she’s coming from. I know her hero. I have one external conflict that they’ll need to deal with but it’s not enough.

What is your favorite movie of all time? The one where you can watch it and still get affected at the same spots each and every time?

Can’t say I really have a favorite movie of all time. I love a lot of different films. Recently I’ve watched Shakespeare in Love and The Green Mile. They’re two totally different movies that I’ve seen plenty of times before, but they both affected me, again, and at the same scenes as they always do.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 5 things would you have with you?

Sunscreen, a blanket, my computer, satellite connection (so I can stay online of course), and a box of books.

What is your favorite way to relax after a hard day working and writing?

Light incense and/or a candle. Take a hot bath. Go for a walk. They’re the same things I do when I need to clear my mind so I can write.

Are you ever nervous when a new book comes out?

Normally, no, but with my ‘Cat’ stories for some reason I am.

Please tell us about the projects you are currently working on; what can readers expect to see in the coming months?

I have a few projects in the works. The first is my Look What the Cat Dragged In paranormal romance series for Devine Destinies. Book one, Look What the Cat Dragged In for Evelyn, releases in April. That’s about a frisky feline familiar who fancies himself a matchmaker and tries to get the resident ghost and a lovely young woman together. The second will be about a contemporary woman and a man who travels through time. The third will be about the feline’s mistress and her quest to find love. There’s a possibility for a fourth story, but we’ll see how the first three go. The ‘Cat’ stories will all be out this year. Then there’s a joint project in which one of the stories is book 4.1 in my Dirty Little series. Other projects include a werewolf/vampire series and a series I plan to shop to an agent.

Where can readers find out what's new and how can they contact you?

People can visit my website. There I have information on all my books with excerpts and a link to my blog where there’s news, reviews and interviews.

Information, blurb and excerpt for Concealed Affairs

Philip, a secondary character from Concealed Affairs, will be a hero in one of the Look What the Cat Dragged In books coming to Devine Destinies this year.

Blurb:

Concealed Affairs - a contemporary romantic suspense novel (warning: story contains m/m & m/f scenes)

Secrets. Everyone has them but the decision to keep some affairs concealed can be harmful…
Victoria Padden, ex-socialite and “retired party girl,” believes her life, her career, and comfortable all-be-it boring relationship with David Lloyd, is fine just the way it is. Landscaping business owner, Geoff McKenzie, is fascinated with Victoria but past failed relationships haunt him and make him wonder if he can find true happiness with her.
Despite their better judgments and attempt to just be friends, desire flares between them. Someone though doesn't want them to be together and threatens Victoria. Figuring the authorities won't be able to help, she keeps this information to herself and from everyone else. She realizes holding this particular secret in check is a big mistake, and by the time she decides to come clean, it may be too late.

Excerpt
Searching his warm, brown eyes, she waited for a punch line. None came. A shadow from some clouds drifted past the kitchen window and a sunbeam filtered through. A soft, sensuous light illuminated them. Geoff shifted. His face came within an inch from hers. Tori looked deeper into his beautiful eyes, finding them flecked with gold and sending out a silent invitation. Slowly, seductively her gaze slid downward and appraised his full, luscious lips.
Before she could take her next breath his mouth descended on hers. A brief moment of shock stiffened her body then, as if they had always been intimate, she let go and molded against him. His mouth sensuously moved upon hers, and when his lips parted, she followed suit.
His tongue searched her mouth. With a newfound hunger she matched his movements and ran her fingers through his soft hair reveling in the locks' silkiness. Happiness and desire, combined with a feeling of forbidden pleasure, created a stormy sea of sensation in her middle. Her toes curled. She was lost and found in his kiss. She was safe. She was secure. And, she believed, desired. She smoothed her hands down the tops of his shoulders and upper arms to his chest. Doing what she had dreamt of and yearned to do minutes before. She felt her way around both his areolas, her thumbs brushed over his nipples. In an instant, the nubs hardened.
Geoff moaned into her mouth.
Outside a car door slammed.

C.R. Moss
~ Worlds of Possibilities ~
www.crmoss.net