To start off with the epicness- I get the privilege of interviewing Christine Hughes! She is the author of Torn and Three Days of Rain. I look forward to her future works as well!
Hi Christine Hughes! Thank you for joining me on my blog and
taking the time to do an interview. So far it looks like you have published two
books but are in the process of more. So exciting! Will you give us a brief
explanation of the romantic endeavors your characters take on (without giving
too much away, of course)?
Torn is a YA
paranormal so I felt like I needed to approach the budding romance differently
than I would an adult novel. Teens are still finding themselves and throwing a
strong emotion like love into the mix makes for a bit of confusion. The
relationship between the two main characters is a bit tumultuous and I mixed in
a little of the “star-crossed lovers” vibe into it.
With Three Days of
Rain, I was able to be a little more grown-up with the theme of love. First, we
have the back story of Jake and Madison. A very raw, primal, all-consuming love
that two people in their early twenties might encounter. Unfortunately, neither
Jake nor Madison are good for each other. Everyone else can see it but it takes
awhile for the two of them to come to terms with it.
In the novel, there
is also familial love – the different kind of nurturing love you find within
the confines of your own family. Between Jake and his brother, Jake and his
father, Jake and the love he has for his now deceased mother, Danny’s love of
his wife and kids… I tried to show a strong bond between them.
Jake meets Lily and
she shows him how to love without condition, without reservation. Really,
without fear. And it is because of that love that he can finally heal and begin
to love himself again.
How did you come to build the love lives of your characters
and how do you relate to these characters?
With TORN, the love
story kind of just happened. It wasn’t planned or outlined. It felt right. In
Three Days of Rain, I new there would be a triangle. I just wasn’t sure where
it was going to lead me. The ending I had in mind is very different from the
ending of the book.
Do I relate to any of
my characters? I guess there is probably a small piece of me in each one but
no, I don’t really relate to them in any significant way.
I noticed that both of your novels are very different in storyline
and love life- including their development of building relationships. Which one
did you have more fun, struggle, or “fit just right” with?
Writing TORN was fun
because it was my first novel. And I like to remember what love felt like when
I was a teenager. It was all consuming, crazy, passionate and new. Three Days
of Rain, however, had me knotted up the entire time I wrote it. I’d never
experienced what those characters were experiencing. I was just trying to write
the best possible struggle I could find.
I guess to answer
your question, the romantic storyline in TORN was more fun. Three Days of Rain
was just draining.
I notice that as a writer/reader, I tend to get swept away with
stories that have a strong love interest because I just love... love. Have you
ever had to stop yourself when writing because you were “swept away?”
I don’t’ really read
“romance” novels. My mom does, my sister, grandma, friends – they all get a
kick out of love stories. I’ve always been drawn to the struggle. Stories of
pain and redemption with a little romance sprinkled in. Maybe I’m damaged from
when I was a kid and opened one of my mom’s Harelquins and read about throbbing
members. I don’t know. Look at it like
this, my favorite, favorite, favorite Shakespeare play is the story of Romeo
and Juliet. It’s the saddest story. Sure there’s romance and first love but the
root of the whole thing is tragedy. Maybe I like to be sad.
The only true and
honest feeling of being swept away and in another world is when I read the
Harry Potter books. I read constantly. Anything and everything. But I usually
read and move on. I had a hard time moving on from the Potter series.
Last question- What’s your favorite novel (that you’ve read) that has a great love interest
and why do you love it?
Ahhh, man. I don’t
know. Great love interest? Maybe A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. But
then again. His true love dies at the end. What does that tell you about me?
Wait. Don’t tell me.
Thank you so much for your time and being a part of it! Being
an author takes amazing creativity of the mind. In each book written, you are a
creator of life and relationships. Since this blog is about relationships and
love, I felt it was suiting to indulge a little with this topic.
Since this is my first interview, I would be happy to hear
feedback from you on the questions and the structure. Haha. I’ve never seen the
inner workings of an interview.
The interview was
great! I hope I answered well enough. I’m not cynical, I just don’t get gooey
over love and romance and all that.
I really appreciate Christine joining me on my blog and making a humorous yet informational, debut of my interviewing! I have really enjoyed this and look forward to presenting you with a few more blog posts in the next few days!
Have a great day!!
Kristi
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