Avalon Books - Author! Author!


	Read some interviews from past editions:
		Zelda Benjamin April, 2008
		Shirley Marks December, 2007
		Donna Wright December, 2007
		Carolyn Brown August, 2007
		Roni Denholtz June, 2007
		Tara Randel April, 2007
		Sydell Voeller February, 2007
		Sheila Robins December, 2006
		Ann Holt October, 2006
		Cynthia Danielewski July, 2006
		Jane McBride Choate March, 2006
		Kathryn Meyer Griffith January, 2006
		Mel Taylor November, 2005
		Kathleen Fuller September, 2005
		Tracey J. Lyons July, 2005
		Ludima Gus Burton May, 2005
		Holly Jacobs March, 2005
		Sandra D. Bricker January, 2005
		Kathryn Quick November, 2004
		Cheri Jetton September, 2004
		Heather S. Webber July, 2004
		Karl Fieldhouse May, 2004
		Shelley Galloway March, 2004
		Ilsa Mayr January, 2004
		Kathy Carmichael November, 2003
		Dorothy P. O'Neill July, 2003
		Joani Ascher May, 2003
		Patricia DeGroot March, 2003
		Nancy J. Parra January, 2003
		Barbara Meyers November, 2002
		Debby Mayne July, 2002
		Jean C. Gordon May, 2002
		Charles E. Friend March, 2002
		Norma Seely January, 2002
		Glen Ebisch November, 2001
		Gina Cresse September, 2001
		John Paxson July, 2001
		Terri Alcock May, 2001
		Clifford Blair March, 2001
		Amanda Harte January, 2001
		Kent Conwell November, 2000
		Carolyn Brown September, 2000
		Annette Mahon July, 2000
		Marjorie McGinley May, 2000
		Jack Lewis March, 2000
		Amanda Harte January, 2000
		Joyce and Jim Lavene November, 1999
	Return to the current Author! Author! interview:
		S.J. Stewart April, 2008


Author! Author!: September, 2002
Click on images to learn more about these books. An Interview with Christine Bush

When did you know you wanted to become a writer?
	From the time that I was very young, I was an avid reader. I loved stories that introduced me to new ideas about the world and the people in it. As a child, I loved mystery stories. As I got older, I fell in love with romance novels. My writing today is a blend of those two passions. I began writing my first book after my first daughter was born. One quiet morning, I sat down at the typewriter and began to write the type of story that I knew I liked to read. As the words began to spill onto the page, my creative energy soared, and I knew I had found the magical thing that I was meant to do. I have never stopped!
The heroines in your stories are all very different. How do you develop your characters?
	To me, the characters are the most important element of my stories. While they are never based on any particular person, each one is a blend of ideals and characteristics of people that I have met. Those facets are put together in an individual way, symbolizing the strength and courage that I see in women’s lives all around me. My books tell the stories of my characters’ growth, as they face challenges, fight for their beliefs, and dare to fall in love. While they are fictional characters, they deal with very real issues and problems in their lives, just like we all do. I hope this makes my stories come alive.
How do you come up with ideas for the plots for your novels?
	A writer’s brain can be a very curious thing! I get ideas in the strangest places, from casual conversations in the grocery store, to articles in the paper. A picture in a magazine can start my mind on a tangent that becomes a book. A chance comment from a friend can have me playing the “What if” game in my head, putting together unusual circumstances.. In my newest book, Noah’s Bark, the plot developed from a friend’s humorous comment that “opposites attract”. Do they? Or do they just make for unsurmountable conflict between the characters? With an exciting plot, and two people committed to trying to love, working through those opposites can make for a great story!
What are you working on now?
	While I’ve written seven contemporary novels, I’ve always wanted to try to write an historical, set in the west. That is my latest project, and it is both a lot of work and a lot of fun! Set in 1890 Montana, my heroine is a teacher who has gone west to begin a new life in a new town, running away from an evil uncle and an arranged marriage that she simply will not accept. The setting is another time and place, but the women’s issues are the same. As I develop my heroine’s character, it’s fun to see the differences and similarities the historical time period makes in her story.
As you are a teacher as well as an author, how do you find time to write?
	This is a common question. While it is sometimes a challenge, I think that many women today juggle more than one career in the course of a day. Writing is a wonderful creative outlet for me, and can be done at many times of the day. I sometimes write in the early morning. Sometimes an exciting idea will keep me at the keyboard until late at night. As a teacher, I have the gift of summer vacation to devote myself to my characters and plots. Our lives are often about integrating our many responsibilites and making sure that the things we are passionate about can fit into our day. Some days, it takes a lot of determination, but the effort is worth it!
What advice would you give an aspiring writer?
	To tell you the truth, I feel that everyone should write. I think that lives are richer when we find a way to communicate our ideas and feelings on paper. As a teacher, I try to inspire people to write, no matter what kind of writing you are passionate about. For an aspiring fiction writer, especially in the romance genre, I would strongly suggest being an avid reader as well. Writing courses can be a great help. Being in a critique group can be beneficial. I have found a lot of support and education in local writer’s groups. But the most important thing is to have the courage to begin. Write. Let your mind explore the world of characters, and put your ideas down on paper. The same determination that we give our “characters” can grow in us as writers. Just write! I love to hear from readers and aspiring writers! Please visit me at my web site: www.ChristineBush.com.