Shut Up And Kiss Me – A Character Interview

Yep, I’m still blogging about the Unwrapping Love anthology, which releases on December first, and can be purchased for a ridiculous price right now.

Today, I’m featuring Christine Emerson, the heroine from Shut Up And Kiss Me, a story that, frankly, is enticing by the title alone, let alone after getting to know the main character. Grace Ravel, an up-and-coming new author, wrote this adorable story. Here’s what it’s about:

Risk taker Christine has been in love with her best friend, Hunter, all her life.  She’s fun, smart, and pretty in an average sort of way. Hunter, on the other hand, hides his Mr. Yummy Self underneath his boring three-piece suits with his wingtip shoes. They say opposites attract so these two should get on together like house on fire. Except for the small problem of Hunter being oblivious to Christine’s pining (yes, pining!) because he’s been grieving the death of his beloved wife for 5 years. Fed up waiting for Hunter to start living again, Christine decides to move on. Finding his best friend suddenly unavailable, Hunter’s well-ordered life turns upside down. Desperate to have Christine back in his life again, Hunter finds that he too can throw caution in the wind, consequences be damned.

Christine agreed to step out of the pages and allow me a brief interview. We meet at a fudge shoppe, the kind where they make the creamy confections from scratch, on a marble slab right in front of you, and offer tastes of the hundred or so varieties they sell. Christine is so in her element that she hardly has time to talk to me. She’s too busy sampling sweets. But I persist, because, well, I need something to put on my blog today.

Tami’s Thoughts: So, Christine, are you your author’s muse or bane of her existence?

Christine Emerson: Muse, of course! How could I be anything else? I’m wonderful. Just ask my sisters. On second thought, don’t.

She licks her fingers and rolls her eyes and motions for me to try another piece. She is eating three for every one I’ve sampled, which is okay by me. I hate exercising, and I’m not going to have a choice but do it, after this interview.

TT: What do you think readers will like best about you? Worst?

CE: Hmmm…that’s tough. I think readers will like that I’m very adventurous. And that might just be the worst thing about me. My daring nature makes me prone to leaping without thinking. I also speak without thinking. It’s very embarrassing that my tongue is quicker than my brain.

TT: Are you married?

CE: No, I’m not married. Hunter is my exact opposite. He’s very deliberate about everything. I need that—that steady hand, the one that tells me enough is enough. I think we all need that, whether it’s a person or it’s a “something” that provides balance and even sanity. I, on the other hand, provide him with flashes of insanity, which he does not seem to mind. He’s very staid. What it is they say about still waters running deep? That’s definitely him.

TT: Perfect lead in to my next question. What’s your favorite place to seduce your partner?

CE: Bathroom. Is that gross? The bathtub, the shower, the tile floor. I don’t have to explain, right?

TT: Nope. Not at all. Trust me. I get it. So, what do you wish Hunter understood about you?

CE: I don’t know if there is one thing. We’ve known each other for so long, he gets me in so many levels. Actually, there is one thing. I wish he understood why it’s so important for me to have a constant supply of chocolates. I mean, it’s chocolates!

I watch her stuff another three pieces of fudge into her mouth. Clearly, she is not exaggerating her chocolate obsession.

TT: If you could rewrite one scene in the book, what would it be? How would you rewrite?

CE: Could I ask to be more prim and proper? I swear a lot in this book. It makes me cringe what my mom would think.

TT: That’s an interesting request. Hopefully your author is reading, and takes that into consideration if you get to make a cameo appearance in a future book, eh? Has your author, Grace Ravel, ever put you into an embarrassing situation? How did you handle it?

CE: Yes! She’s a meanie. When I was ready to jump Hunter’s bones, and he had a moment of “I can’t be doing this with her!” Aside from the mood killer, it was embarrassing to get all hot and bothered but the guy can’t wait to get out of there! And to be honest, it was more than anything painful.

TT: Oh, tough break. Authors are notorious for that stuff, though. Unfortunately for the characters, readers love it when we drag out the tension. Here’s another question: Is there anything specific in this book of which you are particularly proud?

CE: I hope that the readers can understand the pain that Hunter was in. To lose so many people he loved. Particularly, how he eased back into the life of the living. I’m proud of that. I’m proud of him.

TT: Your love for him sounds so sincere. It makes me look forward to this book even more than I did before this interview. Okay, Christine, would you like to add anything else, before we wrap up the interview? I think the fudge shoppe wants us to leave. I heard one of the employees grumbling about eating all the profits.

CE (completely ignoring my blatant hint, as she pops another bite of fudge into her mouth): I hope your followers read the book, and they think nicely of me when they do.

TT: Well, that’s a wrap. I need to get Christine out of this shoppe before they start charging me for the vast amount of fudge she’s consumed. I assume, after this interview, you’ll want Christine’s author’s info. Grace Ravel loves to meet new fans via social media. She’s on Facebook, Twitter, and she blogs regularly. Her info is below:

 You can find Grace on social media at: www.facebook.com/graceravelwriter, Twitter @graceravel, and her blog at www.graceravel.com

Don’t forget the Unwrapping Love Release Party on Facebook, on December first! And check back in a few days, for the next post, featuring another author from the Writing Wenches’ first anthology. Until then, keep reading!

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