Who the heck is this C.J. chick?

This week, the Wicked Writers will be blogging about something we know better than anyone else on the planet – ourselves and our books. I helped plan this blog with novelists of multiple genres to enlarge the audience each of us would be able to reach on our own. More and more mainstream books are considered cross-genre these days, and I believe a blog reflecting those trends would be a leap in the right direction.

Sharing information comes second nature to me — I have the gift and curse of gab. It's aided me in a successful career being self-employed for well over a decade. What I know about writing... well, let's just say I learn more each day and I'm grateful for it.

I have an academic background in art and science and a professional background in all things real estate. Art reflects my active imagination, science showcases my fascination with systems and control, and my work life taught me how to sell – a unique combination of interests and skills to bring to writing, to say the least.

One of my best friends and fellow Wicked Writer, Supriya Savkoor, encouraged me one fateful night in January 2009 to put my wild ideas down on paper. She followed up with phone calls and emails – even offered exceptional writing advice to the newly enthralled and ignorant writer that I was. I'd like to say I've retained all the wisdom she shared, but punctuation will forever be my downfall.

What I did do well was take my love of reading fantasy, mystery, suspense, and erotica and weave it into a tale that falls under Urban Fantasy. My book, Vampire Vacation, takes all of these elements and mixes them up with a walk through the world from a powerful ancient vampire's point of view. Vivian's a sarcastic realist who owns a remote Alaskan resort for the undead. When an un-drained corpse is discovered in a locked room, she tries her hand at playing detective while still attempting to manage the vacationing vampires. Sex, mayhem, and intrigue abound and the lush innkeeper struggles to control it all.

I'm happy to report that, so far, the book has gained a pretty loyal following on Facebook. The manuscript is currently out with several agents and has been requested by four publishers. Results from two contests could steer the fate of Vampire Vacation to a publishing contract this month. I'll be sure to keep you all posted on the outcome.

Thanks for stopping by and giving our blog a read. I love hearing and responding to comments from fellow writers and readers – please share your thoughts by clicking on the link at the top of this post!