Interview With C.R. Moss

I'm pleased to have a fellow Nevada author, C.R. Moss, visiting today. Tell me about yourself. My current bio is: C.R. Moss, resident of the hot, high desert in the southwest, knew she wanted to write at a young age, as early as she learned to read, cooking up stories to entertain herself in the rural, non-kid-laden area she had lived in. But she took a round about way to settle down as a fiction writer, having worked in the corporate and real estate realms writing newspaper articles, press releases, corporate newsletters, etc. Now that she’s settled into the health care industry, she has returned to her first love: creative writing. I’ve been working toward a career in writing for as long as I can remember. I had been creating stories since I started to read, but the thought of writing for a living solidified when I was in middle school and received an A in English. I looked at the grade and that’s when my life was defined. I realized I could do it.

How did the inspiration for this series come to you? The first two books for my latest series, Look What the Cat Dragged, are available at Devine Destinies. The Look What the Cat Dragged In series was supposed to be one story following secondary character, Philip, from my novel Concealed Affairs, but my characters had different ideas. So the one story morphed into three and they center around a cat named Myrddin who believes he’s a matchmaker. In For Evelyn, the first story, the ghost who haunts Raritan Manor is brought forward with the help of Myrddin. Evelyn is able to experience love with the man of her dreams who happens to be the resident ghost. In For Julie, there’s time travel. A Native American gets brought forward during a ritual. Cassandra’s story will have a blast from her past. Philip will be Cassandra’s love interest and readers will see how her familiar, Myrddin, came into her life. The original story idea came to me in the 90’s. If I remember correctly, there was an old house in my neighborhood and I said to myself “I wonder if it’s haunted” and the ideas took off from there.

What was different about writing this series from other projects? The ‘Cat’ books are mainstream stories and are a bit on the lighter side of life, whereas my other titles tend to be darker and are written for the erotic market.

You also have a 3^rd book in the series “For Cassandra” coming out. Will there be more adventures ahead for your feline matchmaker? Yep. There are two more books planned. One will follow the three ladies of the ‘Bridge Club’ and the other will be Aunt Mae’s story.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Learn the craft! This means grammar, characterization, plot, etc., all the good things that go into a story. You might be able to ‘tell’ a good story, but, if you can’t write it by showing what the characters are doing/feeling, your writing career won’t go anywhere. Get involved in a critique partnership/group. Learn the non-creative side of the business as well. Be prepared.

What are your current projects and works in progress? I have an erotic romance cowboy story looking for a home. Then there’s Cassandra’s story and the other two as I’ve mentioned. I also have a couple more stories in the works for my Dirty Little series at eXtasy Books.

Who are your writing role models? All my English teachers from middle school through college, including my literature and creative writing professors, along with Anne Rice and Stephen King

How do you balance your day-to-day commitments with your writing life? Writing is pretty much my sole focus now so it’s like balancing life with any kind of job, designate certain hours to work and make sure to devote time for myself and family.

What is on your nightstand right now? Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth and its sequel World Without End

That’s an amazing series! What are your other passions outside of writing? Reading. Astronomy/Astrology.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? More about me and my books can be found at: www.crmoss.net and my blog: http://crmoss.wordpress.com/ Thanks for having me here today!

Excerpt for Look What the Cat Dragged in for Evelyn

A deep, warm laugh rumbled from him.

“You think it’s funny I’m going nuts?” She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him over the horse’s back.
Quinn moved around the horse. “You are not going insane.”
As Quinn took another step toward her, she took a step back. “That’s what Julie says. I’m not convinced though.”
With every step she took, Quinn matched it. In a deep, sultry voice he uttered, “My beautiful, intelligent Evelyn, your mind is very sound.”
Her butt hit the building. Standing in a pile of broken hay stalks, her gaze fixed on Quinn’s eyes and her breaths came in short rasps. Her mind didn’t feel sound at all, neither did her body. Pulse racing, heart pounding against her chest, she was in the midst of losing control. All her senses heightened until colors were brighter. She looked past Quinn at the dark green grass and pine trees and the deep blue sky.
He stood an inch before her. She breathed in his musky, masculine scent. Her clothes tightened and scratched against her sensitive skin. A shiver raked her body though the sun was warm. How could a man rob her of control, of her senses?
Quinn placed his hands on the building, trapping her between his arms. “Tell me,” his husky voice whispered in her ear. “What has gotten you so bothered you think you are going crazy?”
The heat radiating between their close bodies sent ripples of desire through her. She shuddered.
“Well?”
“You,” she whispered in return, not meeting his gaze.