I say this a lot, but it’s always true: I love introducing you all to my Wild Rose Press Sistahs. Today, I’ve got sistah CJBahr visiting and she’s telling us all about herself and her newest release, REDEEMED BY FIRE which dropped on 9.20.2021. Take a few minutes and read about this talented author then read about the book – it’s sure to whet your reading appetite!
CJ -the Author
1. What drives you to write?
My love or reading and my imagination. So many ideas and characters bouncing around inside my head.
2. What genre(s) of Romance do your write, and why?
I write paranormal romance, supernatural suspense and urban fantasy. I guess I like a little danger and darkness with my magic. I want to write a story that drags my reader inside and give them some thrills and chills while getting to the HEA.
3. What genre(s) of Romance do you read, and why?
Ha, all of them! I definitely read what I write, to stay in top form for myself. But I primarily read to escape reality. I do love a good historical or regency romance along with my paranormal reads. Lately, and I’m not quite sure why, I’ve been reading a lot of Billionaire and Hockey romances.
4. What’s your writing schedule? Do you write everyday?
I try to write everyday, but it depends on my day job if it interferes. I don’t have a schedule, I write when convenient and when inspiration strikes.
5. Give us a glimpse of the surroundings where you write. Separate room? In the kitchen? At the dining room table?
I write where my laptop travels. Lately I’ve been writing while on the couch with my ever ready, cuddling assistant, Liam, my tuxedo cat. Though lately he hasn’t been so helpful since he starts out next to me and then slowly over time, oozes onto my keyboard!
6. Are you the kind of writer who needs total quiet to compose, or are you able to filter out the typical sounds of the day and use your tunnel-vision?
I prefer quiet (people wise) while listening to instrumental movie/tv soundtracks. If loud talking people, like in a coffee shop, surround me I’ll put on headphones and turn the music up so I can concentrate.
7. Do you listen to music while you write, and if so, what kind? If not, why not?
As mentioned above, yes I definitely listen to music when I write. No lyrics. Singing distracts me. Listening to movie/tv instrumental soundtracks, I “score” my scenes I’m writing. For instance, if I’m writing an action sequence I might listen to “The Italian Job” or “Transformers”.
8. How did you come up with the plotline/idea for your current WIP?
My Fire Chronicles series are standalones though they have an interconnecting link of seven Archangels. In book 3, Redeemed By Fire, the Archangel Gabriel presides. His horn has gone missing. Knowing that music plays an important part to the plot, there really was only one place to set it—New Orleans. From there, I came up with the supernatural serial killer who stole the horn, came up with a heroine who is set up to be the next victim. After that, it was obvious my hero would be a homicide Detective in the NOPD.
9. Which comes first for you – character or plot? And why?
Usual a character comes first. In fact, in book 1, Walking Through Fire, came to me in a dream. There was a Scottish highlander chained to a cave wall as the tide swept in. I have no idea why I dreamt it, but I decided I wanted to know who the man was and why he’d drown in the cave.
10. What 3 words describe you, the writer?
Tenacious, Cinematic, Romantic.
CJ- the Gal
1. Tell us one unusual thing about yourself – not related to writing!
I love single malt scotch. I learned to admire it while traveling in Scotland. I’ve amused several men, while ordering it at a bar.
2. Who was your first love and what age were you?
My first love was more of a crush. Joe, my cute, surfer, next door, neighbor. I believe I was 14 or 15 at the time.
3. If you could relive one day, which one would it be? Think GROUNDHOG DAY, the movie for this one – you’ll have to live it over and over and….
The day I rode a Welsh Cob across the “Roof of Wales”. A truly amazing day.
4. What’s one thing you love about your significant other?
Sadly, I’ve never married and currently aren’t seeing anyone.
5. If you had to give up one necessary-can’t-live-without-it item, what would it be?
Chocolate cake.
6. What three words describe you, the person?
Loyal, Supportive, Perfectionist.
7. If you could sing a song with Jimmy Fallon, what would it be?
“Paperback Writer” by the Beatles. Peggy here – OMG that’s one of my fav songs of all time!!!!
8. If you could hang out with any literary character from any book penned at any time line, who would it by, why, and what would you do together?
Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher’s series, The Dresden Files. Harry has an amazing sense of humor and is listed as a wizard for hire in the Chicago phone book. I’d take him out for drinks and have him tell me about his adventures. Normally I’d love to tag along to solve a case with him, but things get pretty dicey around him, so just hanging with him would probably be the safest.
I love the Actor’s Studio show on Bravo, so this is my version of it:
- Favorite sound — a cat purring
- Least favorite sound — finger nails on a chalk board
- Best song every written — “Imagine” by John Lennon
- Worst song ever written — “1 800 Cars For Kids”
- Favorite actor — Iaon Gruffudd
- Who would you want to be for 1 day and why? ( It can be anyone living or dead) — Sherlock Holmes. I’d love to be that smart and clever.
- What turns you on? — A man who can make me laugh.
- What turns you off? — Selfishness
- Give me the worst 5 words ever heard on a first date ( here’s mine: “Is that your real hair?”) — Do you have a sister?
- What’s your version of a perfect day? — Waking up late, staying in pj’s, then inviting friends over in their pj’s to play “Cards Against Humanity” and laughing our asses off.
New Orleans, hot sultry nights, and an ancient evil who makes the French Quarter home.
Blurb:
Cassanne Thomas returns to New Orleans to start her life over and becomes the target of a supernatural serial killer. Escaping her close call with death, Casi is the only witness to the crime and finds herself placed in protected custody by a handsome Cajun detective. But with her dark, troubled past, trusting the police is the last thing she wants to do.
Detective Lucas Avery, the top homicide detective in NOLA, is unaware of the supernatural world surrounding him. With the killer stalking the streets, he vows to shield the beautiful, enigmatic, Casi with his life while fighting his growing attraction to her. He’s been burned before.
Danger chases Lucas and Casi from the streets of the French Quarter to the wilds of the bayou. Will they be able to stop a monster, straight out of a nightmare or become victims themselves?
Casi screamed and covered her ears, though too late. The loud boom made her ears ring. Who was shooting at them? She tried to see, but Luc’s weight had her effectively pinned. Squealing tires along with a string of Cajun curses from Luc, had Casi guessing the shooter had fled.
Luc holstered his weapon when Casi spotted the blood dripping off his arm.
“Oh my God!” She pushed at him. “Let me up. You’re hurt. You’re bleeding!”
Luc rolled off her and did as she asked, while gripping his thigh with both hands. Her gaze left his arm drawn to the blood oozing out between his fingers. The thigh wound appeared much more serious. She tugged her phone out and quickly dialed 911. But before it connected, Luc’s bloody fingers grabbed her phone and disconnected the call.
“We can’t call this in.” Luc exhaled harshly and gritted his teeth as once again, he applied pressure to his leg.
“You’re shot. You’re bleeding from multiple places. We need an ambulance!”
He shook his head. “Can’t. We need to leave. Now.”
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CG6JX5T/
B&N: https://tinyurl.com/273fhhtc
iBooks: https://tinyurl.com/wctyc9xa
Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/3v6mcsn7
BookBub: https://tinyurl.com/vrxs8nbp
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/3yaVMe
First published in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s “Sword & Sorceress” anthology, C J was bitten by the writer’s bug and hasn’t stopped since. The Wild Rose Press published her award-winning first novel, “Walking Through Fire”— a Scottish ghost romance. She is currently working on the fourth book in the interconnected standalone series, The Fire Chronicles, as well as a new Urban Fantasy starring a kick-ass Time Enforcer.
When her pen isn’t scribing, you can find her busily cutting and tracking music for film and television. With over thirty years of music editing experience, her credits range from “Northern Exposure” and “The Muppets Christmas Carol”, to “The Kill Point”, “The Following”, and ABC’s hit comedy, “The Middle”.
In her downtime, you’ll find her curled up with a cup of tea, her cats and a great book in Tarzana, California.
FInd CJ Here:
Website/Newsletter: https://cjbahr.com
Twitter: @cjbahr https://twitter.com/cjbahr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bahrcj
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjbahr.author/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9828572.C_J_Bahr
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-j-bahr
Amazon Author: https://tinyurl.com/y7jmpqdg
Peggy here: thanks, CJ, for stopping by today.
Peggy Jaeger, Author 