Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Chrissy Anderson,a Chick Lit, Romance, and Contemporary author, will be joining us for a Q&A and book giveaway, November 12 - November 13, 2013.

Meet Chrissy:



When she was just sixteen, Chrissy Anderson fell madly in love, made a seven-point life list, and adamantly stuck to it. The outcome was a dream husband, material wealth, a career to envy, and the kind of best friends every girl wants. It didn’t seem possible that anything could change Chrissy’s Perfect Life – it was just as she had hoped.

Then out of nowhere…an amazing man crosses Chrissy’s path. In the blink of an eye, Chrissy’s idyllic world is turned upside-down and she finds herself on a journey which forces her to face the harsh reality that the life she so diligently planned may not be so perfect after all.

What would you do if you realized the life you created wasn’t right for you? You think you know the answer? Think again.

The Life List is based on Chrissy Anderson’s experience. It questions the sanity of blindly following the bucket list we make when we are young, and the impact of changing our minds after we have checked most of the items off that list. Does it take more courage to break the hearts and expectations of those who love you in order to make all of your dreams come true, or to sacrifice your dreams to protect all of those hearts and expectations? How many of us really have what it takes to change direction once the wheels of our life are set in motion? It’s a heartbreaking scenario that millions of women find themselves in every day.

Refreshingly raw, heartbreaking, drenched in sexual tension, and mercifully hilarious… follow Chrissy in The Life List as she lies, cheats, and ultimately learns to tell the truth to herself and those that she loves. Not everyone will agree with Chrissy Anderson’s decisions, but all will pause as they follow along on her journey to ask, “What would I do if I were her?”


Twitter Username: askchrissy

Website: http://www.askchrissy.net



Books: ,



Giveaway: Chrissy will be giving away 3 ebook copies of The Life List and 2 ebook copies of The Unexpected List. This giveaway is open to everyone.

Welcome Chrissy, it's a pleasure having you with us!

I hope you enjoy your time with our members; and good luck to you all!


GUIDELINES FOR AUTHOR AND PARTICIPANTS:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Members, if you can please write the questions in bold; it would be easier for Chrissy to know that you have asked a question and less chance that it will be missed. Thanks!



In order to bold-

Place < b > before the question you have for Chrissy and < /b > after the question. Make sure there are no spaces.

Welcome Chrissy!

How long did it take you to write The Life List? Are you a writer that likes to plan and outline or do you have more of a 'let it flow' style?

Hi Chrissy.

How long ago did you create this bucket list? I still do not have one lol.

Hello Chrissy!
Can you tell us the publication date for part three of The Life List ??? And by the way, you're blog is great!

Fran wrote: "Welcome Chrissy!

How long did it take you to write The Life List? Are you a writer that likes to plan and outline or do you have more of a 'let it flow' style?"

Hi Fran,
First off, thank you for hosting me on your forum! It's been a pleasure chatting with you as we ramped up for today!

Don't laugh but it actually took me four years to write The Life List--the first installment in The List Trilogy. Well, scratch that...it took two years to write and two years to build up the courage to publish. You see, The Life List is about my real life chaotic and convoluted love story and well..it was quite scary to put myself out there like that. But after some very compelling nudges in the back by focus groups, I took the leap. And boy am I glad I did! Feedback so far has been nothing short of amazing.

As far as my writing style...I start off with a big 'ol outline and then usually abandon it about four pages in. My mind runs wild once I get started on a book and I'm so glad it does. The Life List was meant to be a one-hit-wonder, but when I got to the end, I was like, "Hold on! I love these characters too much to end their story here!" Hence, The Unexpected List and now The Hope List. It's been an amazing ride!

Liza wrote: "Hi Chrissy.

How long ago did you create this bucket list? I still do not have one lol."

Hi Liza! Thank you for the question.
I wrote "the list" that's the centerpiece of The Life List when I was sixteen years old. Burned it when...well, you'll have to read the book:)

Katerina wrote: "Hello Chrissy!
Can you tell us the publication date for part three of The Life List ??? And by the way, you're blog is great!"

Hi Katerina!
Thank you for reading the series so far! Hope you are enjoying reading them as much as I enjoy writing them!
The Hope List (part III in the trilogy) is almost done! However, there is a pretty big hold up to publication. This series feeds into my next one and I have to finish the outline for that project before I put this one to bed. If you put a gun to my head and I HAD to give you a date, I'd say no later than March. I know, I know...forever away! But it'll be worth it! I promise:)
Thanks for the blog praise! I wish I had more time to post--lots to bitch about!!!!

Hi Chrissy

If you weren't a writer what would you have been? and why this particular story with a bucket list. Lastly how do you come up with names for your characters and the first words to your prologue or chapter 1.

I would've been a stripper. HA! Kidding! (I don't have the body or the hutzpah for it!)
Honestly, I have no idea what I'd be doing if I didn't start this trilogy. All I know is I gave up a VERY good job to pursue this little dream of mine and I don't regret it for one minute. On top of the writing, I do all of my own marketing and it takes up a lot of my time. In addition to finishing The Hope List (part III in the trilogy), I'm developing a test pilot of The Life List for T.V.

Since my book is based on a true story it was very easy to come up with the names. While I maintained everyone's anonymity, I picked names that I felt reflected their personalities. "Leo" is strong and to the point. "Kurt" is carefree and willful. "Barbara" is old-school and maternal...

My words come from how I see things played out on a movie screen. I don't want to write AT people. I want readers to feel like they're in the story WITH me. Like we're all friends and we're in this together. Anything else seems boring.

Congratulations on the test pilot! Wow, that has to be very exciting!

Did you choose the covers yourself? What made you choose a black and white theme?


They are striking and dramatic. I like them :)

Chrissy, as a fellow list maker, your book sounds like it is right up my alley. Having been through your journey and list, are you satisfied with the decisions that you made?

Fran wrote: "Congratulations on the test pilot! Wow, that has to be very exciting!

Did you choose the covers yourself? What made you choose a black and white theme?


They are striking and dramatic. I like the..."

I did the covers with the assistance of my graphic designer and I'm in love with them. I wanted to keep all faces hidden to keep the ending a secret!
There's something about black and white that's mysterious...it grabs you and makes you say, "hmmmm, what's that all about?"

Michele wrote: "Chrissy, as a fellow list maker, your book sounds like it is right up my alley. Having been through your journey and list, are you satisfied with the decisions that you made?"

Hi Michele,
I'm so satisfied it's not even funny! In fact, some nights I wake in a cold sweat after having a nightmare in which I made different decisions. Now, keep in mind that I'm not telling you if I stuck with the list I made when I was sixteen. You'll have to read the series to find that out!

Hi Chrissy!

I just want to first of all say I LOVE YOUR BOOKS, esp writing style and hopeee that the final one comes out much sooner than March!
My Q is, What were the reactions of all of the characters in real life, e.g. Leo, Kurt etc. when they found out about you publishing yours and their life story?

Hi Bookwormlover!
Thank you for the compliments and I'm thrilled you're enjoying the series so far! I'm working on closing it out, I promise!!!
That's a great question! There was overwhelming support from 100% of the characters. Originally one of the female roles (I won't say who:) vocalized concern, she was worried about people getting hurt. But once she read the final product, she was like, "Wowza, the only person you threw under the bus was you!" Sure, I definitely made Kurt out to be a bit of a bastard in The Life List, but that opinion is subjective and only comes from Chrissy. Perhaps SHE'S the bastard, right? Additionally, the beauty of Kurt (and all of the living characters for that matter)is that he grows and becomes a better person. He doesn't stay a bastard for long...at least not in Chrissy's eyes.
I have to make one VERY important clarification, though. I only wrote about MY life story, not anyone else's.

Hi Chrissy,

Thanks for taking time to join us and answer questions!

Which authors (if any) do you consider "auto-buys"? Also, are there any authors who have influenced your writing, either by acting as a teacher or mentor for you, or through a particular interest in their writing style?

Hi Chrissy,
i just got this msg in my mail box and read the glimpse of "The life list", seems interesting and complicated.
but as they say.. life always is complicated so do the life list :D
So is this book already out in market?

Hi Chrissy - thanks for joining us for a little Q&A :)

Given The Life List was based off your own life experiences was writing this story cathartic for you?
and
do you think you will keep writing, but based on fictional situations or do you have more stories to tell from your own life?

~KarenH~ wrote: "Hi Chrissy,

Thanks for taking time to join us and answer questions!

Which authors (if any) do you consider "auto-buys"? Also, are there any authors who have influenced your writing, either by a..."

Hi Karen,
Thank you for the question. I'd have to say David Sedaris' work reflects a writing style that appeals to me. It's so raw and edgy--makes me cringe in good and bad ways. I want my readers to have the same reaction when they read my work.

Sunny wrote: "Hi Chrissy,
i just got this msg in my mail box and read the glimpse of "The life list", seems interesting and complicated.
but as they say.. life always is complicated so do the life list :D
So is ..."

Hi Sunny:)
Yes, The Life List is on the market (and doing quite well sales/review wise!!). The second book in The List Trilogy, The Unexpected List is also out! You can find both of them on Amazon.
Touch base with me after you read them! Can't wait to hear what you think.
Chrissy

Jane (PS) wrote: "Hi Chrissy - thanks for joining us for a little Q&A :)

Given The Life List was based off your own life experiences was writing this story cathartic for you?
and
do you think you will keep writing,..."

Hi Jane,
I can't even begin to tell you how cathartic it was! The first year of my project was purely spent on a chronology of my life. For anyone reading this...I HIGHLY recommend taking the time to write a chronology of your life--going as far back as you can remember and being completely honest with yourself about every tidbit you jot down, no matter how painful. It's empowering and healing. My chronology ended up being almost as long as my novel!
The Life List is my only story about my life, all others in the series are fictional and the same will go for all of my work going forward. Of course, everything I do will be a spin off of The Life List. Characters that everyone knows and loves will be around for a very long time!

Was it difficult to transition the trilogy from fact based to fiction?

I can imagine it must have been fun to take some of the real life characters and give them fictional lives and experiences.

Thanks Chrissy :) Even though these experiences happened to you, had your emotions dulled over time? Did you need to really dig deep or 'sensationalise' your thoughts to get impetus in the story?

I don't know about you, but as I get older things that happened in my 20s which were painful or embarrassing at the time, have sort of disappeared in my 40s ;)

Jane (PS) wrote: "Thanks Chrissy :) Even though these experiences happened to you, had your emotions dulled over time? Did you need to really dig deep or 'sensationalise' your thoughts to get impetus in the story?

..."

That's a great question Jane! I guess the answer is yes and no. There were so many experiences that I wrote about and, yes, some I look back on and say to myself, "Big deal!" I agree, the stuff we worry about when we're younger just seems so silly when we arrive at 40 (yes, I'm there too:) But then there are other things in the story that will never dull over time. Sad, but true!
I wrote The Life List with all of the feelings and emotions I carried with me in my late twenties/early thirties. Those feelings/emotions change with the books. Chrissy is in her thirties in The Unexpected List and then arrives to her forties in The Hope List.

Fran wrote: "Was it difficult to transition the trilogy from fact based to fiction?

I can imagine it must have been fun to take some of the real life characters and give them fictional lives and experiences."

Hi Fran,
The opposite happened! It was so much easier to write fiction! I could detach myself from the scenes in a way that made it easier to express myself--I became less concerned with defending my actions. It freed me up to be more creative, sardonic, and in a weird way...more true to myself. It became a lot more fun for me to take the characters lives in directions I wanted to take them (not where they went in real life:)
Don't get me wrong! The Life List will forever be my favorite piece of work--it's me...it's who I am. I wish everyone would write their own version. How cool would that be?
Thank you again for hosting me. I wish more gals would've chimed in:( I have such a huge following on facebook, though, and they know they can reach me there!! Dumb me...I became too accessible!!!

Chrissy wrote: "Sunny wrote: "Hi Chrissy,
i just got this msg in my mail box and read the glimpse of "The life list", seems interesting and complicated.
but as they say.. life always is complicated so do the life ..."

thanks!! shall get these books in my collection. I'm eager to read these books after seeing the conversations tking place here.

Thanks so much for joining us Chrissy! You had over 200 members reading this Q&A - I'm glad a nice sized group of RRRC members got to know you and your works :)

And the winners of Chrissy's giveaway are......


The Life List-
hugsandcookies
Michele
Sunny

The Unexpected List-
Liza
KarenH


Congratulations! Please send Chrissy a message here at Goodreads with your email address and she will get your ebook right out to you :)