Blue Valley Author Christine Rice on Hailing Taxis

[easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”left” asin=”B004QWZBMK” cloaking=”default” height=”160″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41mgJDC4rrL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ width=”116″]Today I am continuing my series of author interviews with Christine Rice, author of Blue Valley.

Are you a full time writer, or do you still have a “day” job? If so,
what is your day job?

I work in the fashion industry as a technical designer. Now if you were in front of me, you’d give me some sort of blank stare, then you’d smile and either change the subject or ask me what the hell that is.

You are assuming that I don’t know what a technical designer is. You
are making quite the assumption there, aren’t you? I may be very fashion savvy.
Okay, what the hell is that?

I make sure that, when you wear a jacket, you can lift your arm to hail a cab and that the crotch of your jeans doesn’t ride up on you.

Wow. For every time I have ever hailed a cab, thank you! But, really,
that’s a job?

You betcha. It’s about as satisfying as cold toast.

What is your next project?

Funny you should ask. It’s a cozy mystery set in the bowels of the fashion industry. Our sleuth is a patternmaker who’s in love with her gay boss. I’m considering the title “Crimes of Fashion”. Like it?

I do like it! But wait, Blue Valley isn’t a mystery, is it?

No, it’s a historical supernatural thriller. The logline is: At the outset of World War
2, with the government terrified of Japanese sabotage, Will Leary is sent to
California to investigate a spreading, deadly blue soil. When he falls in love
with the magical woman who is unwittingly causing the destruction, he must
decide between science and his soul. What do you think?

Sounds like a great premise, but to really judge it, I guess it would depend on what they are wearing. Can they hail a cab comfortably? What inspired Blue Valley?

Well, I was on an archaeological dig in 19 (mumble…cough) sorry. A while ago, and I was so inspired by the Salinas Valley, where the dig was, that I spent ten years trying to figure out how to write about it.

Salinas Valley. That is Steinbeck country. I’ve been there. Beautiful area. How many drafts did you write in ten years?

I was writing other things, and I didn’t take myself seriously until I was at USC film school. But in that time, I guess I drafted the screenplay seven times and the book six times. I
fearlessly write puke, so it takes me a long time to fearlessly cut it.

How much did you cut?

Far, far more words than made it to your Kindle.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by, Christine. I will never hail a cab again without thinking of you. Best of luck to you on Blue Valley!

Website – http://flippcity.blogspot.com/ (please follow my blog I
work so very hard on it and it is funny and nutritionally sound).

Amazon Kindle –  [easyazon_link asin=”B004QWZBMK” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Blue Valley: A World War 2 Fantasy (The Elementals)[/easyazon_link]

Twitter – @xtined