Could you share a little about yourself and what led you to become a writer?
I write to encourage anyone who needs to hear it that life is full of hope. This message burns inside of me, generated from a season in my own life when I needed to hear that message. I feel for you and appreciate the gesture. I began writing after I lost my daughter. I needed to create a place where people truly cared about one another.
Do you write full time? How much of your life is set aside for writing?
I don’t write full time. I try to write every day though. A noble quest.
Could you tell us a little about your novel?
Wrecked and Yours, begins with two sisters, Miranda and Cassie, who are run-aways, based lightly on a few of my own experiences. As they struggle to find their way, they meet another homeless teen, Jason. The main focus of the story is their connection as adults… will the walls break down enough to allow love? Or will their old ways come back to haunt them.
Would you take us on a brief tour of your novel and the world you’ve created? Wrecked and Yours takes place over the span of 200 miles as the teenagers try to find a sustainable way to live. As adults Miranda, comes home to a small town where Jason lives. She’s heavy hearted and expecting rejection. You have peaked my curiosity with your ‘sustainable way to live’…
Where does the inspiration for your main character and story come from?
I experienced homelessness as a teen, and many of their struggles were things I could personally relate with. Then I can imagine your writing will show a depth only imagined by others.
What do you think makes a good romance story?
A good romance story includes growth of character, love, and a happily ending. :) I’m all for happy endings!
How do you handle the emotional side of romance writing?
I love the emotions. I hope I lead the readers to feel what the characters are feeling in a relatable way.
What elements do you think are more important in this type of writing?
I think it’s important to take my time getting to know my characters, and relate them in as realistic way as possible even if everything in the story is unrealistic. Yes! It’s sad when things are rushed; it feels as though we’ve been robbed.
What is the message behind the story? Was it something you specifically wrote a story around or did it develop as your characters came to life?
My message is about how important forgiveness is, and how precious it is. How there can be new beginnings, hope is real, and so is love. Wow, nice.
Do you work from an outline or just go with the flow? If you use an outline, how detailed is it?
I work from a very vague outline. I have a few ideas of where I want the story to go, and then I let the characters lead me there. It’s often a surprise to me too!
What is the time span in your novel, weeks, months, years?
It jumps from their teen years to adulthood. I had to laugh at the earlier question, where you said the story spanned 200 miles. I immediately thought of this question, and thought, ‘Well now that’s a first.’
How does this book differ from what you have written in the past?
The books I’ve written in the past were memoirs. And I loved writing Wrecked and Yours after doing the memoirs!
How do you handle marketing? Do you have a plan, a publicist or just take one day at a time?
I run sales from time to time. Some of my marketing comes from a few incredible opportunities to do radio interviews. I also am a public speaker. Interesting.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Don’t doubt yourself. Whenever I begin a book and picture how someone else will read it, my creativity always gets choked off. So, my advice is to write for yourself when doing the first draft. I think if we start worrying about what people will think we’d never write.
Could you tell us what you’re working on now?
I am working on the third book to the series, and I’m very excited about it!
Now let's find out a little more about our guest through her bio.
Bio
CeeCee James is a wife, mom, owner of two mini-dashchunds, writer, and watercolor artist. Most of all, she is a survivor. The story about overcoming strife is one that resonates with her. She lived it herself. An advocate for adult survivors of child abuse, her Ghost No More series is her true story of surviving and healing from childhood trauma. CeeCee's blog- http://joyfullivingpafterchildabuse.blogspot.com/
Her fictional series, Wrecked and Yours, is about a pair of siblings and how they navigate life. It's romantic, uncertain and messy, like life often is. It's describes their season to make a choice, "look at life honestly and deal with it, or continue to run away." CeeCee absolutely loved writing it, and hopes it resonates with you because everyone has an important story of what they've overcome.
Wrecked and Yours
Tagline,
Are there second chances in love?
Blurb,
Five years ago Miranda and Jason were inseparable--runaway teens standing together against the rest of the world. But those days are long gone.
Now in her twenties, Miranda is triggered by the ghosts of her past. Trying to escape, she abandons her old life and everyone she knew.
Jason swears his relationship with her is ruined.
Just when she's back on her feet, her secret forces Miranda to return. Now, she must pair together with Jason to overcome the biggest challenge they've ever faced, or both of them be destroyed. But with so many scars separating them, can they learn to trust each other again?
Excerpt,
Miranda’s red Jeep jolted over the last few potholes of the dirt driveway. A cloud of dust rolled past the vehicle and up to the front door.
“There goes my surprise attack,” she whispered, staring up at the house. It appeared empty, with its windows dark in the bright sunlight, but she knew he was there. His rust-covered Chevy truck was parked beside the old barn.
She flipped down the rear view mirror and rubbed away the mascara smears, then flicked her brown hair off her shoulders. Sighing, she opened the car door. She started to slam it, but then the bravado drained away. Instead, she shut it quietly and leaned against it momentarily for support before squaring her shoulders and walking up the porch steps.
Reviews
FIVE STARS
THIS novel is the reason I read books. An absolute MUST read.
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Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about CeeCee James. It will add depth to my reading experience as I read her novels.
ReplyDeleteThank you Onisha!
DeleteMost welcome! I love meeting new authors and learning about their story :)
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