Special Guest: Christina Phillips!

Christina Phillips writes hot Roman/Druid historical romance for Berkley Heat. FORBIDDEN, her first in the series, is out now. Her 2^nd book, CAPTIVE, has just been released.

Hi Christina, thanks for visiting the Lovecats! Can you give us a brief overview of Captive, and how it is linked to Forbidden?

Hi Mel, thank you for having me on the Lovecats blog today! Here’s a one sentence summary of Captive:

A tortured warrior and rebellious Druid priestess have to overcome their past, put their trust in each other and face their deepest fears if they want to survive the invasion of their lands and the wrath of a spurned goddess.

Captive begins six months after Forbidden ends, and follows Morwyn, who is the best friend of the heroine in Forbidden. At the start of the book Morwyn is suffering from a crisis of faith and leaves the Druid sanctuary on the Isle of Mon to join the rebels fighting the Roman invaders. Unfortunately she’s ambushed, and much to her disgust is rescued by the hero, Bren.

How did the series idea come about?

After I finished writing Forbidden my agent wanted to know what happened to a few of the secondary characters. Up until that point it hadn’t occurred to me to write another book set in that world, but as soon as I started thinking about it I realized there was so much more to explore. So I decided to write Morwyn and Gawain’s book, only to discover that Gawain wasn’t, in fact, Morwyn’s hero at all!

You have two books in the series, are there any more planned?

I do have ideas for a couple more books in the series. I’m a third of the way through the third book, Enslaved, but it all depends on how the market likes Forbidden and Captive as to whether that gets the go-ahead!

How do you compare writing these long-length novels to your shorter novellas with The Wild Rose Press?

Up until I wrote my two short novelettes for The Wild Rose Press, I’d only written full length novels. I’ve always found it easier to write long, rather than short, so in a way it was much more of a challenge for me to write Foretaste of Forever and Touch of a Demon. I love exploring my worlds and for the shorter stories I had to cut right back on the world building because of the word count.

Have you any other characters and stories breathing down your neck, busting to get out?

I sometimes think I’m a very odd anomaly because unlike just about every other writer I know, I don’t have a million characters in my head demanding to have their stories told! What generally happens is either a secondary character or a complete stranger will suddenly leap out at me for one reason or another and then take up residence inside my imagination. So while I might have no idea what their story is, or who their hero or heroine might be, I do know that this character is the one who’s going to haunt me until I do something about it!

A day in the life of Christina?

After Clive Owen gently wakes me from my slumbers, we retire to the spa where Henry Cavill is waiting to massage my aches and pains away. While I’m suffering this (it’s all in the name of research) Colin Firth peels some grapes and Alan Rickman entertains me with his Sheriff of Nottingham persona.

Oh wait, you mean in my real life?

Hmm. That consists of running around like a madwoman trying to get everyone off to school and work, doing the shopping, ignoring the housework and collapsing in front of the computer as quickly as I can. On a good day that’s by 9 am. I then check my mail before starting work, taking a break at 11.30 for lunch then back at it until it’s time for the school run. After that I fit in any promo/blogging/everything-else-that-has-to-be-done in between socializing with the family and wondering what I can burn for dinner tonight.

And finally, what is your writing goal for five years time?

OK, I’m going to think big here J In five years time I’d love to be writing three different series for my publisher, with a backlist of at least ten books, and I’d love to be hitting the USA Today and NYT bestseller lists J

For your chance to win a copy of either FORBIDDEN or CAPTIVE (winner’s choice, open internationally wherever The Book Depository delivers) tell us what you love about a Roman/soldier hero?

Blurb

Trained in sensuality, a Druid priestess finds herself falling for the wrong man—the warrior who’s taken her prisoner…

Having lost her faith when Roman invaders destroyed life as she knew it, Morwyn took a vow of celibacy to spite her goddess. But before she can join up with the rebels, she's captured by a Gaul mercenary whose animal charms and chiseled body will test her conviction... and make it harder to kill him.

Bren, pledged to the true Briton king, has spent three years undercover in the Roman Legion. So when his own unit attacks and brutalizes a fiery Celtic beauty, he saves her the only way he can - by claiming her as his prisoner. But unlike his men, Bren would never take the woman by force, no matter how obviously she burns for his touch.

As they near Roman headquarters, Morwyn resolves to honor her vow of celibacy - but if the Gaul were to ravage her, could she be blamed for enjoying his body? With just a hint of seduction, sooner or later the Gaul will succumb to his exquisite captive...

Christina’s Website: http://www.christinaphillips.com
Captive Excerpt: (Over 18s Only, Please!)
http://www.christinaphillips.com/Captive%20Excerpt.htm
Forbidden Excerpt: (Over 18s Only, Please!)
http://www.christinaphillips.com/Forbidden%20Chapter%20One.htm