Cristina Slough

Novelist, movie addict, and animal lover, Cristina Slough is the author of: Till Death Us Do Part, her debut novel (Limitless Publishing, 2015). Cristina has always been a bookworm, rarely seen without a pen and paper in her hand, she loves delving into a literacy fictional world of her own.

Cristina is married to Adam, who runs a successful business; together they share their Bedfordshire home with their son, crazy white German shepherd and three spoiled cats. They can be found trekking through woodlands, or around the many shops Cristina loves to explore.  As a family, they love to travel frequently, the United States being a firm favourite

1.What got you into writing / what made you sit down and actually start something?I have been writing ever since I was a little girl.  I love how you can create anything by writing.  Being an author seemed like the natural path to take, but I took a detour into the corporate world. My creativity went into deep hibernation. I had a lot of changes going on in my life. The urge to write wasn’t something I could switch off.  One day, I went to see an EFT coach, she asked me what my dream was. I told her that one day I wanted to write a novel.  ‘Why not now’? She asked. She was right.  Why not now? That’s when I decided one day was now.  I began writing a psychological thriller, but I just couldn’t connect to it. I ditched the manuscript and started writing Till Death Us Do Part. 

2.What is a usual writing day like for you, how is it structured? I actually write at night.  This has a lot to do with the fact that I have a toddler, so I have to make sure he is in dreamland.  I sit at my desk (in my PJ’s), I pick a song from YouTube and leave it, so I end up with surprise songs.  Somehow the songs that play, fit to the scene I’m writing.  Goggle is my go-to.  So much research is done using it.  If anybody ever looked at my search history, they would really worry. It’s all in the name of research.  I promise!  

3.Do you get writers block? If so, how do you overcome it?YES.  If this happens, I take a step back.  Meditation helps clear my mind to make way for new ideas to enter.

4.Are you a plotter or panster when it comes to writing a story?A bit of both actually.  I start off with a plot and then my writing takes on a life force of its own. I’ll just write, and write, until the blank pages are filled with words which have come from a place deep within. 

5.Are you traditionally or self-published?Traditional.  Self-publishing really works for some people and the indie community is thriving.   It just wasn’t something that ever felt right for me.    

6. What was the publishing process like for you? Any advice to aspiring authors?Finishing a book is one thing, but trying to get published is a different beast.  I found the rejections tough.   When I finally got my publishing contract, I cried!  After I submitted to my publisher, things moved really quickly. I went from a submission to a full manuscript request to a contract in a space of five-days.My advice to aspiring authors would be to write a story they believe in. Your passion for a story is what is going to sell you.  Always follow the agent or publishers guidelines, if you don’t, it’s the kiss of death.  Most importantly, never give up!

7.What has been your highlight since becoming a published author?There have been a few.  Seeing my name and book title on a contract, and then seeing my name on a book cover, that blew me away!

8.Can you share a little of your most recent book with us, including genre and targeted audience? Till Death Us Do Part is a romantic suspense novel targeted towards women.

It tells the story of Mimi Marcus , the wife of a U.S. Marine.  She is told that her husband Joel had fallen in the line of duty in Afghanistan..

In desperate need of closure, Mimi travels to the one place Joel still has ties—The Marcus Ranch in Texas, inherited by his handsome younger brother Austin.

But when suspicions of Joel’s past surface, Austin refuses to disclose family secrets—even to his brother’s widow. It’s only by accident she uncovers evidence of Joel’s tainted past. Devastated by his lies and betrayal, she slowly opens up to Austin, and together they unfold layers of pain and grief.

Just as Mimi finds new hope in a future with Austin, Joel returns home from war. Enraged, traumatized, and teetering on the edge of insanity, Joel confesses to a history of deception, revealing yet another secret—this one too terrible to forgive.

9.What tip would you give to new authors when trying to build a fan-base / get followers and market their books? (What to do and what not to do.)Hmmm…  I think an online presence is very important, take every single opportunity to promote, no matter how big, or how small.  Interact with other authors, and keep in touch with bloggers! 

10.How long on average does it take you to write a book? Till Death Us Do Part took me four months, including editing.  Before that, let’s just say I was a bit of a Leonardo da Vinci! 

11.Tell us about the book cover/s, how the designing came about, whether you had much input etc. After I signed my contract, my publisher sent me a book cover questionnaire, I shared my BIG vision with them.  What I got back was nothing like I could have imagined, but it worked.  It has certainly got people talking! 

12.Apart from writing, what do you do in your spare time?I have a two year old son, he keeps me VERY busy.  I love books (of course), and I’m a big movie fan.  I’m quite girly, okay, very girly.  I love to shop, get my hair done.  As a family we love to travel, it makes for good writing material.

Blog. www.cristinaslough.com 

Facebook:  /cristinasloughauthor  

Twitter:  @cristina_slough