Category: Christina Hollis author

best selling books, Christina Hollis author, Harlequin Masquerade, historical novels

New Books Online Soon!

Christina Hollis
A few weeks ago, I posted a couple of blogs here about ebooks and epublishing. At the time I wasn’t sure I liked the way technology was galloping ahead, leaving book-lovers like me worried that the feel, smell and experience of “real” books would soon be lost forever. The debate has had such a lot of interest, both here and through my mailbox at christinahollis@hotmail.co.uk that I felt I had to do a bit more research. There are so many writers hovering on the brink of self-publishing that I thought I’d take the plunge, on the basis that “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”.  The catalyst for this was getting back all the rights to some historical novels I wrote for Harlequin Mills and Boon’s Masquerade line a while ago. I’ve chosen one of these to test the epublishing waters, so I can report back to you all on how the system works, and how easy it is to launch a book into the flotilla of writing already available on the net. 
I chose Lady Rascal for my foray into epublishing. It’s a lighthearted romp set at a deadly serious time – the summer of 1789. France is in turmoil, and an English aristocrat puts his life on the line for a beautiful woman. Philip Adamson thinks he’s saving Madeleine from the mob, but she is hiding a guilty secret. Beneath her borrowed clothes, Madeleine isn’t a lady, she’s laundry maid! She was finding herself some nice new clothes in the looted streets when Philip swept her away to safety. Quick-thinking Madeleine sees his innocent mistake as her chance to get the job of her dreams. As a lady’s companion, she looks forward to doing nothing all day – but  soon finds herself joining forces with Philip to fight for his family’s home and fortune.
Over the next few weeks I’ll be tracing Lady Rascal’s route from “real” paperback to brand new ebook let loose on the international stage. I think Madeleine will approve, and I look forward to hearing what you think!
Bookmarks, Christina Hollis author, Harlequin Mills and Boon Limited, Lady Rascal, One Night in His Bed

What’s Your Opinion?

Christina Hollis
My new ebook, Lady Rascal, comes out  in a few weeks’ time and I’ve taken this opportunity to redesign my bookmarks. When my first Harlequin Presents, One Night In His Bed, was released I followed the example of lots of other authors and had thin, glossy bookmarks printed advertising simply that book. They were lovely but of course their life was only as long as the book! Learning from that experience, I had a local printer produce some longer lasting thick card bookmarks, which I tuck inside the books I send out as competition prizes. As they aren’t advertising one particular book, I like to think they’re more of a keepsake. 
I like this new gold leaf design so much, I may make it the background for my blog as well. What do you think?
Christina Hollis author, running, Zest magazine

Monday Fun Run – Part 4

Christina Hollis
Wendy Beeler: photo Antarctic Photo Library

I’d now reached the stage in my running apprenticeship of running for one minute, then walking for two minutes and doing an increasing number of repetitions. I was now managing nearly half an hour of vigorous exercise per day, four times a week. This doesn’t sound like much, but only a few years ago I couldn’t walk any further than the kitchen door. A severe allergic reaction had left me with cellulitis and reactive arthritis. I’ve never been one for dashing about, preferring cake and couch and writing is a pretty sedentary occupation. I was really pleased with what ‘d achieved so far, so when my sister told me she’d started Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred system, I thought I’d give it a try. The DVD was on special offer at Amazon, so that was this week’s prize when I kept with the Running Made Easy plan from Zest magazine. It was great, though as a born couch potato I kept the remote control to hand so I could stop it for a rest when things got too frantic!Within a few days of working through the basic exercises I could keep up with the DVD, but found I didn’t have enough energy left for running. Deciding to concentrate on one thing at a time I stopped the exercises, but I’ll start them again when the days get shorter. Running in the cold and dark really doesn’t appeal to me!

Christina Hollis author, running, Targets

Monday Fun Run – Part 3

Christina Hollis
My first running sessions had been done in private, on a treadmill, well out of sight of anyone. As a reward for being brave enough to go out running on the roads, I bought myself a cheap sports watch so I would know when to alternate my minutes of running and walking. It was either that, or keep on carrying the kitchen timer! The thought of being seen running at all was embarrassing enough. For someone to spot me with the timer would have ended my running career before it started.
It was my birthday during the week, which luckily fell on a rest day. A bad reaction to an insect bite on my foot meant I could barely walk anyway, so I spent the day in the garden being waited on by my lovely family.  I made this my weekly treat – a whole day doing nothing but reading, writing and generally pottering about.
Going out for a run the next day was a bit difficult, but it was amazing how much better I felt once I made the effort and got out into the fresh air – and drizzle, which was fast becoming a fixture in my running life! 
Christina Hollis author, Mills and Boon, Romance

My Latest Release

Christina Hollis
We don’t have another Bank Holiday here in England for months, and with the Rainy Season apparently here to stay, I thought you might like a little distraction. My July release for Harlequin Mills and Boon, The Count’s Prize is available from http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/books/Modern/The-Counts-Prize.htm.  
Josie is a sensible academic, who’s landed the job of a lifetime. The catch? It’s based at the home of notorious playboy Dario. Josie and Dario are drawn together by irresistible forces, but she has more sense than to entrust her damaged heart to a rogue, while his flippant exterior hides a pain darker than he can face.
Here’s a little taste of it…

It was only when her hands slid around his waist that he stirred and gave a wordless moan of longing and regret Then he reached around and grasped her wrists. That one simple movement woke Josie from her trance. With a spasm of alarm she realised how close she had come to total surrender. She stood back and stared at him, shocked.
Dario’s expression was a mask of regret. His eyes squeezed shut as he whispered, ‘No…I can’t…I’m sorry… Arietta…’
Josie’s longing drained away replaced by the old familiar mix of anger, shame and humiliation.
‘You could at least call me by the right name!’ She spat.
That broke the spell.
‘I should never have done anything at all,’ he said grimly, dropping her hands and striding away across the glade to his horse.

Josie and Dario’s story has echoes of Cinderella. I love that theme, but of course there are lots of others. What’s your favourite? There’s a signed copy of The Count’s Prize on offer for a comment drawn at random  week on Wednesday, 20th June.