Frequently Asked Questions
1) Where do you get your ideas?
From anywhere and everywhere. I'm a daydreamer, so my mind will wander off after I hear a song or see something interesting. The next thing. I know, I've come up with a new idea for a story.
2) Why do you write m/m?
I grew up reading m/f romance. Then in about 2005 or so, when I started reading e-books, I discovered m/m. I can't remember exactly which was the first m/m I read. It was either Evangeline Anderson or Lacey Thorn. I started writing m/m in 2012 when I got hooked on fanfic. Oh, the wonderful slash! When I decided to start writing for publication again, I had so much m/m on the brain I knew that's where my writing passion had moved to.
3) Is Christa Tomlinson your real name?
No, it isn't. But that is me you see in my pictures. I took a nom de plum because when I first started publishing erotic romance, I was still teaching. Can you imagine the mayhem if my teenage students knew what I was writing? Yikes! So I came up with Christa Tomlinson. Christa is a variation of my actual first name. Tomlinson comes from Tom. He was my love and so supportive of my writing. He passed away from skin cancer just as I was finishing my first novella. I chose Tomlinson to honor him, and I still love and miss him everyday.
4) Have you ever based any of your characters off of someone you know?
No. I might uses pieces of a personality that I find intriguing. I also borrow names for walk-on characters. But that's it. It would be too weird to have someone I know in my head as a main character.
5) What are you working on next?
I'm currently in the midst of writing my superhero romance series, Arch City Guardians. BLAZE and DR. Z are available now and book three is coming soon!
6) Can I give you a story idea?
If only you'd caught me when I was still writing fanfiction! Unfortunately I cannot accept any story ideas. That would lead down a road of legal problems that I have no interest in traveling. Besides, if you have a good idea for a story you should write it. No one can bring your vision to life better than you.
7) Where can I buy your books?
I am currently exclusive to Amazon. My paperbacks are available to order online through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and The Ripped Bodice. I do not sell signed paperbacks at this time but I do have signed book cover post cards for some of my titles. Contact me if you would like one!
8) When did you start writing?
I've always had notebooks and journals that I would fill with unfinished stories. My first attempt at writing a book was in the 7th grade. It was a western romance, heavily influenced by Constance O'Banyon. I gave it to my English Language Arts teacher to get some feedback. She gave it back to me with one question. "Did you write this?" I said I did, she made a weird face, and that was that. I didn't try again for a long time after that... =(
9) What do you like about writing?
I love creating! I love creating characters and putting them in different situations and watching them play out. Sometimes I get so caught up in it that I feel sad or excited for what they're going through and I can't let them stay locked away. So I write their stories and share them with you.
10) Who are you favorite authors and who are you influenced by?
I'd say my overall influences are historical romance. Specifically I'd say Johanna Lindsey, Julie Garwood, Virginia Henley and Heather Graham/Shannon Drake. I love the drama and epicness of their stories.
11) Who does your covers?
The Sergeant series covers were done by Melody Simmons of eBook Indie Covers. All other covers were created by me.
12) Where are you from ?
I'm a mid-western girl, from St. Louis, Missouri! I love my home city and the Cardinals and most of my family is there. I recently gave up my comfy place in the warm south and returned to St. Louis.
13) Can you tell me how to write and publish a book?
Hoooo, boy! There is so much that goes in to it that I can't answer it in a a quick FAQ. I'll write a series of blog posts about it soon. For now, if you have a specific question, feel free to reach out to me. I'm still learning the self-publishing process, but I'm happy to share what I've learned.
14) What do you like to do in your spare time?
Spare time? What's that? No, seriously. I love to read, obviously. I'm also a big professional wrestling fan, I nerd out over anime and super hero movies, and I'm a retired roller derby player.
From anywhere and everywhere. I'm a daydreamer, so my mind will wander off after I hear a song or see something interesting. The next thing. I know, I've come up with a new idea for a story.
2) Why do you write m/m?
I grew up reading m/f romance. Then in about 2005 or so, when I started reading e-books, I discovered m/m. I can't remember exactly which was the first m/m I read. It was either Evangeline Anderson or Lacey Thorn. I started writing m/m in 2012 when I got hooked on fanfic. Oh, the wonderful slash! When I decided to start writing for publication again, I had so much m/m on the brain I knew that's where my writing passion had moved to.
3) Is Christa Tomlinson your real name?
No, it isn't. But that is me you see in my pictures. I took a nom de plum because when I first started publishing erotic romance, I was still teaching. Can you imagine the mayhem if my teenage students knew what I was writing? Yikes! So I came up with Christa Tomlinson. Christa is a variation of my actual first name. Tomlinson comes from Tom. He was my love and so supportive of my writing. He passed away from skin cancer just as I was finishing my first novella. I chose Tomlinson to honor him, and I still love and miss him everyday.
4) Have you ever based any of your characters off of someone you know?
No. I might uses pieces of a personality that I find intriguing. I also borrow names for walk-on characters. But that's it. It would be too weird to have someone I know in my head as a main character.
5) What are you working on next?
I'm currently in the midst of writing my superhero romance series, Arch City Guardians. BLAZE and DR. Z are available now and book three is coming soon!
6) Can I give you a story idea?
If only you'd caught me when I was still writing fanfiction! Unfortunately I cannot accept any story ideas. That would lead down a road of legal problems that I have no interest in traveling. Besides, if you have a good idea for a story you should write it. No one can bring your vision to life better than you.
7) Where can I buy your books?
I am currently exclusive to Amazon. My paperbacks are available to order online through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and The Ripped Bodice. I do not sell signed paperbacks at this time but I do have signed book cover post cards for some of my titles. Contact me if you would like one!
8) When did you start writing?
I've always had notebooks and journals that I would fill with unfinished stories. My first attempt at writing a book was in the 7th grade. It was a western romance, heavily influenced by Constance O'Banyon. I gave it to my English Language Arts teacher to get some feedback. She gave it back to me with one question. "Did you write this?" I said I did, she made a weird face, and that was that. I didn't try again for a long time after that... =(
9) What do you like about writing?
I love creating! I love creating characters and putting them in different situations and watching them play out. Sometimes I get so caught up in it that I feel sad or excited for what they're going through and I can't let them stay locked away. So I write their stories and share them with you.
10) Who are you favorite authors and who are you influenced by?
I'd say my overall influences are historical romance. Specifically I'd say Johanna Lindsey, Julie Garwood, Virginia Henley and Heather Graham/Shannon Drake. I love the drama and epicness of their stories.
11) Who does your covers?
The Sergeant series covers were done by Melody Simmons of eBook Indie Covers. All other covers were created by me.
12) Where are you from ?
I'm a mid-western girl, from St. Louis, Missouri! I love my home city and the Cardinals and most of my family is there. I recently gave up my comfy place in the warm south and returned to St. Louis.
13) Can you tell me how to write and publish a book?
Hoooo, boy! There is so much that goes in to it that I can't answer it in a a quick FAQ. I'll write a series of blog posts about it soon. For now, if you have a specific question, feel free to reach out to me. I'm still learning the self-publishing process, but I'm happy to share what I've learned.
14) What do you like to do in your spare time?
Spare time? What's that? No, seriously. I love to read, obviously. I'm also a big professional wrestling fan, I nerd out over anime and super hero movies, and I'm a retired roller derby player.
