Monday, December 5, 2011

Christine Young - Highland Honor - Guest Post

My thanks to Christine Young for stopping by The Character Connection for a guest post during the blog tour for her book, Highland Honor.

Guest Post

Romance must have conflict. Characterization always precedes the plot. Using The Style Delineator developed by Anthony Gregore in 1982, the mind styles of my hero and heroine begin to take shape. The four personality types Gregore describes are: Concrete Sequential, Abstract Random, Concrete Random, and Abstract Sequential. Looking at their names one can easily see how these mind styles can be pared to create conflict.

Some examples:
Concrete Sequential-- These are the "recipe kids." They want to know the who, what, when, where, and why of every task encountered, with the what receiving the major emphasis. Favorite sayings--"If it's worth doing do it well." "I'm from Missouri, show me." "If it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist."

Abstract Random--Abstract Randoms are "flakes." In their best form they are like snow flakes--each is beautifully unique, each joins with others with flexibility and ease. United they cover and bring together the world in a dazzling art display. Favorite sayings--"If it feels good, do it." "Take time to smell the roses." "The heart has reasons, that reason has no knowledge of."

Concrete Random--These folks can come up with answers before the question arises. More than any other point, they jump back and forth between fact and theory. This fantastic brainstorming capability also frequently leaves them in a position of not being able to explain their thinking to other points. Favorite sayings--"Who says I can't?" "The most incomprehensible thing about our world is that it is comprehensible." "Tell me no, and I'll do it anyway."

Abstract Sequential-- These chosen ones are like "Spocks" from Star Trek. They know Descarte's first principle. Cogito Ergo Sum "I think therefore I am." They also know that the real world is the abstract, nonphysical world of thoughts and mental constructions. Favorite sayings--As I think, so I am." "I'm writing you this long letter because I didn't have time to write you a short letter." "Knowledge is power."

This just scratches the surface. After the personality types are chosen, I then go into an in depth profile of each significant character. I literally write a book on their life before the book, including birthdays, significant occurrences that might have shaped their lives, friends, relatives and so on. By the time I finish, the characters will have a horoscope, a favorite flower and scent, and a piece of jewelry that is significant to them in some way.

About the Book
Highland Honor

Book Details:
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: ebook
Price: $5.99
Buy Links: Kindle

Blurb:
Willfully stubborn, innocently courageous, Callie Whitcomb braves a journey through the treacherous highlands to the MacPherson castle. Callie flees from an unwanted marriage as well as her ruthless half brother. Naively she believes Colin MacPherson, the head of the clan, is loyal to her father and will give her sanctuary, protecting her from the vile plans that have been made for her.

As hard and as unyielding as the winter storms that sweep through the countryside, Colin is irresistibly drawn to the impetuous beauty who has magically appeared on his doorsteps. Despite his vows of revenge against her father, she stirs his passion as well as his sense of justice...but to love her would violate all his vows of revenge.

Excerpt:
"Where are we going?" she asked as they rode side by side across a vivid green meadow. Even before she asked the question, she had guessed his intentions. They were two-fold.

"To find a private spot, a place where we can eat and," he paused thoughtfully as he turned to look her way. Then his roguish smile captured her heart. He could make her heart melt with just a smile.

"And?" she queried even as her cheeks heated, knowing the answer before he spoke.

His grin widened, then he winked. "Race ye to the trees." He waited silently for her
to accept the challenge he tossed her way.

"Ye would like that wouldn't ye? But I won't fall for the bait ye toss my way. We both know who has the fastest horse."

"And who would that be?" he asked, laughing.

"I do." She had waited long enough for him to drop back a few strides, giving her more of a head start than she knew he would have allowed. She gave a silent command to her horse. The mare lunged forward.

"Callie--" she heard him cry out her name, laughingly. "Cheater. I'll get my revenge."

About the Author
Christine Young

Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, Dakota's Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington. She is the author of 10 published romance books and 2 novellas. Christine is a retired high school math teacher. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children. Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

Connect With Christine:
Blog 1
Blog 2
Publisher


GIVEAWAYS:
* a $50.00 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter for the blog tour.
* a Clan MacPherson book mark awarded at each stop to one randomly drawn commenter.
* Antique Gold Double Thistle Broche for the blog host with the most comments (excluding Christine's and their own).

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13 comments:

  1. Mary PrestonDecember 5, 2011 at 3:53 AM

    "Romance must have conflict." I had not thought about that before, but it makes perfect sense. There is no story if there are no obstacles to overcome.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  2. Goddess Fish PromotionsDecember 5, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    Thank you for hosting Christine today!

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  3. Genene Valleau, writing as Genie GabrielDecember 5, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    Hi, Christine! I've never been able to keep these character types straight, but your plain English names of them (recipe kids, flakes, etal) make much more sense! I've always considered myself a detailed plotter, but I don't know as much detail as you about my characters before I start a story. Much of the character info comes out as I write. But I love that you have favorite things for your characters--makes them much more human in their stories!

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  4. Christine YoungDecember 5, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    Thanks to marybelle and Genene for commenting today. Seems to be a slow day on the blog tour.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Karen HDecember 5, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    Interesting discussion points today Christine. After you spend the time to develop your characters and start to write their stories, have they ever surprised you and taken a path you didn't expect, which changed your plot line either somewhat or totally?

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  6. UnknownDecember 5, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    Christine and Goddess Fish - thanks for having us be a part of your blog tour.

    Marybelle, Genene and Karen H - thanks for commenting.

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  7. Minnette MeadorDecember 5, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    Wow, wonderful stuff here, Christine! I put in a plug over on my tour for you... I'm printing out this blog as we speak! LOL Have fun! :o)

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  8. UnknownDecember 5, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    From the information I've gleaned reading author interviews, there are as many ways to get from the idea to the finished manuscript as their are writers & the personality of the writer plays a huge part in where they fall on the spectrum between plotter & pantster. Thanks for sharing so much about your process.

    drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com

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  9. Christine YoungDecember 5, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    karen, absolutely after the first page my characters are usually in control. In the anthology i'm finishing they totally surprised me. I really never saw this ending.

    Minette thanks for putting in a plug for me. I've thoroughly enjoyed the tours. I welcome any and every plug I can get. Rogues Angels will see you on the 13th I believe.

    Kathryn thanks for stoping by. And you are so right there are as many ways as there are authors.

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  10. Christine YoungDecember 5, 2011 at 10:15 PM

    Oh, and I always forget something. A big thank you to character connection for being part of my journey.

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  11. Carol L.December 8, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    Another excerpt I've enjoyed. This tour is very exciting and I'm waiting to read about Callie and Colin. Thanks for the tour Christine.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  12. Christine YoungDecember 10, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    Congratulations! The winner of the Clan MaPherson bookmark is Minnette. Please contact me at achristay@aol.com so I can mail this to you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Christine YoungDecember 10, 2011 at 9:49 PM

    A little absent minded. All of the commenters names will be put in the drawing for the $50.00 Amazon GC

    ReplyDelete

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