Welcome Christine Steendam!

Christine is celebrating
the release of her exciting historical romance Heart Like an Ocean with a
month-long tour! Enter her giveaway and you may be one of three winners to win
tour prizes.

Today, we get to
know Christine and what makes her tick. Come along and get addicted. J

 

How did you choose your genre? What made you write
this book?
The genre and the book chose me. I was daydreaming one afternoon at the ranch I
worked at and I suddenly had this idea pop in my head, and then it just kept
going from there.

Writers write what they know, and must observe the
world. Are you a first born, middle or last child and how does this shape your
view of the world?
First born. I think this has made me very independent. I view the world as a
place that you have to work for what you want, it won’t be handed to you, but
it’s a beautiful and wonderful place to see things grow, develop and change
over time.

 

Where is your favorite place to write?
When I can get there I love writing at a ranch that is about 2.5 hours away.
Otherwise I like to write at Starbucks, but nowadays, with a son, that doesn’t
happen much either. I usually just make do with at home.

 

How do you feel about killing your darlings, and what
do you do with the remains?
There isn’t a lot of death in my stories, but when someone does die it’s
meaningful and I try and give them a funeral they deserve.

 

You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it,
and what is that one burning question you must ask them?
Oscar Wilde and I’d ask him what his secret is to writing such incredible and
witty dialogue.

 

Inquiring minds want to know…tell readers something
about you that no one knows.
I over-analyze everything. I’ll probably be wondering if I wrote down the right
thing after I send this back to you lol.

 

You are stranded on a deserted island with only a back
pack for company. What three items are in your survival pack?
Pencil, paper, and a copy of ‘Lord of the Rings’. 

 

If you could have one super power in your existence,
what would it be?
I’ve always been partial to mind reading… but I think it would come with a lot
of drawbacks.

 

Favorite snack?
Ice cream with chocolate chips and peanut butter.

 

Indy 500 – Do you know how to get where you’re going
or do you drive the speed limit?
I like to push the limits and drive a little over, but not enough to get me in
trouble.

 

Blurb

In a society where
she doesn’t belong, Senona Montez, a strong-willed and free-spirited woman
refuses to follow the path expected of a Don’s only child.

On the eve of her marriage to a stranger, she saddles her horse and flees
everything she knows, only to discover the petty concerns of society did not
prepare her for the harsh life on the open sea. She finds an unlikely protector
in a reckless privateer, Brant Foxton.

Straddling the worlds of independence and privilege in 1600′s Europe, this
captivating man challenges her in ways she never thought possible, shows her
what living to the fullest really means, and allows her to follow her heart
wherever it leads.

 

Excerpt

Spain-1666

Senona looked
around the room full of swirling dresses of so many shapes and colors. It was
like a dream and left her overwhelmed and unable to tear her eyes away. Tonight
she was a princess in her new dress with her hair curled, cascading in loose
waves down her back. Tonight she was perfect.

Browsing the room,
this time in search of familiar faces, Senona spotted Caton Amador, and Isidro
Amato. The boys, although older, were her friends and a welcome relief to the
overwhelming nature of her surroundings. She made her way around the perimeter
of the room in their general direction.

Isidro was never
very serious about anything and enjoyed teasing Senona, which annoyed her to no
end. Caton was much more subdued and quiet, at least around her. Although they
were not as close as they once had been, the families remained good friends,
and the three of them spent many hours riding around the countryside or playing
games in the garden. When they were younger, Isidro and Caton had been her
constant companions, helping her sneak out of tea with their Madres or rescuing
her from lessons with her tutor. Now they never voluntarily saw each other, but
due to their families’ relationship, they found themselves together often
enough.

“Senona, my Chica!
You are a picture of beauty, as always,” boomed Isidro’s obnoxious and teasing
voice.

Caton turned to
look at the young girl. “Leave her alone, Isidro.”

“Come on, Caton.
She’s glad to see us.”

Caton frowned but
said nothing, turning his attention back to the pretty girl standing next to
him. Isidro seemed to accept that as permission to continue, and he smirked
mockingly at Senona, beckoning her. The small flock of girls that surrounded
the two boys giggled, causing her to blush and become hesitant and
uncomfortable. She had never seen the boys in this environment, and she quickly
questioned her decision that she belonged with them.

“It’s okay, Isidro.
I just wanted to say hello.”

“Well then, run
along. There must be some of your friends around.”

Senona forced a
smile and turned to Caton. “Hello, Caton.”

He barely
acknowledged her with a brief glance and nod in her direction, and then
returned to ignoring her. Unsure of how to deal with Caton’s rejection, she
walked away, her eyes burning with angry tears that threatened to spill over.
Why was he being so rude? Not even so much as a hello, as if he were
embarrassed to be associated with her.

As she pushed her
way through the crowd, she heard one of the girls laugh. “Caton, I do believe
you hurt her feelings.”

Caton’s deep,
unmistakable chuckle cut through the din and his voice was all she heard.
“She’s a silly, strange girl. I would rather not encourage her.”

Senona expected
this behavior from Isidro, but from Caton? She had always thought he was honest
and simple, but his actions tonight had shown her otherwise. She had been a
fool to think that these older boys were her friends.

Escaping into the
shadows, she hid from the sneering glances and mocking laughter that seemed to
follow her wherever she went. She had thought that tonight would be different,
but nothing had changed. She was just a strange little girl.

The night was a
blur, a blur of swirling skirts and obnoxious voices. To nearly everyone she
was invisible. Even her Madre and Padre, who had never been overly affectionate
towards their daughter, seemed to have completely forgotten her existence. But
that wasn’t so different from normal. They weren’t very affectionate people
ever, even towards each other.

At the end of the
night, Senona lay in bed, her new dress hanging in her wardrobe, mocking her.
She had realised tonight how far she fell from society’s standards, her own
parents’ standards. Any illusion she had of being a princess, of being perfect
for one night had been shattered. But that didn’t really bother her. The truly
odd thing was that she felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. Perhaps she
didn’t have to be that way. Perhaps now she had the freedom to do as she
wanted. It wasn’t as if anyone cared about her anyway. She was just a strange
little girl.

 

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchristine.s

Website: http://chrissteen.wordpress.com/

Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4156584

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BC2TCJA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BC2TCJA&linkCode=as2&tag=ifyoaitdu-20

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heart-like-an-ocean-christine-steendam/1114336385?ean=2940016336008&isbn=2940016336008&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-TnL5HPStwNw-_-10:1&r=1