Guest Blog: Clarissa Yip

Once again, we welcome author Clarissa Yip who is on tour promoting her latest novellas: Tempting a Prince, Silent Night's Seduction, and Once Chance.  Welcome Clarissa!

Clarissa Writes:

One of my writing quirks…

BICHOK- Butt in Chair. Hands on Keyboard.

I’m sure you’ve heard that phrase often enough if you’re a writer. Well, if you’re a reader, then you just learned something new!

BICHOK isn’t a phrase that I take easily. It’s really hard for me to focus on things, especially when I have a million things to do. You should seriously see my to-do list. It’s quite scary. Without it, I would be confused, disoriented, and even more scattered without my day planner.

I have a calendar on every device you could possibly think of, and it all has to sync. Color-coded. But before I can actually start writing and doing my BICHOK thing, I have to have paper…and color pens. If they have sparkles and glitter, even better! I love making lists. I love plotting on paper the old fashioned way. I know I could type it all up and save it in nifty folders on my computer, but I find that I enjoy writing out ideas with colorful pens then stuffing the colorful sheets of papers in their correct folders, so I don’t lose anything.

Each of my heroes and heroines are assigned a color then they go into the correct color folder also. So any notes that are made, has to have the right color. Or I would have to write it over in the right color later.  

Even my folders and calendars on my computers are color-labeled. Everything gets assigned a color label. If they were colored wrong, I would be confused.

So when I’m actually writing a story, it gets assigned a specific color that coordinates with the color of the pub that I’m aiming for it to go to. Just so I don’t get confused.

My character/GMC white boards are all color-coded. Have I told you I love color markers? With glitter?

I guess I shouldn’t talk about my color-coded spreadsheets then, huh? So before I can do anything BICHOK, my colors have to be in the right place. My notes have to have been color labeled and written in the correct color before I can actually start writing. Think I’m weird? I’m sure there are crazier people out there than me!

So, what about you? What are your writing quirks?

Author Interview: Clarissa Yip

Today we have an interview with  author, Clarissa Yip, who is promoting her 3 latest books: 

Tempting a Prince, Once Chance & Silent Night's Seduction.

(You can read my thoughts on each here)

Welcome Clarissa!

Kari: What inspired you to become a writer?

Clarissa: Well, I've been writing since I was a kid, but I never knew I really wanted to become a writer until I decided to make a change in my life. Five years ago, I quit my job as a manager at a spa, packed up all my stuff, got on a plane, and moved to Hawaii from New York. Jobless, with nothing to do but hangout at the beach, walk the harbor, go shopping and sightseeing, all I did was catch up on the reading I never had time for when I was working. And I started going through my old stories, and actually decided to make something of it. Since then, I've been chasing my dreams that I never knew I had. So I can't say I was born a writer. It just kind of came to me, and I love it! 

Kari: Where do you come up with the idea for your books?

Clarissa:They're usually from everything. I could be watching a show on cooking or even HSN, the shopping channel, and ideas would come to me. I used to love sitting on the beach and staring at the blue waves and just brainstorming. Now that I've moved back to the mainland, my muse has been having a fit.

Kari: What is your favorite book so far?

Clarissa: There are too many to choose from! I'm a big JR Ward fan, but I love historicals and suspense stories. I also love rereading older books by Julie Garwood, and even Terry Goodkind, so my tastes vary depending on my mood.

Kari: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Clarissa:  I'm actually working on a series for Entangled right now. The first book, my editor has, and I hope she likes it. *fingers crossed* I do have a new release coming soon on February 2nd, called True Connections, which will be released along with Entangled's Valentine's Anthology. It's about Lia, who has returned to her hometown to open a matchmaking company, and with grandmothers who dapple in everything, they try to hook her up with her nemesis by having Lia find Max a date to the Valentine's party. You never know when love is going to bite you. 

Kari: Who is your favorite literary character and why?


Clarissa: I love watching Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Lizzie just comes off as the girl that I want to be. Courageous, brave, and always speaking her mind. And the way she finds love...*sigh*. Oh, Mr. Darcy.

Kari: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Clarissa: I would LOVE to be a panda bear. Well, one, they're my favorite. Two, bamboo is probably good for you. And it's pretty. Three...wait, panda's aren't skinny, are they? 

Thank you so much for having me here!

Clarissa

About the author:

Contemporary romance author, Clarissa Yip, leads a life of adventure and mischief. Constantly on the run, she’s always hanging out with her muse, plotting the next best story, and looking for anything that will fuel her imagination. Besides being an avid reader and writer, Clarissa enjoys scrapbooking, video games, immersing herself in addictive TV shows, and engaging in anything that will challenge her mind. A lover of food and languages, she also loves to try new things. Her dreams involve finding the ultimate way of sharing her world with yours. From the Hawaiian island of Oahu to the beautiful season-changing New York, you never know where she’ll be.

Please join her as she ventures to the unknown as she wields her stories, escape to exciting adventures across the country, and shares the view of the world through the eyes of a writer. Her website: http://clarissayip.com/

Three Novellas by Clarissa Yip

Once Chance
Author: Clarissa Yip
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Date of Publication: November 2011

Shy tomboy, Jenna Faulkner has been in love her whole life—with her best friend. Except he’s marrying the wrong woman, and he doesn’t know it yet. But she’s determined to save him…

Instead of the normal bachelor party, Jenna decides to throw a different type of gathering…with just her. Alone. Will Cade finally come to his senses and see Jenna for more than a friend or has she ruined their friendship, once and for all?

One Chance is a great story about 2 people who secretly love each other, but have been so afraid to do anything because they don't want to lose their close friendship. Jenna decides that she has one shot to make sure that Cade doesn't make a huge mistake by marrying the wrong woman.  I was totally rooting for Jenna the entire story.  This is a great erotic novella.  The chemistry between Cade and Jenna sizzles of the pages!  I definitely recommend it.

Tempting a Prince

Author: Clarissa Yip

Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

Date of Publication: December 2011

Sarah Westfall is on a mission. Living the mundane life of a near spinster school teacher and sick of her parents throwing eligible men at her, she is determined to get over her crush on her best friend’s brother. She wants a prince and wouldn’t settle for less. What better way than a 1Night Stand? 

Evan Hunt needs to figure out his enemy’s game plan. Chasing his nemesis to Las Vegas and signing up for Madame Eve’s service and masquerade, he never expected the woman he’s desired for years to appear before him…as his princess. 

When their attraction fires the night, the inevitable happens. Her prince isn’t as charming as she’s hoped, but he does save her from trouble. Would he be willing to fulfill her fantasies also?

I really enjoyed this take on the prince and princess tale.  Sarah wants to have one fantasy night to try to get over her crush.  When she finds out that she has been set up with said crush, will she have a chance at her own Happily Ever After?  I loved Sarah and Evan together.  I loved when Evan finally realizes that Sarah isn't a little kid anymore.  Miss Yip has a talent for producing well written  and very erotic scenes.  You won't want to miss this one! 

Silent Night's Seduction

Author: Clarissa Yip

Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

Date of Publication: November 2011

Stubborn and proud cowgirl, Lily McCormick, is finally coming to terms with her quiet life on her parent’s ranch, until her older brother, as payback, signs her up for 1NightStand. Kidnapped and forced onto a plane to a foreign location, she faces the dreaded cold and an unwanted tryst, until her ex-husband appears before her…as her date.

New York City District Attorney, Rafe Martinez, would do anything to get his ex-wife back, even if it meant taking drastic measures to pretend he was there for another woman. When jealousy and rage surfaces and Lily’s tough demeanor wanes, desire and lust sparks their once powerful connection as truths unfold. Will Rafe convince her to return to him or push her further away from giving their love a second chance?

This is such a sweet story of second chances.  Who hasn't looked back and wished they could make things right.  I loved the scheme that Rafe cooks up with Lily's brother to try to get his ex-wife back.  I think I liked this one so much because the characters have a history together that once held a lot of love. It made their reunion so believable.  Once again, Ms. Yip has written a great erotic love story!