What If by Kelly Rae - Character Interview & Giveaway

What If... by Kelly Rae
May 1, 2012 by Blossom Press

One fateful night during high school Katie Wright loses everything: her father, the first man she ever loved, dies in a car accident and Chris Staller, the first boy she’s ever loved, breaks her heart. Fast-forward ten years and Katie is a beautiful, successful woman who has spent the past decade doing her best to make her life all about work, keeping everyone at arms length—friends and lovers alike. But she’s lonely and beginning to awaken to the fact that pretending to be happy and content doesn’t mean she actually is. Working through her emotional challenges while maintaining a stellar career reputation has been tricky, but she’s always determined to come out on top.

Paying a visit to her old high school, Katie runs into Chris, now a dedicated PE teacher who pines for the one he let get away: her. An upstanding member of the community and a much better man than he was a boy, Chris is determined to win Katie back at all cost. But Katie is less than receptive to the idea, and when he lays down a challenge, she is determined to come out on top again.

Character Interview with Chris Staller: 

First how about you introduce yourself and tell us about the book in which you are the HERO?

Hey, my name is Chris Staller and I am a physical education teacher for the Pennsville Unified School District. I also coach or assistant coach several of the school teams depending on the sport season. I don’t know if the hero title fits, but I am one in the novel What If… The novel is about the love of my life, Katie Wright, not me. I am but a brief part, of her story.

What is it about Katie that you just can’t get out of your system?

The thing about Katie is that she has this way of making me want to better at everything. When we were kids, no one ever believed in me. No one ever asked me to be more, Katie always asks, wants, and encourages me to be MORE. So, that was the initial draw, I think. I needed someone who believed in me. Today as a grown man, I love her spirit and her kindness. I love the way her eyes sparkle when she sees a kitten or the way her first instinct is to stop and pick up any stray, she sees. Sometimes I think that is what she did for me, picked up a stray. Anyway, I am now as loyal as any rescue mutt out there, to my Princess.

How do you think life would have been different if you had not been injured in college?

I don’t think about it too much anymore. There was a time when I used to wonder all the time, What If I had gone into the NFL or the NBA, What If I was rich and famous and living the good life right now. Then I look at my blessings: the kids I help every day, how fulfilled I am in my job and my life. Now the only What If… left, since I got the girl, is how to get the girl to marry me! 

Is Katie right when she says you only date bimbos?

I never kiss and tell for one, but if I were to do such a thing I would say every woman I have dated has been the exact one to lead me here to today, this place, where I am. The man that Katie needs and deserves. Plus, you know, one man’s bimbo is another man’s awesome, cool, fun, chick. Maybe I was saving myself for the right girl. Hey, it could be true!

If you could tell the 17 year old you anything, what would you say?

I would tell the younger me to relish the moments more, not to be in such a hurry for the next thing or the next step, but to enjoy each step as it comes. As much as it feels like just yesterday that Katie and I were in high school, I know that a decade has gone by and there are moments that I was so busy plotting to get ahead, that I missed how awe inspiring the moment I was in, was. I try to take time each day to reflect on what good happened in that day. Katie and I sit and talk each night about our blessings. She was a little hesitant to do it with me at first, mostly because for a while all she wanted to do was make out, I mean this woman is…oh wait that would be kissing and telling. Oops! Now she rather likes our quiet time and I’d like to think she counts me on the blessing list.

What’s your favorite thing about first kisses?

I think my favorite thing about first kisses, is the anticipation. When you don’t know if it’s going to be good or bad, soft or rough, slow and deep, or fast and hungry until you are in the moment and you can feed off the other persons energy. You know men might not lift their leg up like you girls do in the movies, but trust me every now and then we get weak in the knees and we are sighing at the sweetness or the hotness of a good kiss too! With Katie the 2^nd first kiss was better than the first, but they both completely changed my life. Mind altering, that woman is the most mind altering kisser and lover I have ever had!

Is there a spot on a woman that might surprise people is a turn on to you?

My favorite spot on Katie is not necessarily my generic favorite spot, but she is no generic woman. On my sweet Katie, my favorite spot is where her shoulder and her neck meet on her the back. It’s my favorite place to kiss and don’t tell, but I have been known to nibble on her a time or two in just that spot.

What advice do you give young men on how to treat women and how to handle relationships?

Primarily I tell my young guys never to treat a woman in a way that would shame their own mother. To remember that every girl is someone’s baby girl and someday he might have one of his own and he doesn’t need the karma coming back to him, through her. I find that young guys and even guys my age are more interested in competing with other men than they are in treating a woman properly. The sooner they learn the lesson the happier they will be and the more likely they are to find their one and only, thank goodness I got a second chance with mine.

Would you like to add anything else?
 

Thank you for having me and thanks to your readers for taking the time to stop by and learn a bit about me and our book What If…, which is currently for sale in eBook and paperback on Amazon and Barnes&Noble and eBook only on Smashwords,  KOBO and Diesel.

One lucky person, who makes a comment on this blog today, will win a free copy of What If… via Smashwords coupon so you can download to any ereader or laptop you might have. I hope you enjoy reading What If… should you decide to pick up a copy. 


About the author:

Kelly Rae is a native of California, currently residing in a mountain of snow in Central Oregon, covertly planning her escape to get back to her Golden State roots. Kelly has a nine year-old son named Triton, who is her inspiration in all things, and a passion for writing, reading, and traveling.

You can connect with Kelly Rae on kellyraebooks.com, Facebook, Twitter or Goodreads.

Giveaway:

TODAY ONLY! As mentioned above in the character interview, comment on this blog for a chance to win a copy of What If. Winner will be emailed a Smashwords code to use to download the format of choice.

Giveaway details:

Giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway is TODAY ONLY! Giveaway ends at midnight CST June 18. Any comments made after that time will not count. Winner will be selected using random.org. Winner will be emailed and will have 3 days to contact me to receive the Smashwords code, or a new winner will be selected. 

Sorry! This giveaway is now over.

Winner: April H.