Whats more she has just hit the jaw-dropping milestone of publishing her 75th novel.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: This will be your 75th published novel, which is an extraordinary accomplishment.
Or imagine it possible?CHRISTINE FEEHAN:Absolutely not, no.
Credit: Michael Miller; Penguin Random House
I actually didnt consider having a publishing career.
I didnt really think in terms of publishing.
I dont think I ever considered that anybody would even look at my stories.
Are you struck by it as a milestone or something particularly special?
I was so shocked when they said to me, You realize this is your 75th book.
It was very shocking.
I really felt like it all kind of came together.
This really reminds me of you.
How do you do it?I have not been to seeHamilton.
I wish that I was in New York more often because I certainly love theater.
But you know, I just write because I have to.
I dont watch much television.
And I have to write or I become really irritable.
Its horrible, but true.
Theres just something very soothing to me about it.
Just like I can disappear into a book, I can into my work.
Its like going on this great adventure.
When they first contacted you to ask for permission, what was your reaction?
And are you still in touch with them?I was really honored.
My family has always served and I have nieces and nephews serving now.
This is the 14th book in the series what inspired you to create the Ghostwalkers in the first place?
Military background or family?
That was really important to me, so that kind of fed into it.
And of course martial arts, that was a big part of my life for so many years.
So that enabled me to make it seem more real.
How did you devise the Ghostwalker creed and seal?
Were they inspired by those of family members?No, I just made it up.
Then I put that together in a creed.
I looked things up what does this mean and how do I put these symbols together?
I know you turn to advisors to ensure the accuracy of the military tactics, etc.
Theres a retired Army ranger who helps me tremendously with missions and I know a retired Navy SEAL.
I dont use all the jargon, because its harder for readers.
but I take a stab at verify everything is right.
Oftentimes Ill send a scene to them and say, Is this right?
And they either say, Yeah, you got it right or No, change this piece.
I do have a nephew who is retired from the Navy.
He was in subs for 10 years and hes an officer and a doctor.
So, he ran missions all time, so hes a really good resource as well.
So he had to talk me through it.
And I said, Well honey, youre really young.
So I thought it would be fun for them to each have a story with their name in it.
But I thought, Im going to do that.
Im going to give each of them their name in a book.
Your great-grandmother wrote this book and it was for me.
I would say the gang [GhostWalkers] series.
Theres a lot of action.
In this particular book, she doesnt want to go out and kick butt.
She can, but its not her big thing.
Why is that important for you in your work?Because all girls are different.
Ive worked with so many women, working with self-defense and battered women and rape victims.
And that to me is not sisterhood.
Everybody counts and theres strength in everybody.
Its different strength, but thats what I attempt to show in my books.
I have a go at have every jot down of heroine I can.
I didnt do it through the foster care system.
Its the plague of our world that we cheapen children and make people feel like theyre not worth anything.
Also, I want people to see that trauma remains trauma.
Or very few people will.
Like, Oh, youre just not strong enough to deal with it and that bothers me.
Wheres the compassion in the world?
have a go at swing that balance of compassion just a little bit for that pop in of thing.
Obviously paranormal isnt and you know when youre picking up a paranormal book.
I think you have to have a clear line there.
No, it isnt.
They have to have the voice of reason there saying, no, not so much.
If she wants to be a rocket scientist, its the same thing.
You should support her.
You should support each other thats what feminism is to me.
Its a sisterhood and whatever that person wants is okay.
And its the same with what you read, what your fantasy is.
Thats what a romance is its a fantasy with a happy ending.
