Authors are listed alphabetically by LAST name beginning with C

*All the information/websites/links were current AT THE TIME OF INITIAL POSTING. As time passes, please be aware that the links provided might no longer be active.

Pat Camalliere

Your name: Pat Camalliere

Genre: Mystery, historical, amateur sleuth

Titles/Year Published:

The Miracle at Assisi Hill, 2022

The Mystery at Mount Forest Island, 2020

The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods, 2016

The Mystery at Sag Bridge, 2015

Bio:

Camalliere is the author of the popular, five-star rated and award-winning Cora Tozzi Historical Mystery Series, which is set in Lemont, where she lives with her husband. A resident of Lemont for over twenty years, Camalliere wants to introduce readers to the unique places and history of the area through her character-driven mystery novels. She serves on the board of the Lemont Public Library District, manages the archives of the Lemont Area Historical Society, and is a member of the Society of Midland Authors, Chicago Writers Association, and Sisters In Crime. She speaks locally on a number of topics, and writes a blog about Northern Illinois history. Visit her web site at www.patcamallierebooks.com.

Why do you write in the genre you do?

One summer between seventh and eighth grades out of boredom I searched our attic and found an entire box of Perry Mason mysteries. My mother reluctantly allowed me to read them—forty-some before school started, and I’ve been hooked on mysteries ever since. After I retired, I decided to see if I had any writing talent. At my age I knew if it was ever going to happen at all, I had to focus right away on the things I loved: the community I lived in, my love for mysteries, an interest in the past, and the unique and oddball sides of life. So, I threw all of that into my first novel, The Mystery at Sag Bridge, about a retired historian who had recently lost her mother and was being haunted by the ghost of a young woman tortured by the child she left behind when she was murdered in 1898. The mystery was to find the ghost’s killer as a very cold case, set in a real historic graveyard in a forest preserve in suburban Chicago.

The book was popular locally, and my fans loved the characters, the things I revealed about the area, and the touch of the paranormal. I couldn’t disappoint them by eliminating any of these elements in my following books.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

My goal was to share my love of the community I live in, so of course I wanted my writing to be read. That meant spending vast amounts of time not only writing and perfecting my work, but pursuing ways for readers to find it. Even if a writer is writing only for pleasure, though, the result must be something to be proud of. That requires a great deal of thought, study, and revision. The bottom line here is that writing not only takes a lot of time, but it can be close to an obsession.

For me, I’ve never been one to take the easy road. Because I like new interests rather than repeating, each of my novels features a different topic and a different time, although they are all set in Lemont. That has required an average of two years of research for each book. Fortunately, I enjoy the research part of the process almost as much as the writing.

Because I am interested in history, I write a blog on local and Northern Illinois history. I never thought I would enjoy public speaking, but I do. It’s a very satisfactory way of sharing my experience as a writer as well as the knowledge I gained through research.

Perhaps my biggest pleasure is that I have met so many wonderful and supportive people that I would never have known if I weren’t a writer, and their honest respect of my work has been personally rewarding.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

Surprisingly, I read in my genre, but when I read for pleasure I turn to police procedurals, crime books set in Western United States, and legal thrillers. I have a variety of favorite writers: Elizabeth George, C. J. Box, Jo Nesbo, Scott Turow, Georges Simenon, Craig Johnson, William Kent Kreuger, Nevada Barr, and Ken Follett.

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

A lot! My personal memories are scattered through my books, often with changes for effect. I enhance backstories or give the experience to different characters. My characters can be based on people I knew, but are blends. I use a lot of dialog and I role-play that to make conversations more realistic.

Probably the biggest impact of personal experience comes into play in showing the story’s emotional impact on the characters. It is easier to write emotion that you have lived. There’s a quote—historians tell you what happened, but a novelist shows you how it felt. Something like that. That’s the power of story, and to develop that power I have to put myself in that character’s place. Often the best way to do that is to take myself into a similar emotionally-impactful memory, or go where the experience took place, to get those feelings on the page. The writer is always looking for her character’s reaction, analysis, and decisions. Those are driven by emotion, even for logical-minded characters.

My first book, The Mystery at Sag Bridge, started from some poltergeist-type experiences I had had throughout life. I asked myself: What if these are not coincidences but there is a presence behind them? What might that look like? Those experiences and questions formed the basis of my plot.

My most recent book, The Miracle at Assisi Hill, began as a means of helping cancer patients by writing about my personal experience with tongue cancer. However, during research of a convent in Lemont that was featured in the story, I discovered a real person, the Venerable Mother Theresa Dudzik, who is about to be named a saint. She became the focus of the story, and much of my cancer experience had to be cut. I now plan to write a memoir, rather than a novel, about my cancer.

Where can people find you and your work?

Please visit my website, www.patcamallierebooks.com. You can also view my blog there, where I have written many articles about local history, focusing on quirky and little-known events. Please leave a comment; I love to engage with readers.

My books are available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle at Amazon. Here’s the link to my newest release : The Miracle at Assisi Hill: Camalliere, Pat: 9798987162408: Amazon.com: Books

In addition, my books can be purchased at local stores, and I sign books at frequent speaking engagements, book club discussions, local festivals, and the like. My speaking schedule can be found on my website, www.Patcamallierebooks.com.

Other things I’d like to say?

I’m fortunate to live in a very interesting place, and it’s a big advantage to be able to pull stories from the area. Lemont, unlike other areas in suburban Chicago, is semi-isolated, sitting on a bluff and bordered by the Des Plaines River, surrounded by woods and farms rather than subdivisions and shopping centers. Not only is the geography interesting, but the history is quirky. And the area is noted for its ghost stories, rich in ideas for mystery writers, and my fans love that I am taking them to places that are familiar. My books allow them to see where they live in a new way.

My books combine the genres of mystery, history, the paranormal, and faith. They are strongly character-driven and have a common theme of solidarity between families and friends, and they explore the profound connections in relationships. In particular, all four books deal with the importance of motherhood in some way, interweaving dependencies between past and present. In The Mystery at Sag Bridge, the main character is grieving the loss of her mother, and the ghost who is haunting her is grieving the loss of a daughter, which creates a bond between the two. In The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods, a Potawatomi mother is searching for a killer in order to free her son from imprisonment. In The Mystery at Mount Forest Island, a blind and friendless woman is searching for the mother that deserted her when she was a teen. In The Miracle at Assisi Hill, the main present-day character receives support from her son, and the main historical character is focused on the kid sister she raised like a daughter. None of my books begin with that theme, but as the story develops mothers are always involved in an important way. I can already see that pattern taking place in my next book.

Keith Carmack

Name: Keith Carmack

Genre(s) of your work: Comic Books, mostly. Sci-fi and Fantasy

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

Victorie City – IDW Publishing / 2016

Current – Self-Published / 2017

The Fog of Severed Peaks – Self-Published / 2018

Bio:

Keith Carmack is a filmmaker, writer, and musician. He directed and scored the feature full length documentary Is This Heaven? which won Best Documentary at the Frozen Film Festival 2016 in St. Paul, MN. He created the series Victorie City, published by IDW Publishing, is a contributing artist in the 44FLOOD anthology, TOME Volume 2: MELANCHOLIA, and has producer credits for Ben Templesmith’s THE SQUIDDER and DAGON graphic novels.

“Writing is personal and my writing is no different. I attempt to infect my characters with experiences that I’ve had, emotions and reactions that are honest and real, and mold it into a story that informs the reader of a truth that they’ve never pinpointed, but always knew was present.”

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

Ideas come and you work with what you’ve got the energy for. I’d love to write a novel about the plight of man, but it’s too hard to tackle; a story about twin Viking girls taking on a tyrant King is more my speed.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

I drink a lot more wine now.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

Hemingway. I read The Old Man and the Sea when I was whatever age you are in the fifth grade and I maintain it’s a near-perfect novel. I romanticized the idea of him, Fitzgerald and the rest, the lost generation, running around Paris. They were celebrating having won the great war and now they could be artists. I want to feel like I’m through with the fight and just be an artist.

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

The cool kid club.

What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

I want them to have fun. I want them to enjoy a story. Storytelling is as old as mankind, to be good at it is the ability to entertain the masses.

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

There is plenty in there. Even though I try to continually mix it up with characters from different background, you can’t help but throw in anecdotes from your own life.

How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?

It’s a feeling like if you don’t get it done you’re going to explode.

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

Thin plot connections and bad character motivation.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

Not really. Things that are blatantly over the line won’t last.

Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?

Yeah. “Hey, I’m gonna start with a big action scene and then cut to one week earlier when the character was just a lonely writer in a coffee shop, depressed about getting dumped, eating a sandwich and staring at his macbook!”

“Oh, yeah!? So it’s a story about a writer trying to write and then something insane happens!? Have you ever considered the reason you only have this one idea is because you’re a writer trying to write and you haven’t taken any chances or experienced anything!?”

Where can people find you and your work?

Keithcarmack.com

amazon.com/author/keithcarmack

Angel Chadwick

Name: Angel Chadwick

Genre(s) of your work: International Crime Mystery/Thriller/Multicultural Romance/Suspense/ Action/Adventure/Horror/Sci-fi, Poetry/Memoir

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

Weeping Well (2017)

Corridors of My Mind (2014)

Bio:

Angel M.B. Chadwick is currently writing the sequel to the “Weeping Well” series, titled “Weeping Well: Shards to the Grave.” She’s also writing a twelve book cozy mysteries series, numerous plays, novels, short stories, among her other literary works, business ideas and inventions all while raising her ten year old son. She has traveled all over the world starting in her teens and hopes to do it again soon. She currently lives in Mississippi, in a quaint little house on the corner, in a quiet neighborhood in the city, where she is constantly and relentlessly plagued by inspiration.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

I write in all genres, with the exception of erotica. I like writing mostly crime mystery/thrillers and sci-fantasy. I like the suspense, whodunit, the mystery. With sci-fi fantasy I like all that entails, especially the world building. But I prefer writing all genres and mixing those genres, because I like what I can do with the aspects of their genres by mixing them together and developing something that everyone can relate to, or evokes emotion or some sort of feeling in them that is genuine, real and human.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

I like the dark stuff so Edgar Allan Poe and his works are one, but I also like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Bret Harte, Tennessee Williams, William Shakespeare, Washington Irving, Sylvia Plath to name a few. I love how deep, raw, tragic their characters are. Ralph Waldo Emerson I like the value of his words, their authenticity. These authors works speak to me in depth on so many levels. I can relate to it.

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

All of it. Authenticity, depth and emotion are very important to me when writing. So why not use my own experiences.

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

What would make me not want to even entertain reading a book would be a book length blurb. You’ve told me everything I needed to know about the book, why would I want to read it, when basically I’ve already read it from the blurb. For this reason, I don’t make a habit of reading blurbs, if they’re too long.

I also don’t read books with lengthy (like book report long) blurbs. To me it’s like going to a movie after you’ve been told all the spoilers or a good bit of them. I don’t like spoilers. I rather find out what happens and have my own thoughts and opinions about it.

Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?

I don’t like first person. But I have made exceptions. But I don’t read a lot of first person unless it’s the classics.

Where can people find you and your work?

https://www.amazon.com/Mrs.-Angel-M.B.-Chadwick/e/B00O4KZI8Q/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

https://www.facebook.com/angel.chadwick.10

https://twitter.com/goddessamabo23

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9476119.Angel_M_B_Chadwick

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9476119.Angel_M_B_Chadwick/blog

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Weeping-Well-Angel-Chadwick-ebook/dp/B01NAOJ4O5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503340779&sr=8-1&keywords=weeping+well

https://www.amazon.com/Weeping-Well-Mrs-Angel-Chadwick/dp/1541341082/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503340779&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weeping-Well-Mrs-Angel-Chadwick/dp/1541341082/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503340874&sr=8-1&keywords=weeping+well

https://www.amazon.com/Corridors-My-Mind-Angel-Chadwick-ebook/dp/B00NLOM0HI/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

https://www.amazon.com/Corridors-Mind-Mrs-Angel-Chadwick/dp/1500796328/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corridors-My-Mind-Angel-Chadwick-ebook/dp/B00NLOM0HI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503427777&sr=8-1&keywords=corridors+of+my+mind

Cynthia Clampitt

Name: Cynthia Clampitt

Genre(s) of your work: Nonfiction, primarily food history and travel

Titles/Years of Published Works:

Midwest Maize: How Corn Shaped the U.S. Heartland (2015)

Waltzing Australia (2007)

On Amazon now for pre-order, but released October 8, 2018: Pigs, Pork, and Heartland Hogs: From Wild Boar to Baconfest

Bio/How Writing Shaped my Life:

I am a writer, speaker, and food historian. I have written since childhood, but I didn’t consider writing as a career until I’d spent a decade in the corporate world. Eventually, I realized that I really did need to write, but in order to write, I’d have to get out of the corporate world. So I saved my money for a few years, and then I quit. Wanting both to get away from it all and to test myself a bit, find out who I was, I headed for Australia, undertaking a six-month, 20,000-mile journey around and across the continent. This trip became the subject of my book Waltzing Australia. But it was just the beginning of the adventure for me.

I built my new career around history, geography, food, and travel. I did spend a couple of years with a job in retail, to get insurance and a bit of income while I got my career started. But I wrote all the time, and soon I could leave retail behind. I wrote about travel and food for magazines, but I also wrote history and geography books, in time working for every major educational publisher in the U.S., including the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and National Geographic Learning. However, over the last two decades, food history and the relationship between food and culture began to increasingly consume my attention. My food history research took me all over the world, and I wrote a food history column for fourteen years.

In the last few years, my research has increasingly focused on one of the richest agricultural areas in the world: the American Midwest. The outcome of this new fascination was the book Midwest Maize. Maize/corn is a far more exciting topic than most people would imagine, connected to everything from vampires to time zones, football teams to railroads, Pilgrims to popcorn, the frontier to the snack aisle. Plus, for anyone curious about food-related issues that face us today, in a world dominated by maize/corn, this book can help bring some clarity.

Continuing the Midwest theme, though including some of my wider travels, I focused next on pigs and pork—the most commonly eaten meat in the world and a creature whose story in the U.S. is intimately interwoven with the story of corn. So my next book—Pigs, Pork, and Heartland Hogs—followed naturally from the corn book. And, again, this is a remarkable tale filled with interesting surprises (and a few great recipes).

In addition to books, because I love sharing what I learn as I research and explore, I do a considerable amount of public speaking (food history and travel) and have three blogs. So writing fills my days, but so does learning, because one can’t pour out until one is filled up. Or, as Stephen King famously stated it, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”

I’m not going to get rich writing about food and travel, but I’m having a great time.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

I find nonfiction to be wildly exhilarating. It is unpredictable and fascinating, and it is intimately connected with our humanity. It ties together so many other aspects of history, from hunger-motivated conquests to desire-driven international trade in spices.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

So many, it’s hard to narrow it down. I love Mark Kurlansky, as he does so much great food history. Joan Didion’s essays and Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poems resonate. Tom Wolfe is always a great read – keen eye, razor wit. But to be honest, I’m sort of all over the place, from C.S. Forester to C.S. Lewis, Arthur Upfield to Harold McGee to the classics (Melville, Shakespeare, Byron)—anything that uses language brilliantly, shares great insights into human nature, reveals important elements of history, and/or spins a great tale. But most of the time, I pick books by topic rather than author—either something that has caught my attention or, more often, whatever I’m researching for my next trip, magazine article, or book.

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

I love bookstores. I’m sorry to see so many of them struggling. But I love being somewhere that is filled with books and people who read, and where employees just might be able to guide you to something you didn’t realize was available. So, essentially, I love them for the same reason I love libraries, except with bookstores, you get to keep the books you take home.

What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

I hope they have a sense of wonder about how we got to where we are today and how remarkable our lives are because of what has gone before. I also want people to delight in the crazy interconnectedness of everything (for example, the corn book includes Henry Ford, whiskey, corn flakes, and the Chicago Bears). The world is so much more interesting than anyone would guess based on most textbooks.

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

The two would be hard to separate, as I pursue experience that supports my writing. Going to cooking school in Oaxaca, Mexico, drinking fermented mare’s milk with Mongolian nomads in the Gobi, learning about making chocolate in Chicago, or hanging out with farmers in Iowa, it is all motivated by what I want to write and therefor ends up in what I write.

How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?

A lot of time, there are deadlines imposed on me by publishers. However, when there is no external deadline, I create one for myself. For example, “By this time next month, I want to have another book proposal out to an author.”

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

If I really dislike it. Learning how to do this was really freeing, as I’d always felt that one should finish any book one started. But if a book is dreadfully written, full of errors, or is filled with ideas that I find objectionable, I can now happily toss it out.

That said, I don’t always read straight through a book. I have books everywhere, and I read some of them in spurts (especially a really dense history book), while others are easily finished.

Where can people find you and your work?

Blogs:

http://www.waltzingaustralia.com

http://www.theworldsfare.org

http://www.midwestmaize.com

Website: http://www.worldplate.com

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Cynthia-Clampitt-35358347597/

https://www.facebook.com/MidwestMaize/

Amazon – author page and links to books:

https://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Clampitt/e/B002LTNEII/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1528775229&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Maize-Shaped-Heartland-Foodways/dp/0252080572

https://www.amazon.com/Pigs-Pork-Heartland-Hogs-Littlefield/dp/1538110741

https://www.amazon.com/Waltzing-Australia-Cynthia-Clampitt/dp/1419663062

GoodReads

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1065359.Cynthia_Clampitt

Kay A. Clark

Name: Kay A. Clark

Genre(s) of your work: Young adult, adult, pets/cats

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

“Sebastian & Me: A Rite of Passage and Spiritual Journey (2012)

Bio:

Born and raised in Wisconsin, now in Illinois.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

As a cat owner, I write from the heart.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

I have a new respect for myself and feel empowered to step up and speak out and/or lead.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

Debbie Macomber, Wayne Dyer, Louise Hoy.

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

Not sure what that means but we do need book stores.

What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

A renewed faith in knowing someone is always looking after us.

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

Quite a bit!

How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?

To prove to myself that I can publish something noteworthy.

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

Distraction, be it life, TV, bed, time, etc.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

Not necessarily.

Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?

The need for discipline. Staying focused.

Where can people find you and your work?

Amazon.com

kayclark631@yahoo.com

Tracy Clark

Name: Tracy Clark

Genre(s) of your work: Crime/PI novel

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

“Broken Places: A Chicago Mystery,” released May 2018

Bio:

Tracy Clark, author of the Cass Raines mystery series, is a native Chicagoan. Her first short story, “For Services Rendered,” was included in the mystery anthology “Shades of Black: Crime and Mystery Stories by African-American Authors.” When she is not writing, she wastes inordinate amounts of time watching “Say Yes to the Dress” reruns and “Murder, She Wrote” marathons. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, PI Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.

Tracy is a graduate of Mundelein College in Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Communications. She has also earned a master’s degree in Mass Communications from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She currently works as an editor in Chicago.

Her next Cass Raines novel, “Borrowed Time,” releases in June 2019.

You can visit Tracy on Twitter, Facebook or go to her author website at tracyclarkbooks.com

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

I’ve always loved PI stories. There’s something about that lone avenger type living on the fringes of society yet fights for its soul. The dogged PI travels mean streets, taking hard knocks, scurrying the human rats that prey on innocents. I suppose it’s the PI’s pursuit of justice that appeals to me most. In a world filled with so much wrong, the PI’s goal is to set at least some things right. I always knew that this was the kind of story I wanted to write and that my main character would be an African-American female. Luckily, a lot of talented female writers blazed a solid trail for me and other writers to follow. Every female crime writer that has come after Grafton and Paretsky, I think, owes a great debt.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

I certainly don’t have as much free time as I once did. Before writing became a real thing, I could waste all kinds of time just doing the stupidest things. Now, I’m either writing, rewriting or thinking about writing or rewriting. Everything is chapters and deadlines, dialogue and character development. It’s fun, don’t get me wrong; it’s fulfilling, too, but it doesn’t allow for a lot of hanging out time.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

I have so many. In my genre, there are of course the trailblazers that I mentioned earlier—Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, Marcia Muller. I was also a great fan of Margaret Maron’s Sigrid Herald series, which I wish she would resurrect. There are also tons of writers of color on my favorites list—Barbara Neely, Eleanor Taylor Bland, Kellye Garrett, Rachel Howzell Hall, Delia Pitts, V.M. Burns. The list is soooo long. I’m a sucker for a unique voice, and each of these writers has created a main character that couldn’t possibly be mistaken for any other.

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

Normally, anywhere I can get a book is the place I want to be, but I find the loss of community-based independent bookstores in favor of big corporate operations tremendously sad. We’re losing so much as each one of these small, niche-market places disappears. I support the heck out of independent bookstores wherever I find them. I want them to survive.

What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

A good time. I’ve got no illusions. I’m not Dostoevsky, and I’m not writing “The Brothers Karamazov.” I’m writing PI novels. I think they’re meant to be sharp and fast, down and dirty. I have fun writing them and I hope readers have just as much fun reading them. There’s no weighty message hidden in the pages; I’m not hammering readers over the head trying to make some grand statement about the human condition. This is how it goes. Somebody finds a dead body. That body didn’t get dead on its own. My PI has to figure out what went down before the nutcase who killed the guy does it to some other mope. And I’ve got to make all that enjoyable and relatable and worthy of a reader’s valuable time. Sounds easy–and I wish it were–but it isn’t.

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

Not a lot. I make it all up. I research the cop and PI stuff, of course, so that it feels authentic. I talk to cops, pick their brains. I try to find out what makes them tick, why they do what they do. Female cops especially have been tremendously helpful in helping to flush Cass out and bring her to life, but otherwise the stories spring from my head. I’ve never once been thrown into a jail cell, been handcuffed and hauled off to the station, or been accosted by burly goons in a dark alley, but I sure love writing about all of that. A writer can step inside any old body and walk around in it. I don’t have to be an astronaut to write about one. I don’t have to be a serial killer to write about one. I can imagine what being an astronaut or serial killer might be like. That’s the fabulous thing about this writing business.

How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?

At this point, motivation isn’t much of a factor. I have a book to complete, a deadline to meet. I put my butt in the seat and pound it out. I do that every day. I keep at it until I’m finished. Some days are easier than others, but the same holds true for any job. You have to get it done and just thinking about it won’t get the words on the page. Butt in the seat; eyes on the page; head in the game. Go!

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

Boredom. I read all kinds of books in almost every genre. I don’t discriminate. I love it all. If the writer can transport me, keep me engaged, I’m all in. If the story stalls, if the writing fails to inspire, if my mind begins to wander and turning the page becomes a chore, I bail. Why read a bad book when there are so many good ones out there?

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

Nothing should be censored, no topic taboo. Not all books or topics are for all people, of course. I mean, you wouldn’t give a blood-and-screech horror book to a six year old, but it should be available for those mature individuals who like that sort of thing. Writers should be free to write about anything and everything. As a reader if you don’t like what I writer writes, read something else. Different strokes for different folks. Variety is what makes the world go ‘round.

Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?

Bad writing is my biggest pet peeve, mine or anyone else’s. If it’s mine, at least I have a shot at fixing it. If someone else commits the crime, you’re kinda stuck. The book’s there in front of you. You can either keep slogging your way through, hoping it gets better, or give up. I don’t often put a book down, but I have done it.

Where can people find you and your work?

Broken Places, book one in the Cass Raines series, is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Hudson BookSellers and anywhere books are sold. It is also available in e-book and audiobook versions.

Website: www.tracyclarkbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracyclarkbooks/

Twitter: tracypc6161

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B075FC4K9C

HudsonBooksellers.com: https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/book/9781496714879

The Book Cellar: https://www.bookcellarinc.com/book/9781496714879

Sandra M. Colbert

Name: Sandra M. Colbert

Genre(s) of your work: short stories and crime/mystery

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

Chicago Bound – 2015

The Reason – 2015

Damaged Souls – 2016

Bio:

Born and raised on the Southwest side of Chicago. I spent twenty years living in Arizona and I currently live in Rockford, IL.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

The short stories are really a pleasure to write. The outcome is resolved quickly. And I found that, maybe because of the length, there can be a powerful, emotional impact.

I hadn’t planned on committing to a crime/mystery series, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. I really enjoy talking to the readers of my stories. It’s great to see how involved they are with the characters and the book’s outcomes. I enjoy the research and working with the professionals in the fields that I’ve written about.

And, I think, most importantly, I enjoy being able to determine the outcomes and the appropriate punishments for the ‘bad guys’. There is control over a situation that you don’t have in real life.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

I spent a large part of my life in banking and mortgages. It paid the bills. But it was never what I wanted to do. I am finally doing exactly what I want to do and it’s what I wanted to do for so many years.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

Jody Picoult – She is absolutely brilliant. All of her books deal with a moral dilemma. Her books make me think, not only while I’m reading it, but well after I’m done reading. And her writing is just so good.

The same for Gillian Flynn.

I’ve read all of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels. I hooked me from his first book. I have a tough time putting down any of his books.

And there are so many more.

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

We need all bookstores! Regardless if they are corporate or independent. We need to support them.

What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

I hope there is an emotional impact. Not just escapism. I want the reader to feel something and feel something enough, that they share their thoughts and feelings about the story with others.

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

The short stories were based on the neighborhood that I grew up in – The Back of the Yards. It was a gritty area in Chicago that grew out of the Stock Yards. The people and the neighborhood apparently had quite an effect on me.

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

Poor research. Details that simply do not make sense, because the author made them up and they are not based in fact. And boredom. I can’t read a boring book.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

Absolutely not! Censoring is just another person or group’s opinion or belief. It has no place in the literary world. If you don’t like the topic, don’t read it! But do not stop others from reading it because you have the power to do so.

Where can people find you and your work?

Amazon, Barnes and Noble. Also, Goodreads. And at any book fair in the Rockford/Chicago area.

I can be reached at sandycbound@gmail.com for any questions or comments.

My website is: authorsandracolbert.com

I am on Facebook and Linked In

Christina Consolino

Your Name: Christina Consolino

Genre(s) of your work: Women’s Fiction

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

HISTORIC PHOTOS OF UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (2007)

REWRITE THE STARS (2021)

Bio:

Christina Consolino is an editor and writer whose work has appeared in multiple online and print outlets. She is the author of Historic Photos of University of Michigan, and her debut novel, Rewrite the Stars, was named one of ten finalists for the Ohio Writers’ Association Great Novel Contest 2020. She serves as senior editor at the online journal Literary Mama, freelance edits both fiction and nonfiction, and teaches writing classes for Word’s Worth Writing Connections. Christina lives in Kettering, Ohio, with her family and pets.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

While I love researching topics I do not know, it’s easier for me to write what I know and live. And for me, that’s women’s fiction. According to the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (of which I am a member), the genre involves stories whose “plot is driven by the main character’s emotional journey.” And I’m all about emotion, at least in terms of writing. I like to get at the heart of what’s happening in a character’s head and heart and how that affects their external lives. I also enjoy writing about relationships and connection and family, and the women’s fiction genre seems to fill all those slots.

Having said that, I really enjoy the teenage mind, and I have three drafted manuscripts that fall into the YA genre. I can envision finishing those and seeking a publisher at some point in the future. But the core of the story—involving relationships, connection, family—is still prevalent.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

Despite having a penchant for writing and editing since I was a little girl, I chose to pursue a doctorate degree in science. I thought for a while that I’d establish my own lab, but as soon as I stepped into the classroom to teach, I knew I’d found my calling. So for close to twenty years, I taught anatomy and physiology at the college level. On the side, I’d write blog posts or short stories or novel drafts or edit a friend’s paper. Eventually, I put my passion to the forefront, became an editor at the online literary journal Literary Mama, and took the dive into freelance editing. In fact, in 2019, I stepped away from teaching science altogether, and at this time, I have no plans to go back (though I still love to look at bones and hearts and think about the inner workings of the human body). And in March, one of the many manuscripts I wrote on the side is finally (!) being published.

Am I where I thought I’d be when I first began graduate school? Not even close. Am I where I think I’m supposed to be? Absolutely. Sometimes it takes us a bit of time to find the courage to step onto a path we weren’t willing to admit was the best one for us.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

I have so many favorite authors for very different reasons, so I might as well just list a few. Stephen King for his quirkiness and dedication to the odd. Crystal Wilkinson for beautiful language and getting to the heart of a character. Anne Valente for making me stop and think. Toni Morrison for her ability to make me view life from a different perspective. John Green because he nails the minds of teenagers so well. Jennifer Nivens for her willingness to write raw and honest depictions of life in general. James Balwin for his eloquence. I could go on, but I won’t. We might be here all day.

Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?

Audiobooks serve multiple wonderful purposes, and I wish they weren’t so expensive to buy. Personally, I don’t use them much, as my mind tends to wander unless I have words to focus on. But I hope they (or something like them) are here to stay!

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

Pre-pandemic, my answer might have leaned more toward the side of independent bookstores and away from mainstream/corporate bookstores. But I see the benefits of both. Of course, given a choice, I’ll support the small, independent bookstore over the larger corporate one, but I really try very hard not to denigrate either set because I have shopped (and probably will continue to shop) at both. I think part of that stems from having once lived in an area where the only bookstore in town belonged to a larger umbrella company. My feeling is this: the debate between independent bookstores and larger conglomerates will still be here in a decade, so let’s just worry about getting books into the hands of consumers! The more people reading, the better off our world will be.

What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?

Marketing is my weakest area of expertise. And I use that term “expertise” loosely because I really am no expert at all! I find Facebook easy to use; Twitter maddens me; Instagram—well, I don’t know enough about it. But I’m learning, so I hope people are patient with me! I think the best marketing tool for me, though, is good old-fashioned word of mouth. And sorry—I don’t know enough to say anything about bad marketing tools.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

Two thoughts jump to mind right away. 1. I believe in free speech, and 2. I believe that writing can help heal the person writing it and the person reading it. So, it’s probably clear that I don’t think any topic should be taboo. However, that doesn’t mean I need to choose to read something that will make me uncomfortable or something I find unpalatable. Everyone has a choice to read or not.

Where can people find you and your work?

My website (https://christinaconsolino.com/) has links to my books and a blog. I’ve also provided direct links below to the books and my social media handles. Feel free to connect!

Rewrite the Stars at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rYbiXW

Rewrite the Stars at Bookshop: https://bit.ly/BookshopRTS

Rewrite the Stars at Black Rose Writing: https://bit.ly/BRWRewritetheStars

Rewrite the Stars at Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/BNRewritetheStars

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cmconsolino

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChristinaConsolino

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmconsolino/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00IVYAA9I

Bruno Cortis

Name: Bruno Cortis

Genre(s) of your work: Preventing heart Disease- Spirituality and Medicine.

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

HEART AND SOUL 2018- HEALING THE HEART- 2017- HEAL YOUR CANCER-2015

Bio:

CARDIOLOGIST- AUTHOR- SPEAKER- ASSISTANT PROFESSOR RUSH UNIVERSITY

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY LIFE EXPERIENCES

How has writing changed/altered your life?

ENRICHED MY SPIRIT

Who are your favorite authors and why?

SIEGEL- CHOPRA- DOSSEY

What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

GUIDANCE- MOTIVATION

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

ALL

How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?

THE JOY TO FINISH

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

IF BORING

Where can people find you and your work?

AMAZON-

BRUNOCORTIS.COM WEBSITE

BRUNOCORTISMD- BLOG

Kristina Cowan

Your Name: Kristina Cowan

Genre(s) of your work: narrative nonfiction

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

I’ve been a journalist for 20 years, and I’ve had many articles published at a variety of publications. My latest and largest project is my first nonfiction book, When Postpartum Packs a Punch: Fighting Back and Finding Joy. It includes my personal experience with postpartum depression, and the stories of other parents who had postpartum mood disorders, in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The book is a resource for mothers and fathers coping with mental illness during pregnancy or after childbirth, and for the friends, family, and clinicians who help them.

Bio :

Kristina Cowan started writing when she was 5. Years later, she earned a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University, and these days she covers mental health and women’s issues. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and two young children. When Postpartum Packs a Punch is her first book.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

When I faced postpartum depression, I couldn’t find a book that offered true, detailed stories from other mothers who’d been where I was. There was plenty of clinical advice, but nothing from peers. What helped me most was the solace I received while talking with other mothers. I set out to capture that solace in print, and offer it to families for generations to come. Because I’ve been a journalist for 20 years, writing nonfiction came naturally. Still, I do harbor the dream of writing fiction. It’s my next frontier.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

I’ve been writing since I was 5—maybe earlier. It’s the way I sing, pray, think, and spread hope. Life doesn’t make sense to me unless I write.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

They’re too many to list here, so I’ll give the top few.

Philip Yancey is my favorite nonfiction author. He helps me better understand big issues and how they relate to my faith. He’s humble, he has an excellent command of complex subjects, and he’s brilliant. His writing makes me feel smarter.

Shakespeare inspired me at an early age, and he still does. Name a heartbreak, a malady, a joy; name a type of hero or villain, and you’ll find them somewhere in his work.

Mystery is my favorite fiction genre. My favorite writers there are Tana French and Mark Pryor. French’s prose is lyrical. Her stories are anchored to psychological suspense, not gore. Pryor’s character, Hugo Marston, is a modern-day Cary Grant who grabs bad guys around France. What’s not to love? Pryor has dexterity with the language and smartly weaves in background and description. I forget that I’m reading, and I’m transported to Europe. If I one day come close to writing fiction that good, I’ll be happy.

I like historical romance, too. Natasha Solomons does an excellent job here, with The House at Tyneford and The Song of Hartgrove Hall. Her characters are believable and lovable. The story lines seamlessly weave history with romance, and leave the reader with much to reflect on.

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

I love bookstores. I’ve always spent a lot of time and money in them. After I had children, I developed a new appreciation for all they offer. Barnes & Noble has been good to me since I published my book. I’m not famous, and I don’t yet have an agent, and my publisher isn’t one of the big ones in New York. But B&N agreed to catalog my book, and my local branch stocks some on the shelves. I wish I could say the same for my favorite independent bookstore in my neighborhood. I figured they’d be open to including my book in their collection, but I’ve not been able to get them to return my emails and calls.

What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

If readers come away with just one thing, I’d like it to be hope. There are wise, empathetic people capable of helping families who struggle through perinatal mental illness. It might take a while to find them, so you have to persist and be your own best advocate. It’s also important for women to listen to their bodies. They never lie. If you don’t feel like yourself, and that feeling lingers, chances are it won’t go away on its own. Staying quiet won’t make it better. Sharing how you feel with someone you trust is the most important step you can take to restoring your mental health. It’s not a sign of weakness, as our society readily suggests.

Modern medicine has redeeming qualities, but it falls short with mental illness. There’s still much it gets wrong. For example, recent research suggests that Pitocin, medication often used to speed labor, increases a woman’s chances of postpartum depression between 32 and 36 percent. Those numbers should send medical experts on a quest to more carefully consider the drugs they give women in labor and postpartum.

Like any art, my book is a snapshot, a moment in time. Research on maternal mental health continues. We’ll get better at reaching, responding to, and caring for struggling families. And we’ll face setbacks. My book couldn’t cover everything, but I’ll continue to build on it through my future writing.

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

For the last six years, about half of what I write touches on my personal experience. My book delves into my brush with postpartum depression. My blog posts and stories for various outlets deal with mental health, and how I think we need to change and grow. I lost my brother to suicide four years ago, and I’ve been writing about what I learned through that experience. I hope to write more about men in middle age who face severe depression, too.

The other half of my writing life is pure journalism, where my personal experience doesn’t come into play at all.

I find the balance of this tricky. Writing about myself is difficult, especially because I was trained as a journalist to remain objective and keep my perspective out of the equation. We see this less and less in mainstream media, especially on TV. I value Walter Kronkite-type journalists, who don’t pepper the news with their thoughts and feelings.

How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?

Deadlines are a writer’s best friend. My writing mentor says that often. And I learned that in journalism school—write to finish. If you don’t, you’ve no hope of keeping a job. That served me well as I wrote my book proposal, looked for a publisher, finished the manuscript, went through edits, and polished off the galleys.

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

If there’s too much description, if the author waxes flowery, if the characters are boring or unbelievable—these things make me stop reading. I sometimes have trouble with books that toggle between the past and present, a trend common in fiction. But if those types of books are well-written, if I relate to the characters, if the tension builds with each scene—then the back-and-forth doesn’t matter. There’s no substitute for good writing.

Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?

Typos. My own are the worst. They’re like nails on a chalkboard.

When I’m reading a book and I find a typo, I wonder whether a copy editor had enough time to read as carefully as he/she would’ve liked. There’s no substitute for good editing, whether it’s for content, mechanics, or grammar.

Where can people find you and your work?

My website: https://www.kristinacowan.com/

My blog, housed at my website: https://www.kristinacowan.com/blog/

My author page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cowankristina/

My Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Kristina-Cowan/e/B071SDD8P3

On Twitter, I’m @kristinacowan

Donna M. Cramer

Your Name: Donna M. Cramer

Genre(s) of your work: children’s picture books and adult fiction

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

2023 – my first children’s book, Lester Lion Wants To Roar

Lester Lion Calls 911 is coming out June 2024.

**My adult novel, Paul Is Missing, is currently in the editing process.**

Bio:

I was a teacher of students with special needs for over 20 years. I retired early because I received a traumatic brain injury while working with my students. This injury took me on a journey that I didn’t want to go on, but I learned so much throughout the process of healing which is still ongoing. My writing developed after my brain injury, particularly early in my recovery when I had difficulty speaking.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

I write children’s books because I know this population well. My adult fiction has a theme of overcoming tragedy. My brand is hope because without hope you have nothing.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

I have wanted to write since I was a child, but life got in the way. Writing now is a dream come true!

Who are your favorite authors and why?

So many! I like a good Stephen King. He writes interesting characters. I like Jodi Picoult. She has a way with social issues. I enjoyed The Sisters Chase by Sarah Healey. I loved the unique plot twist.

Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?

I like audiobooks. I still suffer from some eye problems related to my TBI and it is easier for me to listen to an audiobook. I still have the actual book in my hand though as I listen.

What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?

I have a large Lester Lion poster that attracts people at festivals. I am also selling a small stuffed lion with the book. Everyone loves this!

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

No, never. We learn by reading about worlds and issues that are different than what we know. We can make the choice to avoid things we don’t like. We never have the choice to tell other people what to write, read or like.

What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?

I don’t have a problem with them. People may want to know what they are about to read. I sold my book at my church. I have thoughts about selling my adult novel in that same venue as there are incidences of drug abuse in the book. I might need to add NSFC (not safe for church) to let some people know!

Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?

Much better in person at Festivals and book fairs. I enjoy talking to the people who stop by the booth. It is amazing how much you find you have in common with others.

Where can people find you and your work?

kirkhousepublishers.com

My website is authordonnamcramer.com, also available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

Frederick H. Crook

Name: Frederick H. Crook

Genre(s) of your work: Most works are Dystopian Science Fiction. I have one Paranormal/Historical Fiction novel.

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

*All titles are dystopian science fiction with the exception of The Summer of ’47, which is my paranormal historical fiction.

The Dregs of Exodus, 2010. (Self-published through Authorhouse but recently discontinued. I am in the process of re-editing it for self-publishing.)

The Pirates of Exodus, 2012. (Also self-published through Authorhouse and was discontinued. I’ll be re-issuing it in 2020.)

Runt Pulse, 2012. E-book only. Self-published.

Lunar Troll, 2012. E-book only. Self-published.

Campanelli: The Ping Tom Affair, 2013. E-book, Audiobook (2016), and now in print through CreateSpace (2017). Self-published.

The Fortress of Albion, 2013. E-book, now in print through CreateSpace (2017). Self-published.

Campanelli: Sentinel, 2014. E-book and paperback. Solstice Publishing.

Minuteman Merlin, 2015. E-book. Solstice Publishing.

Of Knight & Devil, 2015. E-book and paperback. Solstice Publishing.

Campanelli: Siege of the Nighthunter, 2016. E-book and paperback. Solstice Publishing.

Comfort in a Man Named Jakc, 2016. E-book. Solstice Publishing. (Jakc is misspelled intentionally and is explained in the story.)

Adrift, 2016. E-book. Solstice Publishing.

The Summer of ’47, 2016. E-book and paperback. Solstice Publishing.

The Interceptor’s Song, 2017. E-book and paperback. Self-published.

Bio:

I was born in Chicago in 1970 and wrote short stories through high school. I now live in a suburb of Chicago with my wife, Rae and our three dachshunds. I published my first book in 2010 and was picked up by Solstice Publishing in 2014. I continue to write for them as well as self-publish some titles. I was an editor for Solstice for two years and now freelance edit with the Indie author as my target market.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

I love the idea of humans finding another planet to live on, so I decided that was the way to go. Too many dystopian works feature an apocalypse or Armageddon happening, where my works feature a slow migration to Alethea, a fictitious planet, over the course of many decades. I focus on the people, not so much the technology of the future time.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

It’s everything to me. It’s all I do or ever want to do. I am constantly thinking about the next few storylines while working on the current one. There’s not a waking moment that goes by when I’m not writing that I’m not thinking of writing.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

I like the giants of classic science fiction. Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, George Orwell, etc. I’m also a big fan of Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

I like them, but I prefer to cruise through used book stores. They are more fun to shop through and the owners are more likely to be welcoming to indie authors. The big chain bookstores, at least those here in the Chicagoland area, tend to be closed to anyone beyond the big publishers.

What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

I’d like people to be entertained. I want them to be immersed in the time and situations of my characters, and I hope that their imagination is sparked by my stories. It would be a triumph to hear from someone in a few decades that tells me they went into a particular line of work because they read one of my books.

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

I think it really comes out in a character’s dialogue. I can really put myself in their place while writing scenes where they are interacting and conversing with other characters. Humor comes out, and it mixes well with whatever is churning in the storyline.

How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?

I like to finish what I start. I’ve only bailed on two works in my life, and it was because I didn’t follow my usual process, which is to think the book through from beginning to end and making sure there’s a complete story there. It’s like building a railroad. You have to have a point of origin, a route, and a destination. I don’t start typing without these being worked out.

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

That’s extremely rare, even if the book is not of a preferred genre. Usually something has to be really terrible, and there’s no shortage of the really terrible out there. I can usually spot it before I even start, which is helpful. Talented writers, whether they are indies or backed by the big publishers, have to really do something special to stand out.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

I don’t believe in censorship. Not at all, but I do recall reading a book for a now defunct review site that was so mean in spirit and deeply, pointlessly vulgar that I thought it was a joke. I remember emailing the persons that ran the review site and asked that very question, but was told it was legitimate. I hated every page of it and even stated in my review that to have written such a tale made me question the author’s sincerity. It seemed to have been written for the sole purpose of disgusting the reader, rather than entertaining them.

Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?

Poor grammar and typos that could have been caught by an editor, copyeditor, proofreader, etc., really is an annoyance. Indies are not the only ones that fall victim to that. For instance, I’m reading one of Isaac Asimov’s books of the Foundation Series and a character’s name is misspelled at least twice, there are a couple of sentences that make zero sense, and in some places, there are too many details. That being said, there is no such thing as a perfect book, it’s just a matter of keeping the errors to a minimum to allow the reader to move through the story smoothly.

Where can people find you and your work?

Website: http://frederickcrook.wixsite.com/crooksbooks

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Frederick-H.-Crook/e/B00P83FW02/ref

Twitter: @FrederickHCrook

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorFHCrook/

Chrissy Curry

Name: Chrissy Curry

No pen name. I choose to own it. 😊

Genre: Dark Romance/Psychological Thriller/Mystery/Romance (but, I also write children’s books!)

Works:

OPEN FIRE: The Flames of Betrayal (Feb 2025)

OPEN PROMISE: The Tides of Deception (end of month)

OPEN ENDED: The Echoes of Redemption (August 2025)

The series is called LOVE WIDE OPEN

Bio:

Chrissy Curry began her career as a children’s book author, crafting stories that sparked imagination and wonder in young readers. But as her storytelling evolved, so did her passion for romance, mystery, and a touch of unrest into narratives that captivate the heart and mind.

Now, as she embarks on the release of her first novel in a gripping new series, she embraces the beauty of turning 50—an age where she speaks her truth unapologetically, finds peace in life’s little moments, and deepens the bonds with her five beautifully blended, now-grown children. While she and her husband enjoy their empty-nest chapter, she still treasures the charm of a heartfelt conversation with a tiny human.

Currently residing in the Midwest, Chrissy is hard at work on the second and third books in her series, though she often dreams of a beach house on a deserted island, where life moves at the rhythm of the waves. Until that dream becomes reality, she finds solace in her annual anniversary retreat to the Gulf Coast of Florida, where she and her husband shut the world out and exist solely within the embrace of the ocean.

A storyteller at heart, Chrissy is most at home with a venti white mocha in hand, a gripping book nearby, and her golden doodle curled up beside her—always ready to dive into the next adventure, both in fiction and in life.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

I chose to write in this multi-genre because I am not afraid to own it. I think this genre gives a writer freedom to use the words they want to use and tell the story with no reprimand. It is my favorite genre to read so I suppose that allows me to have some fun with it. I am in the process of doing something entirely different though…a memoir. I am very excited about it.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

Writing is something I have always wanted to do. I suppose I have always been doing so in my mind, but now is the time to put it onto paper. I am an empty nester. The kids need less of my time, so the time is now. It has changed my life in many different ways. I have had several media outlets reach out, have done several interviews, have greeted readers at many bookstore events. I love book-talking. It provides me with a newfound energy and love for writing and a confidence that was hidden.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

I am a huge fan of Danielle Steel. She is the reason I fell in love with reading. Although she isn’t my specified genre, she is the one. I just chatted with her on email just this week. You will see her name mentioned in every Acknowledgement Page in any book I publish. I am a Freida McFadden fan as well as Lucinda Berry, Alice Feeney, and Lucy Foley. Brian D. O’Sullivan and D.J. Maughan are two of my new favs. Both Indi Authors.

Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?

I personally have never listened to an audio book. I prefer the smell of a good book so to speak. I’m old fashioned. But, I absolutely think they are the future. I am looking into getting my series into audio right now. I think they are convenient in this fast paced life for readers on the go and help with long work commutes.

What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?

I have had lots of luck with good marketing. I have a team at Hemingway Publishers who know how to get it done! Social media is important as it is the preferred and trendy way by bloggers and readers alike…but I prefer to be face to face promoting in public. I always wondered about authors in my day as a reader, and I still do. I think it’s important to see who they are.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

I do not think writing should be censored at all. It is a freedom of speech and expression. Most bookstores have it clearly labeled in their genre sections, so the communication is out there. Nothing more needs to be done.

What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?

Reading lets you escape into a reality outside of your norm. I do believe being warned ahead of time with a Trigger Warning is good especially if you are a person with a compromised past who may have issues.

Where can people find you and your work?

I have a full calendar of events. Like I stated above, I like to be in person with my readers. I like to show up in bookstores and surprise readers as well. I do not have much experience with blogging, so I am excited to be a part of this! I do have Amazon, Barnes & Noble, socials, a website and I am a finalist in the International Impact Book Awards which holds a runway Gala in Hollywood in October. I think entering book awards is important.