7 min1,289by Mylissa

This week one of my absolute favorite authors is releasing her latest book. To celebrate, I want to introduce you to her, and tell you a bit about her books.

In September of last year I think Charissa reached out to me for the release of her latest book then. I hadn’t heard of her back then, but I literally devoured that book! It was one of those books that sucked me in and kept me enthralled until I finished the last page. Then the inevitable book funk followed, and I had to wait until I found a new book to get lost in.

Now back to the celebrations, and her new book. I want you to get to know Charissa and her books, so you can discover how amazing she is at pulling you into a story, and getting you lost in the pages. Seriously, I can’t stress enough how much you all need to read her books. This week as I will post about Charissa and her books, you will get the chance to win a copy of her newest book Package deal. I got to alpha-read that one (yes, there is such a term 😊 ) and have read it twice so far. It is AMAZING!!! This is a real treat!

To win a book, you need to like both Charissa Stastny’s Facebook Page and My Facebook page . Then you need to share one of the posts during the week and comment on why you would like to win a copy of Package Deal. You can share and comment on more than one post. It’s as simple as that!

Today I’ll share a fun interview with Charissa. Great chance to get to meet this wonderful lady!

Charissa Stastny

 

Interview

 

How did you get started as an author?

I’d always wanted to write a book, but never seemed to have time between being a mother, a caregiver, and a preschool and art teacher. As my children matured, I found myself spending lots of time waiting for them at sports practices. That’s when I started bringing a notebook and hashing out a story over the next 6 months (which ended up being my Bending Willow Trilogy…but it took about 3 years to finish editing, revising and polishing it to be acceptable to the public). That hooked me on the writing process, and now I don’t want to stop.

Who is your favorite author and why?

Probably C.S. Lewis. His words are amazing; his thoughts so clear and inspiring. Everything he wrote deserves a place on my shelf and his quotes on my fridge.

What is your favorite sweet?

Brownies, cinnamon rolls, and cheesecake rank at the top of my list, but if you offer me anything with sugar, I’ll decide that is my new favorite.

Any special talents?

I’m not super good at any one thing, but I’m proficient at lots of ‘stuff.’ I’ve tried my hand at painting, crafting, photography, piano, organ, teaching, crocheting, gardening, scrapbooking, basketball, mountain biking, triathlons, and now writing.

What other hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?

Reading’s my first love. I’m always happy with a good book. I also like to dabble in painting when I’m in the mood. I love camping and hiking—anything outdoors.

Tell us a little about your family.

My husband and I are high school sweethearts and married after his mission to Ireland. We have four children—3 daughters (one married who is an interior designer/architect, one who served a mission in S. Korea and is now a surgical periodontic assistant, and one who’s on a mission in the country of Georgia and speaking Georgian at the moment) and one incredible son who graduates this year from high school. We love being together and our favorite activities include bike races (of which I’m a spectator now after breaking my arm), hiking, camping, and going to Disneyland.

What got you started on your writing journey?

I’ve dabbled with writing since I was a kid. I loved reading clean romance as a teen and wrote many cheesy scenes between handsome cowboys and milkmaids in my journal. The world will NEVER see these! They are cheesier than a Walmart tuxedo.

 Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?

After my husband read my first book, he commented, “It would have been better with a zombie in it.” Since then, the Search and Find feature on Word has become my best friend. I always use it before I send out drafts to readers, because unfortunately, my husband is skilled at sneaking zombies into files. There is nothing worse than when the masculine hunk in my story tells the girl of his dreams that ‘he wants to eat her brains.’ Ugh!

 How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

Quite a lot. There is always one character I identify with—usually the shy, awkward one with a good heart who doesn’t know how to accessorize. My cool characters are my dreams of how I wish I could be. It’s fun as a writer to live vicariously through my characters.

 Where do your ideas come from?

My characters. A vivid character creates their own action, tension and stories.

Do you have a favorite character?

I love Suvi (from the Bending Willow Trilogy) and wish I could meet her in real life. Rawson is my favorite hero I’ve written (Between Hope & the Highway). He always makes me smiles with the silly things that come out of his mouth. Bentley is the cutest character I’ve written (he’s 13) and I love him to pieces and would love to do a book about him growing up someday.

If you were to be stranded on a deserted tropical island with one of your characters, who would you choose and why?

Since I can’t build a fire or catch fish, I’d need someone who could be responsible and take care of me. In my mind, that would be James Hinton (from the Bending Willow Trilogy). I imagine he was a Boy Scout when he was young, so he’s very handy, self-reliant, kind, creative, and honorable. I’d feel safe with him.

What kind of trials do your main characters in your newest book have to endure?

In Package Deal, Spring is trying to move on in life after a terrible marriage to a famous European model who treated her like dirt. She is a single mother now, but doesn’t feel comfortable around handsome men any longer. Hudson’s inner demons include lack of confidence from his parents’ divorce as a young teen (which he hides behind much bravado), and severe trust issues with beautiful women, since he’s been burned bad a couple times in the past.

Why should we read your books?

Two reasons: 1) The Ruled Out Romances are a fun new stand-alone series that will give romance readers lots of material to keep them happy for the next few years, and 2) The characters are witty, vulnerable, charming, and just plain awesome! If you’re like me, you will fall in love with these new book friends.

What is one silly fact about you?

I can do a ‘mean’ monkey imitation. When I did this at Biblical zoo in Jerusalem, the monkeys spit at me though. I don’t know what that means.

If you were a cartoon character, which one would you be?

Elastigirl (AKA Mrs. Incredible). What girl wouldn’t want that skinnifying power?

If you should ever be on death row and have to order a last meal, what would it be?

Since I wouldn’t be worried about calories, I’d order chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with lots of white gravy, stuffing, sweet potato pie, and a caramel fudge trifle for dessert.

What terrifies you?

Natural disasters. Whenever I watch a Discovery show on tornadoes, tsunamis, or earthquakes, I have nightmares about them for weeks. I also have a slight fear of water (though it is a love/hate relationship). I find it beautiful and refreshing, but since I can’t see what’s in there with me, I want out as fast as possible.

If you could have plastic surgery, what would you change?

Nothing. I think wrinkles are earned and are a sign of wisdom. I’ve worked and lived too hard to let some doctor take that away from me.

Cat person or dog person?

Although I find cats beautiful and mysterious, I’m allergic and can’t breathe around them; that makes the choice simple: DOGS.

What super power would you want (being elastic not included)?

Superman’s ability to fly around the earth and turn back time. I could use more time to write and read more books.

What candy bar would be your motto for life?

I’m going to be unique and pick Toffifay. With that hazelnut in the middle of all that chocolate and caramel, it resembles what I aim to claim in life—joy! Yes, life can get nutty and sometimes you get stuck in the caramel goo of challenges, but wrap it all together with hope (which chocolate symbolizes to me), and everything works together to bring joy in the end.

What animal do you resemble?

Maybe a deer. I’m quiet and will probably hide if loud people come around.

 

 

Stastny

 

 

Charissa Stastny is married to her high school sweetheart and has four children who are the light of her life. She’s an avid reader, happy writer, BYU graduate, and lover of poppies and irises, clouds, chocolate, sushi, and nature. Though born and raised in Las Vegas, she has never pulled a handle of a slot machine and can’t shuffle cards to save her life. She shuffles kids, laundry, and church responsibilities rather well though. She currently lives in Utah with her family, where shuffling cards isn’t required.

 

6 thoughts on “The Wonderful Charissa Stastny Giveaway Day 1: Come and meet Charissa”

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