Interview and #Giveaway with Crystal Joy

Super happy to have author, Crystal Joy here with us on the blog today!! Please help us welcome her and stay tuned at the end for a giveaway! :)
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You’ve had a new release! Can you share a little bit about it and how you first hatched the idea for this story?

I am SO excited to share Shackled Heart with readers! It’s a contemporary romance novel about a man who is haunted by his past mistakes and believes he doesn’t deserve to find love again. His name is Charlie Grimm. Charlie has been in my head for a long time (seven years to be exact). At first, he was simply a character who had to go back to his hometown, but didn’t want to. From there, I had to figure out why he didn’t want to go home. I started brainstorming: What if he did something so terrible that home would feel like prison? What if he actually went to prison, then had to go home? Why would have to go home … parole. Enter MacKenna Christensen. She’s Charlie’s parole officer. I knew she would be the perfect female protagonist. She would have the opportunity to work with Charlie, despise him, then be able to look past his mistakes, and fall in love with him. I started this novel when I worked full-time, so it’s taken me years to write, revise multiple times, and publish. But like I said, I am SO excited it’s finally here to share.

What special research did you need to do for this novel and did you enjoy it or find it laborious?
Both. My initial research was a lot of fun. Growing up, my dad was a parole officer. He helped answer A LOT of my questions. He also connected me with other parole officers and a prison warden. The warden was kind enough to give me a tour of his prison. I enjoyed talking with many officers and getting a better picture of Charlie’s character.
Until someone I love went to prison. After that happened, it took me a long time to pick the book back up again. I just wanted to research someone who went to prison, I didn’t want to actually know someone. But Charlie had a hold on my heart and eventually I finished the novel. This time, I had a much better idea of Mac’s character arc—experiencing her anger, compassion, and love. This novel may be fictional, but my emotions and personal knowledge are threaded throughout the book.
What is the primary spiritual theme of your book, and if that’s not applicable, what do you hope readers take away from reading your novel?
Bad choices do not define a person. All people deserve to be loved, no matter what they’ve done.
How did you determine what names to give your characters?
Right from the very beginning, I picked “Charlie,” but get this—when I looked up the meaning of his name it means “free man.” I couldn’t believe it!
I changed the female protagonists’ name several times. I finally asked readers and let them pick from a list of choices. MacKenna (nicknamed Mac) was their first choice.
Which sub-character is your favorite and why?
Ray Meyers, for sure! He is the heart and soul of Maple Valley, Iowa. He is a retired football coach who opens a cute shop called the Canine Palace. He bakes bones, cakes, fries, and cookies for dogs. My beta readers loved Ray so much that I decided to make him a character in Book 2 of the Homeward Bound Series, Shattered Heart.
Moving on from your story, tell us a little about yourself. We’ll help! What literary character is most like you and why?
Savannah from Nicholas Sparks’ novel, Dear John. She’s a sweet, yet sassy girl who sees the good in everyone. She’s family-oriented and loves the beach. I could probably add more, but it’s been a while since I’ve read Dear John. When I read the novel, I remember connecting with her well.

What hobby do you enjoy in your “free” time (‘cause we know you have tons of free time!)
Playing with my two little cutie pies! I have a three-year old-son and a two-year old-daughter. I get to stay at home with them while I’m pursing my writer career. It’s so much fun seeing the world through their eyes. You never know what they’ll say. When my son sat on Santa’s lap this year, he said, “I want a toy truck for Christmas. But … I can just get it at the store.” So practical, huh? I had to stifle my laugh.
Tell us about your pets (if you have some)!
I have the best Jack Russell ever. He’s energetic, but not super-crazy, and he rarely barks. He loves to cuddle and burrow under blankets. It’s so cute in the morning when he peeks his nose out of the stack of blankets on the couch. Charlie Grimm has a Jack Russell in Shackled Heart, too. If you look on the back cover, you can see a picture of his dog!

We talk a lot about faith and how it weaves throughout our fiction, here at the blog. How has your faith affected/or not affected your writing?
When Jesus met sinners in the Bible, he didn’t judge them or mock them in a condescending way. He loved them and looked past their mistakes. That’s exactly what I want readers to do when they meet Charlie’s character.

Because Jaime has some darker elements to her split-time historical and contemporary romantic suspense coming out this year, she likes to ask weird questions. So, if you were to find yourself stranded in a creepy old house at night, who would you want with you to keep you company?
My husband. He’s a very practical person and he would remind me that there is no such thing as ghosts! If there was a real bad guy in the house, though, I would protect us—I’m a second-degree black belt.
Anne, Erica, and Gabrielle both write sweet historical romances. How does romance influence your own writing?
I’m all about the romance. The entire plot of Shackled Heart centers around Charlie and MacKenna’s love story. When they start falling for one another, their relationship becomes quite tricky. Parole officers are not supposed to form close relationships with their clients. Even after parole is over, it’s very frowned upon. MacKenna is a workaholic who loves her job. By the end, she must make a decision— admit her feelings for Charlie and risk losing her job, or deny her feelings and live a life wondering what could have been.

And for some extra fun . . .
If you could pick one superhero to save you from impending doom, who would it be and why?
Jamie from Outlander. And yes, I know he’s not technically a superhero, but he sure comes close.
If you could guest star in one TV show, what would be and what would your ideal role be?
Outlander, so I could meet Jamie!
Name one significant heirloom or keepsake you have and why it’s important to you:
My favorite keepsakes are my kids’ ultrasound pictures and pictures of being pregnant with them. I’m one of those weird women who really enjoys being pregnant. It’s fun to look back and remember how I felt as they were growing inside my tummy.
We’d love you have you share a snippet from your novel to entice us and hook us! J Please share something below:
The band started playing Just Another Day in Paradiseand increased the volume. Charlie held out his hand, palm up. “Dance with me?” She stared at his hand as if it could bite her. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.” “It’s just a dance.” “I know, but …”         Charlie broke the distance and kept his hand held out. He understood her hesitancy, he knew the rules, but with the moon shining down on her, she looked like an angel. His heart skipped a beat, and he had a hard time thinking straight, making it difficult to find reasons not to enjoy the night together. She slowly set her hand above his open palm. Grinning, he pressed his other hand against her slender back, drawing her close. She hooked her fingers behind his neck, and he slid his arms tighter around her waist until there wasn’t any space between them. They were so close he could feel the rise and fall of her chest. He lifted her arm above her head and gently pushed her back, propelling her to twirl. Her arms relaxed as he reached for her hand again, swaying to the rhythm of the music. She looked up into his eyes. “Where did you learn to dance so well?”“My mom made me take lessons.” “I’m embarrassed. You’re much better than I am.” “You can’t be good at everything. You had to take a cut somewhere, right?”  She laughed. “You’re such a suck up. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were buttering me up. Trying to make sure I discharge you from parole, so you can get rid of me.”  “On the contrary, Miss Christensen. I enjoy spending time with you.” He tightened his grip on her back, dipping her as their gazes locked. “Honestly, spending time with you is the best part of my week.”With her back curled above his arm, she stopped moving and a smile spread across her face. “Is that so?”  He nodded and brought her back to a standing position. The moon cast a light on her face as she peered up at him, her lips parting. For a moment, it was easy to forget how their paths had crossed—until he glanced over her shoulder. Officer Tucker and Jen stood by the Road Closed sign, their eyes filled with disapproval.

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Snag your copy of Crystal Joy's novel here:

You can learn more about Crystal Joy at her website www.crystaljoybooks.com. If you want to sign up for her newsletter, “From My Heart to Yours,” you’ll receive exclusive giveaways, opportunities to enter contests, and noteworthy news. Click on this link to sign up:  http://eepurl.com/cHgfZ9
You can also connect with her at: Crystal@Crystaljoybooks.com

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