In honor of Kristy’s first day as a Full-time author, let’s get to know her and her books a little better. While some of you may ask, ‘who is Kristy Marie’, there are others saying, ‘what do you mean you haven’t heard of Kristy Marie’. Well, I’m here to hopefully answer that question and give you another author to read and follow.

In a quick and concise paragraph, here’s her official bio:

‘Kristy Marie is an international bestselling author who loves writing witty heroines and temperamental heroes. She is also a ‘six-pack of abs’ biggest fan. When Kristy isn’t writing, she’s being a total dude and screaming at the TV while watching baseball. Go Braves!’

Kristy started her self-publishing writing career with, Commandeer, a friends to lovers sports romance with Theo and Anniston. Since then she has developed a whole world of characters within this Commandeer in Briefs military world. With that, let’s find out a little more about Kristy, her writing, and the band of characters that she deals with.

What are 5 things you would have on your bucket list?

This question is tough. I don’t even know why. I guess I’m just not very adventurous. *Hangs head in shame* But I’ll try.

1. I’d like to see a pipeline tournament on the North Shore
2. I want to be brave and try acupuncture.
3. I’d like to meet the Braves players and see their locker room. J
4. I’d love to buy a beach house—you know if I ever hit the lottery.
5. I want a jet ski. (Totally not a bucket list thing, but I want two, so I can beat my husband in a race when we’re old and bored.)

If you could visit five (5) places you have never been, where would you go and why?

So this is probably going to sound strange, but I’m not a traveler. I find such peace at home or close by, like the lake. But I do enjoy the beach and have visited many states on the East Coast. Four places (because I can’t think of five) I’d like to see one day eventually are: Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, and California. I’d love to see all the beauty of Hawaii and see the pipeline tournament on the North Shore. Alaska just seems like a dream, and my husband is stupid giddy about visiting it one day. So most of my excitement comes from seeing him act ridiculous about a place with 24 hours of daylight, snow, and bears. Colorado because obviously, they have the best scenery from a hot tub. And California because I want to be a total tourist and see everything Hollywood.

When you are writing an emotionally draining (or sexy, or sad, etc.) scene, how do you get in the mood/mindset?

Writing emotionally draining scenes are brutal. Most of the time, I save them for bad days where I feel tired and emotionally strained for whatever reason. It sounds counterintuitive, but it isn’t. When I’m one comment away from crying, I add an emotional song and poof! The words (and tears) just flow.

Tell us about your first published book? What was the journey like?

All my life, I’ve written. Back then, it was just certain characters and the scenes in my head. It was my outlet. Whenever I felt lonely, sad, bored, I would get out my pen and paper and create a different world.

I grew up as an only child with a single parent who worked long hours to provide. We had no cable, phones, or internet and lived twenty minutes from the nearest town. I had to create fun, and since I’m not very keen on sweating, I chose to write wild and entertaining characters to keep me smiling on those lonely summer days when school wasn’t in.

This habit carried over into my adult life. When things were tough, I pulled out the paper. I had gone through a divorce, and when I was dating my current husband, he asked me why I never wrote an entire story. I waved him off, making every excuse I could think of: I wasn’t a writer. I was playing around. People would never read it. I didn’t graduate high school—didn’t finish college. Writers were these brilliant, cultured, and educated people.

I was none of those things.

My husband disagreed and suggested I try it, even if I never published. I’m competitive, and he knew it and so weeks later, I kept thinking about writing an entire novel, and one scene turned into five, and before I knew it, I had half a book and pen name ready to go.

I was inspired—challenged.

Then I made a friend (Hey, Jessica!) in the book world and eventually built enough courage and asked her to read a little of what I had written. She did and I was so excited that I wrote the rest of the story a couple of months later.

After that, I found an editor, a cover designer and googled everything I could about self-publishing. Jessica was an angel and asked her friends to give my story a shot and gathered several arc readers for me.

Then I hit publish.

So many things happened after that.

Excitement.

Disappointment.

Failure.

But what stood out the most? Determination.

I learned I could do this. I could be an author. I could write another story better than this one. I could hone my craft and learn to be a better writer. I could stomach criticism when presented kindly. I could learn ads and the business of self-publishing.

I COULD DO IT.

And so I did.

Commander, the first book I ever published, is still one of my bestselling novels. I’ve built an entire world around that first book.

Is it perfect? No.

Could I pull it and redo it now that I’ve learned more? Sure.

But I won’t because that book is my proof that a small-town girl with a GED wrote a book with no education on the matter—just her heart.

That girl chased a dream she thought she’d never had.

She made it in all the ways that mattered.

Have any of your books been made into audiobooks? If so, what are the challenges in producing an audiobook?

All of my books have audio (two are still in production). I’ll admit with the first few, I had no idea what to do or how to go about making audio happen, but I had a great publicist who helped me get started. Now I produce my own audio, which is a lot more time-consuming and expensive. But the biggest challenge is mainly schedules for narrators and the production budget. Both are things I’m able to work through, though, reminding myself that I’m just grateful that I’m able to do this daily.

Does one of your main characters (any book) hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

Absolutely. Theo, the main character in my Commander in Briefs Series, will always be my man. He’s been the character I wrote about when I was just tinkering and writing standalone scenes. Honestly, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to write other characters. Theo comes so easily, and when I suffered the loss of my mother at seventeen, he was the voice—the hero—in my head and on paper that made me feel like I wasn’t alone and still had family, even if he was imaginary.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about? OR How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?

Oh wow. I see you saved the hard questions for last. As far as plots waiting to be written, I have dozens—literally. They are often tropes or vague ideas that I’m unsure how I want to use until the right book or characters come along.

Currently, I’m working on a new romcom releasing this summer. You might have heard of the hero in one of my previous books. Cooper Lexington? Maverick Lexington’s little brother. He was in high school back then, but not now. Now, he’s all man, angry and annoyed with the one who thinks she got away. Their story is hilarious, heartfelt, and has several cameos of your favorites. *Cough cough—Maverick and Ainsley. *Cough chough—Aspen and Bennett.

It’s due out this summer, so keep your eyes and ears open!

Favorite quote (does not matter the source)

I have so many, but recently, as my life has gone through so many changes that this quote is the one I have framed on my desk.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “Why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 29-31

Every day I want to remind myself that I got out of the boat and stepped out on faith. If I fall, I know God will reach out and save me. Fear and doubt do not control me anymore.

How many bookshelves are in your house?

Oh gosh, I have floor-to-ceiling bookcases in my office and then three bookcases in my bedroom. It’s ridiculous, and the dusting is such a buzz kill.

If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be, and what would you cook (and Chris Hemsworth does not count)?

Ha-ha. Umm… Can we eat out at this dinner? I don’t want to do any cleanup. Seriously though, I’d say my readers. These are women I talk to every day on social media that I’ve grown to love. I can’t wait to see them in person and hug them and have the most awkward conversations.

Tell us 5 things that most people do not know about you.

I rarely call my children by their real names. I love nicknames—the cringier, the better.

I have eight calendars and even more planners—yet I’m never on time.

Routinely, I hide in the house and scare my kids just to keep them on their toes.

When I’m stressed writing a book, I will watch Humor Bagel on YouTube and laugh until I cry. I won’t tell you what he does, but it amuses the twelve-year-old boy in me.

I hate seafood. All of it. If it looks at the ocean, I won’t eat it. Heart-healthy or not, I can’t take the smell.

Bonus Question:

What is a secret indulgence of yours? Talent?

I love soaking in the bath. For EVERYTHING.

Stressed? Tub.

Upset? Tub.

Happy? You guessed it. Tub.

Like I will literally toss in a bath bomb and write in there for hours. I call it my aquatic office. It drives my husband crazy, but he’s learned to live with this crazy side of me.

Thank y’all for taking the time to read and learn about Kristy Marie. If you’ve made it this far, this is where an alternate cover of Rebellious is being given away. That’s right, it’s a GIVEAWAY (US only). Go check out my IG post, @lagerlefsebookblog, to enter.

Thank you Kristy for your time and giving us a little peek at the women behind the computer screen. Sincerely from the bottom of my heart, thank you!!