We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Charissa Gracyk a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Charissa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I definitely wish I would’ve gone back to writing romance sooner– when self-publishing first came on the scene. Although it’s not perfect, it’s an amazing gift. It gives me an opportunity to share my stories that I never had before, and I’m extremely grateful for it. When I started out way back in the day, there were no indie authors, only large publishing houses. And, although I enjoyed my time doing screenwriting, romance always called to me. And, eventually, it called so loudly that I returned to what I love doing most– writing about love!

Charissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m an independent author who writes steamy romantic suspense and I’ve combined my love of movies with romance. My mom inspired me to start writing when I was in high school. I found out she wrote for the school newspaper and I followed in her footsteps. In college, I majored in journalism and during my senior year, I took a creative writing class and never looked back. I started writing romance because it was something I always read, and I used to sneak my mom’s and aunt’s romance novels off the shelf when I was little. I grew frustrated with it though because, at the time, there was no such thing as self-publishing. I mailed query letters to agents and publishers, pitched my book to editors and snail-mailed manuscripts off. It was a long, tedious and frustrating process, always followed by a rejection letter that would take a year to a year and a half to receive. So, I turned to screenwriting because I’ve always been a film lover. After 20 years of writing scripts, the pandemic hit and the Industry shut down. I really missed writing romance and decided to start again, especially since self-publishing was a thing. I took my love for action movies and romance, and I blended them together. My books have been described as Indiana Jones plus kissing! And I always compare them to big-budget summer blockbusters– full of excitement, danger, suspense and, of course, spice. Two years and 16 books later, I’ve come full circle and I’ve never been happier. Writing about people falling in love is the best job in the world!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

There are so many things I love about writing and the fact that it allows me to entertain people is what makes me most happy. It’s hard being an indie author and a lot of work goes into each release. And sometimes it feels like a very solitary job. So connecting with readers who have enjoyed something I’ve written is the greatest thing in the world. I love hearing from them and they’re such an inspiration for me to keep working as hard as I do. Writing is like breathing for me and I’ll always love it– but knowing people are actually reading and enjoying what I write thrills me! Every kind word, message and review leaves a huge imprint on my heart. In the end, all I want to do is entertain readers for a moment in their life and hopefully touch them in some way.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think I’ve unlearned the idea that being a writer means being alone. It’s the complete opposite, in fact. I feel so lucky that I’ve found my tribe and we support and encourage each other constantly. I’m surrounded by the most amazing group in Romancelandia and it’s so nice to have friends going through the same things as you. Who understand what it means when you’ve been scrolling through stock photos for days on end and still can’t find the perfect picture for your cover. Or, you’re in the middle of editing or formatting. Or, the worst, you’re trying to write your blurb! Being able to reach out to fellow authors or my editor– people who have become such good friends– is the best because they get it. I’ve learned so many things, too! It’s been a constant process and one that’s always evolving because being an indie author is so much more than just writing. It’s also marketing and PR, establishing and maintaining relationships, building up your social media, sending newsletters, creating graphics, figuring out ads and how to actually sell your book when it’s one of millions out there. But that’s where my tribe comes in and I know I’m not alone. They’re full of advice and help, and I am so grateful for the amazing friends I’ve made on this journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.charissagracyk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charissagracyk/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068718846996
• Other: https://linktr.ee/CharissaGracykAuthor