About Chris Stralyn:
Chris Stralyn never intended to be a writer. Short-order cook, security guard, safety officer, childcare provider, and teacher were all titles she’d worn – but never writer. Then she entered an essay contest for “The Worst Vacation Ever” and won. Writing became her new hobby, and soon she had several articles in print with local publications. This was followed by a short story, The Khaki Pants, which was published by RDR Publishing in an anthology that went on to sell over a million copies.
A suspense thriller was her next undertaking, and in 2008 This Time You Lose was named a finalist in the TNBW Strongest Start Novel Competition. Four months later it earned the distinction of being a TNBW Readers Choice Top Ten Novel, and has remained on the Top Ten list ever since.
Chris Stralyn continues to put pen to paper in her endeavor to appease the Muse within. She lives in Michigan with her husband and family.
What inspires you to write?
Everyday life! My work is often inspired by the news of the day. 🙂
Tell us about your writing process.
I write by the seat of my pants. No outlines, no special software. I just sit down and put all my thoughts down on paper. Then go back and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, until it all makes sense!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I try to put myself in each characters place an ‘become’ them as I’m writing. Kinda weird, but it works for me.
What advice would you give other writers?
Never stop writing. Follow your gut. Never give up!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
After writing my first book, I took the traditional route and submitted query letters to agents. After dozens and dozens of rejections, I finally landed an agent in New York. She submitted my work to all the top publishing houses and several smaller one. Most liked the book, several even loved it! But at that time (big upheaval in the industry going on) none of them wanted to take on an unknown author. They all told me to hang onto it and resubmit it again in a year. Gave that some thought and talked at length with my agent. Then made the decision to publish it myself. Best decision I ever made!
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I can only speak to my own experience. My kindle editions currently outsell my print books 8 to 1. Personally I prefer to read my books in print format, but I can’t argue with the stats!
What genres do you write?: suspense thriller, humor, non-fiction
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Link To Chris Stralyn Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
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