Welcome to the Campfire. Today's guest is Kristal Dawn Harris.

Even around a campfire there's always a bit of housekeeping. But today is a chore I love. If you haven't heard the Wild Rose Press and its authors are doing a fund raiser for Australian. Here's a link to hear Rhonda Penders on a podcast discussing this  ihr.fm/2HjuV6m This is an amazing event and series of books you DO NOT WANT TO MISS.

Here are links to check it out.
bit.ly/AUSBURNS1     
bit.ly/ausburns1p

Now, on to our guest. Hi, Kristal.  Welcome to the Campfire. What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa, wine? 
I’m a chocolate lover, so cocoa covered in a nice layer of marshmallow cream!
 
I don't have to go far for that. If my 5th Wheel isn't stocked with chocolate and marshmallows I'd be ashamed to show my face in a campground. Tell us have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp. 
As a child, my family spent every vacation at a campground in either Ohio, Myrtle Beach, or Tennessee. We used a tent until my parents purchased a RV, but by then I was married, so my husband and I continued to use a tent. We owned jet-skis and spent a lot of time on Lake Cumberland, KY. I enjoy water sports because as a disabled woman, the water doesn’t hurt when I take a tumble…lol.  Now that my kids are grown, I would like to camp several places in the Pacific Northwest, but not in a tent! Haha. My favorite memories come from bonfires at night, days spent on the water in the sunshine, and my kids having the time of their lives away from social media.

Wow, how great is that. Sometimes, the best thing to give kids are memories. We're heading for Kentucky this spring I cant wait. What a gorgeous state. And bonfires, where friends and family gather, priceless. Maybe we'll cross paths in the Pacific Northwest. Tell us about your latest project. What’s the title and genre?
I recently self-published Three Propositions.  The book is a contemporary, billionaire romance and full of humor and passion. It’s possible I put too much of my own personality in the heroine’s character. I can’t decide if that’s good or bad! lol

It's good. I think to keep characters real, you have to infuse part of yourself into them. Do you have a tagline?  
“What will Jasper do when Nena breaks all of his rules?”

Ah, a the male conundrum. We do torture the fellows in our lives, don't we. How long did it take you from conception to publication?
This book started as a novella, but after editing, it turned into a short novel at 160 pages. It took three months from start to finish to complete. If I’m really into a book, I can crank out the words.

It's amazing how a story takes over. Three months is pretty quick, at least for me. I bet you have more in the writing queue? Anything you’re itching to get to?   
Wow, what a question! I have four books going, but I’m itching to finish a paranormal romance I started. It stays on my mind, so that’s a sure sign it will be next.

One of my favorite genres. I'll be looking for it. Tell us, are there any mentors, authors, or books, you would like to give a shout-out to?
Christine Feehan’s Carpathian series is my all-time favorite, but I enjoy multiple authors. It’s good for a writer to read. It sparks my imagination and helps me see things differently.

Oh, those Carpathians. I cut my paranormal romance teeth on A Dark Prince. What does literary success look like to you?    
Publication is its own success, but honestly, I just want readers to enjoy my stories. I don’t focus on monetary gain, although that would be nice, but on the joy from completing a manuscript and readers loving my book.

Well said. Kristal, do you have any tips, tricks or anything you specialize in, that you would share with others. You had mentioned book trailers. I’m excited to learn.
 
I love book trailers, but after discovering the cost, I learned myself. I use Wondershare Filmora software, but there are others to choose from. You can find tutorials on YouTube or in the software itself. As for music, I have an account with Envato, and look for music with a strong opening then a crescendo somewhere in the piece for those “wow” moments. If I’m doing a trailer for a paranormal book, I search for darker music, if it’s contemporary, something more lighthearted, and so on. In order to keep the trailer under two minutes, I use the blurb to write a poem. It helps me focus and say what is important. If anyone decides to learn themselves, remember not to use highly sexual images or video. Most “selling” platforms won’t allow it now, so save it for the reader’s delight or an ad. Lol. Trailers should entice the reader by suggestion. Just my humble opinion! 
One more thing:  Social media is your friend, not your life, so use it wisely!

I'm going to go check this out. I've tried a couple of different things but often they just look silly. Thank you for the insight and information.  Now, we get to the questions that if I had to answer, any comment would say, Girl, you need help.

1. Do you have a special object like a piece of jewelry or keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you?      My son gave me a snow globe with a momma tiger watching over her cub for Christmas one year. He never said any special words, but the implied meaning wasn’t lost on his fierce mommy. I would fight any day to protect my children, and he knows it.
2. If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be?     As Long as You Follow by Fleetwood Mac. I’m a huge fan and could listen to them anytime, anywhere, but something about this song calms me down.
3. Worst household chore?   I absolutely hate to dust and would prefer to clean toilets…lol
4. If you could time travel, where would you go and when? Why?   My dream trip is to spend time at the Egyptian pyramids. I love the mystery! Can you tell I spend too much time watching Ancient Aliens? haha
5. If someone came up to you and said, “Hey, do that thing you do!”, what thing would pop into your head first?   Sing a song. I write songs and have been asked to sing on multiple occasions. Honestly, I don’t mind singing a demo in the studio, but don’t care much for singing to a crowd….unless they join in! That’s when the magic happens.

Kristal, thank you so much for joining us today around the campfire. Can you please leave us a bit of information about where we can find out more about you and your books?

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Jasper Clark has spent his life building a business and fortune. He’s controlled, intimidating, and does not believe in love or family. When he finds himself in need of a date, he makes a proposition to a member of the cleaning staff at his club. Nena Blake is street-smart, sassy, foul-mouthed, and does not like Jasper. He may be rich and handsome, but he offends her from the first time he opens his rich mouth. She denies his proposition until circumstances, beyond her control, force her to accept Jasper’s help. One proposition turns into three when Jasper can’t let Nena go, while Nena breaks every one of his ridiculous rules in the process. Between bickering and passionate moments, these stubborn souls fall hopelessly in love, but both refuse to accept or admit it. Nena is finally forced to make a choice that leaves them both miserable.

                                                   Will Jasper come through in the end? Does a billionaire want love after all?
 
You can buy Kristal's book here...
https://www.amazon.com/Three-Propositions-Kristal-Dawn-Harris-ebook/dp/B083H4FBYQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=T3FG3JBO5TIJ&keywords=three+propositions&qid=1580233079&sprefix=%2Caps%2C287&sr=8-1
 
And to find out more about her... 
Website     Twitter    Facebook    Instagram     Goodreads    YouTube   BookBub  Amazon Author Page

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I looked for movies that had a mom protecting her child. So many are caricatures of the overprotective crazy woman. I did come up with 
Panic Room (2002) with Jody Foster
The Incredibles 2 (2018)