Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself
From personal essayist to romance novelist
February 7, 2022.
Fresh off a break up, feeling angsty and looking for a new creative outlet, I had the following text exchange with Sujeiry.
Krista: “I want to take a stab at a fiction mini series, but have to scope it out more.”
Sujeiry: “That’s crazy that you just mentioned that. When you explained the story the first thing I thought about was having an anthology of short stories about women of color and dating.”
Like Sujeiry, I had never planned to be a romance writer. After spending my twenties and thirties chronicling my life and sharing my musings about men, friends, like, and love in New York City, I was ready for a change. I still wanted to write compelling stories, but with more creative liberties than reality would allow. And as we continued to discuss our next collaboration and landed on romance, it just clicked. If nothing else, I could right (write?!) perceived wrongs and give my leading ladies the happily ever afters that had eluded me in real life!
It was quite the shift because I hadn’t tackled fiction in over 20 years. The last time was in a fiction writing class in undergrad where my character commemorated her newfound independence with a tattoo. (You know there’s truth in all fiction.) What that story, and my others, lacked at that time was enough realism and conflict that twenty more years of experience and perspective have offered.
So, here we are.
My first short (and sweet) novella, Coffee and Synergy, was created as a play on and parallel to Sujeiry’s super spicy, Cocktails and Strategy, a title idea developed over wine after attending a book event in Los Angeles together.
Coffee could actually have a number of backdrops, as the street names and neighborhoods are fictional, but it is actually influenced by one of my favorite Black-owned boutiques in Los Angeles! While most folks know L.A. for Hollywood or the beaches, there are so many other rich, vibrant, thriving Black communities. And writing stories where we are represented living full, real, complex lives without a trauma narrative is important to me.
Continue to expect more multifaceted, Black leading ladies finding real love just as they are from me! And, of course, more incredible stories about other BIPOC leading ladies from Sujeiry, Kayla, and our Corner of Press team!
Buy Our Books
Like romance? We got you! From spicy to sweet to naughty, there is something for everyone.
Candi is a spicy and comical romance novelette featuring Dominican characters and a messy love triangle. You’ll laugh, ooh and ah, and wonder: can Candi get any messier? Read to find out.
Brandy is a fun and flirty short summer romance. You’ll root for Brandy as she navigates the ramifications of catching real feelings for her fake boo. Will she go from breaking down to breaking through? Read and see!
Danielle is a sweet, yet saucy romance novelette. Follow Danielle as she figures out life after cutting off her FWB. Will she find love in an unexpected place? Read to find out.
Gabby is steamy summer read that has you feeling all the feels by fall. Will a surprise second chance at romance lead to lasting love at 40? Grab your copy to see what happens!