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Urban Reviews: Tell us about your latest book Mr. Fix-It.
Crystal Hubbard: Mr. Fix-It is about Khela Halliday, a romance novelist who,
after a painful divorce and a series of failed relationships, no
longer believes in love, the commodity on which her livelihood is
built. Carter Radcliffe, the superintendent of her Boston brownstone
condo, helps renew her faith in love when he agrees to escort her to
an awards ceremony.
Urban Reviews: Where did the idea for this story come from?
Crystal Hubbard: In August 2008, I participated in a book signing tour with 18 other
authors. We were all so different and at various stages in our
careers. I got my first up close look at authors who are at the top
of the game. I used bits and pieces of them to build the character of Khela Halliday.
Urban Reviews: What was it about romance writing that drew you to it?
Crystal Hubbard: Quite frankly, romance fiction seemed like the shortest route
to getting published. When I began submitting my work, romance was
one of the few genres where you could send your work directly to an
editor. You didn't absolutely have to have an agent to get your work
read. I like romance because I like a good love story. All the best
books are love stories. Whether the story centers around the love of
a person, a country or an ideal, it's still a love story at its
heart.
Urban Reviews: Can you describe what you do to prepare for each novel that you
write?
Crystal Hubbard: My story ideas come to me from everywhere. I don't really plan a
story. The book I'm working on now resulted from an altercation I
witnessed on the street when I was driving home from the supermarket
one afternoon. I saw a man grabbing a woman by her upper arm the way
you see parents grab unruly children. The woman shrugged her arm
free of him, and the look on his face clearly showed that he wasn't
accustomed to a response like that. A store security guard
broke the two of them up and I went on my way, but by the time I got
home, I had the skeleton of a tale. Once I begin writing the book, I
suppose the only planning I do is to stick to my writing schedule.
From 10 or 11 pm to 1 or 2 am, it's just me, my laptop, my thinking
candy, and children softly snoring in distant rooms.
Urban Reviews: What author do you think was your biggest inspiration to want to
be a writer?
Crystal Hubbard: Stephen King was my biggest inspiration in that after reading his
work, I was inspired to write my own. My first story was about a
girl who broke her leg and then ants colonized her necrotizing flesh
under her cast. That story made my mother vomit, and I considered it
a job well done. Mark Twain is another one of my writing idols. I
love his wisdom and humor. Beverly Jenkins, Francis Ray, Brenda
Jackson, Rochelle Alers and Donna Hill are my inspirations for
romance writing.
Urban Reviews: What has been your most memorable experience with a fan of
your work?
Crystal Hubbard: I met a woman named Mary Croom Hicks during a book signing tour
I participated in last summer. She came to the signing in
Michigan City, Indiana, and she had copies of all my books for me to
sign. It was the most exciting and humbling experience for me ever,
and I truly appreciated Ms. Hicks' interest and devotion to my work.
Urban Reviews: What upcoming projects can we expect from you?
Crystal Hubbard: Tempting Faith, my seventh romance novel, will be released in March
2009. It's about an infotainment reporter who knows the secret that
a popular, rising actor is desperate to keep. My next book for
children is a biography of Arthur Ashe, and that's scheduled for
release in the Spring of 2010. I'm currently working on a
romance that's a big departure from my previous offerings. It's
called Burn, and it's about a woman who has to forcibly reclaim her
life from the ex-husband who thinks of her as property.
Urban Reviews: What the best advice you've ever received from another
author?
Crystal Hubbard: The best advice I've ever received from another author is this: "See
the hill, take the hill." Publishing is a hard gig and there are so
many variables involved in achieving publication. Set short goals
and keep working until you meet them. Write a story. Edit the story.
Submit the story. If it gets rejected, submit it somewhere else.
Each no is one step closer to that much desired yes.
Urban Reviews: Where do you see yourself in 5 years as far as romance
writing is concerned?
Crystal Hubbard: Actually, I'm not making plans past December 1st. I had CT scans on
my chest, abdomen and pelvis to see if any new tumors have set up
shop despite the past six months of chemotherapy. Once I know the
results of the scans, then I'll start making plans. I'm hoping that
I'll still be writing romance.
Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you would like to share with us
about yourself or your books?
Crystal Hubbard: Um...I don't think so.
Urban Reviews: On your website, you thank all the readers who have sent well
wishes regarding your recent bout with cancer. How are you
doing today and what words of advice would you like to share with
everyone regarding this?
Crystal Hubbard: I'm glad you asked. I had my final chemotherapy treatment on Nov.
28th, and I had CT scans on Dec. 1st, to determine if there are any
new trouble spots. I haven't gotten the results yet, but I'm hoping
for the best.
One of my goals for 2009 is to make everyone touched by my books
aware of their colons. When my cancer was diagnosed, it had advanced
to a stage 3, grade 2 tumor. Things like that don't spring up
overnight like mushrooms, so for a very long time, I was
asymptomatic. By the time I had stomachaches and found blood in a
'bm', the tumor had nearly closed off my colon. A simple colonoscopy
is all you need to find polyps and determine the health of your
colon. Colon cancer runs in my family, which I wasn't told until
after my diagnosis, and I came down with it at a young
age. Chemotherapy is the exact opposite of fun, and I find myself
thinking about dismal What ifs, like, "What if my cancer hadn't been
found when it was?" "What if I die and leave my children before I've
conditioned them to be generous, conscientious and smart instead of
cat burglars or assassins?" (The organic tendency toward both lives
within them.) "My husband has terrible taste in women. What if he
remarries if I die?" I don't even want to think about what he'd
bring home to be stepmother to my children, should I succumb to
cancer.
These are just a few of the more wild suppositions I get up to when
left to think about things too much, but I do have practical
concerns as well. The key to curing cancer is early detection, and I
want to urge everyone with a colon to get theirs looked at. A
colonoscopy is all it takes to discover those deceitful little
polyps that can turn into malignant tumors. Yes, there's a certain
amount of self-consciousness that comes into play. But when I asked
my gastroenterologist how he can stand to look at butts and rectums
all day, he said, "They all look the same once they're cleaned out."
The drugs they give you are really nice. I woke up feeling like I'd
had the best nap ever. I was giddy and goofy, and I slapped the
assistant on her butt. My doctor was trying to tell me that the
ulcer he'd gone in expecting to find was actually a big honking
tumor, and I was laughing my head off. Although I assured him that
I'd cry my eyes out once the anesthesia let me. And I did.
I've used up the allotment of tears I afforded myself, and now I'm
spending my energy trying to promote colon cancer awareness. Get a
peep at your pooper. I can't recommend it enough.
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