Crystal Hubbard

I am a mother of four who writes full-time from a suburb outside St. Louis, Missouri. I began my writing career as a newspaper reporter in Boston, but after the birth of my first child, I took a desk job as a sports copy editor at the Boston Herald where I was the only female “rimmie” on the night desk. The men I worked with were incredible and, unbeknownst to most of them, have served as the real-life examples for several of the heroes in my romance novels.

Primarily, I write romance novels and picture books, but I’ve written educational text and young adult novels as well.

I’m often asked which I prefer writing, romance novels for adults or picture books for children. The question is rather like being asked which of your children you prefer.

I enjoy both genres. Both require lots of research and creativity, and both are satisfying in their own ways. I draw on real people and real life for my romance novels, which can turn readers off when a fictional character I’ve modeled after a real person doesn’t behave as they’d like, or if they can’t connect with the character.

For my picture books, I’ve always chosen real people, and I work hard to provide honest portrayals of my subjects. I love the freedom fiction allows me but I also love the unflinching truth of my picture books.

My fiction writing suffered in 2008, when I was diagnosed with colon cancer. The book I was writing at the time is evidence of the anger, frustration, confusion and fear I experienced during surgery, chemotherapy and their aftermaths. Since I put so much of my own experiences and relationships in my books, my writing became muddied by personal turmoil.

I like to think that as I recovered, so did my writing. Cancer gave me a fresh perspective and a fearlessness that I hadn’t had before. My December 2011 release, Everything in Between, marks the end of my romance writing career. (Or so I keep telling myself!) That will be good news to some of my critics, but for those who like my writing, I’m attempting to branch into another genre.

I’m starting over anew, but I feel I’m up to the challenge. I owe my readers a debt of gratitude for their support, interest and encouragement over the years, and not just because they invest their time and finances in my work. In my darkest moments, readers have been the people who pulled me from despair and self pity. Readers are the ones who complete all of my stories, because without them, no story ever truly lives

Alice Muschany

Alice Muschany lives in Wentzville, Missouri. Publications include Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors and Chicken Soup for the Soul True Love.

Bio

About the Books

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Candance Carrabus Rice

I  have written stories and ridden horses–frequently simultaneously–for as long as I can remember. I grew up on Long Island and spent my formative years in the saddle–just imagining. When not riding, you could find me hanging with the barn cat. After high school, I traveled to Ness, England and studied at a British Horse Society training school. This was an all-around amazing experience. When I left, I clutched a certification to teach riding in my hot little hand, and I enjoyed instructing riders for many years.

Who am I kidding? We know it is the horses who do the teaching. All we can do is try to remain open to what they have to say.

Now, I share a farm in Missouri with my family, and three dogs and five cats, but I have only one horse these days. Remi’s a Trakehner-thoroughbred-quarter horse cross, born on the farm and as easy a keeper and good minded as they get. We board him at a terrific place nearby.

After moving to St. Louis, I pursued my love of the language while continuing to teach riding and compete in local horse shows. I earned my BGS (Bachelor of General Studies–the custom-design-your-own-degree-program-for ‘non-traditional’-students) and Writing Certificate from the University of Missouri St. Louis and write short and long fiction, essays…sometimes, and dabble in poetry.

Not surprisingly, my stories are infused with the mystery and spirituality horses have brought to my life. Dogs and cats are usually around, too. A portion of my profits is donated to animal shelters.

” . . . she’s a very good writer, very level-headed, with all the right expectations and professional patience, who can write in both the  fantasy and the romance fields.” — Philip Martin, author/editor of The Writer’s Guide to Fantasy Literature.

My philosophy, in brief :: (No, not in briefs, but that’s a nice image, thank you very much.)

We are all immigrants in spirit, with our minds, hearts, and souls being the final frontier. This is what happens to all my main characters–whether by choice or accident or design–they go somewhere else.

They immigrate.

At first, this change is external–physical.  Over time, their journeys lead to a place of discovery and growth that is within each individual alone.  The final frontier to which we all can go.

Why don’t you hop on and come along for the ride?

Awards and such

Raver — Book One of the Horsecaller
First place, Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel, Oklahoma Writers Federation, 2003
First place, Paranormal, Toronto Romance Writers, 2005

Winterlight (now known as On the Buckle)
Third place, Single Title Contemporary, Toronto Romance Writers, 2005

A Farmer at Last
Second place, Essay, Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, 2003

Woman
Third place, Poetry Unrhymed Short, Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, 2003