Official Website of Debuting Author
When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom
Follow Samantha and Hashiru as they climb the steps of a stunning shrine and become immersed in the beauty and significance of the blooming cherry blossoms. During their visit, they encounter Akihito, Sam's ex-boyfriend, at the spot where each has hung an ema, a small wooden plaque with a wish written on it for the deity of the shrine to receive. What did they wish for? Will their wishes be granted?
Advance Reader Copies Coming Out Now!
Kris Strauss is a Wisconsin-based writer whose passion stretches across numerous genres, including new adult fantasy and romance. Her short stories have been published in several magazines and anthologies including Southport Press's mythology Pandora's Box and Left of the Lake magazine. Forbidden Guardian was set to be her debut novel until…a convention changed everything.
In 2019, she read about an author who attended a convention pretending to be an alien. His interactions with fans became a book. Kris decided to give it a try herself. It seemed like a fun exercise and, by luck have it, she had a convention to attend. The exercise was supposed to be nothing more than a challenge to write something new, something different. It was supposed to be just a short break from fantasy writing. Her characters, however, had other plans. They took the reins and began writing their own stories, morphing that quick convention exercise into not one but three novelettes. Suddenly, When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom became her debut work.
So, why novelettes? Through working with beta readers, Kris found that they enjoyed shorter stories that could be finished in a single reading session. They liked When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom because it was compact enough for them to finish in an evening but long enough for them to connect with the characters and become fully immersed in the world they inhabit. Novelettes are the perfect escape for today’s audience, which is what Kris wants.
“I have always strived to captivate my readers with stories filled with characters they can relate to. I want my characters to become so real, my reader can identify with them. I want readers feeling my characters’ struggles—be mad at them, cry for them, fall in love with them. There’s nothing better to me than hearing things like: ‘I get why they did that,’ ‘I’m 100% that character,’ ‘I know that anxiety,’ ‘I’ve made that mistake before,’ ‘I understand their choices,’ and ‘I’m not supposed to feel bad for the villain.’ When I hear these expressions, I know I’ve done something right.”
Inspired by authors such as Brandon Sanderson and Christopher Pike, Kris enjoys both reading and writing but is an avid distance runner. Her future goal is to continue writing novelettes and create a publishing platform for that storytelling format.
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