Interview with Contemporary Romance Author Charissa Stastny

Charissa Stastny is an avid reader, happy writer, wasp-hater, iris-lover, and food connoisseur (she especially loves sushi and chocolate, but not together). She is happily married to her high school sweetheart and has four children that make her smile and laugh all the time. She called Idaho her home for ten years, but has recently moved to Utah, where she was thrilled to discover dozens of flavors of hot chocolate to keep her happy in the winter. The cherry one might be her favorite (this week). She is the author of five books and ‘imagine-eer’ of many more.

Welcome to my blog, Charissa. Please tell us about your novel, Game Changer.

This is the first in a stand-alone series called the Ruled Out Romances. Here’s the blurb:

Meridee Mansford wants nothing to do with the popular crowd. She’s comfortable being invisible. But that doesn’t stop her from dreaming about the hunky football player who visits the campus ice cream shop where she works. Still, she’s smart enough to know he’d never notice a girl like her, and she’d never want him even if he did. Too much unwelcome attention.

Parker Harrington basks in the glory that’s been his since the game-changing passes he caught that pushed his team into the national spotlight. Sticky Fingers is his media moniker now, and the cheerleaders who used to ignore him when he sat the bench have become his most devoted fans. But when he accidentally crashes into a quiet coed and covers her in orange chicken, it throws off his offensive game.

As fate, ice cream, and orange chicken throw the opposites together, will Parker continue keeping company with women he knows are only using him for his fame, or will he change up the game and risk his heart on a genuine girl who despises the attention he craves?

Where did you get your inspiration for this story? 

I came up with a list of opposites (famous football player, shy introverted girl), and started wondering how they could come together. I had quite a lot of fun with this brainstorming stage. Some of the characters I came up with were pretty cheesy and I had to ditch them, but these two jumped out at me and worked their way into my heart.  

I like the idea of an introverted girl getting the attention of a famous guy. It sounds intriguing. What kind of research did you do?

I did lots of city research on the town of Pullman, Washington, as well as looked into the college there (WSU) and this little ice cream shop on campus called Ferdinand’s (that’s my dream shop).

Tell me about one of the main characters and what you love about him or her?

Meridee is a quiet, shy, introverted ice cream worker/college student who has been secretly crushing on the loud and charming football player for over a year whenever he visits the shop to get ice cream. I love the way she watches the world and how she has a dry, quirky sense of humor that few people ever see because she guards herself so well.

Where is your website, so my readers can check out your recent and past books that you have written?

http://www.charissastastny.com

Thank you, Charissa, for this fun interview. I hope my readers will check out your book. I really enjoy your reading style.