Today’s Featured Author: Christal Marie Gonzalez
I met Christal at an author event at a local bookstore, and we really hit it off! I love paranormal and dark romance, but I also love metaphysical exploration, and she writes about both! Please enjoy our interview below.
Meet Christal
I am a single mom of 2 boys. I didn’t know what I would do with life after being a stay-at-home mom for almost 11 years. I felt the need to chase my dreams and become an author. I love the Paranormal, Horror, and Dark Romance. Someone who loves the Paranormal and Metaphysical World this called to me. My hope is someone is inspired to truly live the life that feels like a dream. “Be the best you.”
Q&A
What inspired you to start writing in general?
I started wanting to write when I was in high school. I always had a love for English class, even though it was a hard topic for me. Not a lot of people know this, but I’m dyslexic, and I did have a speech delay. So because I had to be so focused in English classes, I ended up loving it and always wanting to learn more. I also loved reading so much, so then I thought I wanted to write a book. I wrote newsletters in high school so that’s where it really kicked off my love of writing.
What inspires you to continue writing?
In my book Soft Petals from Burnt Ashes, I talk about being in a relationship for 11 years. I went to culinary school, but then I left and got divorced. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do after that.
I knew I loved writing and that was the last thing I remembered that brought me so much joy. I saw other people doing this, and some of them just try it and it works out, so I thought I’ll just try to write a book and see what happens.
I ended up doing my first Young Adult book, and it actually did really well. I had more stories, so I just kept writing when I saw the success of the first one. I also write novella-style because I need things to get to the point since I have ADHD.
I’m also a mom, so I don’t have a lot of time to write. I also think moms don’t always have time to read a longer book, so I write shorter books for them.
When did you know you wanted to publish a book?
Around the same time as the divorce and quitting culinary school. The restaurant industry was too busy for me being a single mom, I just couldn’t do it, so I had to try something else.
How did you first get published?
I self-published at home, and I still self-publish. I learned everything from Tiktok, YouTube, and other author friends. I learned how to format, make covers, everything.
I thought, I can’t afford to do this, but I really wanted to, so that’s how I got into publishing on my own.
What is your writing routine?
I write every day. It’s not always for books that I’m writing, sometimes it’s journaling, but I write every day. I also try to do motivational videos daily, just talking about the process. I feel like that’s really important for me to do because when I was going through the writing and self-publishing journey, I was lucky to see that on social media and it ignited me to actually do it.
I feel like it’s my duty to give back, so I want to get that message out. I feel like part of my journey, whether it’s spiritual or my author journey, is that I want everybody to know that they could be on the other ends of this and do it, even if it’s not perfect. If it’s your dream, follow it.
How do you develop an idea from initial spark to finished manuscript?
I have a system. I do a lot of journaling first, and then write from that, and then I edit in a certain way. I edit each chapter while I’m working on it.
Once it’s edited, this is a bit crazy, but I email each chapter to myself. Then from there I format it using Atticus, so each chapter is done and ready to go before I start the next chapter.
I feel like that’s the best process for me.
Have you dealt with writer’s block and how do you handle it?
I have had writer’s block, but it’s pretty rare. I had it last year.
I was whipping out different books. Because I always have journals and ideas to draw from, I know what I want to write. Also, the spiritual aspect of me is I always feel like I’m given some kind of synchronicity or something as a sign to write about, so then I know what needs to be done by when and I just do it.
But I was writing The Guardian at the time, which is now a fan favorite, it came out in February 2026. But at the time last year, I got to around Chapter 10, and I couldn’t get passed it.
That’s a pivotal chapter, too. If you read it, there’s a point where you think, “oh my gosh, what’s going to happen now?” That was that chapter, and I couldn’t see what was going to happen. I’m all about writing it visually so the reader can see the scene, like they’re actually there.
But I couldn’t see it myself, so I got stuck at that chapter. I stopped writing for six months. That’s the longest I’ve ever stepped away from a project. I’m usually writing non-stop until it’s published, but I just had to step away from this project.
Then my mom passed, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to write at all anymore, so that was a big thing that I had to get past to start writing again. I had to regroup and come back to the vision of the story.
But I do think stepping away for that long helped me view the characters’ actions and plot differently, and it helped me finish the book in a different emotional sense that what it had started with.
I do feel like ultimately it ended up being better because I feel like a lot of people connected with this one a lot, but it was a scary time wondering if I would ever get back to it.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
No matter what anybody says, you just need to write. Also, it’s not about perfection, it’s about getting your thoughts and words out there for it to connect to somebody in some way.
I do tell people for my books, I’m the editor. I don’t have a bunch of people editing or a company guiding it, but I put my heart and soul into my books. So I do tell people, if you see a typo or something isn’t correct, I’m sorry, but you got the gist of it.
I feel like people have so much fear that they stop themselves from pursuing their dreams, but your story could change somebody’s life in some way. You never know. Also, you can have a phenomenal story, and someone discovers it and signs you traditionally, and then you can fix any errors later on.
Everybody has a story to tell, so get yours out there, even if it isn’t perfect.
Which books or authors have most influenced your writing?
I liked Twilight, so that influenced the paranormal romances I write now. I also read Harry Potter growing up. Also, The Great Gatsby was phenomenal and To Kill a Mockingbird. Also, the original Frankenstein and Romeo and Juliet made me want to dive into where paranormal can be romantic, so I feel like that really helped me. All the Goosebumps also paved the way for me as a paranormal horror writer.
Are you currently reading anything?
My friends gave me some of their books, so I finished two poetry books recently, and now I’m trying to read two new books. One is a werewolf romance and one is a pirate romance.
What’s something readers might be surprised to learn about you?
Most of the time people are surprised that I’m a psychic, and that I write about the metaphysical field as well. it’s not totally out of left field with me writing paranormal romances, but people don’t know a lot of my writing comes from psychic insight and prophetic dreams that give me a sense of what I need to write.
What are you currently writing? Anything coming out soon?
Velvet Saints if my vampiric mob book set in the 1920’s. That should come out in Fall 2026.
Connect with Christal
All of Christal’s books are listed through her Linktree, or you can also buy most of them from Bookshop.org to support independent bookstores as well as this blog. (Affiliate link; I may earn a small commission.)
Keep up with Christal’s latest endeavors on her TikTok and YouTube channels!
Wrap-Up
From teaching herself every aspect of self-publishing to building a loyal readership through heartfelt storytelling, Christal proves that passion and perseverance can be just as powerful as a traditional publishing deal. Throughout our conversation, she shared how personal challenges, motherhood, spirituality, and a lifelong love of reading have shaped both her writing process and the stories she chooses to tell.
Her advice to aspiring authors is refreshingly simple: don’t wait for perfection. Write the story that’s on your heart because it may be exactly what someone else needs to read. Whether she’s crafting paranormal romances inspired by prophetic dreams or encouraging fellow writers through social media, her mission remains the same: to remind people that their dreams are worth pursuing.
Be sure to keep an eye out for Velvet Saints arriving in Fall 2026 and follow her journey as she continues to inspire readers and writers alike.
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