Many of us go to work each day and actually spend more waking time with our work associates than we do with our families. Even with all this time spent, we often do not know the lives of those around us as we trade our time for money, as my grandpa used to say. I have worked with Crystal Bowling for some time and knew that she like to write in her spare time. I have worked with her and knew that she is an excellent reviewer of local music for The Amplifier as well.

When she produced her first novel, “Always the Last to Know” in paper format, I was surprised and very happy for her accomplishment. Last week a colleague appeared in my door and said “Did you hear about Crystal’s book?” I looked puzzled and she explained that “Always the Last to Know” had become an international Internet sensation in digital format, with thousands of downloads, and has sold more than 700 copies in less than a week. The online reviews have been incredibly positive. I quickly got up and went to talk with Crystal and realized that we had a literary star in our midst and wanted the readers of The Amplifier to know this very special person as well.

Crystal, could you begin by talking a little about your personal history?

I grew up in Bardstown, Kentucky. I’ve survived both Catholic and public school. I received my bachelor degree in English at WKU in 2008, and have high hopes to return and receive my history degree in the next year. Currently employed at WKU Libraries, I have plenty of reading material to distract and inspire my own writing.

At what age did you find you were interested in writing? What were some of your first writings? Whose writing inspired you?

I’ve always loved stories. My mom and grandma used to tell me stories all the time – anecdotes they grew up with, as well as made-up stories. I really believe that’s where my love for stories and writing came from. I really started writing in middle school. At that point, I had big dreams to be a screenwriter, so everything I wrote came out in script form. Most everything was of the romantic comedy variety and may have involved some of the popular boy bands of the late ’90s.

As far as favorite authors go, I definitely have to say Jane Austen is pretty high up on that list. I mean, “Pride and Prejudice” is pretty much the holy grail of chick lit. You have to respect that. Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell are both favorite books of mine. As far as more contemporary authors go, I will admit to having a total “author crush” on Meg Cabot. She has such a talent for making likeable and genuine characters and can create humor in even the most dire of situations.

I understand that your novel “Always the Last to Know” is doing really well. Can you tell us about it?

Yeah! It has completely shocked me. I released the book in December 2009 and, after I guilt-tripped my family and friends into buying copies, it kind of just sat there on Amazon, selling a copy every now and then. When the opportunity to promote it for free to Kindle users became available, I jumped on it. And so did 63,000 people over the course of five days. I’ve now had over 600 purchases and over 400 of those are from Amazon’s United Kingdom site and well over 100 “borrows” from the Kindle Lending Library. I had no idea this would happen, and I’m still not entirely sure that it’s not some crazy dream.

The book is set in present day Kentucky. The main character, Jess Reynolds, has been asked to be the maid of honor in her best friend’s wedding. She’s dealing with the dynamic of that friendship changing, as well as dealing with her best friend’s older brother, and a best man who is beyond dreamy. She’s trying to find her place in the career world, and how she fits everywhere else as well. The book is kind of a telling of her quarter-life crisis.

How would you characterize your writing?

It definitely falls into the genre of chick lit. I write stories that I would want to read. I have a great respect for the deep, poignant novels and short stories that are out there. The kind of stories that bum you out and make you jaded. They’re kind of the “CSI: Special Victims Unit” of the literary world, whereas what I like to read and write is more like “Friends.” My stories tend to be light and fun. There’s no deep underlying message to what I write. If someone is stressed out in their life, I just want my books to be a nice distraction and a way to relax for a bit.

How do you develop your ideas? Your characters?

I have my earliest notes for “Always the Last to Know” dated 2006. I didn’t publish until late 2009. So I would say that I develop it all very, very slowly. I have a much easier time developing characters than ideas. I may occasionally steal a personality trait of someone I know and plug it into a character. After a while in my head, though, the characters kind of create themselves. And I know that makes me sound like a crazy person, but characters that I write about a lot become almost real. Which is why I am both excited and nervous to work on the sequel to “Always the Last to Know.” I’ve missed having these characters bounce around in my head, but I have a sneaking suspicion that things arenít going to go well for some of them in this next book.

Are there criteria you have for topics? Are there taboo areas?

I’m not necessarily a politically charged person, but there are some topics that I definitely make mention of in my stories that some people may turn their nose up at. I’m a strong believer in equal rights, and that will be very obvious in the sequel to this book. For the most part, everything is pretty tame, and what some may consider to be “taboo,” shouldn’t be taboo at all.

What role does the Internet and online novels play in the way the modern author approaches their craft?

It is definitely encouraging, at least to me. With social media constantly growing and everyone’s networks slowly forming together, you go in knowing that your book is probably going to reach a larger audience than it would it have 10 years ago. A lot of writers, and I fall into this category as well, have blogs to keep their readers up to date on what’s going on with their books, and just their lives in general. With the Internet, I feel like everyone feels more bonded.

Do you have any short or long term goals for your writing?

“Always the Last to Know” is a three-part series called “Always the Bridesmaid,” so writing those last two books is my main priority. I’ve also started a three-part paranormal series that takes place in my hometown of Bardstown, called “June in Kentucky.” I’m aiming for a June 2013 release date on the first book in that series. I have two or three other stories as well, sitting on the back burner of my brain.

Crystal thanks so much for taking time to chat with us. We wish you much success with your work. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Thank you so much for interviewing me! I have been completely flabbergasted by the response I’ve received from this book. Everyone has been so nice and supportive and patient with me as I rattle off sale numbers and rankings every 20 minutes.

If you would like to check out my blog, you can do so at http://crystalbooksit.wordpress.com. And if you want to check out my book, you can find it here (it’s available in paperback and for Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Always-Last-Know-Bridesmaid-ebook/dp/B005AZ4NN0

Jack Montgomery is a librarian, author and associate professor at Western Kentucky University where he handles bookings for musical acts in University Libraries, Java City coffeehouse. Jack has also been a professional musician since 1969 and performs with a celtic quartet called Watersprite. Visit him at www.MySpace/shadowdancerjack or www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=41116310