Combining Women's Fiction with Romance, Cozy Noir Mystery and Suspense.

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NN Light's Book Heaven presents Chrysteen Braun

N. N. Light’s Book Heaven presents Chrysteen Braun 

I’m an author, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and an ovarian cancer survivor, almost in that order. When I was twelve, I wrote my first novel, no doubt a terrible one, but I typed it up myself and presented it to my mother. I have no idea what the story was about, or whatever happened to it, but it was my first claim to fame as an author. In my thirties, back when there were only electric typewriters and word processing programs (no computers), I began writing a more mature novel, and stored it on discs. But business, children and life zapped my creative energies, and I set my creative work aside; but this time, I saved it. (It’s in a box somewhere in a closet)
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Chrysteen Braun with her book and quote

The Diverse Experiences Shaping Chrysteen Braun’s Writing

Chrysteen Braun’s “Cabin” novels, a blend of historical fiction, romance, and mystery, inspired by the picturesque Lake Arrowhead. Chrysteen Braun discusses her journey from construction to writing, the inspirations behind her novels, and how life experiences shape her story-telling. Chrysteen Braun, an award-winning author and native Californian, has led a life as diverse and rich as the stories she pens. Born and raised in Long Beach, Chrysteen’s journey into the world of writing began at the tender age of twelve with her first novel. Although the details of that early work have faded, the dream of becoming a writer never left her.
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Lake Arrowhead's Inspiration Chrysteen Braun

Lake Arrowhead’s Inspiration

From Novelist Post Chrysteen Braun’s diverse career and life experiences inspire her novels, blending historical fiction, romance, and mystery, set against the backdrop of Lake Arrowhead’s serene mountains. The Setting Behind the “Cabin” Novels Award-winning author Chrysteen Braun, a native Californian, has led a life as diverse and rich as the stories she pens. Born […]
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 Chrysteen Braun – A Journey from Construction to Writing

Reader's House Interview

July 2024

Novelist Chrysteen Braun

Chrysteen Braun, a native Californian, was born and raised in Long Beach. She penned her first novel at the age of twelve, though the details of that early work have faded from memory. Despite this, she always believed she had the potential to become a writer.

At eighteen, Chrysteen worked for Capitol Records in Hollywood, where she was responsible for ordering the album covers for The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” After reading the lyrics to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” she famously remarked, “This will never sell.” Clearly, a career in music was not in her future.

Unsure of her career path, Chrysteen joined her family’s construction business. Nearly fifty years later, she became a licensed flooring and general contractor. She and her husband Larry eventually retired from remodeling and interior design, passing the business on to their daughter, continuing the family tradition.

In the early 1980s, Chrysteen rekindled her passion for writing by joining an Orange County writers’ group, which included the then-unknown author Elizabeth George. She wrote another novel but set it aside as business and family life took precedence. Nevertheless, she continued to write, publishing numerous articles on remodeling and interior design in local newspapers. Now retired, Chrysteen has reinvented herself and returned to writing.

Chrysteen is a member of the Southern California Writers Association (SCWA) and the Orange County Romance Writers. She and her husband have a second home in Lake Arrowhead, California, where she opened a home decor store called “At The Cabin.” The serene mountain setting has inspired her “Cabin” novels.

Currently, Chrysteen resides in Coto de Caza, California, near Mission Viejo, with her husband Larry, whom she affectionately calls “the wind beneath my wings.” ...

Book 4 The Maidservant in Cabin One Cover Reveal

Cover Reveal | The Maidservant in Cabin Number One: The Beginning (The Guest Book Trilogy 4) by Chrysteen Braun #coverreveal #historicalfiction #litfic #preorder

Reposted from N. N. Light

I love Chrysteen Braun's covers. She's here to unveil her cover for her fourth book. Isn't it gorgeous?

Title The Maidservant in Cabin Number One: The Beginning (The Guest Book Trilogy 4)
Author Chrysteen Braun
Genre Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

 Book Blurb
"Braun uses the mountainous area and cabins to her advantage in telling the stories of her characters. An exceptional plot. Her character development is outstanding."—Readers'Favorite

After her father’s death in 1923, when Ruth Ann Landry is just ten, she joins her mother as a maidservant for a wealthy Seattle family. The hours are long, the rules are strict, but she and her mother desperately need her wages to survive.

By the time she’s seventeen, they’ve moved into the house, and she’s become a mistress to her employer. While accompanying the family on vacation, she sees an opportunity to start a new life, and leaves. Ruth eventually finds solace in the mountain town of Lake Arrowhead, California, where she stays in one of the cabins owned by a man who becomes part of her future.

The Maidservant in Cabin Number One is the beginning of the story of The Guest Book Trilogy, and of Annie Parker who eventually comes to own the cabins where Ruth Landry stayed.

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Sisters in Crime - Orange County Register

Chrysteen Braun article published in Orange County Register

Greet Coto de Caza

Catching up with Chrysteen Braun in Resident Spotlight

February 2024

If you've been to the Coto Arts & Crafts Show lately (at the Coto Sports Park), you've probably run into Coto resident and women's fiction author, Chrysteen Braun. She's easy to spot-her table is set up complete with pine trees to resemble the Lake Arrowhead Mountains, the setting for her books.

Chrysteen shares, "In fact, that's how I met Kat McLead, Coto Mom's Book Club Coordinator. I was delighted when she invited me to speak at their September meeting. The group was warm and welcoming, and I loved answering all their questions. Of course, I confirmed which parts of the books were based on my life. Because my books are set in cabins, I joked and said, 'I should write a book and call it The Book Club Women in Cabin Number Two. But then you'd have to tell me all your secrets.'

"I also took a minute at the beginning of the meeting to share my experience with ovarian cancer and the importance of early detection. (I promised my oncologist I would spread the word when I could.)"

The last time we spoke with Chrysteen in our January 2023 issue of Greet Coto de Caza, two of her books were out: The Man in Cabin Number Five and The Girls in Cabin Number Three. Book three, The Starlet in Cabin Number Seven, has just been released. The stories follow eighty-year-old Annie Parker, who decides to write about a time in her life when she was starting over. She moves up to the mountains and restores a set of cabins, and it turns out they all have stories to tell.

Chrysteen continues, "I originally planned on writing a trilogy, but I then grew curious about the woman who owned the cabins before Annie did. And then I decided to write an epilogue about Annie from the time she moved up to the mountains until she started writing her books. It's turned into a series. Books four and five are in the editing stages and will be out soon.'' You can find Chrysteen's books at the Coto Market, or on Amazon and through your favorite bookstore. You can contact her via email at chrysteenbraun@gmail. com. If you'd like more information about the Coto Mom's Club, visit cotomoms.org.

Brightwater Author Meet & Greet with Chrysteen Braun

Meet the award-winning author of The Guest Book Trilogy

November 1, 2023 by Mountain News | Read original article here

A special book signing is scheduled for next Saturday, November 11, at Timberline in the Glen.

Lake Arrowhead and the mountains are the setting for award-winning author Chrysteen Braun’s Guest Book Trilogy, The Man in Cabin Number Five, The Girls in Cabin Number Three and the Starlet in Cabin Number Seven.

What do a murder/suicide, a madam and a starlet have in common?

“When Annie Parker turns 80, she decides to write a book about a time in her life when she was starting over. She moves up to the mountains and after restoring a set of 1920s era cabins, she discovers they each have stories to tell,” she told us.

“I knew when I retired I wanted to write my books, and I cannot lie. Our two cabins, one is Skyforest and the other in Cedar Ridge, were the inspiration for my stories. Writers are supposed to write what they know about, but they also need to write books they’d want to read. I consider them Women’s Fiction with a little romance, mystery and suspense.”

Last year, when we met up with Braun, only the first book was out and books two and three were in the works. Now, it looks like the trilogy has turned into five books.

“I was curious about the cabins before Annie bought them from Sam, and book four is a Prequel. It’s about the woman who owned the cabins before she did, and it’s called “The Maidservant in Cabin Number One". Book five, is an epilogue, from the time when Annie made a new life for herself up in the mountains until she turned 80, and decided to write her story. It’s called Dear Noah, and both are due out in early 2024.”

“When asked what I write, I consider my books Women’s Fiction with some romance, mystery and suspense.”

Book Signing

In the mountains, Braun’s books are sold exclusively at Timberline in the Glen (28956 Hook Creek Road) and she’ll be there from 1 to 5 p.m. during the stores “Sip and Shop” open house.

“I’ll have plenty of books, and if you’ve already purchased one or two, bring them in and I’ll sign them for you. We’ll also have a drawing and a gift with purchase."

A Slice of Orange

Author Chrysteen Braun talks about The Guest Book Trilogy!!

March 2, 2023 by Jann Ryan | Read original article here

A Slice of ORange logo

Today I have the pleasure to chat with the amazing Chrysteen Braun, author of The Guest Book Trilogy.

Jann: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Chrysteen: I think every author “always knew” they wanted to be a writer. I was around twelve when I wrote my first book. I have no idea what it was about, or where it ended up, but I do recall being so proud of myself. I actually knew how to type at that age since my parents worked from home and I learned to type and use a 10 key adding machine. Did I just date myself? I joined a writer’s group in the 80s and then got sidetracked with business, so I wasn’t able to write much more than newspaper articles about decorating. Our business was remodeling and interior design. It wasn’t until I retired that I decided I only had so many summers left, and if I wanted to write my novel(s) I’d have to get on the ball.

Jann: Was your journey to publication easy? Tell us about it.

Chrysteen: I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I was going to write; I knew I didn’t want to write romance, but I also wasn’t a mystery writer, so I had to figure out how to combine the two. Then I had to decide whether to publish traditionally or go indie. I listened to a lot of seminars and webinars about everything writing related, and honestly got so overwhelmed, I had a difficult time figuring it all out. Then, I wrote the first drafts of five novels while they were fresh on my mind. That threw me into another state of overwhelm, along with Covid-19, and I knew if I didn’t make some decisions, I’d never get anywhere. I decided to jump into indie publishing, and began editing the first book, which is the first in the Guest Book Trilogy. Three years later, I’ve published two books, am working on the third, but have gotten sidetracked with a sequel novella, and a prequel novella, (which is turning into another book.!) I went with a company called Bublish, who does everything; book cover, ebook and paperback layout, book description, ISBN, NetGalley, editorial reviews, and initial Amazon and Facebook Ads. I’ve paid for these services, and they’re all under roof, but I knew I’d never be able to finish my books if I tried to learn how to do it all.

Jann: Book One in The Guest Book Trilogy, The Man in Cabin Number Five, made its debut on May 10, 2022. Which came first—plot or character?

Chrysteen: The overall story. Then I had to figure out who my characters were, and since I’m a pantser, I didn’t do an outline. I did, however, keep track of all my characters, and I made up a timeline since the story itself is set in the 1980s but works up to that. I really got myself confused a couple of times and have learned how important it is to keep track of it all.

Jann: Would you share with us what The Man in Cabin Number Five is about. Where did you get the idea for the book? Who are the main characters?

Chrysteen: I read about an unsolved murder in the 50s. and knew I wanted to add it to the story, and The Trilogy is about Annie Murphy who moves up to the mountains in Lake Arrowhead, Ca, to move on with her life after discovering her husband was unfaithful. There she reinvents herself and restores a series of cabins. She complicates her life when she meets a new love interest. She also meets Alyce Murphy, whose story runs parallel. Alyce discovers her father didn’t die of natural causes as she was led to believe but was involved in a murder/suicide in one of the cabins Annie now owns. You don’t know until the very end, what really happened, until Alyce’s father John Murphy tells his story, The main characters are Annie, Alyce and Noah.

Jann: On November 28, 2022, The Girls in Cabin Number Three, Book Two in the Trilogy came out. Tell us about Annie Parker and Carrie Davis, the book’s main characters.

Chrysteen: In book two, Annie makes a wrong turn in her relationship, but also meets Carrie Davis, whose mother Elizabeth, also stayed in one of the cabins during prohibition. There was a (real) speakeasy up in Lake Arrowhead in the 20s and 30s, and as with book one, the reader doesn’t know the real story until the end, when Elizabeth tells us what happened.

Jann: Are you working on the third book in the trilogy? If so, can you give us a sneak peek?

Chrysteen: Book Three is about a Starlet named Celeste Williams who stayed in cabin number seven when filming a movie. Annie meets her son, and he describes growing up with an ‘absent’ parent, and again, it isn’t until the very end Celeste tells her story.

Jann: What would you like the readers to come away with after reading your books?

Chrysteen: I don’t write for causes; I write so my readers close the book and say, “That was a good read.”

Jann: What preparation did you do for the launch of your books?

Chrysteen: I stressed about it, but Bublish launched both books. I wish I knew more about book launches, and hopefully with the next books, I’ll have a better idea of what I can add.

Jann: What still excites you about writing?

Chrysteen: I thought for sure I was going to run out of ideas, but I’m finding I can hardly wait to finish one story so I can go on to another. That’s what happened with the prequel novella; I kept coming up with more ideas so it’s not turning into another book.

Jann: What’s the best writing advice you ever received?

Chrysteen: Oddly enough it’s from my husband; “When in doubt, just write it.”

Jann: Do you have a website, blog, twitter where fans might read more about you and your books?

Chrysteen: Website, www.chrysteenbraun.com and I’m always available to chat at chrysteenbraun@gmail.com

Jann: Do you ever run out of ideas? If so, how did you get past that?

Chrysteen: I wish I had a writing ritual. I absolutely have to get all my ‘busy work’ done (like answering emails, doing marketing, listening to seminars, bookkeeping) before I can focus on writing, but sometimes this takes me into the afternoon and I’m burned out. I’m constantly making notes on little pieces of paper, and then when I’ve finished a draft, I go through them and see where I can add or embellish. And when I think I’ve run out of ideas, I go to my husband and ask something like “Where would they go next?” “What could they do?”

Jann: What profession other than your own would you love to attempt?

Chrysteen: Would I sound pretentious if I said I’ve done everything I’ve loved, not always successfully? Interior Designer, retail store owner, contractor, writer….I haven’t had a ranch or been a court judge. Hmm

Jann: What’s your all-time favorite book?

Chrysteen: I have several. Everything written by Jonathan Kellerman, Sue Grafton, Robert B. Parker to name a few.

Jann: What’s on your To-Be-Read pile?

Chrysteen: Any Jodi Picoult books, The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek,

Jann: What’s your favorite song?

Chrysteen: The Wind Beneath my Wings, Bette Midler, and Conte Partiro, by Andre Bocelli

Jann: What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Chrysteen: Waterskiing in Capetown harbor.

Jann: What is your favorite word?

Chrysteen: “Dork” when I’ve done something dumb, but “love you” would have to be my favorite

Jann: What is your least favorite word?

Chrysteen:  The “F” word and shut up.

Jann: What turns you off?

Chrysteen: People who go overboard with a cause or are totally opinionated.

Jann: What’s the funniest (or sweetest or best or nicest) thing a fan ever said to you?

Chrysteen: “You don’t look as heavy as your photo.” No, just kidding!!! “I’ve read your book and I’m buying six more to give to friends for Christmas!”

Chrysteen, is was great doing a Q&A with you. Thanks for giving us a peek into your writing world. Good luck with Book Three!!

Greet Coto de Caza

Meet Chrysteen Braun in Resident Spotlight

January 2023 | Download pdf

Maddie Margarita Hump Day Book Tour Interview

Cover poster for video of Chrysteen's Interview

MOUNTAIN NEWS

Meet the author of The Man in Cabin Number Five

Original Article | Nov 2, 2022

Book signing to be this Saturday, November 5 What do a murder/suicide, a madam and a starlet have in common? You'll have to read Chrysteen Braun's The Guest Book Trilogy to find out. Set in Lake Arrowhead, Braun's first book, The Man in Cabin Number Five, came out earlier this year. The second book, The Girls in Cabin Number Seven, is due to be launched this month.

Braun and her husband, Larry, had two cabins on the San Bernardino Mountains: one in Skyforest, where they also owned At The Cabin (and The Hungry Bear Deli property) on Hwy. 18 and Kuffel Canyon Road; and the other in Cedar Ridge Estates. Both are used as settings in the books.

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Chrysteen Braun, author, at book signing event
Timberline in The Glen book signing, Lake Arrowhead

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