Local author, Crystal Hrissikos, holds book signing today

Local author, Crystal Hrissikos, will hold a book signing this Saturday (today) at the Dunklin County Library in Kennett.

Hrissikos, who writes under the pen name, Gail Haris, recently reflected on her career.

“Everybody in your life shapes you,” Hrissikos said. “My mom would always read. She was always reading the paper and magazines. She loved autobiographies.”

Her mother sparked her own love for reading.

“I love to read,” shared Hrissikos. “Especially before bed, a habit I still have. I cannot go to sleep unless I’m reading.”

Aside from her mother, English teachers and friends encouraged her to write.

“I never thought I could be a published author,” she said.

Hrissikos continued, “Even in college, I went for advertising, graphic design and marketing. I kept thinking though, I want to write.”

Her sister began trying to get her to read a Kindle.

“I would not go to E-read,” said Hrissikos. “I need the paperback. I need the smell of the book.”

On a family trip to Greece, Hrissikos decided to try a Kindle, so as not to have to bring all the books she wanted to read.

“From doing that, I discovered theRe are self-published authors,” she said. “I discovered Colleen Hoover that way. She’s just a mother and she’s writing these books and publishing them on Amazon.”

Hrissikos continued, “I found out she was going to be doing a book signing in Missouri. I decided to go and meet her. By attending these book conventions I met all these other authors, just regular people. A lot of tHem had no experience in writing.”

The seed had been planted.

“After I gave birth to my first daughter in 2013, I had a little postpartum depression and I was on bed rest,” informed Hrissikos. “I had all this time at home.”

“I started getting ideas,” she said. “I formed this story and before I knew it, it was over 100,000 words. I sent it off to an editor. She loved it.”

Six books later, people are still loving them.

“I never thought I would get the support and meet all these amazing people,” Hrissikos said. “It’s very fulfilling. It’s so much fun.”

Hrissikos would encourage anyone to follow their passions, especially if it involves writing.

“Everyone has a story to tell,” she said.

The book signing for her latest book, Worth A Shot” will be from 10:00 a.m. until noon Saturday, April 24, at the main branch of the Dunklin County Library in Kennett.

For more info on all her books visit gailharis.com