Blog Archives
Real Connection
Munyori and Johannes In 72 Hours follows a Black scholar and a Greek American who fall in love over one intense weekend and spend a lifetime discovering whether love born in a moment can survive. What drew you to the idea of a love story that unfolds almost entirely over 72 hours?
I am not a believer in love at first sight, not really. Although I do believe that a person can feel an instant, extreme, and ultimately long-lasting romantic attraction if they get to know each other by just talking – having direct and sincere conversations about anything and everything. That is why the dialogue may have felt long and intense. Real conversations were happening between two people who would not normally touch on the issues discussed. And once shared values are realized, the relationship and ultimately the love intensifies. I wanted to convey that a spiritual connection can embody the physical relationship between the two lovers. I’m hopeful the 72 hours show just that! Sissy/El, younger sister of Johannes, is intuitive. And she knew they were right for each other. When Munyori and Johannes met by chance, Sissy’s/El’s intuitiveness was correct. I wanted to convey that you don’t have to be attracted to your own culture or your own tribe. I wanted to show, in the famous words of Maya Angelou, “we are more alike than we are unalike.”
Yori is ambitious, sexual, intellectual, and emotionally open, while Johannes’s past loss hangs over the entire story. Their experiences have led them to have different views on love and security—what does that contrast reveal?
I’m not sure if your question is accurate here regarding their different views. If you noticed, Munyori learned a lot from Johannes about being sexual and sensual. The different views on love and security were demonstrated between Munyori and her best friend, Jalsa. In the very beginning, Johannes supported Munyori’s future career choices, was in awe of her academic achievement, and ultimately felt she may be too good for him, until he realized how down-to-earth she was and their shared values. Munyori saved Johannes emotionally. She got him to open up and express his feelings without pressure. That was the beginning of their connection beyond the physical.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I believe the novel is a work of contemporary women’s fiction that weaves together romance, suspense, cultural insight, and fast-moving, character-centered events. I wanted to blend meaningful talks between characters, their inner thoughts, and observations about the world around them. I hope to tackle themes like race, colorism, and identity, and make them feel real – put the reader in the conversation. I wanted to show how Yori’s journey stands out, revealing how ambition, friendship, and self-awareness come together in the face of societal pressures. With Johannes, I wanted to show how balancing responsibility, vulnerability, and his need for a real connection – even though he was driven by taking care of his sister, growing his construction business – all the while ignoring his own needs.
What does Munyori and Johannes In 72 Hours ultimately say about love over time?
Love can come from the most unlikely places if you give it a chance. Some people can know each other for a lifetime and really don’t know each other at all. The lead characters, after the undeniable initial physical attraction, shared meaningful conversations that shifted into understanding, trust, direction, and shared mindsets. They almost immediately went beyond small talk and created moments where the other person feels genuinely heard and supported. In this love story, I wanted to reveal that you can know someone in a few days and fall in love. Again, I refer to the famous words of the African American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, when she says, “we are more alike than we are unalike.”
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Munyori and Johannes In 72 Hours
In Munyori and Johannes In 72 Hours by Crystal Charlotte (CC) Lane follows Munyori “Yori” Scott, a newly minted PhD in English literature, and Johannes “John” Kostas, a Greek American contractor, as they meet by chance at Freddie’s Roadhouse Tavern and fall hard for each other in the space of one long weekend. The book walks through those three days almost hour by hour. We see their first spark across a crowded, mostly white bar, the cautious flirtation, the blunt talks about race, faith, sex, grief, and family, and then a fast slide into intense intimacy and a whirlwind proposal. Around them move Yori’s glamorous, messy best friend Jalsa, Johannes’s loyal crew, and a whole circle of exes and relatives who carry their own secrets. A brutal loss from Johannes’s past hangs over everything, and a new tragedy hits just as the couple seems to have found their future. The story then jumps forward almost twenty-five years to a fiftieth birthday party, where old wounds, accidents, and betrayals come back into the light and test what that 72-hour love actually became over a lifetime.
The writing leans into character description, inner thoughts, and dialogue, so I always knew what everyone looked like, what they wore, and how they felt. Yori’s “mop” of natural hair, Jalsa’s designer jeans and crop tops, Johannes in work boots, and then dressed up for his birthday, all of that felt vivid and easy to picture. I liked the alternating focus between Yori’s academic Black woman world and Johannes’s blue-collar construction life. The sex scenes are open and detailed, and they carry a lot of emotional weight, not just heat, which made the intimacy between them feel earned in the moment, even if the timeline stayed wild. Sometimes the narration explains feelings that are already clear from the scene, and some conversations read like speeches more than everyday talk, yet the emotional honesty under those scenes pulled me in anyway. I found myself rooting for them, even as I shook my head at how fast everything happened.
What stayed with me most were the ideas that kept circling through the book. Yori’s history with Braden and Charles sets up a sharp contrast between “safe” relationships and real love. Braden gives her first love and first heartbreak. Charles gives her stability, class status, and very little passion, and his contempt for her dream of being a Black woman writer is the last straw. That backstory makes her connection with Johannes feel like a risk she chooses with open eyes. The story also looks straight at colorism and race. We see how light-skinned men like Charles are treated as “catches,” how Jalsa moves through the world as a wealthy, light-skinned Black sorority girl, and how Yori and her friends talk about “white country boys” at Freddie’s with both curiosity and caution. Johannes’s grief over losing his family and Buddy’s monologue about the kind of woman you marry give the book a strong idea of love as duty and tenderness over time, not only chemistry in bed. I liked that the text lets Yori and Jalsa disagree about whether “soul-deep” love even exists. One believes in it because of her parents, the other shrugs and treats relationships like contracts that can expire. That tension keeps the romance from feeling too simple.
The pace swings between long, talky chapters and sudden big turns like the engagement and marriage decision, or the late tragedy, and that can feel a bit soap-opera-ish. The focus on looks and bodies is constant, and now and then I wanted less description of clothes and more of the outside world around them. The time jump near the end has a lot of ground to cover, so some revelations, like Jalsa’s indiscretion and the details around Yori’s accident, land fast, almost like a TV season finale. Even so, the emotional through-line holds steady. The book cares about how Black women’s dreams, sexuality, and family roles play out over decades, and it lets Yori be ambitious, sexual, vulnerable, and stubborn without punishing her for all of that at once. That balance mattered to me.
I would recommend Munyori and Johannes In 72 Hours to readers who enjoy character-driven contemporary romance that leans into big feelings, explicit intimacy, and messy family drama. If you like stories about Black women finding love on their own terms, if you are into interracial couples who actually talk about race instead of pretending it is not there, and if you do not mind a fair amount of heat on the page, this will probably hit the spot. It also works for readers who enjoy stories about grief, second chances, and what happens to a couple after the “movie ending” is over and real life moves in. For everyone else, especially romance fans who like their love stories intense, talky, and a little dramatic, this book is worth the ride.
Pages: 330 | ASIN : B0GD4LS3CY
Spirituality Behind True Love
Shilpa’s Blue Crayon follows a down-to-earth African American woman in her thirties who, while devoted to her art and deeply committed to those she holds dear, longs for the love of a husband and children she has never known. What inspired the setup of your story?
I wanted to write a love story that displayed lots of mystery and suspense that would include a surprise ending. Most love stories are extremely predictable and not always true to real life. I wanted to show the insecurities that many women have about their looks, careers, love life, etc. But I also wanted to show when it comes to those you love, most women would do whatever it takes to protect their family and friends with or without a man. That protecting those you care about comes first, even when your safety is at risk. Shilpa embodies many women that I know personally who are strong and successful even when they don’t realize it. And, I truly wanted the reader to take this roller coaster ride with Shilpa until she found love and family even when she wasn’t looking for it. Of course, I’m an African American woman myself, retired, and I’m able to provide the Black perspective of life’s challenges.
The supporting characters in this novel, I felt, were intriguing and well-developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?
My favorite characters are Jacob (Shilpa’s husband); and Winnie/Vida (Shilpa’s best friends) because they display their love, loyalty, and commitment even when hard truths have to be discussed. Jacob is in an interracial marriage with Shilpa and I wanted to show his love for his wife that transcends boundaries, cultures, and societies. How he truly loved his wife without condition, and how they were on the same page with raising their children. Jacob understood Shilpa’s insecurities and provided patience to help her work through them. He helped her find her strength. Winnie and Vida (from both worlds) are what best friends embody (loyalty, truth, compassion, kindness, trustworthiness, and honesty). I have life-long best friends like this so it was very easy to write about Winnie and Vida. The best way to do all this is for Shilpa to be trapped in two worlds until she found the truth about her life.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
What love should be between a man and woman and the spirituality behind true love; love of friendship; the beauty of this world with explanations of the color blue and its importance in our lives; racism, diversity, and multiculturalism; passing for white and what that means; money is not important unless you can use it to serve others; and gaining your power and strength when you need it most.
What is the next novel that you are working on and when will that be available?
My first book, published in March 2024, is called “Kevin and KatheRINe in the Next Lifetime.” I believe it to be a beautiful love story. Personal and professional reviews are amazing. This book displays CC Lane’s brand demonstrating the color blue, love and its spirituality, interracial relationships (black woman/white man), and all that comes with it. And of course, that surprise ending. However, the two books are very different.
I’m currently working on my third book called, Munyori and Johannas, in 72 hours. This book also keeps with the brand of interracial love, the color blue, and lots of surprises that keep your heart pounding. I’m hopeful this book will be published by the end of the year. No writer’s block – the storyline keeps coming. Just have to find the time to finish it.
I would also like to note that Kevin Costner, the actor, is mentioned briefly in all my books. My female friends and I absolutely love him – we are all about the same age as Costner. I’ve used the personality of many of the characters he plays in movies for the love interests. My friends noticed it as well.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Amazon
New novel delivers a thrilling romance that explores courage, love and multicultural themes
CHICAGO – From the author of “Kevin and KatheRINe in the Next Lifetime” comes another stirring romance novel that will take readers on a journey that transcends boundaries, races and cultures. In “Shilpa’s Blue Crayon” (published by Archway Publishing), author Crystal Charlotte (CC) Lane invites readers to follow the life of Shilpa, a gifted African American artist whose unusual ocean-blue eyes set her apart in ways that both inspire and isolate her.
Shilpa’s story unfolds within two worlds — reality and the vivid world of make-believe. The novel masterfully intertwines romance, suspense, passion, and societal commentary as Shilpa navigates the complexities of her identity, the expectations placed on her, and the danger that threatens her loved ones. As readers turn each page, they will witness Shilpa’s transformation from a shy, self-conscious young woman into a resilient force of nature determined to protect those she loves. The book’s unexpected twists will keep them engage until the very end.
“Shilpa’s Blue Crayon” weaves rich, multicultural themes with gripping narratives. It is a story about strength, self-discovery, and the courage to embrace one’s unique qualities. A hallmark of Lane’s storytelling is her portrayal of true beauty that goes beyond physical appearance. “When considering a person’s value in this world, ‘looks’ should not be the most important factor,” the author explains. “Qualities like personality, character, intelligence, kindness, and integrity are far more significant in building meaningful relationships and determining someone’s worth as an individual. It is one’s values that are important.”
The novel also features a special foreword written by four-time Grammy winner Deniece Williams, whose insight adds a layer of depth and meaning to the narrative.
When asked what she wants readers to take away from “Shilpa’s Blue Crayon,” Lane says, “It’s true that strong Black women can be stereotyped and characterized by strength, self-reliance, and caretaking; and strong Black women are often depicted as women who are able to withstand difficult circumstances and provide for others without regard to their own needs. To a point, this is true, but like any woman, Black women want love, joy, and respect in their lives as well; and some want families with a loving husband. And to fight for that is ok too.”
“Shilpa’s Blue Crayon” is available now at Archway Publishing and other major online retailers.
“Shilpa’s Blue Crayon”
By Crystal Charlotte (CC) Lane
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 276 pages | ISBN 9781665766340
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 276 pages | ISBN 9781665766326
E-Book | 276 pages | ISBN 9781665766333
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Shilpa’s Blue Crayon
Shilpa’s Blue Crayon is an enchanting and unpredictable romance, gracefully penned by Crystal Charlotte (CC) Lane. With lyrical prose and a plot rich in emotional depth, this novel pulls readers into a journey that feels both intimate and otherworldly.
At the heart of the story is Shilpa, a down-to-earth African American woman in her thirties. Devoted to her art and deeply committed to those she holds dear, she lives a quiet, contented life in the picturesque and supportive community of “Little Village.” Though outwardly serene and composed, Shilpa carries a quiet ache, a melancholy tucked beneath the surface, an emotional weight she keeps hidden even from herself.
Everything begins to shift when vivid, almost hyper-realistic dreams begin to haunt her sleep. In them, Shilpa discovers a parallel life, one filled with love, a husband, and children she has never known. These dreams, compelling and intense, blur the lines between imagination and reality. As her longing for deeper connection grows, she finds herself straddling two distinct worlds: the tangible life she has built, and a dreamscape that offers everything her heart desires.
The narrative unfolds with a measured pace. Early chapters gently introduce readers to Shilpa’s current reality, a life filled with creativity, loyal friends, and a nurturing village atmosphere. The third-person narration allows for a sweeping view of her world, bringing her neighbors and community to life in vivid detail. There’s a warmth to this village, a place where kindness and familiarity are a given.
Then, without warning, the story pivots. A startling plot twist reveals that Shilpa is not merely dreaming, but entering a parallel universe each time she sleeps. In this alternate existence, she meets the love of her life and experiences the kind of family connection she’s always longed for. The romance is magnetic, bold, passionate, and impossible to ignore. As readers, we are swept alongside Shilpa into these dual realities, savoring the contrast between them.
More than a simple love story, Shilpa’s Blue Crayon is layered with complexity, emotion, and imagination. Lane blends romance with mystery and self-discovery, crafting a tale that is both heartfelt and unexpected. Wholesomeness pervades the narrative, mirroring Shilpa’s resilient and nurturing spirit.
Shilpa’s journey is not without hardship. As a Black woman navigating personal ambition and emotional vulnerability, she faces challenges, some rooted in societal prejudice, others born of her own self-doubt. Yet through it all, she rises. With grace and strength, she claims her right to live, love, and be loved, boldly, completely, and without apology.
This is a story that lingers. Poignant, surprising, and undeniably human, Shilpa’s Blue Crayon invites readers to explore not only parallel lives but the parallel selves we all carry within.
Pages: 276 | ASIN : B0D4267JRW
