Author Spotlight: Charmyra E. Fleming

Charmyra E. Fleming is a romance author, motivational blogger, and creative who hopes through her books and various creative outlets to inspire her readers and beyond to live their lives with purpose, intention, and full of passion. 

Before starting her company, Creative Calfuray, LLC, to self-publishing her first novella, Charmyra spent three years working as a Senior Budget Analyst and Supplier Diversity Professional for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. She currently works as a Senior Procurement Oversight Associate for CareFirst – Blue Cross Blue Shield in MD. After a successful Financial Services career and helping diverse businesses, Charmyra now helps small, diverse businesses and nonprofits with mini graphic design projects.

Creative Calfuray LLC, was created and established in 2018. This company and its brand intends to be more than just a name. This brand represents the creative prowess of Charmyra’s writing style and creativity. It also has a much deeper business objective and brand goal to Motivate, Aspire, and Inspire her audience. This company not only serves as a creative outlet for producing beautiful and romantic novels but also has Branded Creative Calfuray merchandise known as “MAI” (means “M.otivate, A.spire, I.nspire”). In addition to offering small graphic design projects and makeup artistry services. Charmyra enjoys urban line dancing, belly dancing, and freelancing as a makeup artist.

 

Christina: What is your SwagHer? What makes Charmyra, Charmyra?

Charmyra: My SwagHer is my confidence and willingness to go over and beyond what is expected of me. I’ve been doubted so many times throughout my life, so I’m used to stepping to the challenge to show and prove. The qualities that make me unique is the magic that I sprinkle on everything that I do. It’s what makes others believe in me. I’m me because I refuse to accept the “status quo.” I don’t just believe everything I hear; I’m a seeker of knowledge. I’m me because I don’t want to be like anyone else; I drive in my own lane, and I make it look easy while I do it. The life I live as “Charmyra” is wonderful because I spread positivity and love. I enjoy sharing what I know, and I want others to win too! I know that it sounds cliché, but I want to leave this place, this world better. Isn’t that what we all should be doing?

Christina: Why did you choose to be a romance author? Why not suspense or horror?

Charmyra: I chose to become a romance author because I love the thrill and nuances of being in love. My parents have been together for 50 years and married for 40. My late paternal grandparents were married for 58 years. So, I’ve had people that I love who’ve been married and in love show me what love looks like, and they are my love inspiration and romantic role models. My husband and I have been together for 17 years and married for 12. So, I also have an idea about what I think love looks like from my own life’s perspective. There’s so much that a couple can endure before they reach that place of euphoria where love lives forever, and sometimes the journey is better than the final destination. Some people experience it, and some don’t. Some only have it for a short period of time, and that’s ok. I think everyone should have the opportunity to know what true love feels like. I believe love is an incredibly complex feeling of emotions and actions, and it can cause people to do some pretty amazing things, whether good or bad. This is what I wanted to write about, and that is why I do. I want people to read my romance novels, see themselves or someone they know in these characters, and ultimately believe in romance and love. I want them to remember romance doesn’t have hurt or be vulgar, but it can be realistic, and it can creep up on you, and before you know it, you’ve fallen in love with my stories.

Christina: Tell our readers a little bit about your book series, The Purple Charm Seriesâ„¢. Where can they purchase the series?

Charmyra: The Purple Charm Seriesâ„¢ is currently two books, The Violet Rose and Three’s a Charm. I’m in the process of completing the third book in this series. Just a heads up, there will be more. First and foremost, although these books are a part of a “Series,” they have their own identities and individualities. They can be read in sequential order, or they can be read out of order. I wrote them to be standalone books. The books’ characters are interconnected in a number of ways, but the main characters of each book have their own storyline. These books are sexy and romantic. They are the types of books that I would want or like to read. I always like to think of my books as emotionally gripping and dramatic stories with complex characters, steamy love scenes, and are completely relatable.

Christina: What inspired Creative Calfuray LLC®? What services do you provide?

Charmyra: Creative Calfuray, LLC® was inspired and established in 2018, initially by my writing, and it was created as a way for me to self-publish my romance novels. This will always be its number one purpose. However, since then, I’d decided to expand my business offerings. This diversification has allowed for Creative Calfuray® to represent all of the things that I love to do creatively and would like to offer as a service to potential clients. The types of services that I provide are “Make-Up Artistry” and “Graphic Designs for Small Projects.” In the past, I’ve also offered a romance writing workshop. This is a service that I would love to provide more frequently post COVID. 

Christina: Please explain what M. A. I. stands for. How important is the acronym to you and your business?

Charmyra: M.A.I.® stands for M.OTIVATE | A.SPIRE | I.NSPIREâ„¢. It is the official brand of Creative Calfuray®. This acronym is very important to me and my business because it is the cornerstone of what I do. It is a part of my business’ core values. The meaning of M.A.I.® is bigger and grander than what I can express, and it’s a big deal for me. This name “M.A.I” is special to me because it was given to my line dance sisters, “The Boston Rhythm Riders,” but it has a much deeper meaning for my business. My purpose and mission for Creative Calfuray® to motivate one person to aspire to their greatest potential and inspire many along the way. Moreover, it is through my writing and anything that I do creatively that I inspire my readers and beyond to live their lives with purpose, intention, and full of passion!

Christina: You are not only an author and entrepreneur. You have a full-time job as a Senior Procurement Oversight Associate. How do you manage all of the things you have to do in a day?

Charmyra: I will say that it is challenging at times. I’m human, and sometimes it’s overwhelming, but I don’t give up or give in. I’m a wife and a mother, in addition to an author, entrepreneur, and full-time employee, but I’m also strong, dedicated, and driven. I’m a hard worker, and I give my all to my work. Although I have aspirations as an entrepreneur that I’m actively pursuing, I’m also pursuing my dreams in my full-time career. It’s not a job for me because of my role as, Senior Procurement Oversight Associate is a career that I’ve chosen, and I love what I do! With that said, we all have to do what we have to, to make our dreams a reality. As I realize both of my dreams manifesting as a reality, part of how I do it is organization and planning! I’m a planner, true and through. I have to keep things organized and “eat my tasks” one bite at a time. I believe we can do all that we want to do in life, with one caveat. You must plan. You have to also make time for yourself and know when to take a break. Sometimes, there’s not enough hours in a day, and that’s ok; there’s always tomorrow. I know how to manage my work-life balance because it’s vital for my sanity and success.

Christina: If you could go back ten years, would you do anything differently in your life?

Charmyra: If I could go back ten years, no, I wouldn’t change anything. The last ten years have been a great learning and growing experience. I’ve learned so much about myself and what I’m capable of accomplishing. I’ve been challenged by life to step outside of myself and my comfort zone. I’ve made major moves in my career to obtain the life that I wanted. When I left my role at BCBSMA in 2018 and started Creative Calfuray, I stepped out on faith and began creating an opportunity for my books. I knew that writing was God’s purpose for my life. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I took my time, constantly read literature, learned, studied, and made a way. Sure, I have a long, long way to go, but I’m getting there. There are so many people that I want to touch going forward. What I know now, I had to go through the last ten years to understand it, appreciate it, and level up from it. 

Christina: You are a freelance make-up artist, as well. Why makeup? How do you feel when you are beating your face or someone else’s?

Charmyra: I chose make-up because I’ve always loved make-up. It’s another opportunity for me to live out my creativity and live up to the Creative Calfuray® name. I am a “Creative Purple Flower.” I love making up my face. My face is my canvas, and I love to “paint” on it and see what I can create. Make-up can be universal and can be a bridge to reaching all kinds of potential clientele. I enjoy that about make-up and the fact that it’s dynamic and ever-changing and evolving. To be a make-up artist, one must be open, flexible, and understand all kinds of skin types and how to make someone’s underlying beauty shine. You have to be an active listener and effective at execution. I love it when someone who doesn’t wear makeup regularly books me to do their makeup, and I completely transform them. Their initial reaction is what I live for! It’s what motivates and inspires me to keep going. I love it! The feeling is truly moving for me. I also feel that makeup can give you that extra confidence when you need it. It’s the instant gratification that does it for me. 

Christina: Do you have any upcoming events or projects you would like our readers to know about?

Charmyra: I’m currently working on my third novel and will be releasing in 2021. So, stay tuned. I will be looking for Advanced Readers for this novel. So, check out my website for details soon to become an Advanced Reader for my books. Also, each week I share a motivational blog post to inspire my readers. These blog posts are written on various topics, and there are more than one-hundred blog posts for potential readers to find motivation and inspiration. 

If readers want to experience more of what I’m doing, they can check out my podcast, The Purple Charm Experienceâ„¢. Through this podcast, I share interesting details about my stories and background information on developing my stories and cool happenings with my M.A.I. Brand and business Creative Calfuray, and more! Finally, if readers are inspired by my romance novels, blog posts, Creative Calfuray®, and M.A.I ® brand; they can rock “M.A.I.” merchandise. You can find my ‘Creative Calfuray® and M.A.I.®’ Branded Merchandise by visiting my website www.CreativeCalfuray.com/merchandise and or my Etsy Store www.etsy.com/shop/CreativeCalfuray.

Christina: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Charmyra: I want to say thank you. Thank you, SwagHer, for the opportunity to share more about myself, my romance novels, Creative Calfuray, etc. Thank you to each and every person who’s supported me by purchasing and reading my books, blog posts, listening to my podcast, etc. I do this because it is my purpose. I’ve known for a long time that this is God’s purpose for my life. It is the reason why I exist, and this is my legacy.  

 

Connect with Charmyra below:

Website: www.CreativeCalfuray.com

Instagram: Creative_Calfuray

Facebook: Cre8iveCalfuray

Twitter: Cre8iveCalfuray

Pinterest: CreativeCalfuray1

LinkedIn: Charmyra E. Fleming