Welcome to the Joyful Blog

Welcome to my little corner of the internet. It may be small, but it’s mine. I’m an indie author who writes YA romance, coming-of-age stories, and new adult romance. I promise to create stories that reflect many different voices. In my books, you’ll meet characters living with anxiety or other mental health challenges, queer characters discovering themselves, and people from all kinds of backgrounds coming together. I believe everyone deserves to see themselves in a story, and I want to help break the stigma around mental health. Most of all, I hope you feel seen and heard in my writing.

Now that you know my promise to you as a reader, I guess I can tell you more about myself. I’m Kristina Joy. I was born and raised in the Mitten State. I was born with a built-in state map, so when you meet me, I might pull it out to show you where I grew up. I currently live in Knoxville, Tennessee. I went from living in the tundra of snow to where we barely get snow, and if we do, we shut the whole state down. I live a low-key life with my Boo Thang and our fur babies. When I’m not writing, I’m playing the Sims, where I continue to tell stories, or cozy games like Animal Crossing. I also tend to read books while sipping a caffeinated beverage. 

My love for writing started young. In the second grade, I fell in love with poetry. I actually got a poem published, but don’t ask me what publication because that was too long ago for me to remember. I do remember that, from being published, I got a scholarship to a Writing camp. The camp taught me to fall in love with other kinds of writing, but it also taught me to compare my writing to others. In fifth grade, I found out that I had a learning disorder, which didn’t help with my self-esteem. I stopped finding writing a source of comfort and began to feel embarrassed when I could not write those highly structured types of papers that schools made you write to prepare you for college.  

People often call me a daydreamer. My desk, room, and locker were always messy, and I struggled to focus. I wasn’t hyperactive, but I bounced from one hobby to another, painting, drawing, dancing, and more, without sticking to any of them. For a long time, I felt like something was wrong with me, like I didn’t fit in. Five years ago, I learned I actually have ADHD, not the learning disorder my school thought I had. Therapy has helped me find tools to manage my energy. I still have tough days, but I’m learning to be kinder to myself.

I didn’t fall back in love with writing until the summer of 2024. That summer, I wrote a new adult fantasy romance about wolf shifters and finished the whole book. In true ADHD fashion, I dove in without much research or a plan.  I even published it on Amazon for a short time, but self-doubt crept in, and I took it down two months later. That experience led to the start of Where the Flames Took Her. I decided then that writing is my dream, and now I’m making it come true.

Where the Flames Took Her means a lot to me. The story follows three friends—Phoenix, Tee, and Zayne—who grew up together. When secrets come out, and love complicates things, their friendship faces its biggest challenge. Will they stay close, or will the truth pull them apart? This is the first book in a duet and explores self-discovery, inner strength, and self-love. The main characters make their choices in ways that reflect my own experiences. They face their identities and mental health journeys, which shape their choices, struggles, and how they support each other. I hope you see a bit of yourself in these characters, even if your story is different. I’m excited to share this world with you. Where the Flames Took Her is my first real book, and it comes out on April 10th, 2026.

I guess my long-winded rambling about how I became a writer is for you to take away that you should learn more about yourself, find your dream, and put in the work. I want you to know that there will be struggles along the way. I want you to know that I believe in you. You got this. Let’s make our dreams come true together. If you are not sure where to begin, maybe take a few minutes today to journal about one small goal or dream you have for yourself. Or, if you are feeling bold, share that dream with a friend or even with me—I’d love to cheer you on. Taking any tiny step forward matters, and you never know where it might lead.

If you want to follow along on my writing journey, or just keep in touch, I’d love to have you join my newsletter! It’s a great way to stay updated on book news, special sneak peeks, and writing updates. I’m also launching a Discord community. By joining, you’ll also get access to fun things like exclusive community chats, behind-the-scenes Q&A sessions, and even chances to be featured in reader spotlights. I love highlighting the voices and recommendations of my readers! You can also follow me on social media; I've added them below. Together, let’s build a little community where everyone is welcome, valued, and seen. With love & light.