A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest and the American Title IV Contest where she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the LowCountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children and loves a good cooking challenge. Please visit her at Christina Sinisi-Author on Facebook and christinasinisi.com.
Visit Christina Sinisi online
Another Outer Banks Christmas
As the daughter of missionaries, Kerrie Alexander has lived on Hatteras—an island in the Outer Banks—longer than any other place she’s been. When her parents inform her the family is slotted to go overseas again, she balks. Her life on the island—her job, her friends, even the handsome hero in her Sunday School class—makes her want to put down roots. Butto do so, she’ll need to find a place to live, face being on her own separated from any close family—something she’s never done before. Firefighter and EMT Wade Jackson can face pretty much any emergency, except his matchmaking grandpa threatening him with disinheritance if Wade doesn’t get married in just three months. Not that Wade objects to the idea of marriage, but how does a guy who has no problem running into burning buildings find the courage to ask a girl like Kerrie out for a date? She’s a role model for everything good, and he comes from a rough and broken home. Not to mention, Christmas is right around the corner!
- ISBN: B0CLKYWH89
- Publisher: Anaiah Press
Interview with Christina Sinisi
What message do you hope readers take away from this book?
That it’s never too late to repair broken relationships.
How do your faith and spiritual life play into the picture and affect your storytelling?
Faith is the foundation of my life, and my storytelling. I don’t know how anyone survives in this world without God holding them up—and that includes my make-believe characters—too much happens to go it alone.
Reflecting back, what do you see as most significant to your publication journey?
Persistence—I started writing in third grade but did not publish a novel until decades later. I just kept writing because I love to do so.
What is your writing routine? Any quirky habits or must-have snacks?
I don’t have a routine. I know it goes against all the best advice, but there are days, weeks, even months when I don’t write at all. I am a full-time professor and department chair and sometimes, especially around exam time that I can’t write fiction. However, when I am in writing mode, I first create a storyboard and plot out the story. Then, I write a certain page count every day, depending on if I am on a deadline as to how many pages. I don’t think I have any quirky habits and I don’t snack while writing…I like to think I can write anywhere, any time.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I plot out the entire story using a 3-act structure and storyboard. Then, I write. I may or may not stick to the plot because I do go where the story takes me, checking the storyboard for direction when I get stuck or wonder where I am “supposed” to be.
Who/What spurs you to write? Where do your story and character ideas come from?
My answer is probably not helpful, but…anything and everything. I can read an article in the newspaper or see a painting in a museum. I might notice something about someone at church and want to give that person a story. Stories are everywhere, and how wonderful they can be.
What’s your biggest challenge in balancing writing time with your other responsibilities?
My job is very demanding during the heat of the semester. In the summer, I love being a teacher. My children are grown, and I thought my career might be
winding down, but it’s not. I’m also department chair and there are a lot of responsibilities and behind-the-scenes that few people know about. But now, it’s
Christmas break and hopefully I’ll find time to do a little writing before January comes.
Do you have a mentor or were you given some advice that still resonates with you today?
I do have a mentor (Eloisa James) and I have been blessed to have a number of writing friends who critique and encourage and keep me going. I have taken so many classes and attended many conferences, but probably the most important piece of advice did come from Eloisa—she simply asked me why wasn’t I writing inspirational romance since my faith means so much to me? Good question. I switched from writing fantasy novels to writing Contemporary Christian romance and I feel so much more at home.
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you as an author?
I’m actually in a documentary, “Love Between the Covers”, with Eloisa in her role as my mentor. The crew followed me around the Moonlight and Magnolias conference, filmed me as I made a pitch to an editor, and more--including an hour-long interview with just me and the filmmaker. I thought I sounded pretty smart in that interview—referring to the history of romantic stories and more. What ended up in the film? Eloisa telling me to put more sex in my stories—which doesn’t even apply since I write clean, Christian romance. Ah, well.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
Baking, reading, traveling, and hiking. I am blessed to be able to engage in all of those pretty regularly.
What books are on your nightstand right now?
C.S. Lewis’ God in the Dock and one of my local ACFW group members, Jody Stalling’s recent release, Shadowpoint Skies.
Finish this statement: If I were not an author: I would be a professor.
That it’s never too late to repair broken relationships.
How do your faith and spiritual life play into the picture and affect your storytelling?
Faith is the foundation of my life, and my storytelling. I don’t know how anyone survives in this world without God holding them up—and that includes my make-believe characters—too much happens to go it alone.
Reflecting back, what do you see as most significant to your publication journey?
Persistence—I started writing in third grade but did not publish a novel until decades later. I just kept writing because I love to do so.
What is your writing routine? Any quirky habits or must-have snacks?
I don’t have a routine. I know it goes against all the best advice, but there are days, weeks, even months when I don’t write at all. I am a full-time professor and department chair and sometimes, especially around exam time that I can’t write fiction. However, when I am in writing mode, I first create a storyboard and plot out the story. Then, I write a certain page count every day, depending on if I am on a deadline as to how many pages. I don’t think I have any quirky habits and I don’t snack while writing…I like to think I can write anywhere, any time.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I plot out the entire story using a 3-act structure and storyboard. Then, I write. I may or may not stick to the plot because I do go where the story takes me, checking the storyboard for direction when I get stuck or wonder where I am “supposed” to be.
Who/What spurs you to write? Where do your story and character ideas come from?
My answer is probably not helpful, but…anything and everything. I can read an article in the newspaper or see a painting in a museum. I might notice something about someone at church and want to give that person a story. Stories are everywhere, and how wonderful they can be.
What’s your biggest challenge in balancing writing time with your other responsibilities?
My job is very demanding during the heat of the semester. In the summer, I love being a teacher. My children are grown, and I thought my career might be
winding down, but it’s not. I’m also department chair and there are a lot of responsibilities and behind-the-scenes that few people know about. But now, it’s
Christmas break and hopefully I’ll find time to do a little writing before January comes.
Do you have a mentor or were you given some advice that still resonates with you today?
I do have a mentor (Eloisa James) and I have been blessed to have a number of writing friends who critique and encourage and keep me going. I have taken so many classes and attended many conferences, but probably the most important piece of advice did come from Eloisa—she simply asked me why wasn’t I writing inspirational romance since my faith means so much to me? Good question. I switched from writing fantasy novels to writing Contemporary Christian romance and I feel so much more at home.
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you as an author?
I’m actually in a documentary, “Love Between the Covers”, with Eloisa in her role as my mentor. The crew followed me around the Moonlight and Magnolias conference, filmed me as I made a pitch to an editor, and more--including an hour-long interview with just me and the filmmaker. I thought I sounded pretty smart in that interview—referring to the history of romantic stories and more. What ended up in the film? Eloisa telling me to put more sex in my stories—which doesn’t even apply since I write clean, Christian romance. Ah, well.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
Baking, reading, traveling, and hiking. I am blessed to be able to engage in all of those pretty regularly.
What books are on your nightstand right now?
C.S. Lewis’ God in the Dock and one of my local ACFW group members, Jody Stalling’s recent release, Shadowpoint Skies.
Finish this statement: If I were not an author: I would be a professor.
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