As you know, I have a long-time desire to live in South Carolina. Yes, I’m a Kentucky girl through and through, but there’s something about the beaches in SC that draw me!
When I learned that today’s guest, Christina Sinisi, lives in my lowcountry dream-place, I couldn’t wait to host her on my blog!
Her debut novel, Christmas Confusion, is — you guessed it — a Christmas novel, but I know readers . . . they’ll take Christmas anytime! Answer the question at the end of the post for a chance to win an ebook copy of Christmas Confusion!!
Welcome, Christina!
What inspired you to write, initially, and what encouraged you to continue?
I’ve been writing since third grade, so I think what literally inspired me was the ability to write. Before this, I didn’t have a means of recording the stories I told my younger sisters at night. And it seems I can’t stop writing—when I’ve been too busy to write there will come a point where I must sit down and then the story just pours out. It’s who I am.
Oh, Christina! I remember a few years ago when we had an ice storm and a few weeks without electricity. I was writing fanfiction, and the lack of WiFi was driving me crazy! I sat down, finally, and just wrote a story out by hand! It was so much fun!! Sometimes it’s like pulling teeth, and sometimes it’s like trying to stem the tide!!
Do you look on writing as a “calling?”
I believe everything that God asks us do in this life is a calling—whether it’s teaching or writing or preparing a meal for your family. The trick is, we need to realize there is purpose behind even the mundane and do it all for His glory. I once had a student who waitressed to help put herself through school and had a difficult time seeing that as impactful. I’d waitressed in the summers during college and recalled stories of people whose only contact with other human beings were at the restaurant where I worked. Her smile could have made someone’s day or week.
The stories we write can uplift or challenge, inspire or even show our readers the Lord. We may never know, and that’s okay—we plant the seed and God waters the bud.
Amen! I’ve had comments and “thank-you’s” from the most unlikely of people, and they mean so much! It’s great when you CAN know where our story landed, but God knows all of them!
What is one story from real life that you’ve included in one of your books?
Just like any other writer, I should come with the warning that anything you say or do could end up in one of my books. For example, in the Christmas novella I’m writing for this coming season, the heroine is the mother of an almost two-year old who stuffs all the toilet paper in the toilet and flushes, puts himself in the freezer drawer, and makes his mark on the clean laundry owned by the hero. Thank goodness that one child represents the misbehavior of many combined or I would have fallen apart as a mother—as my heroine does—until the hero and God hold her up.
Perfect!! Don’t you just love being able to preserve some fun family stories in this way? I’ve added at LEAST one to each book I’ve written!
Salad or Sandwich?
Can I have half and half? I want all the food. I love to cook, I love to eat—the more interesting and varied (within very broad limits—no eel, please)—the better.
I’m with you on the eel! LOL!
What is your favorite Bible verse, and why?
Romans 10:9: That if you confess with your mouth and in your heart, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
This verse, to me, is the heart of the faith. Other verses encourage me in my daily walk or strike me with their beauty, but this is all we need.
We try to make it so difficult, but I’m so glad God gave us such simple instructions to follow!
A lot of interviewers ask for your favorite book. That’s just not fair! What has been the most recent book you’ve read that excited you or moved you in some way? Why?
Rachel Hauck’s The Fifth Avenue Story Society. I’m a big fan of her writing, plus I loved how the characters from different walks of life came together and had their lives changed by God’s hand.
Oooo, I’ll have to look for that one. Rachel was to have been the keynote at the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference this weekend, and it was cancelled, sadly. I was so looking forward to hearing her!
If you were on a deserted island with a laptop and no wifi, what are two programs or apps you would have to have on your computer?
I’d need a Microsoft Word program—just need to be able to write. Then, I’d use my common sense and have some kind of beacon app? (is there such a thing) so I could be rescued.
Wow! You’re so sensible!! Me? I would want my Kindle app so that I could also READ as much as I wanted! Who needs to be rescued when there’s all these books to read? LOL!!
These questions were fun—thank you so much Regina, for hosting me. I hope your blog visitors enjoy the interview and I’d love to interact in the comments!
It’s been great having you, Christina!!
About Christina
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.
Christmas Confusion
When Tiffany Marano’s high school sweetheart drove off to join the Marines and never looked back, she swore off men. Now, she’s content to teach at Summer Creek, South Carolina’s local elementary school, lead a Sunday school class, and spend weekends with her niece—until Nick Walsh suddenly reappears wearing a wedding ring and with a daughter in tow. Everything about Tiffany’s calm, quiet life is now one disordered mess.
Nick Walsh comes face to face with Tiffany after all these years, and sparks fly. But not the happy glittering kind, because each of them thinks the other responsible for their estrangement. Before they can work it out, though, Tiffany’s sister disappears. Left with custody of her niece and forced to work with new police detective Nick to find her sister, old feelings begin to resurface. As they start to unravel the truths that left them confused and apart for too long, Nick must learn to let go of his past. But can Tiffany let go of her fear and learn to trust that God isn’t the only one who won’t abandon her?
Connect with Christina
Website/Blog: https://www.christinasinisi.com/
Social Networking Sites:
Twitter: @ChristinaSinisi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christina-Sinisi-Author-105861987440664/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Instagram: @csinisi123
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/csinisi/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/101218889-christina-sinisi
Purchase Links:
I’ve told you MY dream locale, now I want to hear about yours: If you could live ANYWHERE besides where you currently live (because you may already live your dream!), where would it be? Be as general or as specific as you’d like!
One blog commenter will receive an ebook copy of Christmas Confusion!
Thanks, Christina, for joining us, and thank YOU, dear reader, as well!
Stay safe, and enjoy some extra reading time!
Regina, I Love your interactive format. Thanks for having me!
So glad to have you – and I’m looking forward to more of your books set in the Lowcountry!!
Congratulations, Christina! And thank you for hosting, Regina.
I AM living the dream in Charleston, SC. But if I had to move, I’d choose the Carribbean – if my family came with me. 😉
Thank you for introducing a new author to me 🙂
Beautiful cover!
One day…I dream to retire to Carmel-by-the-Sea (after winning a lottery lol).
This is our getaway place…I love ocean!
I would live in a cottage right on the ocean. It doesn’t matter where.
My dream locale is where I live right now. Mount Pleasant SC. If I had to choose another local, it would probably be the mountains of Virginia. 🙂 We lived in the Shenandoah Valley for 19 years and the area is beautiful.