Tell us a little about your background

 

Christina Francine is an enthusiastic author and educator for all ages. Her dark fantasy novella, The Woman in Green from Cromarty: A Legend, and her upcoming fantasy novel Dream-Guardian reflect her fun and imaginative side. Picture book, Special Memory (2021), and leveled reader series, Mr. Inker (2020), reflect her positive thinking and belief that individual learning style can solve world problems. Journal of Literary Innovation published her analysis of students’ writing across the nation in the Spring 2016. 

 

Christina holds a B. A cum laude in Children’s Literature and in Education from University at Castleton, Vermont, and an M.A. in English Studies with a concentration in writing from SUNY Fredonia, New York. She continues to share her love of writing by teaching college students and with elementary students part-time. She is a member of Elk Grove Writer’s Guild. Learn more about Christina by visiting https://ChristinaFrancine.org

 

I’ve always had a big imagination and I thought most people did as well. And I still think people do, they may choose not to pursue it though.

 

Well in fifth grade my teacher asked the class to write a story. I created one about a talking pen and had a blast. That is when I wanted to be a writer. To me, creating a story is like playing.

 

Do you have any unique or quirky writing habits?

 

My imagination works best when first getting the story down on paper the old-fashioned way instead of with a keyboard and a computer. My writing is really messy when I’m creating and then also with the first few edits. I have scribbles here and there, and arrows to areas so I know where certain things fit better. I try to ask many friends and beta readers to give me feedback and my work goes through tons of edits. I'm picky about my final product and that's why sometimes there are long stretches between my published work.

 

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

 

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro’s writing fascinates and impresses me. It’s easy to see through her style, plots, and characters how intelligent she is. https://chelseaquinnyarbro.net/

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Give us an interesting fun fact about your book.

 

When I was a girl, some of my best friends and teachers were horses. The Pegasus, Hrimfaxi in Dream-Guardian, is based on a compilation of those horses.

 

How long does it take you to write a book?

 

It depends on the book. I write in a few genres and for a few different ages. Special Memory, Mr. Inker Finds a Home, and Mr. Inker Goes to School took me a few days each. They’re picture books that I had circulating in my head for years though. The Mr. Inker books came from the story I wrote in fifth grade.

 

My debut novel, Dream-Guardian, circulated in my mind for years. When I finally became serious the story took about two and a half years. 

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What do you think about the role of readers?

 

Reading fiction should be entertaining and fun. The role of writers is to entertain so readers may enjoy themselves. I tell my students that it's their job when writing to do the work. It is not the readers' job. 

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Have you experienced writer’s block, and if so, how do you get through it?

 

When I experience writer’s block it's usually because I’m not clear on where I want a story or work of non-fiction to go. It’s like the worker in me is ready but the artist in me is not. The artist is the fun and imaginative side of me. So, I have to stop the worker side and let out the artist, the child, the fun side. When I allow for the fun side, writer’s block often clears up. Writer's block also comes when I have too many plates going. Creating a story demands my full attention.

 

What do you plan to write next?

 

I’ve considered writing a part two for Dream-Guardian and for The Woman in Green from Cromarty: A Legend because I like the characters and because several readers have asked me to.

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What is your most treasured possession?

 

Common sense, and/or intuition. This sense guides my decisions and gives clarity. The older I get, the more I've come to realize my intuition is spot on.

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What is your favorite journey?

 

Motherhood (smile), because although it is the hardest, scariest, and worrisome thing to do, I wouldn’t change being a mother or give it up for anything else. The rewards are beyond easily explained.

 

What do you do as a hobby?

 

Besides writing, I enjoy getting my hands in the dirt. I enjoy herbal, flower, and vegetable gardening. Oh, I also like tending to houseplants.

 

Give us an interesting fun fact about your book.

 

Although a work of fiction, some of the information about Buffalo, NY, is true, its climate, the plants, the mountains, and places like the Outer Harbor are based on truth.

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Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

 

Finding long periods to write. I teach academic and technical communications writing at the college level. I also go into primary, middle, and high schools. This keeps me very busy. I enjoy teaching and working with young people, but long periods for my writing then become difficult to find.

 

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

 

As I mentioned, I like gardening. Besides that, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking in nature because nature fixes my heart and head, crocheting, and reading others' work.

 

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

 

We tend to believe we are born knowing how to write, and that writing should come naturally. That is not so. Good writing is a skill just like being a great basketball player is. We have to learn how to write and continue to practice. We need feedback from other writers too.

 

I think many of us feel like we should be able to write well our first few tries, and if we can't, we give up. I want to tell you that it’s not that you don’t have talent or can’t write. It’s that writing well takes time to do well just as other skills do. Stop being mean to yourself and do what you need to do to learn. Practice. Begin allowing yourself to have fun writing and to not be perfect. Writing is hard but should be fun or why do it? If you really do want to write well, get in touch with your inner child, the one who likes play, who likes pretending. Remember back to using your imagination as a child and have fun. This is my advice to aspiring writers.

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