Monday, December 5, 2016

Talking Books with Christina Nicole Smith, author of 'Joseph's Journey'




Christina Smith is an entrepreneur, consultant, mother, and published author. "Joseph's Journey" is her first children's picture book.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, she grew up in a house with 3 children, WITHOUT the white picket fence and no dog! However, there was lots of love and laughs to go around. When she was about 10 years old, she thought she was going to be the "next coming" of Whoopi Goldberg! Well, "life happened" and "that" did NOT happen, but in 2014 she was able to cross ONE ITEM off of her bucket list and perform stand-up comedy in front of a live audience.

When she's not homeschooling her son or driving him all around town to his various activities, some of Christina's favorite things to enjoy are: PEET'S COFFEE, the local library, a throw-your headback, "that brought tears to my eyes" kinda laugh; organic, gluten-free, dairy free, non-gmo food (did we mention she's from the BAY AREA?) and good music.

Christina is a certified graduate/alumnus of, certified professional speaker/author, George Ramirez' "Present with Purpose" (2008) & two-time student of his "The Miracle in the Mirror" programs. She has received a Certificate of Recognition from California State Assembly in Honor of Graduating from the Women's Initiative for Self Employment and dedication to empowering the quality of her life and her community (2007). 

Additionally, she is a student of Certified Rebirthing-Breathwork Practitioner, Iris Nelson. She holds an Associates degree in Legal Administration/Paralegal Studies from
Heald Business College.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | YOUTUBE




As a mother, how do you explain an absentee father to your child without blame, anger or resentment? Empower them! Seven-year-old Joseph shares his story about when he first learns about
the POWER of choice he possesses after his father leaves and doesn't come back. His mother teaches him the difference between his father’s choices and his own. Do Joseph and Mom become angry with Joseph’s father? Well, a belief is just a thought you keep thinking over and over...find out what happens on Joseph’s Journey!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble




Thank you for this interview!  I’d like to know more about you as a person first.  What do you do when you’re not writing?
                                                         
I’m a homeschooling mother of one son, Joseph.  He’s in the 6th grade now.  I’m also seven and a half months pregnant with my second child, a daughter.  Those two things alone keep me very busy!  Additionally, I’m a virtual assistant.  I also love to read and I have an extensive library at home!


When did you start writing?

In 2006, I started off with writing business letters for others and doing legal documents preparation because I have a degree in Legal Administrative Assistance.  Then I moved into generating copyright content for other business owners as well as my own for various websites.  From there I went into comedic writing because it was very therapeutic for me. It was a way for me to talk about what was painful and bothering me emotionally yet at the same time be able to laugh about it.  Which then led me to want to write children’s books.

As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?

My first book sale on Amazon from Great Britain!  That was an amazing feeling!


If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why?

It would be somewhere quiet, partially-secluded, in a luxurious, fully stocked bungalow surrounded by greenery. It would have all my favorite foods, clean water, a diverse library and a clean, comfy writing space. Why? Because, it would be great to just get away for a while and immerse myself in my creativity without a bunch of distractions.  We’ve all heard of the “man-cave” right?  Well, if I had a “she shack” on my own property like this, I wouldn’t need to go anywhere else but there to get away.  As a matter of fact, that’s a nice goal to work towards. You’ve just inspired me with this question!  I would love, love, love my own “she shack” writing space!

If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?

Set aside more time to do healing and spiritual work together with my family.



Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

That’s a good question and one that I haven’t pondered really.  I’m more into writing non-fictional juvenile literature so it’s more about teaching a “subject matter” if you will, rather than the setting of the story acting as a character or focal point of the story to make the plot “work”.   I’m not sure if I would write a juvenile fiction book, it’s just not something I’m interested in at this point.


Back to your present book, Joseph’s Journey: When Dad Left and Never Came Back, how did you publish it?

For my first edition, I self-published using the Createspace.com platform.  For my second edition, I used Ingram Spark AND Createspace.

In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for research?

No I did not because it wasn’t necessary. This book is about how to have a difficult talk with your child when their father is absent, but in a way that is empowering for both mother and child.  The story is told in the voice of Joseph, a seven-year-old boy who recounts to readers how his mother first had this discussion with him and how it helped him.

Why was writing Joseph’s Journey so important to you?

It was important to me because I had MANY girlfriends who were raising their children without fathers. I honestly thought that when I had my child, I wouldn’t be doing it alone.  I picked Joseph’s father.  I saw something beautiful in him.  We both agreed to make Joseph.  However, for whatever his own personal reasons were, he decided that he could not be present in Joseph’s life.  I knew I didn’t want to be angry about it, but I was at first AND yet, I knew I had to find a way to heal from that anger because Joe was watching and he was NOT angry with his father.  He just felt love.  Joseph was almost four years old when his father stopped coming to see him.  The first thing I did was go to the library, because I’m an avid reader, to look for a children’s book that addressed this matter.  I found a couple but they were related to couples that had been divorced and Joseph’s father and I were never married.  There was another one, but there was this awful quote from the book akin to the mother telling the child, “At least your father pays his child support on time”!  I thought to myself, NO WAY am I getting that book.  So, I knew I had to find the right words to talk about this with my son because there wasn’t already a book available that I could use.  Once it was done, I just felt that not only did it help Joseph, it would help other children out there just like him.  That’s why it was so important to write this book.




Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is?

I get my best ideas from life experience. Life experience is a great teacher.  Life is always teaching you something that you could draw from when you need answers to questions that you may have.  Plus, since I’m writing juvenile non-fiction, life experience is the best well to draw from for writing ideas.


Any final words?

Yes. I want to encourage those reading this interview that no matter what challenges life brings you, if you have the wherewithal to make it through those challenges, there is something to be learned…a story to be told.  Dare I say the gift of wisdom that you have been given?  Accept the gift and use it for your self-growth and prosperity. I promise you that if you do this, life will be more fulfilling.  You will see life’s meaning and purpose.  PLUS, you will see how many lives you touch by not being afraid to step into your greatness.

1 comment:

  1. Dear Reader, As a thank your for your visit to I'm Shelfish's blog and for any comment to this post, during my book tour Dec 5th-16th, I am offering free books that enhance social and emotional intelligence in children grades Pre-K - 2nd grade to all school teachers, homeschooling parents, librarians and any other parents with a child(ren) that age, entitled, "That's Bingzy: Busy Building Self-Esteem" By Arlene Richards. (While supplies last.) Contact me at beablessingenterprises.com/contact-us to request your free book. Sending warm wishes...Christina

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