A.E. Albert: A Writer's Blog

Author Interview:

Christina Yother

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer? 

I remember writing my first poem and short story in 3rd grade. I loved the creativity and imagination that came with writing. It wasn’t until middle school that I knew I wanted to be a writer.

What inspired you to write your first book? 

After I finished my Ph.D. in 2012 I decided to write my first novel. I knew I didn’t want to be tied to academic writing and decided to explore fiction.

What have you written? 

I’ve written a series of historical romance novels. The Hollow Hearts Series includes Reverie, Reliance, and Reconcile. I had planned to stop the series at 3 books, but I have ideas to extend the series to 5 books.

Is there a message in your book and/or books? 

I’d say the message is one of trust and mutual respect. While all my books include a love story, I try to concentrate on the emotional development rather than the physical desire.

Is there anything in your book and/or books based on real life experiences? 

My second book, Reliance, deals with the idea of blended families. I grew up in a blended family and took a bit of inspiration from that.

Who is your favorite character from one of your stories? 

I love Sol. He’s a minor character in all three novels, but his kindness, gentleness, humor, and wisdom just make him so lovable!

What actor do you see playing them in a movie? 

I’ve never actually thought about this. I do try to find pictures and old photographs to help inspire the stories, but I’ve never tried to “cast” the roles.

What books and/or writers have influenced you the most? 

I’ve read so many authors and so many genres, but I love the words and stories of Francine Rivers. Kay Gibbons has such a good voice and balance of details in her work.

What is your favorite book? 

This is a tough question because it changes all the time! I’d say my favorite book is The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway, but my favorite of 2015 is The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton.

How do you conquer writer’s block? 

I conquer it by accepting it. Sometimes I cannot force the words to come. They’re just not there. When I embrace that fact I can usually push through. Plus, it never hurts to have a break for a few days :)

What has been your greatest challenge when writing? 

Finding time is my greatest challenge. My children are now home for summer break so my morning writing hours are not my own anymore. I’m learning to write at night instead.

How do you rejuvenate after a writing session? 

A nap always does it for me. Or I’ll snuggle in for a bit of reading. Both make me feel so refreshed.

What are you working on right now? 

I’m currently working on a stand-alone novel that explores the relationships between 3 generations of women.

What have you learned and do you have any advice for other authors? 

I’ve learned so much, but the biggest lesson is patience. Writing, editing, and revision - it all takes time. There shouldn’t be a rush to produce. Being patient and trusting the process is key.

What famous person would you like to meet? 

Why? I’d love to meet Jen Campbell. She’s a writer and poet and YouTube book blogger. She’s such a genuine person and her love of books is addicting. I’d sit with her and discuss literary fiction over afternoon tea!

If you could go anywhere in the world? Where? 

I’d love to visit England. Years ago I taught British Literature to high school students. It’s always been a dream to visit all the places I taught about.

What is your favorite book quote? 

“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.” It’s from Ode by Arthur O’Shaughnessy. I just think it’s magical and lyrical.

About the Author

Christina Yother is a historical and contemporary romance writer. She has been involved with writing, blogging, and social

media for several years and earned a PhD in 2012 by writing one of the first dissertations to explore how women build community through writing online. She lives in small-town Georgia with her husband and three children. You can find her writing at christinayother.com or at projectunderblog.com where she runs a submission-based collaborative writing blog that celebrates the smaller voices in the blogging community.

About the Books

Reverie: Orphaned at a young age Hetty is convinced that her circumstances make her unworthy of having a family of her own. When a job opportunity as a housekeeper presents itself Hetty accepts believing that working for Isaac Wheeler and his family is a welcome, if not temporary, surrogate for her own family dreams. As she’s faced with learning to trust she discovers that wanting a family and building a family are two very different things. Will she learn to see herself as worthy of God’s gifts? Or will she return to the solitary existence that defined so much of her life? Isaac Wheeler, successful furniture maker and dishonorable bachelor, finds Hetty’s presence in his home to be disturbing and a haunting reminder of his past sins. As he struggles with his growing and unwanted feelings, he can’t help but torment himself with mistakes from his past. Can he navigate the family tensions, infidelity, and sudden choices destined to keep them apart? Or can Isaac endure each struggle and seek forgiveness before discovering what truly makes a family?

Reliance: Two strangers. One clandestine wedding. Many hidden stories. Discouraged by his limited prospects and tired of trying to find a bride in a traditional manner, Elias Wheeler places an advertisement requesting a mail-order bride and mother for his young daughter. Rebecca Malone, eager to escape an abusive past, travels to Montana to become Elias’s wife despite only exchanging a few letters. Learning to care for one another proves easy; learning to trust proves much more difficult. Elias and Rebecca must navigate the waters of blending families while learning to depend on one another with confidence, loving support, and faith. Together they must learn to rely on each other and what they hope to build while accepting that perfection isn’t the goal; love is.

Reconcile: Facing the truth of the past. Accepting the hope of the future.
Joshua Miller struggles to care for his ailing father, run the town livery, and meet the demands of a spoiled fiancé. When an unexpected woman enters his life and exemplifies true compassion, he begins to question the path his life is taking. When changing his plans means destroying all he has built, Joshua will have to decide what matters most.

Lilly Johnson arrives in her sister’s home in the frontier town of Hollow, Montana hoping she left the shame of divorce behind her. With her sister’s support, Lilly begins to build a new life and gain a sense of independence. After accepting a job as a caregiver for Joshua Miller’s father, she discovers it’s more difficult to keep her heart closed than she imagined. But when her past catches up with her, she must reconcile her beliefs in order to brave an uncertain future with an open heart. 

Book Trailer

Buying Links: 

Amazon: 
http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Yother/e/B00KQM0FQ6/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Christina-Yother?store=allproducts&keyword=Christina+Yother

Books-a-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/search?id=6331690489843&query=Christina+Yother&where=All

iTunes:

 https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/christina-yother/id894748508?mt=11


Social Media Links

Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/ccyother

Twitter 

http://www.twitter.com/ccyother

Website

http://www.christinayother.com



About A.E. Albert