AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Hello. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I'm Rebecca Scarberry, author of novella, MESSAGES FROM HENRY and shorty, RAG DOLL. Also (@Scarberryfields on Twitter). I have once again interviewed a multi-published author, Christina Fifield-Winn (@KafeCastro on Twitter). I'm impressed with her talent and certain you will be also.

Scarberryfields: Can you tell us a little about your nationality?

Christina: Actually, I really can only tell you a little bit about it.

My mother's side is easy: my Grandmother was Hungarian and my Grandfather was Italian. They both came through Ellis Island before becoming American citizens. This is probably the only simple thing about the Pellegrinos.

My father's side is a little more complicated. My grandparents were descended from the Finnish and English Canadians...except that my grandparents weren't actually my grandparents. I was almost eighteen years old when I found out that my father was the product of a rape. His "sister" could not handle being a parent, so his grandparents brought him up as their own. My father was not told about this until just before he got married. By then, his sister/mother was dead. The family was so focused on covering up the "embarrassment" that they never talked about it. All information about her rapist was buried with my biological grandmother.

Now, my siblings and I have no idea what types of medical related issues we may be predisposed to...except for kidney disease, which plagued my father for most of his adult life.

Scarberryfields: When you finish a novel, do you miss the characters?

Christina: I have only written a novella, SUKI.

My collection of short stories, THE COFFEE BREAK SERIES, is strongly based in truth.  Most of the characters are people that I know, and most of the events or situations that they find themselves in, have either happened to those people, me, or to someone else that I have come in contact with.

So, to make a long answer longer, NO. I do not miss the characters because they are part of my daily life, for the most part.

Scarberryfields: With the number of hours spent writing, do family members support you or complain about the time spent away from them?

Christina: Ha ha ha ....my kids complain that I am way too overprotective, so when I'm writing, it's a vacation for them...

Seriously, I do most of my writing before they get home from school, while they are doing homework, and before bed.

As much as I love family time together, writing while they are around is frustrating because of the constant bickering that is a staple of teenage/sibling life.

Scarberryfields: Does writing benefit you in any way and if so, how?

Christina: At times, writing has been extremely cathartic and revealing. I learn so much about myself as I think about what my character's reactions are and compare them with what mine would be.

But, writing REALLY benefits me when I see what it does for others. My blogs are outside of the box, and I often hear about how my perspective makes others think. Some readers have revealed that they are cheered up by my posts and also my shorts in the COFFEE BREAK SERIES.

The biggest reaction though, has been to my novella, SUKI. This one little story about love gained has set off conversations that have just blown my mind.

The print copies are being passed around to those that readers feel "need it". Booklovers are starting to sign the inside cover after they've finished it, and I get messages about the number of people that have read one copy...it's almost like a competition!

Scarberryfields: When you’re writing, do you shut-off all social networks?

Christina: No I don't. I use it to take 2-3 minute breaks and remove myself from my work for a moment. It helps me see the situation I'm writing about from different perspectives.

Scarberryfields: Did you use any family members as Beta readers for your debut novel?

Christina: I had three Beta readers, and one of them was my sister-in-law. I chose her because she's an avid reader, she's very hard to please, and she's honest. She turned out to have the most valuable insights. Her comments changed the course of SUKI. If you read it and enjoy it, please send her a bottle of red wine...lol.

Scarberryfields: Where can readers go to find your books?   

Christina: All things SUKI, including links to buy it, can be found on my website: readsuki.com

The COFFEE BREAK SERIES shorts are sold individually at

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SUOUT0

and my blog can be found at simplystick.blogspot.com

Scarberryfields: Thank you so much for answering my questions, Christina and thank you for being my friend. Good luck with your books and with raising 2 girls and your son by yourself. Posting you with them below. Great looking kids!