Christa A. Banister - Blessed Are the Meddlers - Free Book

We are welcoming Christa back with the second book in this series Blessed Are the Meddlers.

Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write the kind of books that I’d like to read when I’m kicking back after a long day. While I definitely appreciate the deep insights of an author like Dostoyevesky, it’s not something you feel up for reading all the time. Sometimes an engaging protagonist in a slew of funny situations is just the ticket—and truthfully, it’s quite fun to write these sorts of books, too.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Definitely my wedding day. I’ll never forget walking down the aisle, seeing my now-husband Will at the end of it and thinking “I get to spend the rest of my life with him.” I felt like the luckiest girl on the planet. And I still am two-and-a-half years into our married life.

I feel that way almost 44 years into my married life. How has being published changed your life?

More than anything, it was the realization of a lifelong dream. Ever since I read my first Judy Blume book in fourth grade, I knew I wanted to be a novelist. And it’s been really fun to see my book in stores and receive random e-mails from people I’ve never met before who’ve loved my debut, Around the World in 80 Dates. It’s incredibly rewarding.

What are you reading right now?

I think I’m probably the last person on the planet to be reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. I’m always naturally a little cynical about books that are universally loved, so that explains my delay in picking it up. And while I don’t necessarily agree with her worldview, it is beautifully written and an insightful cultural touchstone because of its widespread popularity.

What is your current work in progress?

In addition to reviewing almost every movie that released this summer and tackling my usual crop of freelance writing work, I’m in the very early stages of working on my third novel. It’s always really exciting to nail down the story you want to tell and run with it.

What would be your dream vacation?

I love traveling, so it’s really difficult to narrow down exactly where I want to go. But since it’s my dream vacation, maybe it could be a bit of a buffet platter. I would definitely start out in Paris where my hubby and I could spend the days at sidewalk cafes, reading, writing and talking. Then we’d venture over to Rome and Tuscany, where we’d eat fantastic Italian food and take a few cooking classes so I could learn to make some of the best Italian dishes the way they do. And to wrap up this dream scenario, we’d head to Greece (I’ve never been, but Will has) to take in the beauty and explore all the sights before heading back home.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I guess I choose places that I know really well (so I can describe them better) and fit well with the characters and scenarios I’m creating. Since Sydney is a travel writer, the locales tend to be a little more glamorous than say, podunk Iowa, which adds more color to the final product.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

My husband and I would love to have Cameron Crowe over for dinner. Not only does he make some of our favorite movies and have terrific taste in music, but I’m guessing he’d have some pretty great stories to tell.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to cook and am a bonafide Food Network addict. It’s kind of nerdy, I know, but it’s another outlet for creativity that’s rewarding and relaxing. Like most girls, I like to shop everywhere from Anthropologie to Sephora. And traveling is something I enjoy every time I have the opportunity.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

When it comes to writing, I am a chronic procrastinator. But somehow all that extra adrenaline ends up fueling my writing for the good. Still, I’ll panic a bit when I get close to deadline, which isn’t always fun. I can’t say that I’ve overcome that particular obstacle yet, but I’m certainly trying.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever been given is to write what you know. Everyone has something unique to bring to the table by way of our own experiences, so it’s great to draw from that. I’ve also been encouraged to write a little something every day, no matter if it’s a blog entry or a letter to someone—it flexes the muscle. Great writers are also great readers, so it’s good to read everything you can in your chosen genre. Lastly, when you’re working on your prospective novel, don’t focus on getting it published. Just craft the best story you can and worry about the publication process later.

Tell us about the featured book.

In so many romantic comedies, the audience never has a chance to see what happens after the dream couple you’d been rooting for all along gets the happy-ever-after ending. So I knew that was something I wanted to explore with my Around the World in 80 Dates protagonist, Sydney Alexander, in Blessed Are the Meddlers. And thanks to Sydney’s motley crew of single girlfriends, (and Sydney’s recently acquired Emma complex) there’s still plenty of that laugh-out-loud relationship angst from the first book. And because I loved this character so much, it was very inspiring to pick up the story right where it left off in 80 Dates and see new themes and crazy scenarios emerge in the process.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can check out my official Website at www.christabanister.com. And if they feel so inclined, they can check out my MySpace at www.myspace.com/christaannbanister. I’m also on Facebook, ShoutLife, GoodReads and Shelfari, so be sure to request me as a friend. :-)

Thank you, Christa, for spending this time with us.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win Blessed Are the Meddlers. Then head over to her web site.

Just remember to check back to see if you won the book.

Author Christa Ann Banister - Free Book

I first heard about Christa when her publisher sent me a copy of this book. I loved the title and premise, so I contacted her for an interview.

Christa, Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Some of the best writing advice I ever received was back in high school when my English teacher told me that the best writers “write what they know.” So I’ve always been a big believer in the connection between authenticity and the writer’s own experiences, traits, etc. And in my novel, Around the World in 80 Dates, Sydney and I share a few common traits. But because it’s fiction and not a memoir, we have our share of differences, too.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

What can I say? I’m a quirky girl, it may be difficult to narrow it down to just one. But back in my college years, I always thought it was pretty funny to switch everyone’s welcome mats around. The alterna-punk girl on our floor had a mat in front of her door that said “Go Away” on it, so I thought it would be fun to switch hers with another girl’s fluffy pink one with kittens on it. My favorite part was seeing their faces when they’d realized what happened. I’d get to watch their confused looks while they had no idea that I was the one who’d switched everything around. This was also fun to do with Christmas wreaths and decorations, too.

I love quirky. It makes life more interesting. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

As long as I can remember, I’ve always had a vivid imagination. And for some reason, I always liked inventing new stories more than playing with Barbies or jump roping. I was always the kid with the pen and paper. But when I read Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, that sealed the deal. I figured if she could make up stories like that for a living, well, that’s what I wanted to do.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love everything from Hemmingway’s A Moveable Feast to chick lit like Sophie Kinsella’s “Shopaholic” series. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a biography; other times, it’s a book with a pop culture tie-in. Basically, I like just about anything.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

When I was a kid, I wrote a 15-page book about a turtle going to a birthday party. Surprisingly, it didn’t hit the New York Times bestseller list. Aside from that, I had a devotional book published back in 2003 with Integrity called Hungry: An Ultra-Vertical Devotional Adventure and the sequel to Around the World in 80 Dates titled Blessed Be the Meddlers will hit store shelves in June 2008.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

It may sound cliché, but I pray a lot! My husband and I start almost every day with a time of prayer, and that provides a lot of peace in our crazy, run-run-run world. I also watch The Food Network when I need a break…it’s my new guilty pleasure.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

What a fun question. I wish there was a method to my madness, but there’s usually not. I just try and pick names I think fit the character. My protagonist’s name, however, was the first and only pen name I’ve ever used: Sydney Alexander. That name just seemed to fit her.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Being a girl from a small town in Wisconsin, it still blows my mind that I get to write novels and magazine articles for a living! That’s an accomplishment that continues to make me proud.

As well it should. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A penguin because they’re cool.

What is your favorite food?

I could write you an exhaustive list of just desserts alone. But if I had to pick one, I’d say the kung pao shrimp from P.F. Chang’s. Yummy.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

When I first moved to Nashville after college to pursue my dream of writing for CCM Magazine, my greatest roadblock was just waiting, waiting and waiting. After working a series of odd jobs and taking free internships to gain writing experience, I finally was hired for my dream job. But it wasn’t always easy being persistent when things were difficult financially, etc.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Write a little bit every day and make sure it’s something you’re passionate about. And if your manuscript is rejected the first time, the third time or for the fortieth and you think it’s a story worth telling, tweak and try, try again.

Very good advice.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

Around the World in 80 Dates is one travel writer’s hilarious but very bumpy journey on the road to Mr. Right. I was really intentional about wanting to tell a story that singles, married people, grandmothers, etc. could relate to, while offering a surprise element to prevent it from being the same ol’, predictable chick-lit story.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can check out my personal Website (where there is a sample chapter) at www.christabanister.com. I also have a MySpace page at www.myspace.com/christaannbanister. And if you want a recommendation of a good movie to see or the ones to avoid, check out my reviews at www.crosswalk.com/fun/movies.

Christa, thank you for spending this time with us. I'll be reading and reviewing your book soon. And when the new one comes out, we'll want another interview.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Around the World in 80 Dates.

There's still time to leave comments on these interviews:

Jane Kirkpatrick - A Tendering in the Storm
Sharon Hinck - The Restorer's Son

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And a Very Merry Christmas to all my readers!!!!!