Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Christina Francine is an enthusiastic author of a variety of work for all ages. When not weaving tales or cultivating medicinal herbs, she teaches academic writing at the college level. She’s also a licensed elementary teacher. Her picture book, Special Memory, is currently available at Amazon and her leveled Reader, Mr. Inker, in January 2020. She is published in Journal of Literacy Innovation, Joyful Child, Internet Review of Science Fiction, ForeWord Reviews, and MidWest Book Review. She also believes raising her two daughters is the best thing she has ever done. Christina is a member of the Hamburg Writer’s Group and of the Buffalo-Niagara Children’s Writers & Illustrators (BNCWI).
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Special Memory is a picture book inspired by my two daughters.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the second book in a leveled reader series. Here is more about the first book:
Rafiq misses his friends from Pakistan and a boy at school makes fun of his name. It is not easy being an immigrant in America. Rafiq knows he’s safer in “the land of the free,” yet he is homesick. When he receives a fancy pen for his birthday, he discovers his new best friend, a talking pen. Sometimes Mr. Inker is too proud and his jokes corny. He can be a real stinker, but he helps Rafiq with English words, makes him laugh, and finds a way to connect Rafiq with his old friends through traditional letter writing. This Step 3 Waldorf Reader is perfect for boys and girls ages 5-8.!
Be sure to look for other books about Mr. Inker who is sometimes a stinker.
A unique idea – a talking pen. In an age where cell phones seem most kids’ friends, the author resuscitates the original means of communication: the pen! A talking writing utensil becomes an immigrant boy’s best friend. Immigrant children will like reading a book about themselves combined with a little fun and magic. Not only will they learn to read, but have fun at the same time. Mr. Inker will bring smiles to immigrant and American children alike. The story may even cause a chuckle or two. Teachers and parents will like the learning within each story and the learning section at the back of the book.
Another work in progress is a fantasy novel. It’s in one of many revisions. One publisher expressed a little interest but hasn’t committed, so I’m still looking for one who will commit. Here is a little about this novel:
ASIMA, DREAMKEEPER OF EARTH’S CHILDREN is about a lonely dreamkeeper’s struggle to find forbidden true love, which jeopardizes her health, life, ability to save a young girl, and her professional position.
Asima is the protector of human children’s dreams and searches for true love, even though she isn’t allowed a mate. When her drive turns to passion, she neglects herself instead of her charges. Weakened, Asima eventually starts to miss required dreamkeeper classes. Her job begins to be affected at a time when Callie, a thirteen-year-old girl in a new school, is bullied and needs Asima the most. Asima is exhausted however, and fights to save Callie from Magnus, a class four sleep demon. It takes great effort, but Asima places him inside a bubble cell.
Asima stumbles upon Nicholas, a young man creatively rich in music and song who’s unaware he’s stolen her heart. Asima enters Nicholas’s dreams; something dreamkeepers are forbidden to do, and learns Nicholas has decided to pursue a career different from his passion.
Disappointed in not finding true love on Earth, Asima visits her mother on her home planet, Dulon. She pushes her mother to give her the truth about her father and the reason for their separation. It is here Asima decides to stop searching for true love, feels love doesn’t exist anyhow, and to concentrate on her job of helping Earth’s children. Her best friend, Hrimfaxi, a blue Pegasus with white wings, and the dreamkeeper for Earth’s animals, encourages Asima the best as he can.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon and Goodread reviewers have provided positive reviews. LinkedIn is amazing in that on average, my profile receives surprising visits and requests to connect.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Become an author, or anything you desire to be because it is your passion, you enjoy doing that thing. Writing for publication is hard, but possible. It may take years before you see progress, or very little time. Ask yourself what your destination is with this passion. Why are you doing it? Work hard because if given the choice, you would rather do this than anything else. Don’t expect to sit down and have perfection flow from your pen or through the keyboard. Writing well takes work just as learning to make most baskets in basketball. We are not born knowing how to write like we are knowing how to talk.
If you want to write, don’t give up.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Listen to your creative/inventive self and not the editor when first creating your story. The creative/inventive self is tied to play. If voices pop into your head while first writing your story/inventing, the editor side of yourself is out. Tie this editor up until your story is done and you’re ready to tweak it.
What are you reading now?
A technical communication textbook for college classes I’m teaching this coming semester.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Putting the final touches on the two books I mentioned I’m working on and having them available for readers. I’d like to hear from readers on their thoughts about my work. For some reason I’m driven to make a positive difference in people’s lives through writing.
Author Websites and Profiles
Christina Kennison Website
Christina Kennison Amazon Profile
Christina Kennison’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account