As summer draws to a close, and we enter the “ber” months, the earlier darkness seems to invite getting lost in a good story. If you agree, and especially if you like your romance mixed with an element of suspense, today’s interview with Christina Rost will get your autumn reads off to a great start. Hang on for an exciting ride!
Jenny: Hi, Christina. Thanks for stopping by today. So that our readers can get to know you better, tell us about your favorite authors and what you have learned from them.
Christina: Some of my favorite authors are Rene Gutteridge, Ted Dekker, Susan Sleeman, Elizabeth Goddard, Colleen Coble, and Jody Hedlund.
I love Rene’s ability to infuse humor into her books while Jody permeates her stories with swoony romance. I lean a lot toward reading Romantic Suspense, so I can continue to learn about pacing. Susan, Elizabeth and Colleen Coble are all great to learn from for pacing as I try and weave mystery and romance together in my own stories!
Jenny: I love Rene Gutteridge, too. I need to catch up on her books. The others you named are well-known for mixing romance and suspense. Great choices. So, when did you realize you could count yourself as one of them? When did you feel you had “arrived” as an author?
Christina:. I’m not sure I have “arrived”, but I did feel like Cinderella when she received her new ball gown the day I signed my first contract to publish from Scrivenings Press. Cinderella wore sparkly blue; my dress was made of paperback.
Jenny: Great image. A paperback dress? I love it. So, we would love to hear what inspired this particular story. Did a real event from your life inspire anything in the book?
Christine: My most recent release was Hidden Legacy, and it’s book 2 in the H & G series. I’ve always loved a good mystery, like a Nancy Drew style, so for Hidden Legacy I wanted to incorporate Nancy Drew meets a type of Superman. I wanted my MC to be an endearing, handsome nerd, since I usually gravitate toward writing strong military or bodyguard types. The idea that inspired the story was I’ve always been drawn to learning about and praying for the Christians in North Korea. I’ve read several non-fic books about their struggles now and the history of their plight as well. In my studies I came across an article about a century old Korean Bible, with an outdated dialect. I thought … what if (I won’t give the story away) but I’d say that’s where my idea was birthed for Hidden Legacy.
Jenny: A hidden dialect? That certainly does sound intriguing. So without any spoilers, what was the most interesting thing you learned while researching this book?
Christine: The most interesting thing for me was that Pyongyang was once known as the “Jerusalem of the East.” There was a seminary there and several churches and missionaries before the Korean War. I believe there are countless stories to uncover about the history of that time.
Jenny: Sounds like we are kindred spirits. Writing contemporary while fascinated by history. What is the major takeaway you want readers to retain from your book?
Christina: First and foremost, to remember to pray for believers in North Korea. In my story I hoped to weave in the idea that although we are separated by borders and miles, we are all connected in Christ.
Secondly, I hope readers enjoy the mystery and the love story, and how two people working toward one goal is often better than going it alone.
Jenny: Thanks for sharing your heart as well as your stories. Now, just for fun, tell us about your favorites:
Day of the week? Why? Monday. Weird I know. I work from home, so often the house is quiet, and I clean on Mondays. There’s a sense of setting everything in order and starting a new week! I like lists, so Monday’s a great day to start a new one.
Hot Beverage? Latte, anything seasonal
Holiday? Christmas
I love the slower pace, which seems funny because we’re busy, but with school break and sometimes an ice storm down south, we’re forced to sit by the fire and enjoy each other’s company for a few days.
I write better next to a fire, so that’s where a lot of my new stories begin.
Genre other than the one you normally write? Historical Romance
I loved Janette Oke as a girl, so any story where they are exploring a “new frontier” is exciting to read!
Jenny: See, I knew we had a lot in common. Janette Oke was my introduction to Christian Fiction. This has been a great interview. Do you have any parting words for our readers?
Christina: I hope reading my books readers are prompted to ask what-if questions and their imaginations are sparked. I hope through entertainment they also leave with a sense of a “relaxed breath” a sense that for that moment, as the whole story comes to close, all is made right and happily ever after’s are possible.
Jenny: Agreed. We all need those moments of renewed hope. Thanks again for joining us today.
Note to readers: Here’s how to connect with Christina, and purchase a copy of Hidden Legacy!
Christina Rost is an award-winning author, mother to three amazing children, and is married to her high school sweetheart. While she currently resides in Oklahoma City, she’s lived all over the US, a few years in the UK, and loves to travel. When she isn’t spending time with her family or writing you’ll find her chatting over coffee and perusing antique stores for tattered books.
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