Christina Graham Parker
Christina Graham Parker is the author of The Peculiar Princess and Ghosts of Winters Past.
Christina lives in Southeastern North Carolina with her husband and two kids. She works in the pharmaceutical industry during the day and writes at night. You can also find her working as a Research Advocate for the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, teaching Sunday School, or reading a good book. She has two dogs, a cat, and serious affection for dark chocolate.
MTAR: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Christina Graham Parker: I’m in my late thirties and live in a small North Carolina town with my husband and two children.
MTAR: What do you do when you are not writing?
Christina Graham Parker: During the day, I work in the pharmaceutical industry. I was diagnosed with Early Onset Parkinson’s two years ago and as a result of that, I became a Clinical Research Advocate with the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.
MTAR: What inspired you to write your first book?
Christina Graham Parker: I was on vacation in Florida with my husband when the idea came to me.
MTAR: How did you choose the genre you write in?
Christina Graham Parker: I enjoy all kinds of fiction, but romance has always held a certain appeal to me. I love reading and writing about how two people come together.
MTAR: Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?
Christina Graham Parker: The Peculiar Princess doesn’t quite fit into any genre. It’s inspirational, but has a time travel element in it. The mainstream market felt it was too religious and the time travel element gave the Christian market pause. Fortunately, Stephanie at Astraea saw something promising in the manuscript.
MTAR: Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
Christina Graham Parker: I have several works in progress: the sequel to Princess, a contemporary piece, and I have an idea for a follow-up novella for Ghosts of Winters Past featuring Paul and Elizabeth.
MTAR: What was your favorite chapter (or scene) to write and why?
Christina Graham Parker: I love writing the orphanage scenes. It was a new type of scene for me and so much fun to imagine and write.
MTAR: How did you come up with the title?
Christina Graham Parker: One of my writing/crit partners, Rebecca Allen Green, actually helped me with the title.
MTAR: Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?
Christina Graham Parker: I really want to write the follow-up novella with Paul and Elizabeth. I think there’s more to them then what we saw in Ghosts.
MTAR: What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
Christina Graham Parker: In the early drafts of Princess, I had a fellow writer very bluntly tell me how one of my main scenes didn’t work. It was hard to hear, but that scene is now so much stronger.
MTAR: What has been the best compliment?
Christina Graham Parker: I had someone say, out of the blue, “I’m reading your book. I love it!”
MTAR: Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Christina Graham Parker: Don’t give up!
MTAR: Dogs or Cats?
Christina Graham Parker: Both! Hahaha! We have one mutt cat and two rescue French Bulldogs.
MTAR: What book are you reading now?
Christina Graham Parker: Diana Gabaldon’s ‘A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows’
MTAR: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
Christina Graham Parker: My friend and fellow author, Kat Watson.
MTAR: Do you see writing as a career?
Christina Graham Parker: Yes, that’s the goal I’m working toward.
MTAR: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Christina Graham Parker: I was writing poems and short stories for as long as I can remember.
MTAR: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Christina Graham Parker: Physically, sometimes it’s difficult. Parkinson’s has made my left side a bit slow. But the way I see it, that just gives me time to think.
MTAR: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Christina Graham Parker: Diana Gabaldon. I love how she writes, pulling together history and drama with so much emotion and intensity.
MTAR: Who designed the covers?
Christina Graham Parker: Elaina Lee, aren’t they beautiful?
MTAR: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Christina Graham Parker: I always find the ending hard for some reason. Probably because I don’t want to say goodbye to my characters.
MTAR: Do you work with an outline, or just write?
Christina Graham Parker: I just write!