Author Name: Christina Consolino
Genre: Women’s Fiction with romantic elements
Book: Rewrite the Stars
Bio: Christina Consolino is a writer and editor whose debut novel, Rewrite the Stars, placed as a finalist for the Ohio Writers’ Association Great Novel Contest 2020 and the 2021 Best Book Awards. She serves as senior editor at the online journal Literary Mama, freelance edits both fiction and nonfiction, and teaches writing classes at Word’s Worth Writing Center. She lives in Ohio with her husband, four children, and a rotating cast of pets.
What got you started as a writer? Writing is something I have always wanted to do, and when my children were little, I blogged (mostly to appease the little voice inside that kept telling me to write). When that voice changed to a character prodding me to tell their story, I took up the call to write. That was a decade ago.
What is your writing routine? After the alarm rings at 5:15 a.m., I grab my computer, coffee, and water, and I sit with my cats in the dining room as I work. I can get about an hour of work in before my obligations for the day begin, but I try to squeeze in fifteen-minute chunks of writing time in my day. And sometimes, I block off entire days for writing (those seem like gifts!).
What route did you take to get your book published? This book took so long to become the book it is today (eight years), and during that time, my outlook on publishing and what I wanted changed. In the end, I pursued a small publisher because that model would work best for me, my goals, and my family.
What things do you do to promote your book? I can cheerlead anyone else, but when it comes time to cheerlead for myself—I just hate it. But no one will support your work if you don’t, so I do what I can with my limited time, primarily using Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for posts, and I have been featured on podcasts or in written interviews like this one (thank you so much!).
What is your favorite genre to read and why? I’d have to say women’s fiction with romantic elements (which makes sense, since that’s what I write!). However, with the thriller genre back in favor (or maybe it never left), I’ve realized that I do enjoy a good thriller.
Do you prefer to write dialogue or description? Dialogue!
Have any of your characters ever surprised you? Did this change the plot of your book? I won’t go into the whole story (if you’re interested, you can read about it here), but at one point, Theo (now a POV character in Rewrite the Stars), said to me, “Excuse me? I need to tell my side of the story.” The fact that he wanted to tell his story really surprised me, and I had to perform an entire structural rewrite of the book.
What is the most difficult thing you have accomplished in your life? I got married, got pregnant, and gave birth to twins while in graduate school. That meant that I needed to write a dissertation and defend that dissertation with two infants at home. It took a village, but I did it! Come to find out, that was only slightly more difficult than birthing a book.
What three events or people have most influenced how you live your life? My husband—he’s far more chill than I am, and I’ve learned that there’s no need to worry about most things. My parents—every day I apply what they did or didn’t do to my own situation. My children—they are far wiser about many things, and they teach me something new every day.
What would you tell your younger self? Be confident, be kind, believe in yourself.
Have you ever met up with a bear on a hike? If so, what did you do? If not, are you looking up what to do right now? No. When I visited Sequoia National Park, I was warned of bears, but I did not encounter one. And no, I’m not looking up what to do right now. But I probably should!
You’re locked in your local library for the night with no dinner. Thank goodness you have water, but you only have enough change to buy one item from the vending machine. Choices are limited to: Fudge Pop Tarts, Snickers or Doritos. Which would you choose and why? Being locked in a library sounds divine! And I’d go for the Snickers. That little bit of protein from the peanuts would keep me more satisfied than the others!
What’s the largest number of people you’ve had in your kitchen at one time? Twenty.
Closing thoughts: Thank you so much for having me! I love hearing from readers and writers, so feel free to reach out to me via any of the venues listed below!
Website and social media links:
Website: christinaconsolino.com
Twitter: @cmconsolino
Instagram: @cmconsolino
Facebook: @AuthorChristinaConsolino
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Book Club Mom 
Christina’s book is right down my alley: I like the genre and also the fact this is an award-winning book. Thanks for introducing me to this author. I admire her writing discipline and her realistic attitude toward marketing: “No one will support your book if you don’t.” Thanks, Barbara, and best wishes to you, Christina.
Thank you so much for stopping by to meet Christina! Her words about marketing are wise.
Thank you so much! It took a long time for me to figure out that point about supporting ourselves. Hope someone else can learn a little earlier. 🙂
Barbara, a terrific interview with Christina and I love your eclectic questions! It’s great to be introduced to Christina, her work and her life. It’s wonderful how a ‘village’ came together to help her with her final dissertation etc. I think many of us can relate to not being the best at promoting our own work but yet we somehow get out there — as this interview shows perfectly! As for the characters in our works – they can be very bolshie and won’t give up until they’re given their way! Well done to Christina for doing the massive re-write! Rewrite the Stars is on my radar!
Hi Annika, thank you for taking the time to meet Christina and read about her book and writing career. I’m glad you liked my questions, too!
I’ve gotten delayed in my replies, but I wanted to say thanks for reading! And thanks to Barbara for having me!
Thank you for introducing us to Christina and for the terrific interview.
BTW – If I were locked in my local library for an evening (dream come true) I would pass on each of those vending machine options and keep on reading! 😀
Hi Donna – thanks so much for reading about Christina and her book. I’m glad you liked the interview! Those vending machine snacks are some of the ones in our library machine. I almost never get anything from it except for an occasional Peanut M&Ms. Hope you are doing well!
I love this! Being your own self. 🙂
Hi Barbara, it’s great to meet Christina. I always love reading about other authors, their journeys and their writing achievements.
Hi Robbie – I do too – it makes me feel connected to a larger world. Thanks so much for stopping by to meet Christina!
I do as well. I appreciate you reading!