Christina Weigand’s a writer, wife, and mother of three grown children and a middle school daughter. She is also Nana to three granddaughters. She lives with her husband and youngest daughter in Pennsylvania, returning there after a short sabbatical in Washington. Currently, she’s working on fantasy novels and inspirational writing. Through her writing, she strives to share the Word of God and help people young and old to realize the love and mercy He has for everyone.
When she’s not writing, she’s active in her local Church as a lector, Bible Study, or with the church theater group, volunteering at her daughter and granddaughter’s school in the library as well as helping the children develop a love for reading and writing. Jesus fills her home with love as she shares Him through her writing.
When did you first get bit by the writing bug?
I remember first wanting to write when I was in middle school.
Why did you decide to write stories for the YA market?
First of all, I think I have a message that young adults need to hear. Secondly, there seem to be a lot of books for YA that do not necessarily have the good messages that our young people need to hear. I wanted to give them something with a better message and supply them with more choices when looking for books.
What is your favorite part of writing for this group? What is the greatest challenge?
They can handle more of a story than a child and their minds and ideas aren’t so set in stone that I can’t have the possibility of influencing them. They are at an age where they are making choices for their lives and I hope to be able to steer those decisions.
The greatest challenge is getting the books to them. They are more tech savvy and an author has to be in the place where they are. The traditional means of finding your audience don’t work as well with YA.
Can you tell us what your latest book is all about?
Joachim banishes Brandan to prison island of Hyogo. His infant son, Prince Airyn disappears from his cradle. A chain of events is set in motion that will pit brother against brother, friend against friend, parents against children as Brandan and Joachim struggle for control of their sanity and their very lives.
With Brandan declared dead and his son missing, Joachim sinks into despair and anger, where those close to him fear he may never return.
Is Brandan really dead and if he is, who is manipulating the Mantion and enemies of Crato?
Can Maeve save her country and her husband from the tentacles of evil pervading the land?
What inspired you to write it?
I always credit God with my first inspiration. After Him then my family. But since this is the third book in the trilogy the characters were a big impetus behind this book. Brandan and Joachim had a story that needed to be finished. Funny thing, I realized when I was writing this particular book and introducing a new generation to the world that it really was Brandan and Joachim’s story, and I really needed to wrap it up before I could continue with Enit and Airyn’s story.
Where can readers purchase a copy?
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/coming-soon/sanctuary-of-the-nine-dragons-detail
What is up next for you?
I’ve got several projects started and need to decide which one screams at me to be told. A few of the younger characters from the trilogy are also wanting their story continued. So as I said it is a matter of finding the one that wants to be told.
Thank you for spending time with us today, Christina. We wish you much success.
The Children's and Teens' Book Connection 