Author, Model, Photographer, and Lambda Literary Award Nominee
Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down...
I know, I know. Bios are supposed to be in the third person. I figured since this is my website, I can pretty much do what I want to do. Besides, who better than me can tell you about me? And, too, I hate formalities just as much as I hate the word ‘fan.’
I’m currently thirty-two years old, originally from New Orleans, LA , but living in Seattle, WA. No, I don’t know Lil Wayne and I will not say baaaaby for you, unless you’re special or cute or thick... okay, I might say it.
I’ve been doing this writer thing for a long time now. The first story that I can remember writing was at the age of six. It was called “The Talking Pumpkin.” I’m sure I had a journal at that age, too, because life was so hard. Jokes just jokes.
I did love journaling. It’s kind of all I ever really wanted to do. I’ve been in love with life stories ever since I sat down on my mama’s bedroom floor and watched “What’s Love Got to do with It.” I always said that I would write my own one day then I realized I had no idea how long I’d live. At what point in your life do you tell the world about yourself?
By the time I was nineteen, I had already seen and been through more than my peers. I started writing my biography, but stopped myself because it felt embarrassing to share with even myself. I picked and I chose what I wanted to share in bits and posted it on my MySpace. It got more attention than I expected it to, drawing in strangers. From there, I became a blogger and people depended on me to post often. They wanted more of my experiences and opinions—in a book.
I wanted to be more honest without defaming people who were a part of my story. I wanted to share more, but in order to keep my stories from being watered down, I had to find another way. This is how I discovered fiction writing. I’d been reading it all my life with “Goosebumps” and “Babysitters Club,” but had no idea that I, too, could do it.
I sat down one Saturday and banged out my first short : The D in Drama. It felt so good to sit there and create a new world. I could see the faces, hear the voices, and even feel the feelings of each character. The vivid imagination that I’d always had, finally made sense and had a real place in my life. After that, I wrote eleven more stories. The only thing left to do was find a way to share them with the people that wanted them.
I shopped around for publishers, only to find small companies that wanted me to pay them to do what I could do myself. A man who never told me his name inboxed me and told me how to self-publish. He showed me the doors, I just had to walk through them.
At the age of twenty-two (2009), I’d gotten everything just the way I wanted it with some missed steps, because well... I was a newbie. Don’t worry, I know much, much more now. I’m a vet! *insert milly rock*
It’s my forever celebratory dance.
I now have eleven titles (one under a pen name) and four others that I’ve done collaborating with several authors. Those titles can be found under books. I’ve been nominated for a Lambda. I’ve done some interviews, which you can watch and listen to below. I’ve done a signing or two because well I’m kind of shy. I know, I know. I don’t get to be shy so I’ll be around soon. Promise. Until then, thank you for your continuous support. More coming your way faster than you think.
Me, in a nutshell.
-Christiana
I know, I know. Bios are supposed to be in the third person. I figured since this is my website, I can pretty much do what I want to do. Besides, who better than me can tell you about me? And, too, I hate formalities just as much as I hate the word ‘fan.’
I’m currently thirty-two years old, originally from New Orleans, LA , but living in Seattle, WA. No, I don’t know Lil Wayne and I will not say baaaaby for you, unless you’re special or cute or thick... okay, I might say it.
I’ve been doing this writer thing for a long time now. The first story that I can remember writing was at the age of six. It was called “The Talking Pumpkin.” I’m sure I had a journal at that age, too, because life was so hard. Jokes just jokes.
I did love journaling. It’s kind of all I ever really wanted to do. I’ve been in love with life stories ever since I sat down on my mama’s bedroom floor and watched “What’s Love Got to do with It.” I always said that I would write my own one day then I realized I had no idea how long I’d live. At what point in your life do you tell the world about yourself?
By the time I was nineteen, I had already seen and been through more than my peers. I started writing my biography, but stopped myself because it felt embarrassing to share with even myself. I picked and I chose what I wanted to share in bits and posted it on my MySpace. It got more attention than I expected it to, drawing in strangers. From there, I became a blogger and people depended on me to post often. They wanted more of my experiences and opinions—in a book.
I wanted to be more honest without defaming people who were a part of my story. I wanted to share more, but in order to keep my stories from being watered down, I had to find another way. This is how I discovered fiction writing. I’d been reading it all my life with “Goosebumps” and “Babysitters Club,” but had no idea that I, too, could do it.
I sat down one Saturday and banged out my first short : The D in Drama. It felt so good to sit there and create a new world. I could see the faces, hear the voices, and even feel the feelings of each character. The vivid imagination that I’d always had, finally made sense and had a real place in my life. After that, I wrote eleven more stories. The only thing left to do was find a way to share them with the people that wanted them.
I shopped around for publishers, only to find small companies that wanted me to pay them to do what I could do myself. A man who never told me his name inboxed me and told me how to self-publish. He showed me the doors, I just had to walk through them.
At the age of twenty-two (2009), I’d gotten everything just the way I wanted it with some missed steps, because well... I was a newbie. Don’t worry, I know much, much more now. I’m a vet! *insert milly rock*
It’s my forever celebratory dance.
I now have eleven titles (one under a pen name) and four others that I’ve done collaborating with several authors. Those titles can be found under books. I’ve been nominated for a Lambda. I’ve done some interviews, which you can watch and listen to below. I’ve done a signing or two because well I’m kind of shy. I know, I know. I don’t get to be shy so I’ll be around soon. Promise. Until then, thank you for your continuous support. More coming your way faster than you think.
Me, in a nutshell.
-Christiana
Books! Books! Books!
COLLABS
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The Model
If you can’t see anything beautiful in yourself, get a better mirror.” -Kendall Jenner
