What made you start writing?
Buried deep within my closet, one might find some angst-filled poetry from my teenage years and a very spooky seven pages of the novel I started in high school. Though I was in love with the idea of being a writer, it wasn’t until I finished college and stayed home with my first child that I actually decided to write a book. Truthfully, my mom told me we were going to write one together, and being the obedient daughter I am …
How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
My mother, Sherrie Ashcraft, and I began writing in the summer of ’99. We figured the accountability of having a co-writer would make us actually do what we’d always dreamed of but never put action to. It took a long road of learning how much we didn’t know, tons of re-writing, brooding over rejections, making connections, pitching at conferences, and directional prayer to make our writing salable.
In the summer of 2007, when Mom was busy caring for her dying mother-in-law, I got the itch of a new story idea. Undiscovered was written by February 2008, edited by June, won second place in the ACFW Genesis Contemporary category, and was renamed The Familiar Stranger and contracted by Moody Publishers in October.
One decade from naïve first scribbles to debut novel!
Do you put yourself into your books/characters?
Any character has some aspect of my personality, for better or worse. I can only write what I know. I’ve seen a richness develop in my writing as I’ve grown in my faith and walked through some valleys in the last decade.
Denise and Craig’s story is based on the lessons of forgiveness God taught me when my marriage fell apart … the first time. Accordingly, many of the emotions Denise goes through correspond to what I felt, though our situations differ. However, I also wanted to really understand the male perspective, so Craig had parts of me in him as well. The path away from God and following temptation is something we can all recognize and, unfortunately, identify with.
During the editing process and years after my husband and I reunited, our marriage of thirteen years unexpectedly ended. The words I had written as a happily married woman ministered to me in my singleness. My heart’s hope is that this book will lead people to Live Transparently—Forgive Extravagantly!
Tell me about your novel.
The Familiar Stranger—formerly known as Undiscovered—is about a couple going through a really rough patch in their marriage. When an accident incapacitates the husband, their relationship must be redefined. Which would be a lot easier to do if BIG secrets from his past didn’t raise their ugly heads. Despite the upheaval, the choices they make involving forgiveness and trust might allow a new beginning. Or … they might not.
You can see the back cover copy and what other authors have said about The Familiar Stranger by going to
http://www.christinaberry.net/books.aspx
How did you come up with the story?
In the summer of 2006, two stories appeared in the newspaper. One was a huge, national story; the other a smaller, local-interest item. I wondered what it might look like if those two stories conceived a child. Boom! I had the entire plot for The Familiar Stranger. It will be interesting to see if readers can figure out which stories inspired the book.
If you could make this into a movie who would your cast?
This is tough! Moody gave me the cover--which I love--in the midst of edits, so the characters became even more the man and woman on the front. Can I cast them? :)
For Denise ... maybe Christina Applegate, though she's a bit young. Craig could be played by Christian Bale, but a decade older. (Hmm ... Christina and Christian in a movie based on a book writt
en by a Christian Christina!)
You know, Sandra Bullock with corn-silk blond hair could nail it! And Matt Damon would also make a great Craig.
How do you handle rejections?
I pout and throw things.
No, really, I believe my skin has thickened from the 47 rejections I’ve received over the years. I tend to get down for a day or two, but know God directs more clearly (in my life) through “no” than through “yes.”
Each rejection means a writer is one step closer to finding the perfect publishing home.
How can our readers purchase your book?
Best piece of advice:
(If you've been writing for years and have yet to get published, this is especially for you!) To start a new novel.
I'm a stubborn girl—just ask my parents. My mother and I reworked and reworked a co-authored story for eight years, each time putting our newly acquired writing knowledge/skills to use. We were determined that it woudn't end up in a box in the closet or shoved under the bed. I still love that manuscript, and it's actually very close to selling as I write this, but it wasn't until I took the advise of others far sager and experienced with writing to start a new novel that I finally made my first sale.
Worst piece of advice:
At a Christian conference, I met with a New York agent. The conference doesn't require the faculty to sign any kind of statement of faith, though it is blatantly Christian in tone. The man actually told me replacing "Jesus" with "God" would make an easier sale and not offend as many people. With all due respect, excuse me? The very Cross itself is offensive. (See Galatians 5:11) I'm going to use the name of Jesus because in His name dwells power and glory and honor. And really, because when you love Someone, even His name is beloved.
Where can readers find your novel?
Here are two links:
You can also have any bookstore order copies for you if they don’t have any in store.
What are you currently writing?
I’m about 1/5 of the way through my next manuscript, Unafraid, a story about a girl’s kidnapping, and how her life unfolds because of the trauma. One of my characters is a PI, so I’m having loads of fun with the research.
The humor Sherrie Ashcraft (my sometime co-author and always mother) and I display in our infrequent, humorous newsletters--sign up at
www.ashberrylane.net/update.aspx--has garnered the attention of an editor. You just might see a funny, non-fiction cooperative work from the Ashberry Ladies at some point in time. Plus, I have a funky TV-based devotional a house is interested in … Busy, busy, busy
Thanks for visiting my blog!
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