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11 July 2011

Interview with Christine Lindsay




Christine Lindsay is the author of "Shadowed in Silk", published by WhiteFire, 2011.  This book was the winning entry for the 2009 ACFW Genesis for Historical.

I met Christine through HisWriters (a Yahoo group for writers who have either published or have works in progress with European settings.)


Christine welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?


A personal hardship affects so much of my writing. The hardest thing I ever had to overcome was the loss of my first child when I relinquished her to adoption when she was 3 days old. I wasn’t married when I gave birth to my daughter, Sarah, and for her sake, felt that the she deserved a loving dad as well as a loving mom (me). The only way I could provide that was to give her up to a couple who were happily married and both of them loving the Lord.
I’d grown up with only one parent, as my dad is an abusive alcoholic. So I made the hard choice for my little girl. God was good though, and we were reunited 20 years later. But in meeting this beautiful young woman, and recognizing her as my child, and yet not my child, I felt the loss of her all over again. Much of my difficult childhood, and relinquishing my first child, colors my writing. I don’t give my characters easy lives, but always show the redemptive and healing love of God in my stories.

What is your favorite bible verse and why? 


Isaiah 49:15, 16a “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.”


I know firsthand that a woman cannot forget her child, and also what it feels like to wait 20 years to see that child again. Based on the intensity of my love for the daughter I had to give up, when I compare it to God’s love for me, I’m amazed at the depth of His love.
But a person can never out-give God. He not only blessed me by reunited Sarah and I years later, but she became my muse for writing. And then God arranged for Sarah to be the model on the front cover of Shadowed in Silk, my debut novel. Only a tender-hearted God can do that.

Disability friendliness:
Is this latest release available in audio format?


Wow—I never thought of that!!! But I checked it out, and Kindle does offer a ‘read-to-me’ version for the visually impaired.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your reading your books and why?
To understand that no matter how small or insignificant you feel, God sees you and hears you when you cry out in whatever desert your pain has taken you to. My character, Abby, learns that while she felt invisible to those who should have loved her but didn’t, that God does. She also learns that only through Christ the veil of sin can be lifted from her. But after that, He can see her face-to-face.

As you researched your book, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?
My appreciation for the Indian culture grew into one of love. I had started out with a pet interest in India because the exotic setting in some of my books. But I grew to love the real country and the real people so much, that when the opportunity came to visit India on a writing missions trip, I went. It was a highlight in my life. I dedicated Shadowed in Silk to the children in India, and to that mission, Children’s Camps International, with the hope that I can promote their ministry—that of running day camps where Indian children learn about Christ through play, and song and stories.

Thank you Christine for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day,keep on writing, and may your relationship with your daughter continue to grow stronger with each day!!




Giveaway:  We have a review of Christine's book up on Wednesday. Leave a comment on this interview or on Wednesday's review by Diana Flowers for a chance to either win an e-book now OR  a paper copy later in the fall.  Your choice!  Makes sure to leave your email address!

23 comments:

  1. Maybe a year ago, I read the first few chapters for Christine. Those left me hungering for more. Now I've read the book and it may be the best historical novel I've read in... since I don't recall. I do not exaggerate. The writing is amazing, the fluidity of the prose is seamless, and the story is just amazingly complex and yet sounds effortless in the reading. Sadly, the Kindle voice app doesn't work that well for persons with visual impairments because Amazon still hasn't made the menus work with speech, so we still can't operate the machine. Since Apple has managed to do this with their IPods and IPhones, I think within a version or two Amazon will have conquered this problem... And either my husband or I had better be making a lot of money because I'll buy one and be downloading lots of books.

    Blessings on this book, Christine. It deserves recognition.

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  2. I totally agree with Laurie Alice about Shadowed in Silk. I literally did something I NEVER do anymore, I stayed up late to read a book. I just simply had to make myself put it down. Not only did Christine thoroughly do her research for this book, but the storyline and plots (which there were many subplots) were so interesting and exciting, AND unpredictable. I so enjoy a book where one doesn't know what's going to happen next! The spiritual thread is very strong throughout the book and and I loved that as well. I also fell in love with the people in India by reading this book, because I know Christine has been to India and her writing is born out of realism and experience. I recently told my hubby that I will only give 5 stars from now on to books that I would want to read over again, which is something I don't care to do, but Shadowed in Silk got my 5 stars!

    Thank you for sharing with us, Christine, about your child. It took alot of love and unselfishness to do what you did, and I'm so glad you were reunited! Carrie, a wonderful interviw as always!

    I don't know if I can wait another year for Christine's next book in this series; patience isn't exactly one of my virtues.:-( Yes folks, this a series...Yay!

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  3. oops* interview. I realized as I reread my post, I just did another review on Christine's book. I guess it's in my blood. LOL But, I'm sure Christine doesn't mind me doing two of them.;-)

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  4. Well, I just fixed the errors I made for this post. Hopefully Christine did not see them! This was fun to have one of her early interviews. I am expecting great things for Christine! And isn't her daughter beautiful on the cover?

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  5. Laurie Alice, Thanks for stopping by and you were the person who pointed me in Christine's direction, telling me what a fabulous writer she was! Yes, that is a shame Kindle is not friendly for the blind. I have had a hard time getting the speech part working because there are so many steps to follow.

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  6. Thanks, Diana, for your upcoming review, too! I know you loved Shadowed in Silk. Some lucky reader will get a copy, either in digital or paper form!

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  7. I am totally humbled by this high praise. Laurie Alice, I simply don't know what to say. Praise coming from you, an author that I have such high respect for, and one I want to emulate just blesses me to my core.

    Carrie and Diana, you two ladies have truly honored me. I can't thank you enough. It's been such a joy to get to know you a little through this blogging process and through HisWriters.

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  8. Seeing your lovely daughter on the cover is a wonderful reminder of God's faithfulness to His children, Christine.

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  9. Hi Christine, enjoyed the interview. I love the scripture you mentioned because it shows that God loves us with a mother's depth of love as well as a father's. And of course you know I think your book is amazing. I love the portrayal of God through the eyes and the lives of the Indian people.

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  10. Waving at you, Dina! So glad to see you here and so good to have you here last week! My Kindle is calling to me to read Shadowed in Silk!

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  11. Diana over on Facebook mentioned that I should mention a fun behind-the-scenes about how Christine's daughter ended up on the cover. When we were searching for models, the description of the heroine reminded me very much of one of my best friends, Kimberly. I sent Christine Kimberly's pictures, and she really liked them--and was reminded of her daughter, so asked what we thought about Sarah doing the modeling. Obviously we thought this was a too-special-to-pass-up opportunity, and it worked out so beautifully. When we received the discs of photos to send to the designer, I was looking through them, and my 5-year-old observed, "Hey, Mommy, she looks like Kimmy!"

    I just love how pictures of Kimberly reminded Christine of her daughter, and pictures of her daughter reminded mine of our friend. Obviously, the resemblance wasn't imagined! LOL

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  12. Uh oh, Blogger or Google problems again, sigh...


    Carrie, I went to your blog, but only Christina's bk pic showed up; no interview. Anyhow, if you can post this, I'd love a chance to win her book!

    Christine, your book sounds fantastic; I'm anxious to read it in the near future. Thanks for sharing, and thanks Carrie for having her.

    cb
    http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

    Carole Brown
    ACFWOhio coordinator

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  13. Roseanna, you really pick the writers out well for your company! Thanks so much for sharing with us this behind-the-scenes information from WhiteFire. It was so neat to hear on HisWriters that Christine's daughter was the model. And what a beautiful young woman she is! Takes after her mother!

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  14. Oh Christine, I was really blessed by the Bible verse you shared. It shows how much of a mother's heart you have. And I still get chills every time I think of how God brought you and your daughter back together.

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  15. We sure serve and love an amazing Heavenly Father. Like Dina says, His love is like that of a mother as well as a father. Our love for our kids pales in comparison to His love for us, and look how crazy with love we are for our kids.

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  16. Christine thanks for the beautiful interview. It is so wonderful to hear how your daughter was brought back to you. God is SO good! I would love to read your book. tsmathews61@gmail.com

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  17. I'm a day late, but just wanted to say that Christine is probably my new 'favorite author'. As someone else commented, this was one of those books I just couldn't put down, and finished it in about 2 days, reading it every chance I got. Then I passed it on to my 17 yr. old daughter, and she did the same. We loved-LOVED-LOVED this heartrending & heartwarming story.
    Keep them coming, Christine!

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  18. Teresa M and Ruth Axtell Morren---you guys just leave me speechless. And Ruth, praise such as this coming from you, a writer I admire so much is overwhelming.

    Wish you were all closer for a hug fest. :o)

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  19. Or, Christine, as my little 5 yr. old grandson says, "Nanny and Papa, group hug!" We swiftly come running because at that age they're mostly too busy for you to even get a hug in. So group hug everyone!:-)

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  20. Sounds like a book I would really like.
    wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com

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  21. Oh my goodnes I just watched the trailer on Diana's FB wall and all I can say is WOW!!! It was absolutely breathtaking. Good job! I wanted to read it before now I know I HAVE to read it soon!

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  22. And Carole Brown, ACFW AC Coordinator of Ohio is the winner per Random.org for our drawing! Congrats, Carole!

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  23. Congrats, Carole! You are in for a delightful reading experience!

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