Christina Berry visits! Review, interview and surprise

Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry

As a single mom, substitute teacher, editor and foster parent, Christina Berry carves time out of her busy schedule to write about the heart and soul of life. She lives with her family in rural Oregon, but grew up in Nigeria, West Africa, where her parents were missionaries. The Familiar Stranger is her debut novel.

First a review of what happens in The Familiar Stranger:
Denise Littleton is struggling to hold her marriage together, and doesn’t realize that her husband Craig has some dark secrets and sinister plans.  She is wavering between suspicion and desperate hope when she gets a phone call at church that changes her life.  She rushes to care for her injured husband but constant mysteries and revelations make new suspicions arise including whether his amnesia is real or a convenient alibi.   But this is not just Denise’s story. 

The couple’s dual stories gave poignant male and female perspectives I particularly enjoyed.  As the invalid recovers, continued choices of trust and forgiveness are faced. Just as in the real-life events upon which Ms. Berry based her story, shocking events and each individual’s reactions ripple out to affect family and community members as well as the Littleton marriage.  A haunting well-written drama with excellent takeaway for troubled and healthy relationships.


So tell us Christina, 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.

But this story feels very personal. Is there any of your life in the story?

Yes there is. Though the plot of The Familiar Stranger came from news stories, I’d been looking for a fictional vehicle to express the lessons I’d learned regarding forgiveness in my own marriage. I knew no one was interested in reading my particular story, but I still felt God had given me something to say. My husband and I worked through a major issue six years ago and found a vibrant, completely renewed marriage on the other side.

However, seven months ago, that same issue broke our bond. Now as a newly-single woman, I’m in the midst of promoting a book that touches far closer to home than I would have ever dreamed. If no one else ever reads it, I’ve been convicted and encouraged by my own words. If that isn’t a gracious God at work, I don’t know what is!

What takeaway value do you hope readers receive after reading your novel?

The recent changes in my life—losing my husband, facing finding a “real” job, selling my home—have done nothing but solidify what I hope to be the theme of the book and my life: Live Transparently—Forgive Extravagantly. If reading The Familiar Stranger makes even one man or woman be more honest with his or her spouse or delve into trust issues in a healthy way, I’ll consider it a success. Maybe there’s a hurting heart that can find a new path to forgiveness because of the story.

How important is faith in your books?

My faith undergirds every scene that I write. My hope is that it comes across to the reader in a very organic way, never as preachy or self-righteous. However, my characters’ spiritual arcs are a huge part of the storyline.


Christina it’s evident that writing about such personal situations can be healing to the author as well as the reader.  Has your writing journey changed your Christian walk?

Definitely. I see writing as one of the tools He uses to form me into His image—a tool to teach me patience, self-control, determination, reliance on Him, and other life lessons. I also see writing as a gift that brings me hope, fulfillment, and purpose when the rest of life is not so nice. The journey has sharpened me, yet also softened me.

Sometimes we forget an author is a real person with real struggles, doubts, and hardships, and I’d like to ask, how can we pray for you?

This happens to be a period of pain, growth, and change in my life. I would love to be held up with prayers for the following: grace and strength to show Christ’s love to everyone I come in contact with, the ability to find joy wherever possible, and financial, emotional, and spiritual safety for my family as we continue the transition to a single parent home.


How long did it take to write and sell your first book?

My mother, Sherrie Ashcraft, and I began writing in the summer of ’99. 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!

That’s quite the journey!  Have you begun any other projects?

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.

Commercial Break:  I checked out her newsletter. Besides charming reading and many chuckles, there are exciting offers readers you will want to know about. For example, just by signing up at the link, each person will be entered to win a 4GB iPod Shuffle or free books for the life of Christine’s writing career!

Now that final important question, where could readers leave their opinions, get to know you better, and/or purchase your book?

In addition to blog comments, here are several links for comments and ordering:

www.christinaberry.net      or       www.authorchristinaberry.blogspot.com


http://www.christianbook.com/familiar-stranger-christina-berry/9780802447319/pd/447319?netp_id=612553&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers

http://www.amazon.com/Familiar-Stranger-Christina-Berry/dp/0802447317/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239913987&sr=1-1

You can also have any bookstore order copies for you if they don’t have any in stock.

Thank you Christine for your transparency in sharing your life with us.  I personally found both the story and your journey very intriguing.  I know that others are likely to find as I did, Familiar Stranger is not just a well-written fast-paced drama.  It also offers life-changing choices that both male and female readers can apply to their circumstances.  I appreciated the opportunity to pre-read the book and to ponder which stories it is based upon. I believe (besides your story) I’ve figured out one of them. 

If that doesn’t keep readers up all night, like it did me, the character-driven story will.  I know because I couldn’t put it down.

Thanks for the kind words. Now a little surprise – Early Birthday wishes, Delores! Every comment left on your blog will be entered in an end of the months' ten-book giveaway. Just as on September 30, on my birthday, I drew 10 names, the day before your birthday, October 31st, I will repeat the process!