Chatting with Nancy Christie

Chatting with Nancy Christie 

Interviewed by: Jill Sheets

Q: Tell us about yourself.

N: I’m a writer of fiction and nonfiction: novels, short stories, essays and articles. I’m a hybrid author, meaning I have some books published by traditional publishers and others independently as a self-published author.

My first book, The Gifts of Change, was released in 2004 and since then I have nine books to my credit. While I started my fiction career as a short story writer, I branched out into novel-writing in 2023 with my novel, Reinventing Rita, the first in my Midlife Moxie novel series.

Since then, I have released a second novel, Finding Fran, with Moving Maggie coming out late spring of this year.

I’m also the creator and host of the Living the Writing Life podcast, and an independent professional copywriter for ad agencies and marketing firms.

Q: Tell us about your book "The Language of Love & Other Stories."

N: The Language of Love and Other Stories, published by Unsolicited Press, is about all types of love relationships: the ones that exist between parent and child as well as between generations, the bonds that grow between new lovers as well as those that exist between long-settled couples.

The 20-story collection captures every stage of love, from the exhilarating beginnings to the quiet, routine phases, the uncertain times, and the heartbreaking endings—whether anticipated or shockingly sudden. It’s a journey through whom we love, how we love, and how we cope when love is returned, unrequited, or lost.

Q: What is your favorite story out of the book and why?

N: It’s hard to choose one favorite because I wrote them all! “Henry, Hortense and the Halloween Party” and “Charley and the Cupid Caper” were the two that were most fun to write! “Doors and Windows” was challenging to write because it is told from the perspective of three people: the husband, the wife and the daughter. Usually, my short stories have only one perspective, but this one needed something different to be balanced.

Q: Tell us about some of your other writings.

N: I’ve published several essays, including those that form The Gifts of Change, and have written numerous articles for magazines. And of course, I’ve had short stories published in various magazines as well as in three other collections.

Q: What are you currently working on?

N: I’m working on my fourth Midlife Moxie novel, Transforming Tessa, and finalizing my marketing plans for Moving Maggie while promoting this collection! When you’re an author, you need to wear two hats: that of a writer and that of a business owner/marketing director. While it can be overwhelming at times, it has to be done.

Q: Tell us about your podcast.

N: I started the podcast in 2020 when Covid upended my promotional plans for my second short story collection, Peripheral Visions and Other Stories. Knowing other authors were in the same boat, I decided that I would start a podcast as another way to interview authors and writers, in addition to my two blogs: The Writer’s Place and Focus on Fiction. It’s a lot of work but it’s also been very rewarding, and I’m blessed to have had a wonderful group of guests on my show.

Q: What is the best thing about doing your podcast?

N: Learning how other writers do what they do, how they navigate the ups and downs of the business, and what keeps them going when they doubt their abilities. It has truly been a community, and I wish I could throw a big party and invite all of them so they could meet each other!

Q: What advice would you give someone who wanted to be an author?

N: Learn the craft. Get good feedback and strive to improve with every piece you do. No matter how long you have been writing, every day you should move the bar a little higher and try a little harder.

Build a writing community, however small, to keep the isolation from getting to you and to give and receive honest, productive feedback.

Don’t put all your attention on finding an agent or deciding how you are going to publish (traditional or self-publishing) or on writing X number of books in X number of months.

Don’t plan on living off your royalties or book sales. Being an author is like opening a business. There’s a lot to do before your investment pays off.

Q: Are you on any social networking sites? Do you have an official website?

N: My website is https://www.nancychristie.com/. I also have two YouTube channels: Books by Nancy Christie on YouTube and Midlife Moxie Novel Series™ on YouTube and I have two newsletters— Nancy’s Book News (for readers) and The Writing Life with Nancy Christie (for writers). People can sign up for either or both here.

As for social media, people can find me on Goodreads, X/Twitter, Facebook, TikTok Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Substack, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Medium.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add or say?

N: I’m very grateful to you and the other blog tour hosts who have given me the opportunity to talk about my books and my writing life, and to the followers who have checked in to learn about me. And thanks in advance to anyone who will read my books and hopefully post a review!

J:  Thank you for the interview.