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29 September 2011

Getting to know you Thursdays with Christine Lindsay

Please help me welcome Christine Lindsay who has her debut book Shadowed in Silk which is set in India. 



1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I belong to that group of people who grew up in the British Commonwealth. So I feel British, being born in Northern Ireland and raised in Canada. Yet I'm so close to the States. I also grew up reading books printed in Great Britain that always had romances set in Australia and New Zealand. Loved those romances set in the Outback. (Jenny here thats so cool about being part of the Commonwealth and reading some Aussie books)

2. When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?

My mother read Heidi to me when as a child I was sick with pneumonia. I never forgot the images that book conjured up for me. High mountain alps. I guess that's why I now live in British Columbia, Canada where there are mountains all around me. (Jenny again, I loved Heidi  and I love BC and the mountains there. I spent some time with a friend in Pemberton)

3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and right write?

Historical Romance, although I also love contemporary romance. As long as the stories have some teeth to them. I like high stakes in a story, so something horrendous has to happen to the characters. And of course they must make it through to a happy ending. Life is tough, so I want happy endings in my stories.

4. Did you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you?

Mary Stewart's romantic suspense novels, and the great MM Kaye with her sweeping epics set in British Raj India. Nevil Shute---I love his book, A Town Called Alice.

5. When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I recognized the gift pretty early, but didn't do anything about it until I was about 40. It was when I was reunited with the daughter I had relinquished to adoption when she was 3 days old. We were reunited 20 years later. Months later as I was reliving the terrible loss of giving her up in the first place, my husband came to me with a brand new pen and journal, and said, "Write it." That was the beginning of the last 10 years of learning the craft.

So while the Lord used my birthdaughter to be my muse to get me started, He blessed me with having her as the model for the front cover of my debut book, Shadowed in Silk. He is such an amazing Father. So kind and generous. Sarah is also the model in the book trailer. She gets her good looks from her birthfather.

6. How did you go about becoming an author?

I started out writing a non-fictional account of my birth-mother story. Then I took creative writing courses at a local university and made friends with other aspiring writers. I've been to 3 writer's conferences, bought books on the craft, and just continued to learn while writing 3 manuscripts. The third manuscript is the first one published.

7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be?

A painter in acrylics. I'd be painting vibrant sun-filled compositions of flowers and landscapes.

8. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?
Be with my family, my grown-up kids, my grandsons. I'm also very involved in our church. This past year I've been our church nursery co-coordinator. And I like to travel with my husband. We love to just get in the car, and go.

9. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?
I'd go back to India in a flash. But, honestly, I'd LOVE to see Australia. It was growing up on all those romances set there, especially A Town Called Alice. (There are a few authors who love A Town Called Alice, I think you would love Australia. I have to say I love BC Canada.)

10. If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why?
Queen Elizabeth---I so admire this monarch. She's a very decent woman who has tried to honorably fulfill her vow to her people. Then Daniel Craig, the latest James Bond, only because I think he's dishy. And lastly and always, my husband. His steady, loving character is the basis of all the heroes I write about. I love being with him most of all.

Finally can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will
be coming out soon. Also where we can find you on the web.

You can find me at www.christinelindsay.com, and my debut novel Shadowed in Silk is now available as an E-book. The paper version was released in Sept. Click here on Shadowed in Silk  to buy the E-book

She was invisible to those who should have loved her.


After the Great War, Abby Fraser returns to India with her small son, where her husband is stationed with the British army. She has longed to go home to the land of glittering palaces and veiled women . . . but Nick has become a cruel stranger. It will take more than her American pluck to survive.


Major Geoff Richards, broken over the loss of so many of his men in the trenches of France, returns to his cavalry post in Amritsar. But his faith does little to help him understand the ruthlessness of his British peers toward the Indian people he loves. Nor does it explain how he is to protect Abby Fraser and her child from the husband who mistreats them.


Amid political unrest, inhospitable deserts, and Russian spies, tensions rise in India as the people cry for the freedom espoused by Gandhi. Caught between their own ideals and duty, Geoff and Abby stumble into sinister secrets . . . secrets that will thrust them out of the shadows and straight into the fire of revolution.







9 comments:

Christine Lindsay said...

Thank you Jenny for having me as a guest on your blog. It gave me a kick to at least be on an Aussie blog, even if I can't be there in person. But then your readers aren't necessarily in Australia either. They could be from all over the world. In that respect, I really like technology.

But one of the things I love about my novel is that it's set in such an exotic part of the world. India. It's such a fascinating place, I don't know why there aren't more novels written about it.

I grew up on romance novels set in India, such as those of the great MM Kaye and her blockbuster novels about the British Raj.

Ausjenny said...

After reading the book I had to go search the India maps of the time as I know some of the areas had changed.

Patsy said...

I enjoyed the interview and Christine's book looks really good. I really like the cover too. I don't think I've read a book that took place in India. That's neat. I know I will have to read this one.

plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Christine Lindsay said...

Hi Patsy, I find the setting of the British Raj (rule) in India to be so fascinating. It was an era that only lasted 300 years, and was full of such adventure and romance. I hope that if you ever get a chance to read Shadowed in Silk that you'll enjoy it. I know I did writing it. It's not a light read as it deals with a lot of difficult subjects, but I think it entertains.

Blessings on you.

PurlingPenny said...

I'm an adoptive mom who has a heart for birthmom's so your interview with Christine captured me quickly. I can't remember reading a book set in India, so I'm intrigued. Not to mention she's currently Canadian! What's not to love. I'm off to see if I can find this book.

PurlingPenny said...

Had to come back to say just a few clicks and Shadowed in Silk is on it's way to me. Can't wait!

Christine Lindsay said...

Hi Penny, it alway so nice to talk with others whose lives have been touched by adoption. My birth-daughter's mom cared very deeply for me too over the years, although my reunion with Sarah was very hard on her. If you ever want to read about it, the whole story is written out in novella form on my website. www.christinelindsay.com on my blog.

It's called the Adoption Chapters and some of those chapters are written by Sarah's mom (her adoptive mom--her real mom) :o)

I'm thrilled to pieces you purchased Shadowed in Silk. I hope you like it.

Blessings on you.

PurlingPenny said...

Hello Christine........ I just was checking back to post that your book arrived today and that I can't wait to read it. I saw your post to me, and I've just spent a good while at your site reading your "Sarah" story and shedding a lot of tears. I have a Sarah too. That was the name her birthparents chose for her. We've given her another first name, but Sarah is her second name.She turned 15 today. It feels like an instant ago that we met her at two days old, and yet a lifetime away when I remember the pain of empty arms and a broken heart. Someday I know she'll be meeting her birthmom, and I'm terrified and threatened and yet so amazingly grateful and thankful for the way the Lord has woven our lives together. I hope I'll have the grace to help my girl when she's ready for that reunion, and strength and trust and security enough to know how important this will be to her. We had a closed adoption too. We arrived at the hospital through one door as the birth parents were leaving via another. I can't understand the depth of love that gives a mom strength to place her child in another woman's arms. It's a very real type to me of the depth of love that caused Father God to send his most precious son to a sinfilled world to ransome me. Thank you for sharing your story. I pray that Morganna's birthmom is my Father's daughter too. I've got a child to go hug.
bless you

Christine Lindsay said...

Oh Penny, the love in your heart for your daughter touches my heart. She is your little girl. It may require a great deal of courage for you to accompany your daughter at any future meeting with her birthparents. But if I could encourage you to do this with her, it will only mean that much more to your daughter---in my opinion.

It you can smile through your tears and not feel threatened, you will only strengthen your relationship with her. Morganna will know only her bond with you, and with you at her side as she goes through the difficult reunion will only strengthen that bond.

If I could encourage you to only think of these people as friends. I don't know what kind of relationship they will hope for. But to strive for friendship, or even perhaps something like a long lost cousin.

Would love to chat more. Here's my email christine (dot) d (dot) schmidtke (at) gmail (dot) com

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