Christian Sterling first reached out to me on Instagram, where I am still trying to find my way. He offered to send me a copy of his new fantasy adventure story, Into the Wildbarrens, which is Book One in The Gems of Elsana series (you can read my review of that book here). I enjoyed Into the Wildbarrens so much that I asked Christian if he was up for an interview on my blog, and luckily, he agreed.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Well, let’s see what would be interesting…I’m originally from the state of Rhode Island before moving to Nashville, TN. Prior to becoming a writer, I worked full-time in the music industry and in television. I am currently engaged and am a dog-dad, and couldn’t be happier.
List three fun facts about yourself that we wouldn’t read in your ‘official’ bio.
- I eat an avocado a day.
- I am a Bigfoot enthusiast.
- I used to run and operate my own independent record label.
What do you like to do for fun away from your work and writing?
Haha I feel like those are the only two things I do. Aside from work and writing, I enjoy hiking, trying new places to eat, reading, and watching comedy series with my fiancé. Aside from that, I still dabble in music on occasion, but writing takes up most of my time now.
Who are some writers/authors that you admire?
Tolkien (I know, obvious!) JK Rowling largely due to her charitable causes, Stephen King, Robert Cialdini, and Mario Puzo.
What are your favorite fantasy books?
I know it’s cliché, but Tolkien’s works and the Harry Potter series were game changers for me as a kid. Their worlds were placed I would often find myself daydreaming in.
You write in several different genres – is there one that you find easier than the others?
They have their trade-offs. My American Parable Series is set in the semi-real world compared to Elsana, which is a fantasy world. When writing in a real world setting, there can be limitations to what I can write as I have to stay within the realm of relative logic. Writing fantasy can be fun, because I can really get weird with it, but the downside is the story can often get bogged down by having to properly explain cultures, races, and ways of life in parts of that universe.
Which character in Gems of Elsana do you identify with the most?
Probably Falin, as he’s generally kind unless provoked. I think his tale aligns where I am in life. He’s not a coming to age story, but sort of a coming to power. I feel like I’ve hit the point in life where I’ve found who I am supposed to be, now I’m exploring it. Admittedly, I do have a bit Jimbuah in my personality, I think mostly his mischief…
Do you have the entire Gems of Elsana series mapped out already? Is it a trilogy or longer?
The Gems of Elsana is planned to be a trilogy, all mapped out, but I have 9 total books planned for the greater Elsana universe. (It might take a minute to finish though!)
Are there any other upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?
I’m working on the second book in The Gems of Elsana series right now, which will hopefully be released sometime in Spring 2020. In the meantime, I hope to rerelease the American Parable Series with new artwork and a bit of re-editing, so be on the lookout for that!
[rara_divider color=”#CCCCCC” style=”solid” thickness=”1px” width=”100%” mar_top=”20px” mar_bot=”20px”]
Keep up to date with Christian and his writing:
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS
