Meet Christy Birmingham,
An Author’s Journey Through Reading to Writing
Today, I am thrilled to introduce you to Christy Birmingham. I ‘met’ Christy online a few years ago. I don’t remember how that came about but I think it was through our blogs. Christy is a very inspiring woman, who writes beautiful poetry that takes you on a journey of discovery. I am thrilled to be hosting Christy and her new novel, Versions of Self.
Thank you for sharing your journey through reading to writing.
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Journey through Reading to Writing…
When did you start reading?
I’m guessing it was around age 6. I remember sitting on my parents’ laps as they read to me, and then the great feeling of being able to start sounding out words to read the pages on my own. Perhaps that was one of my first steps toward independence!
What was the first book you remember reading? What was the first book that had a real ‘wow’ factor for you?
Alice in Wonderland. Reading Alice was awesome for many reasons, including because it was the first book I had ever won in a contest. I marvelled not only at the adventures of the girl in it but also the creativity of the concepts. I recall coloring in the illustrations in the book with felt pens and reading it so many times that some pages ripped and the cover was well worn.
What attracted you to or got you started reading?
My parents started me on the reading journey early. They took me to the library regularly and put me into a summer reading club where I had the challenge to read “x” number of books while school was out of session. Once the new school year started, I just kept right on reading! The delight of the stories kept me motivated to read book after book.
What genres have you read? Was there any progression to the genres you’ve read over the years? Did you start in one genre and then discover others the older you got? i.e. sci-fi and then romance, then paranormal, then espionage…
I read many fantasy books in elementary school and high school. The C.S. Lewis series The Chronicles of Narnia as a favorite, for example. I also read the occasional mystery book (Nancy Drew), poetry, and comics. In my 20s, I lost my love of reading as I focused on other interests, schooling, and then work. In my early 30s, during a particularly difficult emotional period, I picked up self-help and spiritual reads, including that of Dr. Wayne Dyer. Since then I have become what some people have described as a voracious reader, and I will read almost any genre except for horror and overtly sexual texts.
Who are your favorite authors and when did you start following them?
Margaret Atwood is a personal favorite! She helped me discover my feminist self as I read her complex, compelling depictions of women in novels. I also admire the poetry of Maya Angelou. Those two authors have been big influences for me, both for their writing and their views of the world.
What do you like in a story? What does it have to have to grab you?
I like good character development. When an author makes an effort to create multi-layer characters that I can relate to in at least one way, I often get hooked on the story. Of course, a good plot that isn’t too predictable helps keep my attention too.
What got you started on writing? And how long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing short stories and poetry for as long as I can remember. My first poem was published when I was in elementary school. I was fortunate to receive encouragement for what I wrote from my parents and my teachers, which kept me writing over many years.
What do you like to write about?
Writing poetry is a love of mine. I pen short stories too but don’t often publish them (perhaps a short story collection is coming, hmmm). The subjects vary, from nature to human relationships. If I feel the creative spark from something I see during my day or a word I read in a paragraph grabs my attention, I might write down an inspired thought and then pursue it as a writing topic in the day, when I’m done my business writing.
What are you currently working on?
My third book. I’m not disclosing many details about it as it is still in draft form. I hope to release more about it soon. Publishing it before the end of this year is currently my goal. I also regularly blog at Poetic Parfait and When Women Inspire.
How did you come up with your plot for your latest book?
My last book Versions of the Self is poetry, so it doesn’t have a plot in the same sense as a work of fiction. The book takes the perspective of the world as a composition of various types of relationships, which each affect the senf of self. The concept for it came from a blog interview I did in which I talked about being my authentic self. The idea of the “self” then became my inspiration for assembling the poems I had written to that point and the ones I wrote afterward that would later become part of the book.
Books by this author:
Pathways to Illumination
Pathways to Illumination follows one woman’s journey following the end of an abusive relationship. Read how she struggles to rise from darkness, a soul reaching for light, with words that weave hope and despair through the pages. Pathways to Illumination is available exclusively at Redmund Productions: https://redmundpro.com/book-store/pi/
Versions of the Self
Imagine the world, at its base level, is a collection of selves. These selves collide, disperse, intermingle, and share themselves in lines of free verse. Such is the premise of Versions of the Self, poetry that assumes multiple types of selves exist and relate in ways that alter them. Each of the eight chapters looks at a different type of self, including the singular “I” and romantic interactions. https://mybook.to/VersionsoftheSelf
How and where to connect with this author:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/poeticparfait/
Twitter https://twitter.com/christybis
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-birmingham-607aa23b/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7177834.Christy_Birmingham
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ChristyBirmingham
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/christybis/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/christybis/
Imagine the world, at its base level, is a collection of selves. These selves collide, disperse, intermingle, and share themselves in lines of free verse. Such is the premise of Versions of the Self, poetry that assumes multiple types of selves exist and relate in ways that alter them. Each of the eight chapters looks at a different type of self, including the singular “I” and romantic interactions. https://mybook.to/VersionsoftheSelf
Author’s Bio:
Christy Birmingham is a freelance writer and author who focuses on women’s issues, poetry, business, literature, and motivation. She resides in British Columbia, Canada, where she enjoys watching movies, taking fitness classes, and spending time with family and friends.
Author’s Website: https://poeticparfait.com/
Website: https://whenwomeninspire.com/
Multi-Award winning author, Maggie Thom. Author of The Caspian Wine Series – Captured Lies (Book of the Month - LAS Reviews and Reader's Favorite Finalist), Deceitful Truths and Split Seconds (Award Winning): The Twisted Deception Series - Fostered Identity, Shadowed Footsteps, Exploited Innocence... with more to come – and her other published novels, Tainted Waters (2013 Suspense and Thriller Book of the Year through Turning the Pages Magazine), Deadly Ties, Fractured Lines and Blurred Lines (you can get for free - scroll down).
Her motto: Read to escape… Escape to read…
"Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller laced with romance that keeps the reader interested and on edge!" InDtale Magazine
Thank you Maggie for having me over for the interview! It is only by helping one another as part of the author community that we will grow and I value all of your support. I’m proud to be a part of this series!!
You are welcome. I thoroughly enjoyed your interview and being able to support other authors. Congratulations on your latest novel.
I always enjoy learning something new about Christy, who happens to be one of my favorite human beings. Thanks for this interview.
She is a pretty special human being. 🙂 The interview was a lot of fun. I find it so interesting to learn about people’s journeys. Thank you for stopping by.
Thanks for this delightful interview, you two. Hugs!
Thank you for stopping by Teagan. 🙂
Interesting interview and good to get to know a bit more about Christy.
Hi Mary. People’s journeys are interesting aren’t they? Thank you for stopping by.
I read because of wonderful writers and poets like Christy. Thank you for highlighting her work. Christy– a great interview xxxx
She is a very good poet isn’t she? Thank you for stopping by.
I read for pleasure, for necessity, and just about every reason in between. This was a wonderful interview. I’ve been appreciating Christy’s writing, especially reading her blogs and her second book, ‘Versions of the Self.” I like how you asked the question, “What was the first book that had a real ‘wow’ factor for you?” I enjoyed Christy’s answer and can understand that connection to such a magical and mysteriously unique book. I appreciate how our relationships to reading and writing wax and wane over the years, while some aspects of it are deeply wedded. Thanks for a great interview, Christy and Maggie! Warmly, Ka
Hi Ka. Thank you for that. Reading is such a gift, one that has so many benefits. What book had a wow factor for you? You’re so right our relationship to reading and writing does wax and wane as we age. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by.
The Secret Garden. We had a hard cover book copy without a jacket. I read it in one sitting while I was home alone from school one day, sick. Before that, I didn’t know that a book could bring me into a different world. Thank you 🙂
Funny how we discover the magic of books, hey? Thank you for sharing your journey. Love it. 🙂
I loved The Chronicles of Narnia too and I’m still looking for those doors to other worlds. 🙂 Thank you for reminding me that I’ve been wanting to read Surfacing – I’ll have to get to that soon!
Those doors would be cool to find, wouldn’t they? Thank you for stopping by Sheila.
It was nice to know some backstory, Christy. Thank you, Maggie Thom, I find this mutual support between authors very helpful and pivotal. Keep this up.
Hi Alessandro. Thank you. I think the more we support each other the better off we all do. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by.
Excellent! ❤️
Thank you for stopping by Colleen. 🙂
Always glad to read about , my buddy, Christy! I have both of her poetry collections. A good centered and inspiring person!
Hi. You are so right, she is good centered and inspiring. Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
A lovely interview with Christy.
Hi. Thank you for stopping by. I am truly grateful that Christy did this interview for my blog. 🙂
Interesting interview. I loved reading how Christy first took to reading and the books she read. Good job, Christy and Maggie.
It is interesting people’s journey’s isn’t it? Thank you for stopping by.
Great interview, Christy! Good luck with your next book.
Hi Maggie, what a great interview with Christy who is an inspiration in her own right. Thank you for sharing
She is inspiring isn’t she? Thank you for stopping by.
That was a wonderful interview! I adore Christy’s work, and look forward to her first novl!
I too look forward to her first novel. It should be really good. Thank you for stopping by.
Oh, what a delight to read, Christy, that you were published in elementary school! A lovely interview on a woman who writes lovely poetry. 🙂
She does write lovely poetry. I am honored that Christy did the interview with me. Thank you for stopping by.
What a wonderful Q&A. Christy is one of my favorite poets and bloggers. Christy, I’m so glad you mentioned the importance of your parents reading to you and encouraging your love of reading and writing. Some of my best childhood memories are of books I’d read.
Reading is such an amazing past time. It was fun to learn more about Christy’s journey. Thank you for stopping by.
Great interview…I so enjoy Christy’s writing!!
She is a fabulous writer isn’t she? Thank you for stopping by.
Hey Maggie,
It is a fascination indeed to catch a snippet or two of an authors back-story and to be able to appreciate a little more about the texts and tales that have helped shape and advance their own excellence. A relatively new blogging friend to me, Christy brings charm, inspiration and encouragement whenever she calls, and leaves one feeling tremendously supported from afar.
Thank you for the interview and for sharing her words here.
Namaste 🙂
DN
Hi Dewin. Christy is a beautiful and inspiring woman. I love learning people’s backstories and how they got to where they are. What do you do, Dewin? Thank you for stopping by.