Author Interview - Christine Boucher

Christine Boucher is a writer, yoga instructor, wife, mother to three, and animal lover who lives in New Hampshire. Christine is the new fictional author of the YA series, The Sentinel of the Chakra Stones. Christine first started creating fantasy worlds as a small child at her desk in Indiana and then as a tween in New Hampshire. Sticking to the practical side of the world, she obtained a business degree and masters in accounting. For many years, she secretly continued to write, read, and research with her beloved dog and cat by her side. She is a lover of yoga, water-skiing, the beach, great meals, and watching her kids grow into who they want to become. Christine is the published author of Express Yourself! Joyful Journaling for Kids.

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Q&A

Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

My latest book is the The Sentinel of the Chakra Stones. My book was inspired by a set of chakra stones that I bought ten years ago. I was at a yoga event and I had never bought crystals before. For some reason I bought this chakra set and when I got home, the idea of a book series came to mind. I started writing immediately, but was missing pieces and raising three kids, so it took a bit of time. It wasn’t until I heard of Earth Chakras that the books and ideas all fell into place. Each book will take place at an Earth Chakra location. The first book takes place in Mount Shasta, CA.

Q2: When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?

I try to set the mood with descriptions of the characters’ faces and how their bodies feel. Since the book is written from the main character’s point of view, she will notice expressions, tones, and characteristics of the other characters to show that things are getting intense.

Q3: What authors, or books have influenced you?

There are so many authors who have influenced me, but the first that come to mind are: Maya Angelou, Sydney Sheldon, Sarah Ban Breathnach, Mitch Albom, J.K Rowling, Bella Forrest, and Louise Fitzhugh. I truly admire anyone who writes. It takes a lot of work, dedication, and imagination to write and get your books out to the world.

Q4: When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

 I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was a little girl. My friend and I decided we were going to write a book together and I was beyond thrilled. Hints of this work came up again and again: winning a sixth grade writing contest, professors in my freshman year of college encouraging me to continue writing, but I let the practicality of being a writer get in the way and waited until my forties to publish my first book and now my second. It takes courage to put your work out.

Q5: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?

 My advice would be to keep writing and if you need to take a break, take a break, but come back to your work. There were years when I put my ideas away and then came back to them and it got even better. It’s a process, but when you get serious about getting your work published, it will happen. I have faith that there are so many books that still need to be written. The world needs your work.

Q6: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

 The amount of editing! Wow! There is the developmental editing and the grammatical editing. It is surprising how many people can read and edit your books and mistakes can still be found. I had to learn to let it go. Myself and my editors have worked very hard to make this as perfect as possible, but a mistake may be found.

Q7: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

I knew words had power from the day I started reading and connecting with writers and their characters. I felt the emotions: sadness, joy, and anger. I felt empowered by words of inspiration, and I learned to grow and challenge myself. I realized there was a bigger world out there besides my immediate childhood and teenage surroundings. I learned through the written word that I could accomplish my goals.

Q8: What was the first book that made you cry?

The first one that comes to mind is Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews. I read the series in high school, but the way the kids were treated was devastating.

Q9: What are you working on now?

I’m currently editing book two in the series The Sentinel of the Chakra Stones, which takes place in Peru and is focused on the second chakra.

Q10: What are you currently reading?

 I am currently reading Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

Connect with Christine Boucher by following the social media links below. Keep reading to find out more about The Sentinel of the Chakra Stones.

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AmazonAuthor Page

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You never know when an ordinary teenager will blossom into something extraordinary.

Jaden is a fourteen-year-old girl abandoned by her mother, unwanted by her father, and tormented at school. She fills her alone time exploring the streets of her hometown of Nashua, New Hampshire. She discovers a flea market and is drawn to the table of a mysterious lady selling Tibetan singing bowls and crystals. The impulse purchase of a crystal chakra set reveals a mystical destiny.

Jaden and her only friend, Alister, are transported to Mount Shasta, California, which hides the Lemurian City of Telos. It is here, at the first Earth chakra location, where Jaden and Alister become part of a secret world of teenagers and esoteric beings working to protect the Earth chakra energies from the Keeper of Belial.

The first chakra stone is already under attack and losing its power, which jeopardizes the safety and security of the planet. Jaden must fight to restore balance to the world and find the inner strength to fulfill her role as The Sentinel of the Seven Stones.

The Sentinel of the Chakra Stones is available as paperback or ebook.

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