Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Alemshah.
Hi Christine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m an Orange County-based children’s author, mother to two spirited tiny dancers, classically trained vocalist, and former Child Care Manager. I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, a mixed daughter to a first-generation Filipino immigrant.
Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a published children’s book author. As a shy child who moved frequently, libraries were my playground, and characters like Anne of Green Gables and Mary Ann from The Babysitters Club became my first friends. I see the world in stories and songs, and my heart yearns to collect them.
In 2010, I got serious about turning my dream of becoming a published children’s author into reality. I joined The Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators, which I feel is an essential step for any aspiring children’s writer, and have been a proud member for the past ten years. I attended classes, conferences, and webinars whenever I could. I became a sponge. I wanted to absorb all the knowledge I could. To this day, I still have a daily goal to write for at least 5 minutes, read three mentor picture books, and watch or read 20 minutes of a webinar, video, or text on the craft of writing to grow as an author.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to publication is a marathon, not a sprint, and in my case, there have most definitely been hurdles. In addition to the multiple rejections authors face, I also experienced setbacks when I became a mom six years ago. It was an adjustment forging a new path to writing that fits with a mommy lifestyle with less free time. I also struggled with Postpartum depression that affected my self-confidence as a writer. The good news is that once I got my groove back, it unlocked the next level within my writing abilities and vision. I am so excited to share all the new stories I’ve tapped into since re-emerging into the writing world.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Of course! I’d be delighted to share more about my work. I am a children’s author, full-time mom, and classically trained vocalist — who sings mostly karaoke now — so I keep pretty busy! My passion is writing picture books. I have published one picture book, 99 Monkeys on a Bus, and one children’s e-book, Right this Instant, with Meegenius. My strengths as a writer are my ability to develop fictional story ideas and characters and organize them. I have a great system in place for developing an idea into a story. I started keeping a note file several years ago — this is where my idea seeds are born. I am also a 12×12 Picture Book Challenge member for 2021 hosted by children’s author Julie Hedlund. The goal of the challenge is to draft one picture book for each month of the year. As of now, I’ve drafted six new picture book texts in 2021.
Writing for children is my calling, but it’s also a huge responsibility. I’m a dedicated lifetime learner and SCBWI Member devoted to improving the craft of children’s writing. I continue to enroll in courses to help improve my skills, such as Anastasia Suen’s Picture Book Workshop, Susanna Leonard Hill’s Making Picture Magic, and Writing Barn courses. I’m currently taking Mira Reisberg’s The Craft & Business of Illustrating (& Writing) Children’s Picture Books to learn more about the children’s book illustration process.
Any big plans?
I’d love to see 3-5 picture books with my initials ALE available for children to check out from the library and enjoy over and over again. In recent years, my goals have shifted to ‘digging deeper so I can write stories stemming from personal experiences. I’m also branching out my repertoire to picture book biographies and chapter books.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://christinealemshah.com/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/C_Alemshah
Image Credits:
Vanessa Honda Photography
