Colorful Dating Experiences Captured in Book

Christa Banister is a full-time freelancer writer, specializing in music, movies and books-related reviews and interviews and is the author of two novels, Around the World in 80 Dates and Blessed Are the Meddlers.

Christa, can you share a little bit about yourself and how you got started?

Well, ever since I was five years old, I've loved to write and dream up stories. In fact, my Mom always says I was an easy kid to please because all I needed were paper, pens, crayons and plenty of books to be happy. And when you grow up in a small town (Ladysmith, Wisconsin is my one stop-light hometown of just 3,900 people), books and stories were the best way to escape to all the places you've dreamed of traveling to. So that, along with my love of Judy Blume's books like Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Superfudge, helped pave the way toward my future career path.

Then armed with my journalism degree after four years of college in Minneapolis, Minn., I packed up whatever fit in my trusty Buick Century and moved to Nashville, Tenn., in hopes of working at my favorite music magazine, CCM. And after a year and a half of unpaid internships and a slew of odd jobs, I was hired and stayed on staff as a critic, columnist and editor for 5 1/2 years. Then around the same time I was about to get married, I decided that a change in professional life would be a good thing, too. So I launched my own freelance writing business three and a half years ago and write everything from movie reviews to magazine features. Then after a dare from a good friend of mine, I pursued one of my biggest dreams a good ten years before I expected to and began writing the novel that eventually became Around the World in 80 Dates, which released in October 2007. My book deal required that I also write the sequel in the same year, so I wrote Blessed Are the Meddlers shortly after, which released in August 2008.

Where do you draw inspiration for your work?

As the old saying goes, "art imitates life," and that's where I got the bulk of my inspiration for my novels. The friend who dared me to write the novels did so because I had such colorful dating experiences before I met my hubby. So that, combined with a good dose of imagination, is what colors the inspiration. For movie reviews and some of my other writing, pop culture plays a big part there.

Describe your books and favorite experience with your profession?

I like to describe my books as romantic comedies in book form with a side order of sarcasm. I hate predictability, so I like to mix things up a little.

As far as my favorite experiences in my profession, it was traveling across the pond to London for a CCM Magazine article. I'd always dreamt of going to London, and it was amazing to do so right before Christmas on the company's dime. Not only did I get to explore the city all by myself, but the interview was with one of my favorite bands, Delirious.

What are your plans for the future?

I'm currently working on my third novel, the last in the "Sydney Alexander" series. I'm also working on a fourth novel that's definitely a different style, so I'm excited about that as well. And in the meantime, I'll just keep writing for magazines and websites--a great life, that's for sure!

For more information, including her upcoming book signings and sample chapters of her novels, check out her Website at www.christabanister.com.

Based in St. Paul, Minn., she also weighs in on various aspects of pop culture on her personal blog at http://christabanister.typepad.com/heythereitschrista.