Meet Christina Consolino

We recently connected with Christina Consolino and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
When I was young, I wanted to be a physician. I loved anything to do with anatomy and physiology, and I often carved what I could get my hands on: wax, butter, vegetables, and more. My plan was to go to medical school, but as we all know, plans can change, even when we’ve held onto a goal for most of our lives. After college, I wasn’t entirely sure what to do, so I worked in a hospital and took my first formal anatomy and physiology job at the local community college. The class enthralled me, and a few years later, I realized that becoming a teacher—something I never aspired to—is what I wanted to do. So I earned my doctorate in physiology and taught at the community college level for close to twenty years.

Then, I decided to take a break from the community college to concentrate on editing and writing. I hung out my freelance editing shingle, thinking I’d never go back to my former profession. But something kept drawing me back. First, I subbed in my local schools, then I became a home instructor for K-12 children who can’t be in the school for one reason or another. My most rewarding moments have been with some of those home instruction students, and it’s apparent now that my purpose is to educate. My intent is to educate with the books I write, too, which is why my stories often feature families, siblings, and mental and/or physical health issues.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Writing a book has been on my to-do list since I was young. But life had other plans for me, and I didn’t seriously take up the craft until a decade ago. Since that time, I’ve penned many a novel (some have seen the light of day, and some have not!). My stories often feature families like yours or mine or your neighbor’s; they’re stories of everyday people taking up everyday plights, That focus is intentional. Over the course of my life, I’ve encountered so many people with stories to tell, most of whom will never tell them. And that got me thinking. Aren’t those the stories that draw me in? Aren’t those the stories people will find relatable? Aren’t those the stories that everyone can learn from? I thought so then, and I do now.

But somewhere along the way, I wanted to have a little more fun, do something I’d never considered doing before, and the idea of writing a series of romance novels stuck in my mind. After watching my mother, who had Alzheimer’s, never realize her dreams, I decided to go for it, and I’ll be publishing my third romance novel (writing as Keely Stephens) this summer. Writing under a pen name is very freeing, and doing something bold and unexpected–Keely’s stories have been, so far, a little spicy–sort of keeps me on my toes!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most impactful qualities for my journey are resilience, patience, and curiosity. Curiosity is something I was born with. Even as a child, I asked a lot of questions. As I grew up, I learned how to find the answers to my questions, and now, with the amazing technology we have, I spend a lot of time asking questions and finding answers. But being curious leads to learning, and that helps me grow, which is something I’m always striving for.

Patience is something I’ve had to develop over time, mainly because people don’t all work at the same speed. My natural setting is “warp speed,” and I often credit my husband, whose setting is “nothing urgent going on here, ever,” for helping me slow down. Being patient pays off, though, because in that time where I’m sitting still, allowing life to progress at its own pace, things happen. Story ideas drop, connections are made, realizations dawn.

Resilience also had to develop with time. When I was young, I had trouble adapting to change, and I thrived on structure, routine, and planning ahead. Life felt less scary when I controlled a tiny piece of it. Of course, I didn’t actually have control, only the semblance of control, but for a long time, that was enough. Then, in graduate school, I met my future husband, got married, and got pregnant with twins, all things I hadn’t planned for. I committed to being adaptable and understanding of change. Looking back, it was as if I rewrote my playbook so I could move forward with new structures/routines. To this day, I’m constantly rewriting,

The main advice I have for the young folks is to 1. commit to becoming the way you want, 2. surround yourself with people who will support you in your quest, and 3. don’t give up!

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Balancing my needs with the needs of my children has always been difficult. My role as mom has far exceeded my expectations, and I am so grateful that these four souls came into my life. When they were young, it was easy to hide for a few minutes and write or edit or take a deep breath. I’d work when they were in school, and I’d go for a run when my husband was home. I didn’t have to worry as much about them out in the big, big world because they were far more dependent on me. But three of the kids are in college now–two will be graduating soon–and with that independence comes natural worry. Are they okay? Did they make it to school in time? Were they traveling over the speed limit? Did they remember to get their flu shot? I’m not a helicopter parent, but these are the worries that fly through my brain. Add to that the fact that my youngest has special needs, and my mental load is far greater than ever.

Thankfully, my husband is a true partner, my sisters are active and supportive, and my network of friends–which includes the virtual ones–helps me maintain an even keel. I also rely on my therapist, who gives great advice and always helps me readjust my perspective.

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