INTERVIEW | Christine Young-Robinson, author of Hip-Hop and Punk Rock

Christine, tell us about yourself.

I’m a wife, mother and grandmother. I have spent the last few years promoting my children’s books, “Isra the Butterfly Gets Caught for Show and Tell” and “Chicken Wing.” Now God has blessed me to take on a new challenge—writing for Teens.

My short story, Miss Amy’s Last Ride was featured in the anthology, “Proverbs for the People,” edited by Tracy Price-Thompson and TaRessa Stovall, published by Kensington, in June of 2003.

In my spare time I love to help others, especially being a companion for seniors over eighty.

I have a love for reading, writing, crocheting, networking, decorating, the arts, walking and spending lots of quiet time at home.

As a lover of reading, I am the co-chairperson of Eleuthera Book Club and I serve as vice-president of my neighborhood association.

How do you find time to connect with God?

I connect with God on a daily basis by striving to live my life in a loving, respectable and charitable manner. I go to a high level through prayer and meditation.

Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?

I do not have a favorite author. I appreciate all authors for their creativity. No favorite books, but I am reading at this time, “Butterfly,” by Sylvester Stephens.

Tell us about your journey to publication.

I started out writing my first book about a butterfly based on a story that I would tell to my granddaughter, Zalirah, when she was four years old. She loved the butterfly story so much that she wanted me to get the book from the library. I told her it wasn’t a book, that it was just a story. That day, she said to me, “Grandma make me a book and make lots of books for boys and girls.” That gave me the inspiration to put the story in print and make her dream come true.

I am thankful to God that I was blessed to be surrounded by wonderful authors, friends and family that supported me through my journey.

Tell us about your current book, Hip-Hop and Punk Rock?

Teenage twin sisters, Valerie and Allie Alderman, are products of an interracial marriage. Their mother is African American and their father is Caucasian.

The girls are opposite in every way. Valerie considers herself a Hip-Hop girl, while her twin, Allie, considers herself a Punk Rock girl.

The oldest of the twins, Valerie, has been tormented by a dark secret. She refuses to reveal her secret to her family. But when she and her twin are teamed up by their English teacher to do a class project, unexpectedly, her sister discovers her secret and faces her own traumatic experience.

How did you come up with ideas for this book?

Originally my characters were friends, but being a fraternal twin, I was eager to write a story about twins. To bring interest to the story, I began to brainstorm and changed them to not just twins, but biracial twins. Next, I created social issues for each character that some teens have challenges with, in their homes as well as outside of their homes.

What valuable lessons do you want readers to learn from your book?

I want my readers to learn, first and foremost, to love who they are and to value their family. Also, I want them to be aware of the dangers that can come with some of the choices they make.

What’s next for you?

My goal is to release my first adult novel.

Please tell us where we can connect with you online.

Facebook – Connect through my website – www.christineyoungrobinson.com
Twitter – @CYoungRobinson
Instagram – miraclewriter