Interview with Christine Alisa

Author of Turning the Hourglass

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

Originally from the LA area of California and now reside in Long Beach, CA

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I was born and grew up in the LA area but I attended college at California State University Long Beach, liked the area and bought a home there. My private practice was in Newport Beach for some years and then I moved it to Long Beach as well.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I had specialized working with children and adolescents in my private practice as a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and had many trainings with children, sexual , physical, emotional and mental abuse and past life regression. I put together a process to work with children that was very successful using the background I had in those modalities. Throughout the years I have been an international speaker and trainer of therapists teaching them my modality. My colleagues encouraged me to write a book based on my work and so I began writing and learning about self publishing.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

It is a book that opens the mind to an alternative type of therapy written by a therapist but from the child’s point of view. Hence, the reader enters the world of the child from his/her perspective revealing the deep process that can be achieved healing the child of behaviors and symptoms that do not serve them.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

I am not exactly sure what you mean. Perhaps, depression in children and adolescents, how traumatic birth can affect a child’s behavior, how eating disorders can be eliminated with past life therapy in children, Attention Deficit Disorder No More with children, healing abused children to name a few.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

It was surprising the difficulty I had with an editor I hired and how my writing could be improved. That promoting a book is a full time job requiring an investment of money, time and sales skills.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Edit the book carefully, less is more. Take time to find a good editor. Release some of my ‘control’ of how I wanted the book to be. Find a mentor to help with the promotion of the book to make it easy and fun.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Hundreds.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Though it is well received by my clients and trainees, I would like to see it out in the general public more because I believe there are parents who have children struggling with issues that are not being resolved. I have always wanted to make more of a difference in the world. Getting it out that has been a challenge.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

A.The creative process of writing. B. Going ahead with a self publishing house rather that taking it to the big houses. c. Bringing my book to training conferences and selling them there.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

a. Not getting stressed while balancing family, work and writing. b. Unfamiliar with the publishing world. C. Spending money on marketing that really did not bring about the results I needed.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I have written two other books and another is in the editing state.
“Wondrous Places of the Heart: Alternative Therapy with Children”
“Your Amazing Itty Bitty Communicating With Your Teenager Book”

“Your Amazing Itty Bitty The Ordinary Shaman Book” in the editing stage

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I use self publishing companies.