C: I started writing when I was around 12 years old so about 18 years.  My first story was titled The Zoo Mystery it was about a group of kids that solve a fifty year old mystery with the help of a supernatural wolf.

R:  Who was your favorite author growing up?  What was your favorite book?

C: Prior to high school my favorite author was R. L. Stine I didn’t necessarily have a favorite book but I enjoyed the “Seniors” series the most.  After starting high school I made a shift to JRR Tolkien because I fell in love with his Lord of the Rings books.

R:  Tell us about your new book The Golden Staff Saga: The Pillar of Light.

C:  The Pillar of Light is about an ordinary girl from Earth named Elena who ends up in another world called El-Tepora.  There she discovers that the four gems of their deity The Great One have been stolen and she is the only one capable of saving El-Tepora from dying.  She teams up with others from Earth as well as people with unique abilities from El-Tepora to search out and return the gems before The Desert consumes El-Tepora turning it into a barren wasteland.

R:  How did you come up with the idea for this book?

C:  I guess you could say it just came to me.  I was at work one morning trying to think of a book idea when the thought popped into my head.

R:  What is the major point you would like your readers to take from The Golden Staff Saga: The Pillar of Light?

C: That no matter how small and insignificant you may feel you could be the one person that makes a difference is someone else’s life.

R:  If they were to make a movie out of the book, who would your dream cast be?

C: There are so many great actors and actresses it is difficult to pick a cast but for the five main characters I could see

Dakota Fanning as Elena the Heroine.
Logan Lerman as El-Kahn the prince of El-Trenad.
Kellan Lutz as John from Earth.
Jackson Rathbone as El-Stev a warrior from El-Trenad.
Jennifer Lawrence as Amana the princess of Aquamancia

Although perhaps this decision would be best left to the professionals.

R:  Where can people get The Golden Staff Saga: The Pillar of Light?

C: There are several ways to get The Pillar of Light first my website www.christinaneely.com second on the publisher’s website www.authorhouse.com third on popular book selling websites such as www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com

R:  What is the best advice you have ever gotten and by who?

C: The best advice I have gotten came from my father.  He frequently said “Don’t Rush.  You get there when you get there”  In today’s society people are always in a rush they need to slow down an take a look at what’s around them.

R:  Are you currently working on another book?  If so, can you tell us anything about it?

C: Yes.  I am working on the sequel The Golden Staff Saga: The Pillar of Water.  It continues Elena’s journey to find the gems and return them to their rightful place.

R:  Other than this one, what is the strangest question you have ever been asked?

C:  Man that is a hard one.  I would have to say the strangest question I was ever asked was “Can I wash your shoes?”  I was with my family at the Great Lakes Medieval Faire when one of the performers asked so naturally I said “Yes”.

R:  What are five things people may not know about you?

C: 1. I love video games with Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda being my favorite
2. I like watching Japanese Anime and attending conventions
3. I am allergic to cats and dogs yet I have more than one of each
4. I try not to harm a living animal (including flies and spiders)
5. The Lion King is my favorite Disney Movie

R:  What are some of the things you like to do when you are not writing?

C: When I am not writing I love watching movies my sister and I go to the theatre just about every weekend.  I also enjoy watching live theater I am a subscriber to the Pittsburgh CLO so I usually have a performance to attend at least once a month.

R:  What are your future goals?

C: My two main goals for the future are: Continuing to entertain people with my writing and start an animal sanctuary.

R:  Are you on any social networking sites?  If so, which ones and what are their
addresses?  Do you have an official website?  If so, what is the address?

C: Of Course who isn’t?  I can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Golden-Staff-Saga-The-Pillar-of-Light/120008021412477

I can be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/christinaneely

My website address is www.christinaneely.com

R:  Is there anything else you would like to add or say to your readers?

C: Remember to always follow your dreams and never give up.
Thank You for taking the time for this interview.

R:  Christina, thank you for the interview.  Have a great day.