It’s All About the Woman Who Wears It…

Q: What types of topics does your new book cover Cristina?

A: My book is really a heart to heart conversation where I reveal the 10 universal issues that we women notoriously struggle with and some of the ways we can wear the “smart, successful, sexy” identity we all deserve. Some of the things I talk about are: finding strength in yourself, celebrating being a woman without guilt or fear, taking risks and learning when to say “no,” avoiding the seven deadly sins of marriage, mastering the balancing act of a woman’s life, reinventing yourself, and learning to live with our decisions.

I hope this book will guide women to reach their full potential in order to face and overcome life’s challenges head-on and become the best version of their smart, successful and sexy selves!

Q: What are your favorite parts of the book?

A: First of all, I think there is something for each individual woman in this book. That being said, I would say “The Balancing Act” chapter is key and also something relatable to most women, as well as a big source of stress for them. As women, we are being asked to juggle more roles than ever – especially in this current climate of financial stress. Women need to know that they are not alone and there are ways of managing this crazy life that we’ve all taken on. I want them to know that I “feel their pain” and sometimes it’s just a matter of adjusting their perspective.

The book’s overall message of finding strength in your identity is an important one. There are many women who often do not see their self-worth and value in the scheme of things. It is so easy for these women to let others define them. I really hope that these women in particular can find a message of hope in this book, even if my words are just stepping stones to see that they are individuals with infinite possibilities in their life.

There is also some good advice for young women planning to get married, engaged and for newlyweds in the book’s dating and marriage chapters that I wish someone had given me when I was at that point in my life. A friend of mine actually became engaged and married while I was writing this book and talking with her about it. She told me how helpful the advice was personally for her.


Q: What compelled you to write this book?

A: I see so many women constantly struggling with the same issues in life and stepping on their potential in life, and never seeing it. I also realize that as a woman I’m in the same boat – I catch myself doing the same things! I wanted to write a book to shine a light on these behaviors, give them a name, let women know that I’m “guilty” too and then share some of the ways I have managed these issues in my own life. With all the roles we as women take on these days, from wife and mom to business woman, it seems like women could use a book like this more than ever to help put things in perspective and make it through the storm.

Q: Did anything surprise you or did anything surprising happen, during the course of writing the book?

A: Yes. Working on instinct, I started talking about some of the issues covered in the book with some women – some I knew and some I did not. Initially I was just curious about how other women struggle with issues like marriage, work, self-image, etc. What surprised me was the quality of the responses. They had depth, they were candid, funny and smart – everything I talk about in this book as part of a strong woman’s identity! In a sense, talking to all these women about the book validated my entire reason for writing it. I learned that women are strong, sexy and smart, sometimes without even realizing it. It really energized the writing process and made me want to deliver something special for these women and all the other readers. Their answers became the “in her own words” sections at the end of each chapter. That was very surprising and definitely exciting!


Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

A: Writing is so many things. It can be a task, a profession, a hobby, a passion, a life mission, a form of self expression, or all of the above. No matter what it is to you, start by figuring out what it is in your heart that you want to share with others. Next, figure out how you want to share your message or story.

I personally think of writing as a conversation, whether it is with a trusted friend, family member, or a large group of people. My style happens to be pretty informal, but with a structure that helps the reader organize what I am telling them. Each writer needs to determine the style of communicating their story that comes naturally to them. Sometimes this reflects the way they communicate in real life (like my style) and sometimes it’s different. Writing involves asking a lot of questions about yourself, your reader and what you hope to achieve. It is a journey – fun, exhausting, energizing, frustrating, revealing, and different for each writer.