Christina Byers - Dinosaurs and Holiday Cheer

Christina Byers says that fantasy/sci-fi/fiction has changed her life for the better ever since she was a little girl who read books by streetlights in the back of her parents' van at night. Christina was a shy and quiet kid that could be seen with a book in her arms at all times. The characters in her books were her best friends and got her through tough times. As our Author of the Day, she tells us all about her book, X-mas with the T-Rexes.

Please give us a short introduction to what X-mas with the T-Rexes is about.

X-Mas With The T-Rexes is about the hidden secret to the month of December and Christmas which involves T-Rexes. Find out how the T-Rexes celebrate the most magical time of the year!

What inspired you to write this book? Was there anything in particular that made you want to tackle this?

Last year for Christmas a friend and I dressed up as T-Rexes and passed out candy and gifts to folks stuck working around the holidays. Then one day this past summer the title and idea popped into my head as I was falling asleep, and I just had to write and share this story!

Why, would you say, are rhymes so much fun?

The rhythm that rhymes give is unbeatable, especially when it comes to Christmas stories. They also help young children with their reading and verbal skills in a more fun way.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I love to draw, and can replicate a piece of art almost perfectly just by staring at it. I just can't come up with my own illustrations haha.

Why T-Rexes? What makes them so special?

The T-Rex has been such a misunderstood dinosaur. While T-Rexes are really big and can come off as scary, they are just like the rest of us really. Also, T-Rexes are just super cool!

What did you have the most fun with while writing this story?

Watching the book come together, writing and illustrations, was by far the most fun. Finding the rhymes came easy because they fit so perfectly. I loved finding out what really happened to the T-Rexes all those years ago!

Does X-mas with the T-Rexes have a hidden message? What do you hope readers will take away from this?

I'm not sure how well-hidden the message is, but there definitely is one. The importance of the holidays, of Christmas, is spending time with family and friends. Treating others with kindness, no matter how they look, is important. Especially around the holidays.

Why, would you say is X-mas with the T-Rexes a must-buy for the holiday season?

X-Mas With The T-Rexes is a fresh new rhyming Christmas Tale, and kids these days are in LOVE with all things dinosaur. Why not invite some T-Rexes to your Christmas this year?

When starting on a new book, what is the first thing you do?

I think about my main characters and think about what they would want to tell all their readers. Then I write and compare how well my words communicate their message.

Do your characters ever take off on their own tangent, refusing to do what you had planned for them?

All the time! My characters dictate the story, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

What are you working on right now?

Right now I am writing my upcoming book, "Hey Bear, Hey!". it is coming out this Spring 2023 and follows a unique black bear experiencing his first-ever Spring, and all the troubles that come with it.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

Readers can learn more at my website fictafabula.com, my Facebook Page "Ficta Fabula", my Instagram page "fictafabula", and through my Amazon Author Page (all books can be found on Amazon!)