Christina Britton Conroy is a Certified Music Therapist and Licensed Creative Arts Therapist who founded Music Gives Life. This group brings musical performing into the lives of senior citizens. Many of their Show Stoppers, ages 60-101, never performed in public before joining the program. NY1-TV News named them their NYers of the Week.

A former senior center director, nursing home music therapist, and primary caregiver for two elderly relatives, Christina has unique insights into the joys and frustrations shared by geriatric patients and their caregivers. She is also a classically trained singer/actor who toured the globe singing operas, operettas, and musicals.

Her books include HOW TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR AGING PARENTS: I want to go to Lithuania, One Man’s Music, and a 4-book historical fiction series: HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

Website: christinabrittonconroy.com
Author page on Amazon
Christina Britton Conroy on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter
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What motivates you to write?

I always loved making up stories. As a child, my school papers were returned covered with red ink. Hard as I tried, I could not learn to spell. I actually saw letters and numbers upside-down and backwards. No one knew about dyslexia. Since my teachers never graded solely on content, I always got terrible grades on compositions. Believing I had no talent, I stopped writing stories. Eventually, spellcheck was invented. My life changed.

How did you get started?

About that same time, I changed careers. I was a classically trained singer/actor and performed all over the world for 20 years. In the middle of this my mother died, leaving me to care for my aging father. Watching a brilliant man shrink mentally and physically was horrible. Eventually, the journey with him was so rewarding I changed careers and earned a music therapy master’s degree from NYU. While writing my 150 page thesis, I was told that my academic writing was unusually entertaining and easy to read.

What’s most rewarding about writing?

When Writing Nonfiction: I am dedicated to telling painful truths that can help others. This writing is personal and totally rewarding.

When Writing Fiction: Characters, characters, and characters – relationships, relationships, relationships. Did I mention that I love my characters and their relationships to my other characters? They are my best friends. Like real people, they can be funny, scary, smart, dumb, careless, cruel, loving, and great. Authors who complain of writer’s block cannot be in love with their characters.

Completing some boring chore like grocery shopping or laundry, I imagine myself in the company of my characters and the boring job becomes fun.

I’ve always been fascinated by Victorian England and loved the years of research necessary to complete my historical novel series.

What’s your favorite genre and why?

I love whatever I am writing at the moment. I was passionate writing my nonfiction book, HOW TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR AGING PARENTS: I want to go to Lithuania. Learning to care for my aging father and later bringing passion and joy to my nursing home and senior center clients compelled me to write this little self-help book. Kirkus Review: “Sensitive and empathetic; offers excellent suggestions for coping with the harsh reality of caring for elderly parents.”

I love reading historical fiction. Since Victorian culture always fascinated me, it is no wonder my 4-book historical novel series, HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, is set from 1887-1904. I wrote the book’s first 600-page draft in 4 months while working full time. The story just poured out of me. When it was done, I started researching and discovered much of what I made up was actually true history. OnlineBookClub Reviewer: “If you love to read about Downton Abbey era England you are in for a real treat… all the requirements of a Shakespearian play; star- crossed lovers, controlling fathers, and cruel betrothal arrangements…”

Where do your characters come from?

When I write pure fiction, my characters just come to me. Sitting at the computer, listening to music, I relax into an altered state. My characters play out their story like a movie in my mind. I write what I see and hear, seldom anticipating what will happen next. I’m never sure how a story will end, till it finishes itself.

Who is an author who inspires you and why?

Ken Follett creates marvelous, historically authentic worlds. I care desperately about his multidimensional characters. His beautiful, easy language transports me to different times and places.

What do you look for in other people’s books?

If I’m reading fiction, I want fascinating, easy to read entertainment.

What are you writing now?

I’m writing blogs and social media posts, trying to sell the 5 new books, fiction & nonfiction, that were published in 2017.

What kind of book would you like to be known for?

Well written, very entertaining, informative books.

What has writing taught you about yourself?

Never take “NO” for an answer. As a child, I was told I could not write. As an adult, I wrote books I believed in, and held out until good publishers accepted them.

How has your life experience influenced your writing?

My first published novel, ONE MAN’S MUSIC, is loosely autobiographical. I wrote it out of frustration while touring in a Broadway musical. While happy to be employed, I was discouraged that my years of classical training were not being showcased. Romantically, I was also frustrated. Spending years on tour, I enjoyed delightful love affairs with brilliant powerful men. These relationships often ended as fast as they began. Writing this story was therapeutic, sexy, and fun. Barnes & Nobel called the book, “A beautifully written story full of wit, music, and romance.”

What encouraging advice can you offer new writers?

Creative writing, like any creative/performing art MUST be done for LOVE. If you love it, it will come easily. If you don’t love it, the struggle becomes torture. If it’s not fun – DON’T DO IT.