About the Author:
As an author, Kristiana Sfirlea knows what it means to get in character. She spent five years volunteering as a historical reenactor and trying her best not to catch her skirts on fire as a colonial girl from the 1700s (leading cause of death at the time next to childbirth). Working at a haunted house attraction, she played a jumping werewolf statue, a goblin in a two-way mirror, and a wall-scratcher — so if she’s standing very still, growling, checking her reflection, or filing her nails on your wall, be alarmed. Those are hard habits to break.
Kristiana's flash fiction, featuring clueless zombies, undercover werewolves, and grumpy ghosts, has been published by Havok. Her debut novel Legend of the Storm Sneezer (5.5.20, Monster Ivy Publishing) is a spooky MG fantasy involving time travel and things that go bump in the night.
Inspired by bookmobiles around the world, Kristiana dreams of the day she can run her own mobile bookstore. Or haunted house attraction. Or both. Look out, world — here comes a haunted bookmobile! (And this is precisely why writers should never become Uber drivers.) She loves Jesus, her family, and imaginary life with her characters.
Passion Behind Work:
Growing up with a severe medical condition, most of Kristiana’s childhood was taken up with ER, hospital, and doctor visits, medical testing, anxiety, and worry. During these painful experiences, she acquired a vibrant sense of humor and writing became her escape. In time, escapism took a backseat, and her writing evolved into a way of processing the lessons she was learning.
She began Legend of the Storm Sneezer.
Most people think of storms as representing something evil, but through faith in her own Author, Jesus, Kristiana turned this symbolism on its head, demonstrating through her stories and characters how bad things can be used for your good. She wants to reach out to readers who are going through any kind of struggle and give them hope.
The Curse of the
Paralyzed Stomach:
Kristiana has a serious condition called gastroparesis, a.k.a. The Curse of the Paralyzed Stomach, a unique — and uniquely challenging — digestive disorder.
Legend has it that a great evil cursed her at birth in order to prevent her writing career, not realizing the symptoms that would often keep her homebound would also bind her to a writing desk. Days on the couch would become days in her imagination. And a diet of liquid and baby food would whet her mind’s appetite for so much more.
You can learn more about gastroparesis by reading Kristiana's blog post on Gastroparesis Awareness Month.
