AN INTRODUCTION:
While Christina might not be the only writer – or even the only sci-fi writer from South Africa, she is most certainly the most authentic, eccentric and unique sci-fi/fantasy/horror writer to originate from that country!
This is not just because of the characters or settings she creates, or the unique situations she imagines, but also because of her life experiences, her unusual outlook on life – and the strange and often wacky things she notices in the world around her – and of course, her quirky sense of humor!In her fiction, she creates believable characters, and spins gripping tales that transport her readers to distant worlds, becoming absorbed in their lives and adventures!
Christina is the proud owner of a warped sense of humor, and it shows in her writing – and also typically in ordinary conversation!
She writes in the science-fiction/fantasy genre, and occasionally dabbles in horror as well. She has already published more than 20 titles in two sci-fi series, a sci-fi-horror series – and others, including a children’s book about bullying.
Christina has a lot of diverse life-experience to draw upon in her writing, having been a soldier with the South African Army for 17 years – with all the diverse experience and challenging situations such service invariably brings. People often misjudge and underestimate her, usually to their peril.
If you would like to read more about Christina’s life and experiences, please go to her Biography.
‘Add’ Christina Engela on Facebook (Profile)
‘Like’ Christina Engela on Facebook (Page)
Read more about Christina Engela on her official author website, The Crow Bar.
WHAT DOES CHRISTINA ENGELA WRITE ABOUT?
Christina Engela is a writer who blends elements of sci-fi, fantasy and horror into her stories.
Which elements? Well, she writes about aliens, space ships, big explosions – and crypts, ghosts and vampires – in the same books and in a way that makes all of these topics fit with each other without causing a melt-down or an inter-dimensional rift!
Her story settings include star ship situations and planetary locations. Her favorite planet to set her stories on is Deanna, where she loves to create unique characters and situations and to blend them with her past real life experiences and sometimes endearing (or not so endearing) parts of her real life acquaintances. For some reason, this location (Deanna) lends itself to what she calls ‘quantum-ness’ and for creating the unique characters around which her stories flow. This is one of the reasons why the series of stories centering around Deanna is called the Quantum Series.
Christina also wrote the Galaxii Series, which predates the Quantum Series, and as could be expected, is slightly less ‘quantum’, but while slightly darker and more serious in mood, still contains her trademark wit and humor in generous portions.
Christina also writes non-fiction items, including poetry, articles for human rights advocacy, reviews, and also sometimes edits for others.
In 2013, she researched and compiled the 400 page academically reviewed tome “Satanism: The Acid Test (STAT)” for the Alternative Religions Forum, which has been irreplaceable in turning the tide of Satanic Ritual Abuse (S.R.A) hysteria in media reporting bias at least in South Africa, if not around the world.
Christina’s current Bibliography gives details of her works. Please visit ‘School Writing, And After – A Journey‘ if you would like to see how Christina’s writing evolved from childhood until she became a young adult. The ‘Timeline of Milestones, Awards & Achievements‘ provides additional details about her personal achievements as well as actual publishing dates of her books.
On numerous occasions, Christina has said that she writes from experience – but this is almost certainly not a reference to flying in a space ship, blowing up planets, or tripping over crabby-grass! Her sense of irony in her storytelling, character detail and development, and plot construction set her apart from the herd, but what makes Christina Engela unique as an author, is what she writes about.
In today’s world, it is rare to see new content that reflects SGM (Sexual and Gender Minority) characters either impartially, unbiased or fairly. Very little such material, if any is otherwise being produced by authors.
Sadly, a lot of writers perpetuate stereotypes in their characters – sometimes deliberately, and sometimes due to ignorance on their part.
Christina’s writing is NOT stereotypical, and her characters – regardless of their sexuality or gender – are anything but stereotypes. Her writing is also not aimed specifically at any particular audience. The beauty of her stories is that the characters sexual orientation or gender appear as ELEMENTS of the story – not AS the story! There are plenty of heterosexual and cisgender characters – even lead characters – in there to balance things out!
If you want to know what Christina Engela’s focus group or target market is, please read here.
However, just as fiction is not all she writes – writing isn’t all she does.
If you would like to know more about her, please feel free to browse her website.
To leave her a message, please use the Contact form.
You are welcome to visit her Shop on this site.
Below are some links to other places you can follow or connect with Christina Engela:
WEBSITES, COLUMNS & BLOGS:
Christina’s Official Author Site: The Crow Bar
Christina’s Activism Blog: Sour Grapes – The Fruit Of Ignorance
Christina’s column on Litnet
Christina’s column on Penton Independent Alternative Media
BOARD MEMBERSHIPS:
Executive Committee Member: South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA)
Co-ordinator & Researcher for the Alternative Religions Forum
Board Member: OUT!ology
OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook, Google+, Twitter,Tsu, YouTube, Goodreads, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Academia.edu, Lulu, Hei! Books, Books Online Directory, StumbleUpon, Nothing Binding, Glipho, Dilmot, Pintrest, Instagram, Minds.com
