The tight prose keeps the story moving briskly and the spiritual message is bristling with oceanic symbolism and a reverence for nature’s nourishing energy. While the religious overtone is obvious, the intertwining metaphors and underlining message that the ocean is the curing agent of the soul will strike any real surfer where it counts, and in my opinion, surfers are spiritual folks whether they know it or not. Religion has nothing to do with it.
I had the opportunity to talk with Christina about life, love, and writing. Here’s what she had to say.
Tell me a little about yourself as a writer.
Well, I have always made up stories since I was a kid. But I got kicked out of grammar school and high school. I did well in college but it wasn’t like I majored in English or anything. It wasn’t until I traveled to the Philippines to work with a children’s orphanage when I wrote some magazine articles about my experiences which led to my first book, Totally Surrounded.
How did the actual writing of your new book, Ocean Star, affect you emotionally?
The writing of this book was a gift to myself. It allowed me to make peace with my life. There were still parts of myself that felt broken and bruised from some of the bumpier parts of my journey and through my writing I was able to put my pieces back together, like a starfish regenerates its broken limbs. That’s where the name Ocean Star comes from.
How important were your friends throughout the experiences you describe in this book?
Friends were everything. My parents were unstable, so friends were my support system. My friends and I used to gather at the beach at sunset, and I’ll never forget the time we all gathered at the beach after my good friend’s death and the most bizarre thing happened. A pod of dolphins came swimming by. I think they sensed our energy and came to give us a symbol of hope and something changed for me at that point.
Many people still associate the surf culture with the drug culture. In Ocean Star, you write of your experience with drugs. However, now you’re a parent, so what do you think is the secret to kids living the surfing lifestyle without succumbing to its possible negative influences?
In the 70’s, drugs were everywhere. I don’t think it was just the surfers. In fact, I remember the good surfers usually stayed clear of drugs. Surfing gave them the freedom that the drugs offered other kids. These days, I think families are different. I see entire families going to the beach and surfing together, so I don’t think the druggie surfer stereotype holds true anymore.
