My work is categorized as women’s fiction, which simply means that the focus of the narrative is the emotional journey of the protagonist. I tend to write character-driven fiction, too, so my target reader is one who enjoys learning about the characters and their thought, motivations, and desires.

Christina Consolino – 15 October 2023

The Back Flap

Marissa Raffaelo-Moretta is used to shouldering the burden. As the middle child, she’s played the mediator role for longer than she cares to admit. As a mother, she’s taken on the exhausting task of primary caregiver. And as a daughter and nurse practitioner, she’s spent her adult life being responsible for her parents’ physical and mental health.

When her stubborn and impulsive father, Frank, falls and refuses to stay at rehab, she and her brothers bring him home, and Marissa upends her life: she temporarily moves into her parents’ house, which takes precious time away from her two sons and jeopardizes her job. Soon, Marissa recognizes that life as they’ve all known it is about to change: while Frank’s ineffective legs are worrisome, her mother Angie’s memory issues might be a more urgent dilemma.

A heartbreaking and emotional story of the toll that health crises can have on an entire family, The Weight We Carry reminds us of the fine line between reliance and independence, tending and mothering, and love and obligation.

About the book

What is the book about?

The Weight We Carry chronicles the effect of a health crisis on an entire family, including Marissa, the middle child of the Raffaelo family. As a part of the sandwich generation, she’s caught between taking care of her parents while also taking care of her own family. When she takes time to listen to and observe her parents, she recognizes that not everything is as it seems. She’s forced to confront her parents, and the entire family must come together to support each other. The book tackles motherhood, marriage, family dynamics, loss, grief, and more.

When did you start writing the book?

I wrote the first draft of the novel during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in 2015.

How long did it take you to write it?

Most of my “writing” comes during the revision process. I didn’t revise continuously after the first draft was completed, but the final, polished version didn’t emerge until summer 2022.

Where did you get the idea from?

The book is based on my experiences with my family during the summer of 2015, when my parents faced multiple major health crises. Though the crises mainly involved my father, a series of events eventually led to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s for my mother.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I didn’t necessarily struggle with parts of the book, but I did want to make sure to balance the heaviness found in the book’s themes. So I took care to infuse humor and levity into the narrative as well as focus on a few relationships that felt lighter than those of Marissa with her parents.

What came easily?

Though the story is not a play-by-play of what happened that summer with my family, the plotline unfolded relatively easily. Part of that is because the summer’s events served as a sort of scaffolding, and I felt a kinship with the characters I was writing about.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

For The Weight We Carry—as is the case with most of my writing—I borrowed some characteristics from real world people I know. But I often combine traits of people I know to create distinct and unique characters, and of course, sometimes, my characters have no connection to anyone I’ve ever met!

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I’m very lucky to know a number of authors personally, and their work, guidance, and energy has influenced me. The list is too long to include here, but a few special folks are Christina Berry, Jenn Bouchard, C. D’Angelo, Meredith Doench, Erin Flanagan, Elizabeth Everett, Katrina Kittle, Sharon Short/Jess Montgomery, Traci Ison Schafer, Elizabeth Sumner Wafler, and Jude Walsh.

Another group (again, too large to name) are those authors who belong to Women’s Fiction Writers Assocation (WFWA). That community has inspired me to write, revise, and become more confident in what I’m doing.

Do you have a target reader?

My work is categorized as women’s fiction, which simply means that the focus of the narrative is the emotional journey of the protagonist. I tend to write character-driven fiction, too, so my target reader is one who enjoys learning about the characters and their thought, motivations, and desires. My work often features physical and/or mental health issues, so readers who enjoy stories with those themes might pick up my books.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I do have a writing process, and I’m afraid it sounds very messy! I love participating in NaNoWriMo, which means I’ll produce a first draft within thirty days (during the month of November each year). I then let that tangled mess of a draft sit for a while. That could mean two months or two years. It depends on what other works I have on the back burner. But part of my “writing” involves thinking—just sort of letting the plotline and characters marinate in their world for as long as they need to. They always let me know when they’re ready for revision, and then, I just revise, revise, revise until I’m satisfied that it’s good enough (at least in that moment!).

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Whether or not I outline depends on my story. Usually I need to fly by the seat of my pants for my women’s fiction, but when it comes to romance, which I write under a pen name, I find that an outline works well there, and I go chapter by chapter with a small paragraph for each. However, my outlines are very fluid: just because I have something on paper doesn’t mean that I won’t veer wildly from the outline!

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I do not edit as I go, but I do take care of grammar, punctuation, and syntax mistakes that jump out at me.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I am published with a small press, and I have self-published, and in both instances, I hire an editor. Though I am a freelance editor myself and can catch many of my own errors, there’s nothing like a fresh set of eyes and viewpoint to see something I didn’t.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Not usually. I like to keep my mind open for conversations between characters. But sometimes when I’m writing romance, I listen to instrumental Taylor Swift or selections from The Piano Guys.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

A long time ago—in 2014, to be exact—I did, and though I received multiple requests for a full manuscript, ultimately, the agents passed.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

After the aforementioned agents passed, I took a good look at where I was in life and what I wanted out of my writing life. With four kids and multiple pets and aging parents, I decided I didn’t want the pressure that publishing with a large publishing house via a literary agent would require. So I looked at small presses, and I liked what I saw. I have more control over when and how with a small press. For my romance line, I decided to self-publish because I wanted to learn more about the industry, and I wanted complete control over my work.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

My covers are all professionally created. Kim Wilson of Kiwi Cover Design Co. has been an invaluable asset in this book journey!

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I do have a marketing plan, but my very full life often gets in the way of my plans. So I’m a little behind, but I know the book will find its audience eventually. Dementia, including Alzheimer’s, is a timely topic that, unfortunately, will resonate with many readers.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

The best thing I can say is to not give up. If publishing is a dream of yours, then follow it. It takes hard work and persistence, but the feel of that book in your hands—it’s like nothing else. I’d also suggest that you surround yourself with a supportive and positive writing community; these folks can make the difference between fulfilling that dream and not fulfilling it. And remember, as a good friends likes to say, if I can do it, it can be done!

End of Interview:

For more from Christina Consolino visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Get your copy of The Weight We Carry from Amazon US or Amazon UK.