Spotlight On Writers
Christina Stewart
- Where do you originate from?
I was born in Canterbury in Kent, in 1981, and spent my early years in Whitstable, a small seaside town known for its oysters. Later, we moved to Norwich, where I stayed until my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer. After he passed, my mum decided to move us again, and I spent a couple of years in Boston, Lincolnshire, immersing myself in my love for horses. Eventually, my mum wanted to be closer to her twin sister, so we packed up again and ended up in South Devon. I’ve been fortunate to call this beautiful place home ever since.
Over the years, I’ve worked with horses, taught riding, and traveled. I got married and had six children, but soon realized I had spent two decades in the wrong relationship with the wrong man. Life has been unkind in many ways, as I continued to lose my family in recent years, leaving just me behind, but somehow, things changed. I never thought love would find me again, but it did.
- What do you cherish most about the place you call home?
It’s not the place; it’s the people. After my partner went to prison, my mother-in-law took me in, and for the first time in so long, I finally feel like I belong. It’s like being back at home with the parents, the family I lost, something I never thought I’d have again. I spent years feeling unloved, worthless, and struggling without anyone who truly cared about me. But now, I have people who love and care about me, and that’s what makes this home. It’s not about the house or the town; it’s the love, the people who show up for me when I need them most. That’s what makes it real. The peace I’ve found here is grounded in the people who surround me, making me feel valued, no matter what life has thrown my way. That’s home.
- What ignites your creativity?
Love. Loss. Those in-between moments when words fail, and all I can do is write. Poetry has always been my way of processing emotions too vast to contain. I never expected to fall in love again, but then he came into my life, and it felt like a miracle. But then, he ended up in prison, and everything shifted. Now, love is this constant ache, knowing where he is but being unable to be with him.
It’s harder than death in some ways because you know they’re right there, but you can’t touch them. You can’t be with them when you need them most. That feeling shapes my poetry. It’s grief, but it’s different. It’s a love that exists in letters, in stolen hours, and in the spaces between words. Writing is how I cope, without it, I don’t know how I’d survive.
The love and connection I share with him have also pushed me to achieve more than I ever thought possible. He encouraged me to go back to college, and with his love and belief in me, I’ve been able to make it happen. Every accomplishment feels amazing because I know he’s supporting me. With him in my life, I’ve learned to keep going, even when everything else seems impossible.
- Do you have a favorite word and could you incorporate it into a poetic phrase?
My favourite word is diminishing. It’s from the first poem I ever wrote as a child, inspired by a picture my dad bought at a car boot sale, a tiger sinking into a lake. I can’t remember the whole poem, but I wrote something like:
“Softly, sinking, slowly diminishing.”
That word has stayed with me ever since.
- What is your pet peeve?
I don’t get annoyed easily, but I lack patience. I can’t stand jigsaw puzzles, waiting in lines, or anything that requires sitting still for too long. Maybe it’s because I’m a bit on the spectrum. One of my children has ADHD and autism, and I definitely recognise some of those traits in myself.
- How would you describe the essence of Christina Stewart?
Sensitive. Over-emotional. I feel everything deeply, sometimes too deeply, but I wouldn’t change it. I love fiercely, stand by those I care about, who love and care about me, and no matter what life has thrown at me, I’m still here, taking one day at a time.
With the love of the man who truly sees me, I’ve achieved more than I ever imagined. He’s the reason I’ve been able to push myself beyond my limits and accomplish things I once thought impossible. We’re hoping to get married and continue to love and support each other.
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