January 2023

 

NATASHA: Thank you for the interview. Can you tell our readers about yourself and how long have you been a writer?

KRISTOFFER:  First, thank you so much for having us! My name is Kristoffer Polaha and I’m an actor, a producer and now an author.  I’ve been a writer all my life, short stories, poems, plays, and screenplays, but I’ve been a writer who will have a readership for exactly less than one year.

ANNA:  And I’m Anna Gomez, I work in Finance and during my free time, I am an author, formerly writing under the pen name Christine Brae. I’ve loved to write all my life – poetry and love notes mostly, but only self published my first book in 2014.  I’ve been traditionally published since 2016.

NATASHA:  When it comes to writing, do you have a certain routine or writing process that allows the ideas to flow better?

KRISTOFFER: I find that if I can sit down for an hour every day and just write, that some days I simply find a flow and really surprising things come alive on the page. The characters begin to speak for themselves and make choices for themselves. Other days, it’s like I’m stoking a fire, simply trying to build heat.

ANNA: Since I have a very busy work life, I don’t really have a process. I write when and where an idea or thought comes to me. Most of the time, once I start a story, the characters take on their own voices and speak to me at the weirdest, most inconvenient times LOL. I write whenever I can, given my time constraints.

NATASHA: Can you tell our readers about your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?

KRISTOFFER: Anna?

ANNA: Sure. We wanted to write a series of books set in the beautiful islands of Hawaii. This first one, Moments Like This, is about a woman whose ambition in life was all consuming. When something happens that spins it out of control, she has to take a step back and start re-evaluating her priorities. We came up with the title simply because she needed to slow down and enjoy the meaning and the gift of every single moment.

NATASHA: How was the writing process like to write this book with another author? Was it easy or difficult?

KRISTOFFER: Working with Anna has been a dream come true. She is supportive and encouraging and we shoot writing prompts back and forth to each other, so it makes the process extremely enjoyable. We call it chapter tennis.

ANNA:   I couldn’t agree more, that our collaboration is quite effortless. It’s like we have the same voice and the same vision for the stories, so coming up with ideas was really easy. It still is. I was just telling Kristoffer the other day that we are actually 25 chapters into our second book.

NATASHA: Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?

KRISTOFFER: At this point, Anna, she’s literally given me the chance to try something entirely new and has been unbelievably encouraging. Next in line is my wife, Julianne, but she’s still in shock that I’m actually writing a book.

ANNA: Weird, I was truly going to say the same thing. We’ve been collaborating so closely on this project that Kristoffer is really the only one right now who creatively supports my ideas. My husband supports Kristoffer’s support – so I guess that’s good. I think he’s happy he doesn’t have to be the one to listen to me ranting about our characters every day.

NATASHA: If you could turn one of your books into a film what book would that be? Who would you want to play the lead character in the film?  

KRISTOFFER: We plan to turn Moments Like This into a film and I know a guy I’d like to play the lead. He’s a touch old for the role, but we will make an exception.

ANNA:  What he said!

NATASHA: Besides writing, what do you enjoy doing on your spare time to relax?

KRISTOFFER: I enjoy playing football with my sons, movie night with the family, during the pandemic my wife and I held a film school for our sons and showed them every great movie ever made, the films you otherwise would never have the right moment to share. I love to run and hike to clear my head.

ANNA: I love to travel. Pre COVID, I was only home 2 weeks in a month. I love to see the world and experience different cultures. I am also a runner. I make up stories about things I see during my run. Except for the wild turkeys that I am deathly afraid of – they make me turn back whenever I see them.

NATASHA: Can you share with our readers any future projects that you are working on?

KRISTOFFER: We are working on Book Two in the Kona from Love series and I am working on a children’s book entitled How Are You Loved.

ANNA:  All my attention is focused on my full time job and on this series. Unfortunately, that’s all the time I have to give at the moment.

NATASHA: How can our readers learn more about you and your books?

KRISTOFFER: They can visit www.krispolaha.com or find me on instagram at @polahaha

 ANNA:  I’m at www.annagomezbooks.com and on Instragram at @annagomezbooks.

Kristoffer Polaha is best-known for his long starring role in the critically acclaimed series Life Unexpected (The CW). Other TV series credits include Get Shorty with Ray Romano and Chris O’Dowd, the limited series Condor opposite William Hurt and Max Irons, The CW’s Ringer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Valentine, as well as North Shore (FOX).

In addition to co-starring with Rainn Wilson in Backstrom (FOX), he had a multi-season role on the acclaimed series Mad Men (AMC) and Castle (ABC). Polaha is also well-known for starring in Hallmark Channel movies such as Dater’s Handbook with Meghan Markle, and the Mystery 101 franchise on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Polaha first received attention for his portrayal of John F. Kennedy, Jr. in the TV movie, America’s Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story, opposite Portia de Rossi. He has appeared in numerous independent features, including Where Hope Grows, Devil’s Knot (Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon), and the Tim Tebow film, Run the Race.

Polaha has a featured role opposite Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman 1984 and in Jurassic World: Dominion.

In addition to his work as an actor, producer, and director, Polaha is branching into the book world by co-authoring a new series. He is also involved with several charitable organizations, including being an ambassador for World Vision, a board member for HerArtsInAction, and The Polaha Family Circus Foundation.

Polaha was born in Reno, Nevada, and he is married to actress Julianne Morris. They have three sons.

 Anna Gomez was born in the city of Makati, Philippines and educated abroad. She met and married her best friend who whisked her away to Chicago over twenty years ago. She is Chief Financial Officer for Leo Burnett Worldwide, a global advertising company founded in 1935. In her capacity, Anna serves on the board of several not-for-profit organizations, namely the Hugh O’Brien Leadership Organization and Girl Scouts of America. She is also the executive sponsor for a number of employee resource groups focused on Diversity and Inclusion.

Under the pen name Christine Brae, Anna has published six novels, has an established fan base, and a dedicated following. Her titles rank in the Top 100 months following their release. Her last three novels, In This Life, Eight Goodbyes, and The Year I Left, have won literary awards and were immediate bestsellers on Amazon, ranking #1 across multiple categories.