CS4W: Hello, Jackie and Doug! Thank you for joining us! Please tell us about your book No Ordinary Love: A True Story of Marriage and Basketball!
Jackie: Our book is about two people that grew up in single parent households and met each other and fell in love and beat the odds! We share with our readers the fact that Doug is a professional basketball player in the NBA and I’m a former fashion model. We have three children and we’ll share how we’re able to find balance in a world where divorce is the norm; where even though we are highly criticized for having a committed, faithful and loving marriage, we still keep our marriage strong. The reader will get tips and antidotes on how they too can have a lasting, happy marriage or relationship.
CS4W: Why did you decide to write this book?
Doug: We have a beautiful marriage and wanted to share it with the world. We have been written about so much and for so long, we felt that writing our book in our own words and sharing all of the things we do in our marriage can help others in theirs. We wanted to inspire and empower as many people as we can in living the infinite love together as we do.
CS4W: How long did it take to write? Since this was your first book together, what was the writing process like for you both?
Jackie: It took us about six months from the official start to finish - working on it from morning until night, but it was worth it. We enjoyed writing together as we were able to reminisce, something we do often about our life together and to share our personal feelings of joy and pain. It bonded us together even more.
CS4W: Marriage definitely has its challenges, but I imagine being a celebrity couple has even greater challenges. How do you keep your marriage strong in an often hostile environment?
Doug: We keep our marriage strong in this environment by putting each other first. Our feelings are the most important thing to us and if something is not okay with either of us, we will not do it. We, along with our three children, are the most important thing so we block out the bad stuff and the disrespectful stuff going on in the world and keep our circle tight meaning nothing or no one gets inside of our circle unless we are all in agreement. Prayer is the foundation, for God is everything and all to our family.
CS4W: What do you hope people will take away with them after reading your book?
Jackie: They will hopefully take away the true essence of who Doug and I are and that we dearly love each other. We decided on July 8, 1999 that we would not allow anyone or anything to interfere with our marriage and that we put each other first no matter what. In life you have to sacrifice, but if it’s in the best interest of you and your family, it is not hard at all. And we hope they take away the fact that they too can experience what we call Infinite Love!
CS4W: What type of feedback have you received from your readers, the NBA and the media?
Doug: We have received the most positive feedback imaginable. They have all been extremely supportive and they really enjoyed our book. They have told us they will apply what they learned to their own lives and relationships, so it is very rewarding to us as we poured our hearts and souls into our book and really wanted to let people in to experience our lives.
CS4W: I admire your relationship and the powerful message of this book. I also find your yearly tradition to be a beautiful event. Please share with our readers what you do every year and how it deepens the bond you share with one another .
Jackie: We have a yearly wedding where we invite family and friends to share in our joy. We have a minister perform our wedding each year and we renew our vows. We sometimes write them ourselves, but we always have the minister do the traditional ones too as we want to continue to share in our marriage with God. It’s a beautiful occasion and we’re able again to look into each others eyes and say “I do” again and again. I have a saying, “If you’re always planning a wedding, you never time to plan a divorce.”
CS4W: Jackie, please tell us about the books you’re currently working on and when they will be available.
Jackie: Yes, thank you, currently I’m writing the new book: She Diva!
It’s a practical how-to manual every woman needs in order to bring out her most confident, glorious self! It will offer lots of great beauty advice as well as health and nutritional information and what to wear to that special occasion and to look and feel great! It will be available spring 2008. For more info, please go to: www.infinitelovepublishing.com.
The next book in my four part series (to love ourselves, a series) following She Diva! is WOMAN! The perfect guide to loving who you are. You can take a blissful journey to self-acceptance and finding self-worth. WOMAN! will be available Fall 2008.
CS4W: Doug, do you have plans to write another book? If so, please tell us what it’s about and when it will be available.
Doug: Yes, thank you for asking. I’m currently writing my new book called: The Big Comeback! The Complete Guide to Gaining Superior Health!
This is a self-help book and exercise book geared to the person that wants to know how to gain superior mental and physical health. They will get illustrations and lots of valuable information on how the average person can get the body that a world class athlete has and how mentally, you can become much stronger in all areas as well as a self-help monthly guide to follow and chart your progress. There will also be a surprise for the winner that achieves their goals and passes the test included at the end of the book! The Big Comeback! The Complete Guide to Gaining Superior Health! will be available Spring 2008.
CS4W: Before we part, please tell us where we can purchase No Ordinary Love.
Doug: Thank you for an awesome interview! No Ordinary Love: A True Story of Love and Basketball is available world wide at: Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Borders.com, Overstock.com and many others as well as InfiniteLovePublishing.com.
http://www.infinitelovepublishing.com/
http://www.jackiechristie.com/
DOUG CHRISTIE:
Doug was born in Seattle Washington , and is a 15-year veteran basketball player in the NBA. Although he has enjoyed a stellar career, he is now adding "Author" to his growing list of achievements. Basketball is Doug's 1st love. He also enjoys fishing and golfing in his spare time.
JACKIE CHRISTIE:
Like Doug, Jackie is a Seattle native. She is a fashion designer and is now proud to add "Author" to her repertoire. Jackie realized her passion for fashion as a child and is an avid reader. She has always aspired to be a writer and now has realized a dream.
THE CHRISTIES:
Jackie and Doug's story is one of love at first sight. They are best friends and soul mates who share what they call "infinite love"--the kind of love that can never be broken. Although their marriage has been publicly criticized by the sports media, the couple's love remains strong, due in part to prayer, and the strength and comfort they find in one another. Each year, in celebration of their love, Doug and Jackie remarry with a full wedding ceremony where they renew their vows to each other.
