Meet Tasha Christensen | Author & Youth Mentor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tasha Christensen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tasha, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer. Since I was a kid, I’ve written and imagined stories and dreamed of becoming a novelist. But I didn’t really decide to pursue writing as a career until I had my first daughter, June. Having a kid is a kick in the pants in many ways, and it forced me to decide how I really wanted to spend my time.

I decided that while June was napping, that would be my time to write. And I did – sometimes typing with one hand while the other was rocking the baby. In those stolen moments, I wrote my first fully polished novel.

I’ve held other jobs through my life, from marketing to audio engineering. But writing is and will always be my passion. I don’t think I could give it up if I tried.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ask any author – it’s not a job you get into casually. It doesn’t pay well, there’s a lot of uncertainty and rejection, and you feel like you’re going to lose your mind half the time.

But I’ve learned so much over my journey to publication, and I’ve become much stronger for it. I’ve learned when to disregard criticism and when to make a change because of it. I’ve learned that rejection is just a sign that I’m working hard and taking risks. I’ve learned that I can do really hard things if I take it one page at a time.

I write young adult fiction, which means that my books are targeted to teenagers specifically. I’m passionate about passing on what I’ve learned to youth – both about writing and about life. Through workshops and other outreach opportunities, I’m able to provide the support and encouragement that I would have wanted as a teen. It’s such a formative time in life. You never know when you’ll impact a teen in a way that will influence their future.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love the quirky side of Denver. I almost always take guests to Casa Bonita, because it’s such a bonkers representation of Colorado and because we always have an unforgettable visit.

I really love the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Shoutout to the Jefferson County Library Culture Pass, which gives you and several guests free passes! It has rotating themed exhibits and a great kids area, which is important if my guests have children like me.

And finally, a trip to Denver wouldn’t be complete without escaping to the mountains. Maxwell Falls, Herman Gulch, and Lair o’ the Bear are some of my favorite hikes. We also love taking bikes up Waterton Canyon – you’re almost guaranteed to see bighorn sheep up there!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to shoutout Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. The critique groups, conferences, and people I’ve encountered through RMFW have been instrumental in getting me to where I am today as an author.

Website: https://www.tashachristensen.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_tasha/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/author_tasha

Other: TikTok: author_tasha

Image Credits
For the author headshot: Photo Credit Benjamin Christensen