Words have meaning, sounds, and their own energy. They vibrate and have the power to encourage and inspire. As a writer, I am always facinated by those who have that special gift: the ability to incite emotion by using the written word. Today I have here with me a woman quite capable of doing so: Christine Brae.

Who are you and what is the name of your business?

My name is Christine Brae and I am a writer of Contemporary Women’s Fiction and Romance. I am also a Certified Public Accountant, a CFO in an advertising agency, a wife and a mother of three children.

**After Christine’s mother passed away she decided to start writing as a way of honoring and remembering her. She did not plan that these recollections would have become her first book The Light in the Wound (July 2013). Books and characters have a tendency of finding their own way, it is as if  they want to come to life. This happened to me as well regarding my first book: while I was writing down a sort of diary, I started imagining what someone else would have done if they were in my shoes. This whole idea morphed into multiple personalities and stories until it finally hit me that a fascinating novel had organically come to light. The energy for those who write and read is very strong.  It is this same energy that brought Christine not only to unexpectedly publish her first book, but to start releasing one book a year: His Wounded Light (December 2013) , Insipid (June 2014), In This Life (January 2016), and she has already finished a new one, Eight Goodbyes slated for release in 2018. Book after book her readers started to become attached to Christine’s characters, always asking for more and more. Mrs. Brae told me that she feels empowered by her readers who commune with her through her books. With that special  spark and a love for her women, Christine has become an extremely prolific and much loved author.

What is your brand about?

My brand speaks to the hearts of strong, independent women who may have stopped believing that they can do it all. I use my words to encourage and support women who early on in life have focused on other priorities. Many of us lose our focus, de-prioritize ourselves and then resent it as we get older. I use my influence and experience to mentor those who want to accomplish their own goals no matter where they are in life. I write in a blog that is candid and honest. My books tell stories of flawed women who manage to rise above adversity.

Most of all, my brand is about living life to the fullest. It is about working hard to accomplish your dreams.

**Life can pull us far away from our goals for many reasons. However, the truth is that we allow this to happen. In that moment when we feel defeated by our circumstances, we should win over ourselves and learn how to stay focused, no matter what. Authors like Christine are even more precious during these times, when people can be very confused, sometimes lost and definitely stressed out. We need reminders, we need truth. Maybe because as an immigrant she had to conquer everything on her own. Maybe because she is a inner warrior, Christine gives me that sense of wanting to read more of her words just to go to bed happier. When an author can do this it is a true blessing as words really do matter.

What is your mission?

When I first started writing, I did not realize that I would have a following. I learned about the impact of my words and actions on people who hardly knew me. As I succeeded in my career, I learned that true leadership is one based on inspiration and trust. I take this very seriously and am extremely conscious about the effect of my actions on others.

I want to teach others to own themselves. Own your words and your humanity. It is  liberating.

My mission is to embolden women to find their true selves and be proud of who they are . I want to be able to use my influence to invigorate the movement for diversity and inclusion. Women from all walks of life, all races, all careers, all vocations and choices should embrace each other and make each other stronger.

**Christine is a woman who started to write out of having a need to do so. Little did she know that women would have emphasized with her and felt asif they were part of her stories. When you do something with the genuine thought of empowering others, people feel it and they respond to it. Christine is one of those authors who has a strong group of dedicated readers who are always waiting for her to publish more and more. I find it fascinating.

Are you a Millennial? What do you think about Millennials?

I am far from being a millennial, but I have children who were born in that era. I think millennials exemplify a vigor and lust for life that I’ve never seen before. They are also brilliant thinkers and innovators – they have so much information at their fingertips and they know what to do with it. Sometimes we complain that millennials embody a sense of entitlement – but I’ve seen them put that to good use. They are into the here and now . And when it comes to motivation, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

If you are here it means that you love fashion. Why?

I think fashion is the most creative way to express oneself. When I was younger, I always used to compare myself to my friends who had such great skills at decorating their homes, making crafts, producing artwork. Until someone told me that creativity comes in many forms. “Have you seen the way you carry yourself?” that person asked me. “The way you look is your art.”

I believe that fashion allows me my own self-expression . It’s something that I do without having to think or analyze or calculate. It cultivates the right side of my brain.

**Here is my “Empowering Style” collection for Christine Brae, feminine, sophisticated yet modern.

**A casual yet researched look, with every accessory on point. This is a daytime outfit inspiration, adding some color with taste.

**This is class. Simplicity and use of accessories to show the beauty of the soul.

**That dress is to die for, simple, refined and sexy at the same time. Thank you for this poetic picture.

What cannot miss from your wardrobe?

Leather jackets and purses.

I love them to pieces.

I have them all, in different styles. And I want more of them.

I admire those who can seriously put together pieces of costume jewelry and wear them all so well. I’m not into that – can’t find the time when I’m rushing in the morning to go to work. I love having a few pieces that I wear every day.

I also invest in good watches. I figure, I could give them to my daughter someday.

One thing I have to point out, is that I really take care of my things. I moved here from a foreign country and had to start over twenty years ago. I appreciate how far I’ve come, and my things remind me to live my life in gratitude.

Your favorite pair of shoes and why?

What? It’s like asking me to name my favorite child!

I have so many favorites, and it really depends on the season. This summer, it was a pair of white and blue platforms by Elie Tahari. In the winter, I’m always in my Chanel flat boots. I have really skinny chicken legs and they are the only ones who hug them just right. I only have two pairs of Christians. Everyone knows they hurt like heck, but you can never go wrong if you want to elongate your legs and look sexy.

I just purchased a pair of pure white boots for the fall. I’m so excited to wear them!

What is your style, and what you cannot stand in people, inside and out?

My style depends on my mood, but I strive for streamlined and simple.

I work in advertising and I am lucky enough to be able to wear business casual every day. I love to mix and match – wear basics from Zara and Topshop and then build confidence by wearing a statement piece. To me, it’s either a great jacket or sweater and really cool shoes.

I’m in my fifties, so I make sure that I don’t dress like a twenty year old anymore.

If I could, I would wear dresses every day. I love the way a dress makes me feel.

My pet peeve has to be peeled nail polish. Don’t peel them off. Take a piece of cotton and wipe them off. Your nails will thank you.

I have an aversion to fake people. I can tell them from a mile away and I always run in the other direction. No one has time to be pretentious. We all fall victim to that sometimes – especially for us who are active in social media. Let people see the real you because they will love you. You are loveable.

**I am a big fan of self expression. We live in a society that at times seems to feed off of jealousy whereas there appears to be amore and more people who feel joy when someone else succeedes. Only if you are happy can you make others happy.

What is your fashion mantra?

Reinvent yourself.

**Always. Do not stagnates in an idea of you. Being yourself means changing, evolving, and be less serious about life.

What is that magic word that speaks about you?

I was going to say “resilient”. But when I asked my husband, he said “committed”.

I think they mean the same thing. Sometimes, no matter how dedicated you are to something, there is a plan in the universe that is contrary to what you want. You have to keep going. You have to take each disappointment to heart so that you get stronger.

What is a wish that you would commit to grant this year to someone paying it forward?

This year, I would like to mentor up and coming high school students who want to be leaders in their field. I have just been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Hugh Obrien Youth Leadership organization, which focuses on teaching young people the value of community involvement. I would also like to teach underprivileged youth who have a penchant for words and for writing. Words are universal. They bring us together.

If you have anyone with these wishes, let me know and I will be ecstatic to jump in and help!

**Dear Christine, thank you for showing us until the very last word why anyone should support you. Your dedication to others comes out, it is vivid and trustworthy, your readers love you for this. I am looking forward to your next year publication, Eight Goodbyes, as I know you will inspire me. Keep on smiling.

The post Empowering Style. The Celebrity Wishmaker Simonetta Lein Meets Fiction & Romance Author Christine Brae appeared first on The Wishwall.