Marriage isn’t easy, but couple Edward and Christina Sledge have not only managed to build a beautiful life during their twenty-two years together, but they have also written multiple books and have a thriving business. The Sledges recently wrote and published their memoir, The Story of Christina and I and Our Marriage: An Essay during the COVID-19 pandemic. The high school sweethearts met in Brooklyn, NY. Their romance was predestined from the start. Their memoir is about triumph over tragedy with both persevering to become first generation high school and college graduates. They went on to obtain graduate degrees while also raising a family.
Edward and Christina founded their company, Sledge House Media in 2021 to publish their own books and to share the untold stories of the average person through films, and TV Series. Collectively, they have published four books and made one short film together with many more on the way in 2022. The Sledges pride themselves on telling diverse and compelling stories that highlight unique experiences, and backgrounds. Additionally, all their books are 200 pages or less to reach readers that are limited on time.
We spoke to authors Edward and Christina Sledge about their memoir and found out a bit more about them along the way.
What did you learn about yourselves and each other while writing the memoir ‘The Story of Christina and I’?
Edward: We both learned that writing a memoir is therapeutic and cathartic. Writing a memoir allows you to dig deep and analyze your life from a different perspective. During the process, we learned that we have overcome multiple traumas, and we both chose similar paths for dealing with them. We ultimately decided to choose paths of hope and optimism in the face of adversity.
You mentioned that you both overcame multiple traumas, can you tell us more about that?
Christina: Edward lived through early trauma as a child. His mother suffered from mental illness and committed suicide while holding Edward as an infant. He lived in poverty, his father suffered from alcoholism, and he was surrounded by drug use and crime. His stepmother also suffered from breast cancer and died when Edwards was 14 and then when he was 22 his father died. I was born to teenage parents at 3 lbs 1 oz premature. A little later in life I lost my brother to gun violence.
Tell us a little about your newest book.
Edward: Andre’s Confessions is part two of The Desire Family Saga. It is a romantic thriller about a fugitive detective on the run for murder. He is also on a mission to avenge the murder of his only brother. During his journey, he is presented with multiple dilemmas where he does everything possible to survive and avoid capture. The reader is kept on a wild ride until the very end.
In your newest book, was the character inspired by a real person?
Christina: No, however in Ricardo’s Collisions part one of The Desire Family Saga, one of the main characters is inspired by a real person.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Christina: Writing energizes us. It’s an exciting feeling having an idea, envisioning it, and then making it come to life.
What is your favorite childhood book?
Christina: The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy. It is about a young African American girl who spends time with her grandmother making a quilt which allows them to build a bond. The message of the book is the importance of family relationships.
Any upcoming releases or new projects you’d like to tell us about?
Edward: We are currently working on a short film based on The Story of Christina and I, and we will be releasing our sixth book this November.
