Fan mail, reader reviews, praise and compliments for Christina Engela, South Africa’s most unique and talented female science fiction author!
For many years it’s been my privilege to receive positive feedback for my work in the field of human rights, from various communities it’s been my privilege to mingle with and support in my own small way, and most of all, for my writing!
There’s very little that can compare to the feeling of reading a note or email or review of a book or short story I wrote – it’s a mixture of pride, bashfulness and sheer joy! For a writer, it means someone liked (or dare I say it, loved) something they wrote – that it wasn’t just a shout into the vast empty darkness, it was read, felt – and above all, appreciated!
With that, I invite you to take a seat, pour a glass of your favorite tipple, and share my joy with me.
Above all, keep reading!
Cheers!
Read more:
Fan mail, reader reviews, praise and compliments
This is listing of assorted fan-mail, good reader reviews and compliments and a selection of other positive comments Christina Engela has received, some for her writing and editing, and some for human rights activism. For book reviews, go here. For older entries, view page 1 or page 2.
September 12, 2023
The space sci-fi action continues and faces a darker path than usual…
“With the planet of Deanna under new fascist rule and a Time Agent missing; it is up to the diverse cast of heroes who make up the always colourful Quantum series to put in the save. The space sci-fi action continues and faces a darker path than usual this time.
Christina Engela delivers a story that is both entertaining and poignant in places with a fun writing style that isn’t afraid to highlight modern society with inclusivity being at the forefront. Her vessel for this has been a series of books that continue to entertain in a meaningful way while even expressing the positive potential to having diversity in the world. On the planet of Deanna, you can be pretty much anyone you want but all of that has been taken away by a fascist regime who have even found a way to erase the planet from the solar system to passers by. Many of those who don’t fit within the ‘regime’ find themselves at a cruel and brutal place known as ‘Xanadu’ which serves as a sinister prison camp but ultimately they are neither.
With some familiar faces and even call backs to older faces seen in the previous entries to the series, they look to find a way out of this storm which has seemingly engulfed the planet – this includes a former enemy, a once ‘Ruminarii’ Captain who join forces with those looking to fight back and ‘Gary Beck’ receives a temporary assignment in the wake of a missing Agent ‘Scrooby’.
The Quantum series continues to entertain and even cover real world issues in a modern way via some great writing and a plot that keeps on giving. 5 Stars.” – Lee Hall‘s review of “Xanadu“, September 12, 2023.
September 05, 2023
“Christina Engela’s hallmark combination of quirky humor, memorably drawn characters, tightly constructed plots and fluid style makes her one of the most entertaining authors I’ve ever read – and that’s a short list that includes Neil Gaiman and Douglas Adams.” – Alex S. Johnson, September 5th, 2023.
September 04, 2023
“I was just looking at your excerpt from Freedom Inc. Your style is so fluid. Knowing exactly what to include and what not to, by instinct, is a hallmark of a good writer. You don’t overwhelm the reader with detail. Just enough.
A lot of the writers I edited had to detail EVERYTHING and it’s just a chore… like they took a workshop and were told about concrete detail. The server-droid quietly folding itself into a compact cube… that’s trademark Engela. ‘Small blasters and the like…’ you get the picture. It’s sufficient.
I’d like to do a short style guide some time… with examples like that of how to do it right. When you say ‘and the like’ it’s evocative of a whole universe of things ‘like’ small blasters, whatever those may be. It’s also a bit whimsical.
I guess what I’m saying is, there’s some things you can’t teach.
I get from your writing this vibe of someone telling a hilarious story at a party. There’s not this effort, at least not a lot of visible effort.” – Alex S. Johnson, September 04, 2023.
August 20, 2023
Enjoyable Complex Characters
“The story tuned out to be quite different than what I expected from the cover. I thought it would be a quirky sci-fi space/planetary adventure. Well, it was, sort of, but primarily focused on the personal identity struggles of the unconventional characters. Generally I found it engaging and empathized with the main characters, except for a few instances where the author either veered onto a social pulpet or their characterizations did not ring true for me. But all in all I found the book enjoyable and look forward to reading more.” CKing review for Black Sunrise on Audible.
August 18, 2023
OMG
“Wow, this story is just fantastic! You feel as if you are part of it! I cannot say any more without giving away the plot! Just brilliant! The narrator was so good with all of his gadgets to help it along 😊” – Dave & Linda, August 18, 2023, review of Blachart on Audible.
August 12, 2023
“It looks absolutely amazing! Keep up the great work!” – Marylee MacDonald, comment on Threaders poster, Twitter, August 12, 2023.
July 29, 2023
“When you have no idea what to expect, you sometimes end up pleasantly surprised. Black Sunrise is a weird little gem of a story that has elements of satire and parody—a talking plant named Fred, a planetary setting that’s something akin to an old Western, reptilian alien invaders taken out by a vat of sherry—as well as other fantasy and sci-fi aspects.
But there’s also a dry wit and humor wrapped around a serious, heartfelt subject here. Cindy-Mei Winter is a trans woman who was fired from her job for showing up in a dress. She suffered transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, and general stupidity from her coworkers and bosses. After her gender affirmation surgery, she takes a galactic cruise and ends up in the middle of major weirdness. So much for a relaxing vacation!
The cast of characters is divine. There’s the bored-off-his-gourd Captain of the vessel that brings Mei to Deanna. Gary Beck the Badfeller is a PI/bounty hunter who got his tough nickname from a stupid childhood stunt. The Gimps aka Ruminarii, reptiles who think being bad is good and typically rise in power and status by killing those above as well as below them in rank and power. And Fred, the Arborian, a talking plant who has spent the last several years hanging out on the rec deck of the freighter that brought Mei to Deanna.
The multiple-points-of-view style the author chose works very well for this story. There is a large cast of characters, and we get to see their thought processes, and often the inner workings of the characters’ strange, minds. The pacing of the story reminds me of the ending of the Clue movie, where Tim Curry runs from place to place explaining what really happened: rapid bursts from the characters, some ironic, some humorous, and some sad and heart-wrenching.
I thoroughly enjoyed this raucous little story. It’s weird and irreverent, but has a deeper, more important message dressed up in a slapstick-comedy tale. I will definitely read more by author Christina Engela.” – Lucy, Queer Sci Fi, 29 July 2023.
July 22, 2023
Short Haunted Story Set In Africa
“I Purchased and listened to this on Audible books. This was a short story of a family who during the depression in Africa had to make do with a rental house in the middle of nowhere. After a bit since the husband left for work for the week, unexplained things started happening which cause a lot of fear for the mother and her children. Narrator does a nice job with this storyline.” Georgia McNabb review for Opsaal on Amazon, July 22, 2023.
June 1, 2023
The Quantum series returns and with it the resistance grows
“It has been a while since I last read a book in the Quantum series and I’m glad to see Christina Engela is on form yet again to deliver an immersive brand of sci-fi. With the usual humour and occasional stab at the forces who chose not to embrace inclusivity there’s a relevant and meaningful social commentary here. Much like most of Engela’s stories they contain heroes of all backgrounds – a positive and modern choice while also being quite enjoyable.
‘On Deanna, a seed had been planted, a sinister, malevolent seed…’
These heroes are spread around the planet of Deanna which has been taken over by a totalitarian regime who have suppressed the diverse inhabitants. This story lays out their movements in creating a force for resistance and they’ll do everything they can to fight back from this suppressive regime. From dealing with local mobsters to gain equipment to even meddling with the concept of the time space continuum – time travel in this series is a focal point and a vessel that will hopefully guide Deanna to freedom. There are even vampires so all of the cool story bases are covered here.
Underground Movement is an appropriate title for a book which recaps the series so far with some returning faces like ‘Fred the Arborian’ and ‘Gary Beck the Badfeller’ plus many more while also paving a way for what is to come. Enjoyable and immersive.
4 Stars” – Lee Hall, UK writer & reviewer, June 1, 2023.
May 15, 2023
I thought it ran a bit slow
“But there was excitement and mystery to keep you interested. Good for a short story.” – Gwen Boseman, review for Opsaal on Audible, May 15, 2023.
May 14, 2023
Very Exciting
“This book keeps you craving the next page. So well written and narrator is fabulous as always. Brings so much excitement to the book. Love it” – Gwen Boseman, review of Demonspawn on Audible, May 14, 2023.
April 28, 2023
Story starts out slow, but gets good near end
“I found the Narrator rather poor and sounding disinterested, She was almost ununderstandable when she does the reptilian voices and drunk characters. Story could have been so much better with a decent narrator. I liked the book well enough to go ahead and bought book 2.” – Georgia McNabb, review on Audible for Black Sunrise, April 28, 2023.
April 23, 2023
OH! I Really Loved This Story!!
“A house in Africa that is having all sorts of unusual things happening. Though built on level ground, no floors line up, always a step up to cross. Unseen entity moving things. Narrator does a excellent job with the entire storyline. Though some terrifying things do happen, this is actually more of a mystery.” – Georgia McNabb, review on Audible for When Darkness Calls, April 23, 2023.
April 16, 2023
The Kind Of Authors Bigots Hate
“I highly recommend authors such as Christina Engela and Paula Dashe who are definitely the kind of authors bigots hate” – George Bailey on Twitter, April 17, 2023.
April 6, 2023
“Your cover pics are just so good.” – Dault Dauluti, on Facebook, April 6, 2023.
February 11, 2023
Great story
“I enjoyed this creepy horror story full of ghosts, exorcism but also friendship. Great listening experience.” – Monika, review on Audible for “When Darkness Calls“, February 11, 2023.
Excellent
“This was an emotional and impactful story. The biases and prejudices reflected much of what we see today in some hate groups. I liked how everyone that could rallied to help those in peril. The fight is not over, but I like the unity and fighting for the underdog. The narrator did an exceptional job bringing the characters and story to life. The voice were original and added depth to the story.” – B. McGrath, about High Steaks on Audible, February 11, 2023.
January 20, 2023
Another great story spoiled
“Christina Engela has a huge talent when it comes to writing mystery thrillers. She can weave wonderful stories and great characters. However by book 5 the lgbtq agenda does start to pall a little, especially in this book. There is an awful lot of agonising over gender issues which rather undermines the main story. That said, the main reason for my title to this review is once again the awful narration by Darla Middlebrook. Why Ms Engela keeps using her is beyond me. The only way I can listen to her terrible drawl is by listening at 1.5x speed which makes it almost normal. It’s a great pity, as I won’t be listening to any more of Engela’s books narrated by her.” – Boojum, review of Prodigal Sun on Audible, January 20, 2023.
January 17, 2023
When Darkness Calls
“I enjoyed this one. In an old haunted mansion called ‘the White House’, things go bump in the night. Things also make you think a friend is calling your name. You are in danger before you go inside. Miciah Dodge was a fine narrator.” – Deedra, January 17, 2023, review of ‘When Darkness Calls‘ on Audible.
December 06, 2022
“Demonspawn” received the following review on Audible on 9 Dec:
Demonspawn
“Another good space opera romp in the shadow of Trek meets Aliens. More great narration from Nigel Peever.” – PJM, review on Audible, 09 December, 2022.
“Demonspawn” received the following review on Audible on 6 Dec:
A ghost ship brings both hope and fear
“Demonspawn is one wildly intense thrill ride of a story set within the darkness of space. The I.S.S Mordrake is facing a disastrous situation as their captain’s miscalculations in the heat of battle have left the ship stranded and slowly dying… with only a miracle that could save them. In a disturbing twist of fate, someone has murdered their captain leaving the XO to helm a morose crew while unraveling who ended Captain’s Blaine life. Everything changes the moment an ancient and abandoned ship floats within range, offering the Mordrake their “miracle” and move to salvage to bring life back to their ship. Aboard this empty ship is a dark entity that is setting its sights upon the Mordrake crew as its now hunting ground; forcing the crew to fight not only for their own future but finally bring peace to a haunted ship. Narrator Nigel Peeve once more delivers an extraordinary performance you won’t soon forget. Highly recommended.” – Lori, review on audible, 06 December 2022.
December 04, 2022
“Blachart” received the following review on Audible on 4 Dec:
Blachart
“A romping space opera. Engela’s writing put me in the mind of a cross between origin 60s Trek and Honor Harrington. It was enjoyable and pacy. There were a few too many C20th references for me, which pulled me out of the story at times. Nigel Peevers narration and audio accompaniments were an excellent addition. I marvel at how much effort he must have put in!” – PJM, Blachart review on Audible, December 4, 2022.
December 01, 2022
“Opsaal” received this review on Audible on Dec 1, 2022:
Chilling
“This is an intriguing South African story, with theme of African witchcraft. Well written and good narration.” – Pattwee, review on Audible, 01 December, 2022.
November 29, 2022
“Blachart” received the following review from Lori on Audible on the 29th of November:
A harrowing, nuanced adventure
“Blachart is a gorgeous, wickedly smart adventure and it’s not just the story or the amazing vocal performance by Mr. Peever that makes this audiobook so memorable. The journey is enhanced by music and sound effects that only deepens the intensity of Mykl d’Angelo story as the skipper and owner of the loderunner Pegasus suffers the harsh losses of this crew and in desperate need of rescuing.
Rescued by the Antares, Mykl d’ Angelo sees getting back into the Space Fleet as the way of having a future once again; he could never imagine becoming a pain to a very dangerous Corsair, known as Blachart the bloody whom had left behind a path of death. As d’Angelo comes to get to know the man faces the conflicts of how to view the man; leading to some of the best encounters this book has to offer. Grab this book, eBook or audiobook and become immersed in one heck of a world. Highly recommended.” – Lori, Audible review, 29 November 2022.
November 20, 2022
You Are A Great Writer
“You are a great writer. Writing to awaken the masses is the best kind ever. Otherwise how do we point out to the wrong in the society. How do we evaluate our stand and the expectations of the society. Keep up the good work and your audience love your work. Bravo.” Andrew Kithure, Nov 20, 2022.
October 25, 2022
October 20, 2022
October 13, 2022
April 22, 2022
AWESOME and unbelievably real
“I haven’t given a book review, although I have read more than a hundred, maybe two hundred. But this [“Blachart”] is the first sci fi action book that made me feel like I was there with these characters. It was AWESOME and unbelievably real to me. Thank you and keep up the good work! Dave” – Dave Duran, fan mail, 22 April 2022.
April 07, 2022
Lisa left a great review for Blachart on Amazon on April 07, 2022:
March 30, 2022
Special Mention in Sci-Fi Fantasy Network Article!
Geoff King wrote “South African SF and Fantasy Literature” for Sci-Fi Fantasy Network on March 30, 2022. I’m only mentioned in a short paragraph, but it’s from an international sci-fi website listing South African authors of sci-fi, and I was so pleased to see that I received a mention!
Even though I was mentioned last in the list of 7 writers from SA, and Lauren Beukes (arguably the most famous writer on the list) was mentioned second to last, the detail that I appeared alongside a more widely publicized writer like Lauren Beukes sufficiently mitigates being Tail-end Charlie! Not that such a fine point matters terribly much in the grand scheme of things. The article really made me smile -it made me feel appreciated – which for a writer struggling to get her feet in the door, is always nice.
Here’s a relevant excerpt from the article below:
“Poet, artist, D.I.Y.er, human rights activist, editor and prolific author, Christina Engela, hails from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In addition to her fifteen horror, fantasy and sci-fi novels, she has published novellas, short stories, children’s stories and non-fiction (How does she find the time?). The three-part Galaxii series (2006 – 2019) is an epic sci-fi space opera with pirates, adventurers and rogues. The six-part Quantum series begins with Black Sunrise (2019) which boasts action, adventure, gender dysphoria and a walking, talking alien plant called Fred. How can you resist? Part six, High Steaks (2019) concludes the series on a grand scale in a weird world portrayed with humour, thought-provoking concepts and peopled by strange unforgettable characters.
Panic! Horror in Space (2019 – 2020) is Engela’s series of satirical, parody, horror misadventures.
In addition to two stand-alone novels, she has two short story collections: Space Sucks (2006) and Space Sucks Too (2020)” – Geoff King, Sci-fi Fantasy Network, Mar 30, 2022.
I’d like to mention that since the article was published, Galaxii gained a fourth title, “Sentinel“. Quantum is also not just a 6 part series, there are at least 3 more titles already in process. Lastly, I really enjoyed Geoff’s remark “How does she find the time?” 
Believe it or not, looking back, I often wonder the same thing! But, well, it helps to have friends at the Time Saving Agency, Geoff! 
January 31, 2022
“Mirror Mirror by Christina Engela is a science fiction fantasy that would have fitted perfectly into the old TV show The Twilight Zone if it were still around today. It’s the story of two men in two different dimensions, who are unknowingly swapped. One is Charlie, an actor, playing the role of the captain of a commercial space liner. The supposed starship that he is on is only a simulator, built to give paying customers the experience of flying around out in space. The man Charlie gets swapped with is named Andy, and he is a real captain of a real spaceship that transports tourists around the solar system. Andy and Charlie retain their memories and minds as they each wake up in the body of the other man in a strange new reality. In essence, the book is two stories in one as we watch both men struggle to make sense of what has happened to them.
Mirror Mirror is clever, quirky, intelligent, and frankly a lot of fun to read. The author purposely allowed the two stories to mirror each other with almost identical story arcs for both men, and the technique works extremely well. Seeing the men go through similar traumatic experiences and handle them in their own unique way is very entertaining. This is less of a science fiction story and more of a study of life choices and how they can affect a person over time. The author, Christina Engela, has a whimsical way of telling her story that makes an otherwise out-of-this-world plot feel very relatable and human. I highly recommend Mirror Mirror to anyone who likes a well-told “what if” story with lots of heart. FIVE STARS.” – Reviewed by Scott Cahan for Readers’ Favorite, January 31, 2022.
January 9, 2022
A perfect blend of sci-fi horror & realistic snark “Floating dead in space, the crew of the ISS Mordrake face (almost) certain death by suffocation or hunger, that is until they spy another derelict ship that may offer them salvation. Skipper-less, the crew decide to board what appears to be an alien vessel, to find the means to repair their ship….and that’s when things go very wrong. Something unknown is on the ship, which begins to hunt the crew while they franticly seek a way to repair their engines and escape, but the mystery of the Akx may hold the secret to their salvation, or suffer the same fate as the ship’s previous crew.
With a real sense of claustrophobia, tension and action, the book could easily be classed as nothing but a dry sci-fi horror novel but Christina has a wonderful gift for writing realistic characters and injecting humor in a way that feels both natural and believable. Both the action and the characters are brought to life with the usual mastery of Nigel Peever who, with both music and sound effects, creates a perfect listening experience. Each character is is instantly recognizable, every emotion feels honest and the terror palpable throughout this amazingly produced audio.
With excellent writing, brilliant narration and more than a few dry laughs, this is an absolute must for all fans of sci-fi horror adventures. FIVE STARS.” – Ryan Pascall, January 9, 2022.
January 8, 2022
2022
October 11, 2021
“Demonspawn“, book 2 in the Galaxii Series was given an honorable mention by book reviewer and fellow author Lee Hall!
“Perfect Reads for Spooky Season by Lee Hall, October 11, 2021.
I’ve always got time for a little space horror especially when it is this good and chilling. A stranded and down on their luck crew of the I.S.S. Mordrake discover a seemingly abandoned vessel floating in the depths of space. What they discover takes the reader on an awesome ride. Full Review Here.“
September 09, 2021
A terrifically entertaining science fiction feature two LGBTQ+ characters! I want more in audio!
“New-to-me writer Christina Engela was responsible for one of the most delightful listening experiences I’ve had in a while. I expect my favorite writers and narrators to be predictably awesome but I admit to feeling especially grateful when a new writer turns my head about my shoulders! Black Sunrise is an incredible novel that has something special for any LGBTQ+ readers with an appreciation for science fiction. The writer has a premise that will blow most readers out of the water. Just imagine a hostile society bent on conquering the Terran race at a third-rate colony only to get their butt handed to them some eighty years earlier when the Terrans fight back! Then it all happens AGAIN(!!!) but this time the reader is front and center for the excitement during the latest attack of the Ruminarii.
Cindy-Mei was terminated from the Colonial Intelligence Agency for being trans, and sees an opportunity to regain some respect, notice, and her position for recapturing the Ruminarii commander. Cindy was visiting Deanna on holiday after her gender affirmation surgery when the Ruminarii tried yet again to subjugate the Terran population. When the bombing of Atro City occurred, a call to arms was sent out for the entire citizenry at Deanna who showed up en mass to kick alien butt! The call was also answered by the men of the Skeggs Valley Dynamite Fishing Club led by General Albert McIntyre-Smythe, a 74-year old retired serviceman of the Imperial Officers’ Reserve who had ordinance aplenty along with the courage and enthusiasm to use it. Cindy makes her way to Atro and with the assistance of security cameras, noticed that a Ruminarii fighter (who just so happens to be the Hammerhead’s commander) was thrown clear of the fighting masses and escapes on foot.
Cindy hides behind her canceled CIA badge to approach Sheriff Peggy-Ann with the need to track down the escaped alien for information regarding the Ruminarii’s objectives, plans, and other intel. The sheriff assures Cindy that a payment for a captured Ruminarii will no doubt be offered and gives her the name of Gary “The Badfeller” Beck, a successful local bounty hunter who would be instrumental in capturing the alien. While traveling to Deanna, Cindy befriended Fred the Aborian–a sentient walking-talking plant who pot sat in the Recreation deck of the Duval. She made such a favorable impression she left on him, Fred felt compelled to intervene from the controls of the Duval to aid the Terrans in their successful bid to fight the attacking Ruminarii. He manages to get Captain Johannsen’s vessel to drop one of six tanks containing over 660,000-gallon in sherry to crash down upon the hull of the Ruminarii Hammerhead spacecraft named Black Sunrise that arrived alone to give the Terrans major grief.
The sherry tank’s fiery destruction of the Black Sunrise scuttles the commander’s plan to have his troops retreat within the craft and then for it to bomb Deanna from space. Fred leaves Captain Johannsen and the others aboard the Duval to search for Cindy, being filled with purpose and a zeal to start a brand new life following his successful assistance to the Terrans. The Captain is left realizes he isn’t even as effective as a plant in a pot! The contrast between these two beings is a pivotal point in the narrative as readers witness Fred making his way across the space station to encounter people that for the most part allow him to be. Surely praise for his role in overthrowing the aliens will make it easier for him to carve out a wonderful life!
While Gary and Cindy pair up to find the alien, the alien is discovered by Jenny whose family has been targeted by a criminal miner determined to acquire their valuable land. Finding the alien overheated, injured, and dehydrated, Jenny leaves the alien with a water canteen and her ‘good will’ towards his right to continue to exist. He’s puzzled not only by the Terrans ferocity during the resistance but the compassion he received from a woman who was fully aware of his status as an enemy. One good turn deserves another as the alien saves Jenny and her trans sister Danielle from being murdered by the miner and his gang members. Gary and Cindy decide to leave the alien alone, determining he was a good person who was obeying bad orders.
Now what I found especially effective was the writer’s ability to bring the readers right up to the main event in a round-Robin way of each character having their part of the story told. At times the more distant yet relevant past is shared with the current information, allowing the readers to have a clear idea of where the players have been and the value of their current roles in the narrative. Even as the different stories are being relayed, the readers are left feeling fully let in on what’s going on in the narrative. Never once did I feel the need to replay segments of the audiobook to know “who’s on first base”. The novel is compelling, thought-provoking, and exciting with awesome world-building, excellent character growth for most players in the narrative, and balance with pacing that keeps the reader turning the pages! Dang! This book is GREAT!!!
The narrator was a bit stilted at points in the book but she is one incredible performer and seemed to genuinely love the book she was reading. There were times when she chucked, snickered, giggled–and she seemed to improve as things went along. It’s hard to say, I was having too much fun. There is NO greater honor a narrator can have for a writer than to enjoy their book in a way that shares the appreciation with the listeners. It is my sincerest hope that the writer’s other work for this series finds its way to audio format and that this writer is able to continue narrating for it. I’d love to share another fun time with Darla Middlebrook.” – Natalie Nicole, Book Bub review, September 09, 2021.
September 08, 2021
A few weeks ago I was asked for a copy of the “Black Sunrise” audiobook by a book reviewer, and on the morning of September 08, 2021, I received the following surprising note in my FB chat from the reviewer:
As you can probably tell, I’m very excited to see the finished review! Hopefully it will help drive some sales! 
June 21, 2021
“Christina Engela is a South African editor and author of horror, fantasy and science fiction novels. Her books are never short of suspense, adventure and humor, while her colorful characters and thought-provoking settings take readers into another world, making her one of the most gifted and creative storytellers. A firm supporter of the LGBT community, Christina believes that Sexual and Gender Minority characters aren’t reflected enough by authors due to a number of reasons. As such, Christina’s writing isn’t stereotypical, and her characters aren’t stereotypes, regardless of their sexuality or gender.” – Booksradar.com, June 21, 2021.
June 20, 2021
I received a wonderful email from Darla Middlebrook , the narrator recording “Black Sunrise” as an audiobook!
“Dear Christina,
Just an update for you.
I am editing several chapters today. It’s taking a bit of time because of “laughter-breaks”. For example, my attempts to NOT laugh when you described “crabby-grass”, caused me to repeat that particular passage several times while recording it. I was even laughing while trying to edit it! Your readers of the story MUST have had tears streaming. I am trying to make sure that my reads of the funny parts are deadpan so that I don’t spoil the story for the listeners. But, it is hard…because I am having too much FUN! Thank you again for choosing my voice for this project. During this time of COVID lock-down, the humour breaks are sorely needed and appreciated.
I will continue to keep you updated.
With Regards,
Darla”
I’m so happy to hear she’s enjoying the story that much! I often wonder if people from other countries “get” my humor! 
I’m really looking forward to hearing the finished story – don’t worry, I’ll let you know when it’s available!
June 03, 2021
May 18, 2021
The narrator of “Black Sunrise“, Darla Middlebrook is a thorough voice actress keen to get the pronunciation of Ruminarii words and other place names in the story just right! She said: “I want you to know that I am really enjoying the preparation read-through for Black Sunrise. Chuckling and laughing out loud a lot.” …”when I read it aloud to a few of my friends as part of my practice, I had a hard time keeping a straight face. So we all are enjoying your book!” …”Trying not to laugh when narrating the story is my main problem with the script (not a problem really).” – Darla Middlebrook, voice actor and narrator of “Black Sunrise”, May 18, 2021.
March 31, 2021
March 18, 2021
A user of the City-data forum quoted me – looks like I keep turning up in the darndest places! 😉 
Wise Sayings. It does me the world of good to see my quotes turning up alongside quotes from personalities like Barack Obama, Morgan Freeman and Robin Williams. 
February 26, 2021
The Blue Jay Blog quoted me in February.
Power of Positivity shared a quote of mine:
Tony Aguilar honored my by mentioning my name and a quote in his website “about”!
Inspiration Feed shared a quote from “Pearls Before Swine” about bullying:
Wise Sayings shared another of my quotes:
Quote the life posted an excerpt of “Dead Man’s Hammer”:
February 08, 2021
Endeleas, a musician, shared a quote of mine from book 1 in the Galaxii Series, “Blachart” in their YouTube video release for “Eon 16“! 
February 05, 2021
January 21, 2021
Johnathan Goodall gave “Demonspawn” 5 stars in his review on Audible.co.uk, January 21, 2021: 
January 08, 2021
Quotes On Colors shared the following on Instagram on January 08: 
2021
November 07, 2020
Entertaining romp through space!
“The classic tale of a hero who doesn’t intend to be one. Engaging and fast paced… the speed of light is not a challenge to these space faring pirates and the people out to chase them. Took me awhile to figure out the title… but it added a layer to what I took away from the book. Overall, a great entry to my space opera collection! I received this audiobook for free in exchange for a review.” Diane Reynolds on “Blachart” audiobook on Audible, 07 November 2020.
October 20, 2020
October 16, 2020
“Christina did a fabulous job editing my manuscript and she was quick too! I feel much more confident having her on my team, and I’m thankful for her time and effort.” – Jennifer Lopez, author of “Why I Cried: Tales from Hysterical Pregnant Women” (October 16, 2020).
October 10, 2020
John Gibson gave the audiobook for “Demonspawn” a fair review on Audible.co.uk October 10, 2020: 
October 05, 2020
Excellent Series! “This is an action packed sci-fi tale. The writing and narration are both expertly done. I’m looking forward to the next book.” – D. Sturgeon, 5 stars, October 05, 2020 on Audible.
October 01, 2020
“The best editing is an art form read rather than seen. Editors must keep an eye towards correctness while enhancing and maintaining the style and feeling the author is striving to express. On the worrisome side of editing, there are those who mangle a malign characters or compromise the entire focus of the story (been there, experienced that). While my experience with Christina Engela is limited, I found her standards and sense of style refreshing. I submitted my stories to her with the usual sense of fear and foreboding, but I was in for a big surprise! When she returned my edited material, she included notes with various suggestions to improve my story. While our styles are different, she ‘got it’! I was shown mistakes that I’d clearly missed, while she also encouraged me to be a better writer – which ought to be the resultant outcome of working with any editor.” – H.G. Emert – author of ‘Conversation With A Dead Man’ and ‘Exile Recalled’, October 01, 2020.
The audiobook for “Blachart” got a grrreatttt review from John Gibson on Audible in October 2020 😉
September 22, 2020
September 15, 2020
“Second Book In Series Is Excellent. The first book in the series, Blachart, was excellent. You don’t need to even look at it to go through this one. Different storyline in the same universe.
I’m not much of a horror fan but this book has the feeling of a horror/sci-fi storyline. I really enjoyed it. It’s written quite well and the Narrator does a great job yet again, appreciate it Nigel.
Give it a go, I feel it’s well on the worthy side.” – Amazon Customer, 5 stars for “Demonspawn”, September 15, 2020 on Audible.
September 09, 2020
“Blachart. A good read. Well written good story line. Well narrated. All in all a good listen.” – Richard Davis, September 09, 2020 on Audible UK, “Blachart” (audiobook).
September 07, 2020
“Christina performed a fantastic editing service for my novel. I was blown away by the pace she worked at, her accuracy, and the improvements she made. It would be no understatement to say she went above and beyond what I expected and was incredible value for the more than reasonable cost for her services. I look forward to using Christina again in the future as I know I’ll be in safe hands.” – Steve McElhenny, author of “Avenging Aranis” (Sept 07, 2020).
August 29, 2020
“In running Moon Books Publishing I know the value of a good proofreader and editor. Christina is a proven author who has released over 30 books, so she knows the ins and outs of writing. I’ve discovered that not only is she witty, bright and verbose in her writing, but she is also meticulous and professional in her proofreading and editing skills. You won’t find a more professional proofreader and editor than Christina. That is why I will ALWAYS choose her to handle proofreading and editing at Moon Books Publishing.” – Brandon Mullins, publisher, CEO Moon Books Publishing (Aug 29, 2020).
A fantastic swashbuckle through space. “While Fantasy is my primary love in literature, I have always enjoyed a good science fiction yarn and when this one came to me via the narrator I figured it may just satisfy an itch I’d been having of late.
Sheesh, where to start with this book? Simply put, it has everything! There’s adventure, space battles, fistfights, pirates and, of course. romance.
The story revolves around Mykl, ex-combat pilot turned down-on-his-luck cargo captain who begins the book afloat in space after most of his crew, for reasons unknown, mutiny and fly off in the ships sole shuttle. Shortly afterwards the starships drive explodes, killing his two remaining crew and leaving him marooned in deep space with no hope of survival. That is, until a ship full of marines rescues him from certain death only to then get into a battle with a ship full of space pirates, Mykl has to rely on his military training to survive and capture the dreaded Blackhart!
It’s only now that things really start to get bad when his military contract is reactivated and he’s tasked with a critical, possibly suicidal mission into enemy territory.
Every primary character in the book, from Mykl to Ripley and Blackhart himself are extremely well fleshed out, interesting and fantastically voiced by Nigel Peever, each given a real sense of identity and more than a little snark. In addition to the reading, there is the addition of sound effects and some incidental music which is just enough to add atmosphere without distracting from the reading like often can happen with this in audiobooks.
There’s so much in this story that I could talk about but I don’t want to spoil anything but do strongly suggest that, if you like Buck Rogers, Firefly or Pirate stories you give this book a go as I thoroughly enjoyed everything it had to offer.” – Ryan Pascal, August 29, 2020 on Audible UK for “Blachart” (audiobook).
August 28, 2020
“Christina Engela is an excellent editor. She helped me open my mind to a different perspective, to see my work through the eyes of the reader. Most importantly she taught me more about writing than any teacher in my entire 12 years of education! I’d rate her at 100 out of 10!” – Anya Louw, author of “The Darkness Within Me” and “Normanwood” (Aug 28, 2020).
“I recently had the pleasure of an editorial experience with Ms. Engela. As an entry level author and with some trepidation, I submitted work to Ms. Engela for editing, uncertain of what to expect from the process. Ms. Engela read and corrected my work. Her approach is professional, encouraging yet precisely on point. There was not ever a need to query the work she did on my script. I was also particularly impressed with her turn around time. I would strongly recommend her editorial services and I look forward to a time when I can work with her again.” – Cedar J. Lockheart, author of “Skinwalker” (Aug 28, 2020).
August 21, 2020
Great Narrator “The story is pretty creepy, it takes place in South Africa. I’ve never heard haunting stories from this area. It’s a fun little story if you’re doing a drive on a dark night. The narration sounded excellent, and the protagonist in the story wasn’t taking no crap from the evil dead!” – Jeff Spencer, Aug 21, 2020 on Audible for “When Darkness Calls” (audiobook).
August 16, 2020
Epic!!! “Another great tale told by narrator Nigel Peever. I look forward to the continuing Adventures of Blachart and Michael.” – Justin Bradley, Aug 16, 2020 on Audible for “Blachart” (audiobook).
August 13, 2020
Excellent story! “This is a very well written Sci-Fi tale that is told by an awesome narrator. I can’t wait to hear book 2!” – D. Sturgeon, Aug 13, 2020 on Audible for “Blachart” (audiobook).
July 30, 2020
Great Book
July 20, 2020 review on Audible for “Blachart” (audiobook):
July 28, 2020
Miciah Dodge, a narrator recording one of my books sent me a personalized letter of thanks and appreciation!
July 26, 2020
On July 26, 2020, Scott M. Darrah, a friend and avid fan gave me his opinion of the audiobook:
Miciah Dodge, the narrator for “Christina Engela’s Strangely Compelling Scifi Stories vol 1”, “When Darkness Calls” and “Duck Blind” sent me this nice email on July 26, 2020:
July 21, 2020
Brandon Mullins, CEO of Moon Books Publishing shared the following compliment for “Blachart” in a publishing group on Facebook:
July 20, 2020
I received the following lovely note from an auditioning narrator on Audible on July 20:
“Hi Christina! You have an amazing biography! OMG what fascinating and sometimes painful life you are living. Kudos to all your creativity, especially your writing skills. Best, Mark Holmes Newton.”
July 12, 2020
The Satanic Church of South Africa shared my academic book “Satanism: The Acid Test” on their website resource page! (found on July 12, 2020):
July 11, 2020
The audiobook for “Blachart” got its first review – and a glowing one – on the 11th of July!
Jenifer Shepard really seems to have liked my article about “Blachart”! (July 11, 2020):
July 08, 2020
Parade.com shared one of my quotes in a listing titled “150 of the Best Relationship Quotes and Sweetest Couple Quotes That’ll Make Your Heart Flutter” on July 08, 2020. “Regardless of what language it is said in, ‘I love you’ stays beautiful, and two hearts beating together make the same sound. It is the language of Love.” – Christina Engela
July 07, 2020
Miciah Dodge, a narrator recording one of my books sent a message via ACX on July 07:
July 01, 2020
SATYA posted one of my quotes on their motivational quotes site, and appear to have a string of them in the wings on July 01, 2020.
May 12, 2020
February 9, 2020
February 2, 2020
