What does it take to turn a decade of emotional upheaval into a book that helps others navigate one of life’s most difficult transitions?
In a recent episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, Charlie Levin sat down with Christina Marie Calderwood, a licensed counselor, wellness coach, and former finance executive, to discuss her new book, Protecting Children Through Divorce: 12 Self-Guided Reflections. Christina’s journey is not just one of healing, but of perseverance, and her story offers writers and readers alike a front-row seat into the messy, powerful process of turning vulnerability into value.
A Radical Model of Co-Parenting
The book opens with a scene that usually stuns readers: Christina, her current husband, her ex-husband, and his wife travel and dine together regularly, functioning as a “true family.”
But she’s quick to clarify that this wasn’t always the case. Early on, her divorce was shaped by “animosity and hurt,” particularly at emotionally charged events like youth sports games, where sitting on the same side of the stadium felt impossible. Her book doesn’t idealize her present; it chronicles how she got here, and how others can choose light over darkness, especially when children are involved.
Writing Through Pain, Writing Toward Purpose
The process of writing Protecting Children Through Divorce took over 15 years. It wasn’t a straight line. Christina admits to opening and closing her laptop countless times, discarding draft after draft before finally finding the voice that felt true.
Her biggest creative barrier? Vulnerability.
She relived the hardest parts. “There was a lot of crying,” she says. Revisiting the emotional wreckage of her past was non-negotiable but also exhausting.
She didn’t hide the scars. Christina chose to write the “raw” story because she didn’t want readers to mistake her current joy for a shortcut.
She avoided the drama. Instead of detailing what caused her marriage to end, she focused on forward movement: how to emotionally care for your children even if you’re still figuring things out yourself.
High-Mileage Questions and a Hybrid Format
The structure of Christina’s book also sets it apart: part memoir, part self-help, part journal. As a clinician, she developed “high mileage questions”—deeper, reflective prompts meant to help parents process heavy emotions before they unintentionally pass them on to their children.
One of the key takeaways from her conversation was the distinction between self-care and self-avoidance. Bubble baths and jogs are helpful, but are you also sitting with your pain long enough to understand it? Christina encourages readers to ask, “Am I in a space where I can think and feel safely?”
The Long Game of Publishing
In the spirit of creative resilience, Christina shared a quote that stuck with her: “Finish the book.” That advice, originally from author Dennis Lehane, became her north star. There were many moments she almost quit, when the process felt too raw, too uncertain. But her WHY kept her going.
“If this book helps even one parent, then it was worth every last second,” she says.
📘 Protecting Children Through Divorce is available now at:
If you are ready to share your own story, whether it is fiction, nonfiction, or a blend of both, Munn Avenue Press is here to help you bring it to life. If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.
Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder
🎧 Listen to Christina’s full episode on The Munn Avenue Muse.
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