Glen Burnie Woman Publishes First Novel

While studying law at Anne Arundel Community College, Christina Pundt, an avid reader and aspiring corporate lawyer was challenged by her English professor to write a novel.

“The class was discussing the merits of the recent Twilight series and although several of us questioned the talent of Stephanie Meyer, our professor noted that writing a novel is a difficult challenge and we shouldn’t be so quick to put down Ms. Meyer’s accomplishments,” Pundt said. “So after much discussion I decided to take on that challenge. Nineteen days later, I had a novel.” 

Something that could be considered quite an accomplishment for a full-time student and mother of two. 

“I was watching the television show 'Heroes' and had been re-reading the Iliad, so I think I had a lot of greek mythology and human super powers in my head. Within an hour I had completed an outline and thought I’d go ahead with a full novel,” Pundt said.

Titled The Superior, Pundt created a romantic thriller about a young woman, Cassie Rayburn, who is bound for college life when she is suddenly informed that she was adopted and her real family is a mystery to her.

As more is revealed about her real family and the powers they possess, Jude, who is described as an incredibly handsome young man, introduces himself to her and tries to help her understand how she fits in to this world of The Superior.

Upon completing The Superior, Pundt said she handed the novel to her professor who told her it was good. Encouraged, she said she made copies and asked several of her friends to read the novel and give her feedback. With great reviews coming from friends and family she said she set out to get her novel published.

“It was really quite exciting,” Pundt said, "but I didn’t expect anything to come from it. I’m always reading new novels and I know how difficult it is to get published so I thought I’d send out a few copies and see what happens.”

Seven copies and two months later, Tate Publishing of Oklahoma contacted her and within a year The Superior was released in bookstores and online. 

After several book signings and encouraging beginning sales Pundt has completed the sequel and has been motivated to write several screenplays.

“I never planned on being a novelist, but I really enjoy writing,” she said.

A signing at the Baltimore Book Festival and the Renaissance Festival is in the works and The Superior is available on Amazon.com, Books-a-Million.com and BarnesandNoble.com. She said she also is hoping to gain interest from local book clubs.

As to future endeavors Pundt said she plans to continue with her studies.

“But I’m going to see what opportunities open up for me. I’m hopeful but I’m not expecting this to become a new career. But who knows?” she said.

Pundt offered advice to any aspiring writers: “Practice. Always keep writing. You need to love reading.”