yawA:
Tell us a little bit about your career?
Christa:
My career swiftly evolved from actor to author to advocate within just a few years. If you’ve dealt with Lyme disease, you know how life altering it can be, and to keep this short, it completely changed the trajectory of where my life was headed. I spent a decade in the LA movie industry, but as time went on my health declined. After seeing over 20 doctors, I was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease. Healing has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve made it my mission to give back and help others not suffer the way I did. I became a certified Health and Life coach and launched my business, Ignite Coaching with Christa, in 2022 right after publishing my book, “Tick Tock, It’s LYME O’clock”, which was a best-seller on Amazon. For more info about my journey and coaching services, visit my website at christanannos.com. "Tick Tock, It’s LYME O’clock" is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats, with narration by me, on Amazon and other major retailers.
yawA:
What is the proudest moment of your career?
Christa:
Outside of my book, which I'm incredibly proud of and deeply moved by its impact on so many people, one of the highlights of my career has been writing, producing, and starring in my musical comedy web series "Super Single" on YouTube. Starring alongside me were Clayton Snyder, Lizzie McGuire’s heartthrob, and Catherine Lidstone from The Chosen. I've always been passionate about creating content, whether headlining comedy festivals with my one-woman show, crafting sketch comedy, or producing videos—this medium is truly close to my heart. However, the experience of creating 8 episodes of "Super Single," an award-winning series, stands out. It led to hosting a sold-out red-carpet event in Los Angeles and a successful staged Pilot Reading. Bringing this show to life required immense effort, and I owe its success to the incredible support of my actors and crew. Now, instead of sharing the stories of fictional characters, I'm sharing my own personal story, making a profound impact on people's lives beyond what I ever imagined possible.
yawA:
Who or what inspires you and why?
Christa:
My clients inspire me every single day. They embody resilience and face some of the most daunting challenges on their healing journeys. Many seek my guidance because I've been through hell and back myself. From daily nausea to anaphylaxis episodes, full-body hives, and even losing the ability to walk, sleep, and eat—my symptoms were relentless. I reached remission in 2023 (24 years after the tick bite), yet I continue to navigate the aftermath of those infections on my own healing journey. My clients motivate me to never give up on myself. I often remind them that we are all in this together, a sentiment I cherished in my days as an actor in LA, forging bonds and rising together as fellow performers. Now, I am dedicated to paving the way for others to find their own paths to remission. Although I still mourn the life I once had and the years lost to chronic illness, I've discovered purpose from my pain. If sharing my story can aid even one person on their journey back to health—as I know it already has—then telling it is truly worthwhile.
yawA:
What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
Christa:
Here’s some advice for aspiring authors: Firstly, just start writing. Your initial drafts won’t be perfect, but as you consistently put words down on paper, your ideas will begin to flow. I find a lot of people who want to write get stuck at the beginning, and truly the more you can just let the words flow without editing or inhibiting them, the more you’ll find yourself trusting the process. Secondly, don’t hesitate to share your personal story. You never know who might find solace, growth, or healing in hearing your experiences. What you’ve endured could be exactly what someone else needs to hear for their own journey. I never asked to deal with Lyme disease, and I certainly never wanted to deviate from my acting career, yet sharing my truth has profoundly impacted thousands of lives. You’d be surprised who is watching your journey and feeling inspired by it! And I’ll say it again; I truly believe we’re all in this together, and we each have a unique story to tell. Your voice and your story matter, so I encourage you to begin writing it today!