Inside The Indie Author: A Conversation with Angela K. Crandall

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym, and why or why not?

I once considered using pseudonyms when writing an adult novel because I started mainly writing stories for young adults. However, I opted to stick with my real name.

What is your “go-to” method for working through or around writer’s block?

I reflect on questions regarding the characters in my story that the readers would ask at that point in the novel; consequently, I approach the story from the reader's perspective instead of a writer's. Once I have a list of questions, I contemplate them and then answer them from a reader's perspective, giving me many ideas as to what a character would do to get themselves into or out of a situation.

From your perspective, what are the most important elements of good writing?

A well-structured novel incorporates the author's sense of style and voice. It is organized to allow a reader to understand the sequence of events using consistency, engaging the reader and prompting thoughts and speculation, thus leaving them no alternative but to keep reading until the end to determine the conclusion.

What comes first – the location, the plot, or the characters – and why?

I believe it’s all up to my brain, which comes first. I might be out and about, and there may be a social issue I care about, so I reflect on that concern; afterward, I ask myself, what if a young adult was confronted with that dilemma and how they might respond to it, react, or try to solve the issue. That’s how the novel Kenya began.

What are your least favorite and most favorite things about publishing a book?

My least favorite part of publishing a book is waiting for edits from my editor or going back to fix mistakes in my work due to being a panster. My favorite aspect of publishing a book is creating a story where readers can identify with the characters and develop confidence and a sense of self.

What is a significant way your book changed from the first to the final draft?

Before publication, inconsistencies were corrected via revisions of specific chapters, and from one chapter to another, some edits were made so that the narrative flowed, in addition to checking that the characters' emotions and behaviors made sense.

What was the inspiration for your most recent book?

I’m writing a series, so most of my inspiration is drawn from the first two novels, along with what inspired me to publish the first, which were books like Practical Magic and shows such as Charmed and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but so far, there are no Vampires in these novels.

What is a “darling” you’ve killed in a book that you’d like to resurrect in a future book?

I haven’t killed off enough characters in my novels yet. It’s something I’m not extremely good at, and something I should work on.

Where are your most productive writing spaces, and what elements are important about that space to keep you focused on writing.

My writer’s room allows me to sit back, relax, and write. I prefer to pen my thoughts in silence. I’ve hung pictures of friends, family, and famous individuals who’ve inspired me on the wall or in frames, past book proofs of mine are on a shelf, and I have an area for pens and notebooks alongside my computer and printer. I’ve also written in my living room when necessary or in the basement, if the neighbors are being loud, as I live in a subdivision, and often you can hear people outside, and in a pinch, I’ll jot down ideas at the coffee shop.

If you were to give one of your side characters a novella of their own, who would it be, and why do you think they need their own story?

Mariam from Awakening the Path. Her life was cut short in the series, yet she accomplished a lot behind the scenes that the reader is unaware of until after her death when startling secrets surface.

What risks have you taken with your writing that made the book better?

I've incorporated aspects of my own experiences in my novels through the use of characters and applied them in a fictitious manner, allowing my emotions to merge with those of the character/characters I am creating while delving into the topics that align with my beliefs.

What’s the best monetary investment you’ve ever made with regard to your writing practice?

Writing software.

When you first began writing, what was a common procrastination trap you encountered, and how did you overcome it?

It’s been a long time since I thought about procrastinating, and I’d say watching films or reading books since I enjoy those activities. To stay more productive, I set specific times during the day, including days off work, so that I could write, and I became consistent in doing so, making it a habit.

What is your writing software of choice, and what is its best feature?

My writing software of choice is Pro-writing. My favorite feature is on the right-hand side. Your writing is assessed against a list of goals, showing you where your writing needs improvement: Grammar/spelling, style score, sentence length, readability, sentence variety, glue index, passive voice, conjunction starts, slow pacing, very long sentences, emotion tells, ing starts, dialogue tags, unusual dialogue, dialog tags with adverbs, and weak adverbs. It accesses each and offers suggestions to meet your goals.

Do characters’ names come immediately to you? Do you add them in a final draft? Where do you find names, and how do you make a final decision about the names you’ll use?

There have been stories where names have come to me immediately as I develop the story and others where I have researched names to find one that suits my characters based on their personalities. Unique names appeal to me more than common ones.

Tell us the title of one of your favorite novels, and why this book is a favorite.

One of my favorite novels is Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. Growing up, it held a special place in my heart and has stayed with me into adulthood. Harriet’s zest for life, her confidence, and her curiosity about the world around her, making up stories and writing about it first from her point of view and then discovering that what you write can positively or negatively affect family and friends. Writing is of utmost importance to her, as it has always been to me, so I could relate to her character and her deep feelings about the need to keep a notebook and write about everything. It’s probably why, at one time, I thought about being a journalist.

Think of the title of a hugely popular novel. What is one major thing you would change about the book?

I really loved Divergent by Veronica Roth, but I wouldn’t have had Beatrice sacrifice her life. Instead I would have let her live.

What are you reading right now?

Last night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo.

If you could take on the identity of a character in one of your favorite books for twenty-four hours and retain the memory of that experience, which character would you choose? Tell us the title, author, character name, and why you would want to be that character.

That's a difficult decision, seeing I've read countless novels. Still, out of all the books, I'd choose Harriet, in Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. While I enjoy fantasy novels, horror, and thrillers, you must determine how it would affect you afterward. Sport and Janie are two characters I would have enjoyed being friends with. Especially since Sports Dad was a writer, and Janine was passionate about science. Despite Harriet's downfalls, Ollie was compassionate and guided her. I always wished I had an adult like Ollie in my life. In the end, Harriet discovers the importance of friendship and the value of maintaining not only her writing but her friendships and relationships with others. That is a novel I could live in for more than twenty-four hours; I might stay there for a lifetime.

If you could save five books from being destroyed in the apocalypse, what books would you choose, and why?

If the apocalypse came, I would save:

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin,
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers,
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain,
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and
Harriet the Spy by Louise Hugh.

These books have had a lasting effect on me, and they deserve to be read by others, too, as they promote outside-the-box perspectives, empathy, awareness, compassion, and open-mindedness, uniquely reflecting humanity. It wasn't easy choosing only five novels as so many are essential to promoting these themes and ideals.

Tell us a little something about your current WIP. When do you expect it to be released?

My current work in progress is the fourth book in my series where two characters who are enemies end up having to work together to benefit the whole. I’m hoping to release it before December of this year.

What are the titles and genres of each book you’ve written?