Inside The Indie Author: A Conversation with TK Cassidy

Diana Kathryn
4 days ago
7 min read

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

Yes. At the present, I’m nurturing a story that is so far removed from what I’m known for that I don’t want to put off anyone who might be turned off from seeing my humorous novels or romances.

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

I rarely experience this phenomenon, but when I do, I quilt. When I run into a snag I need to think out, I do anything that will keep my hands and mind busy while my “lizard brain” works out the problem. Quilting keeps my hands and fore-mind engaged and keeps me from overthinking the snag.

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

Believability. As a reader, nothing turns me away as much as seeing a description of a place I’ve visited or n activity I’m familiar with that is not described correctly or characters that do not have authentic voices (dialog).

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

I cannot honestly answer this question. I have several working ‘ideas’ that have started in the middle. I fit the story around the first kernel of an idea and sometimes change it completely. I’m very much a “pantser” (writing by the seat of my pants, letting the story take me where it will.) I’m often surprised by a twist or turn the story takes seemingly on its own.

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

Marketing, marketing and marketing… in that order. The thought process for writing fiction and for marketing are diametrically opposed. I find it hard to switch back and forth. The best part is having total control even though there is no one else to blame for mistakes either.

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

I never know how the story will end. Sometimes the story will take a fast left turn and I follow the thought. I have found that to be very good in some cases and have had to trash the whole thing in others. Letting the story take you where it will often lead to a better story but you also have to be willing to kill your cherished gems.

What was the inspiration for your most recent book?

In regard to the Whoodah Thunket series, I found a greeting card years ago that intrigued me so much that I bought it and have been carrying it around for nearly 40 years. The body language of the three women created solid characters in my mind and the story insisted on being written.

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

Several years ago, I started writing a humorous look at all the men I dated between the death of my beloved husband and the discovery of my current husband. I called it O.M.G.(On Market Grannie): a guide to kissing toads. I had to quit when the story no longer evoked humor and became a sad recollection of some not so nice men. That was hard to let go but I felt I had no choice due to the overwhelming sorrow it evoked.

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

I can write anywhere. I prefer to have an isolated space where I can lose myself for as long as I need to, usually until I run out of my beloved Diet Pepsi or nature calls. If I have to write in a more open space, I prefer to have the television on to a show or movie I know well at a very low volume. I have written in the car on a long road trip and in a conference when I should have been paying attention. As long as no one demands conversation, I can stay focused. When the muse strikes, one must obey!

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?

Margie, the waitress who caused so much trouble for the Whoodah girls. She’s a short, round, bundle of energy who loves to help, always wants to make events ‘over the top’ and usually makes an unintentional mess of things.

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

I do a lot of research. I do not (as a reader) like coming across a piece of writing that doesn’t ring true. Reaching out to non-writer experts can be quite intimidating for me who is a heart an introvert. For instance, I needed to know if the tires on a trailer for hauling earth-moving equipment could be used on a motorhome. I called several tire sales places and was told in no uncertain terms I was wasting their time. Some were very rude. Then I found a young man who told me more than I will ever need to know about tires. But I don’t have to worry about someone throwing the book down in disgust with a “that can’t happen” as I have done I the past.

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

Becoming an Indie publisher. It’s expensive in time and money but I retain all rights (and responsibilities). Not having to depend on the whims of a person who decides they don’t like the concept is rewarding in itself.

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

So many topics. So many ideas. Confining myself to a single novel until it is finished. I would read other works or watch the idiot box or play mind games on the iPad for hours under the guise of “conceptualizing”. After 40 odd years of writing, I’ve trained myself to realize what I’m doing.

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

I use Microsoft Word. My favorite thing about the newest version is the’ read to me’ feature. I write the first draft without thinking about errors or the dreaded Oxford comma. I can sit back and listen to what I’ve written. I find holes in the plot and things I left out much faster that way. I also like being to use the ‘speech to type’ feature though I don’t use that often.

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?

Not only their names, their faces, their mannerisms, their dress. I see my stories as movies in my head and often ‘cast’ them with well known actors. Because I’ve struggled with mispronunciation and misspelling of my name all my life, names intrigue me. I have a list of possible names in a file. Sometimes the character suggests his/her own name. For instance, Poppet (the youngest Whoodah girl) whose real name is Prudence Margeret. She is a bit of a flibbertigibbet and Poppet, a much light name than Prudence, fits her well.

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

I love anything by Janet Evanovich. Her humor is so good and her characters come to life for me. I strive to emulate that level of believability and realistic humor.

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

I have a great deal of verisimilitude … something I think all writers need. I usually accept what the author has written.

What are you reading right now?

Secrets of the Greek Revival by Eva Pohler. Her three female lead characters are like the leads in my series. They never meant to become ghost-hunting detectives just as my ladies never meant to go back to cat burglary. Our styles are very different but the story is what I like … believable, loveable, real characters.

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

To Kill a Mockingbird – powerful iconic story that touched me deeply.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – this poem evokes the struggle I went through to become my own person in a time when women just didn’t do that.
The OED (Old English Dictionary all 20 volumes) – I am fascinated by words and the etymology through the years.
Mists of Avalon – the Arthurian legend told from the point of view of the women in Arthur’s life.
Stephen King’s On Writing – an excellent primer on how to become a working writer.

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

I’m working on the 4^th in the Whoodah series in which the home place of my 70-year-old sisters has been “invaded” by 9-year-old triplet boys. I’m about halfway through but having never had a son nor having been a nine-year-old boy, I’m having to reach out the young male relatives for inspiration. The difference between the way today’s kids act and the ‘clean’ book I am trying to write is daunting. I hope to have it done by October as I try to release a new book on my birthday every year.

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

Almost brilliant – humorous fiction
Plastered (in progress) – serial killer
Raven Seeker (working title) – romance (expected release October 2027)
The 500 year love – romance/time travel
Whoodah Hitchin’s – humorous fiction
Whoodah Honeymoons – humorous fiction
Whoodah Hooligans (in progress) – humorous fiction (expected release October 2026)
Whoodah Thunket and the girls – humorous fiction