Create Explore Read: Dawn Crandall {Writer Wednesday}

A little bit about Dawn...

Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles from Whitaker House. The series consists of three books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart and The Captive Imposter.

Without a doubt about someday becoming traditionally published, her husband encouraged her to quit working in order to focus on writing The Hesitant Heiress from 2010 to 2012. It didn’t take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary. Apart from writing books, Dawn is also a first-time mom to a precious little boy (born March 2014) and also serves with her husband in a pre-marriage mentor program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

How to connect with Dawn...

Website: www.dawncrandall.blogspot.com
Blog: www.apassionforpages.blogspot.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/dawn_crandall
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DawnCrandallWritesFirst
Twitter: @dawnwritesfirst
Purchase: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter

Author Interview | Dawn Crandall

You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I started writing in 2010 when my husband found out about my desire to write a novel. He had complete confidence in me--probably more than I had in myself. I joined ACFW in 2011 and landed a great agent later that year when I attended conference for the first time. My proposal went out in 2012 and I continued to write the other two books in the series. There were a lot of times I felt like giving up while waiting for a book contract, but I'd always semi-final or Final in the ACFW Genesis contest—and later the ACFW Carol Awards—so that's been a real affirmation whenever I needed it most! In 2013, things got a little complicated as I finally got pregnant after seven years of trying! I signed my book contract when I was 6 months pregnant, and then all three of the books were released as eBooks before my son’s first birthday! It was crazy! And now that the books are releasing in paperback, and I have an 18 month old little boy... now is the real test for when it comes to “how do I keep writing?” We will see! I don’t plan to stop, but it's definitely different now!

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...It’s always the case that the last book I’ve finished is my favorite. Since I’ve only written these three manuscripts-turned-novels, they have all taken their turn in my heart. But to be honest, it’s even difficult for me to say that. I love all three of them like they’re my children. I love them all equally.

If published, what was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...Waiting. Even though everything happened relatively fast in my case, there was still a lot of silent waiting going on. Waiting for my agent and I to hear back from publishers, waiting for the book contract to come though (after 18 months from first submitting!), waiting for the releases, waiting for the paperbacks…. :) Lots of waiting.

Your Writing

Tell us a little bit about your book or what you’re working on currently?

Here’s the back copy blurb for The Cautious Maiden, (Book #4 of the Everstone Chronicles):

Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother transforms her deceased parents’ respectable country inn into a brothel to accommodate the lumberjacks nearby—but then her reputation is compromised and she finds herself forced to enter into an engagement with Vance Everstone. Can she trust this man she hardly knows who has a scandalous reputation in his own right? Soon Violet finds out that Vance has become a Christian and that her brother had lost her hand to Rowen Steele, one of the vilest poker sharks in Northern Maine, and that the mess they've found themselves in is likely his way of saving her from landing in Steele’s hands.

Getting to know Vance as her valiant protector while also trying to understand his past, Violet eventually comes to realize she wants no other life than one with her now-reformed fiancé. Only now, despite his obvious attraction to her and the society wedding being planned by his family, Vance is determined to send her off to Kentucky to become the wife of a missionary friend of his. Will his plan work? Or will Rowen Steele kidnap Violet before Vance has a chance to claim her heart for good?

* It will probably be a while before my next books are published and available though. I’ve had a crazy last year having a baby and launching The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart and The Captive Imposter. They were the only three books I’d written, and now I have to play catch-up!

Check out the first chapter of The Hesitant Heiress: http://whpub.whitakerhouse.com/dawncrandall/pdf/heiressch1.pdf

Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...My favorite characters are always the heroines; it’s so fun getting to know them and to see them fall in love with their hero. I always make their hero the last person on earth they’d ever think of falling for… so it’s especially fun to change their minds.

Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...For the most part, they aren’t based on real people. I just really like to develop characters and then put them into trying, yet interesting and entertaining situations. I’ve always like to study people, and I think I’m really good at understanding why they do the things they do… which translate into creating believable characters in my books.

When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...I want the reader to better understand the main character, and perhaps people they might know who are like the main character. I do love it when a reader/reviewer finds themselves in one of my characters. I love how much evident emotion can be found by simply reading through a story about a past struggle from such a deep first person point of view.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Join ACFW. I wouldn’t be published right now if it weren’t for joining ACFW in 2011.

You

In honor of the fall, what’s your favorite fall treat?
...Pecan Pie.

When you were a child, what did you dream of growing up to be?

...I wanted to write novels.

Will you participate in National Novel Writing Month? If so, what’s your plan to keep your writing on track?
...I’m seriously thinking about it. I won once, and it turned out to be The Bound Heart after much rewriting and rearranging, and adding another 40,000 words. :)

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Thanks so much for joining me on the blog today Dawn!

I was super excited to meet Dawn at the end of the ACFW Conference and she gave me a copy of The Hesitant Heiress (I know, you're all jealous hehe). It's been added to my TBR pile and I'm looking forward to when I can sit down and enjoy it. Make sure you all go look into these fantastic books!

Check out this awesome giveaway she's offering: a Rafflecopter giveaway

::WINNER::