Dawn's Bio: A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn’t begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream of writing a book. Without a doubt about someday becoming published, he let her quit her job in 2010 in order to focus on writing The Hesitant Heiress. 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 premarriage mentor program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter.
The Everstone Chronicles is Dawn’s first series with Whitaker House. All three books composing the series were semifinalists in ACFW’s prestigious Genesis Writing Contest, the third book going on to become a finalist in 2013.
Welcome back, Dawn!
Tell us what’s been happening since September 2014!
I’ve been non-stop busy! I know lots of people think I’m super woman and wrote these three books crazy fast, but that isn’t the case at all! They just released from my publisher crazy fast! I had the first two books already written when I signed the book contract, and then had to finish the third while I was struggling through having pregnancy brain, and then having my first baby! The Bound Heart—the second book in the series—released in November, a mere three months after my debut, The Hesitant Heiress! Then I spent all winter finishing up what was a very rough draft of The Captive Imposter.
What’s the best piece of advice you were given regarding a writing career?
Join American Christian Fiction Writers! (ACFW)
What is the best advice you would give to a young mom who wants to be a writer but is struggling with all the responsibities of keeping a home?
Haha! Honestly, I would say WAIT until your children are a little older and in school! That was always my plan, but I ended taking forever to get pregnant and decided to write in the meanwhile. I’m really glad my books have been published, but I regret that they all released within the year of my having Rhett. Instead of being able to take the year off to enjoy my new role as mommy, I had to pretty much start “working full-time”, during any spare minute I had—which is the exact opposite of what every new mom wants to do.
What is the worst day you’ve had as a writer and how did you handle it?
When my agent had my proposal for The Hesitant Heiresshad been out to publishers for almost a year, I was wondering if it was ever going to happen. I knew from others that sometimes it even takes up to two years for a publisher to hold onto a proposal and finally say yes to publishing, but still—a year feels like a terribly long wait! At that year mark, it was buzzing around the CBA (Christian publishers) industry that all they wanted were Contemporary titles from agents. I just wanted to give up. I was a mopey mess, and I thought about maybe trying to write a Contemporary Romance from first person POV—to see if I would be any good at it. But really, I just wanted to give up and not write another word. And literally, days later I got the call that both The Hesitant Heiress and The Captive Imposter had semi-finaled in the 2013 ACFW Genesis contest….(and The Bound Heart had semi-finaled the year before that). It was a good reminder that readers obviously thought I could write! So I didn’t give up after all.
Who is your most beloved character in The Everstone Chronicles?
I love best whomever I am reading about at the moment. Yes, I reread my own books. Over and over, actually.
Your book covers for this series are phenomenal! They are some the prettiest ones I have seen. Who is your designer? Do you have a say in how they turn out?
Wow, thank you! I really love them too! All I know about the designer is that they work at Whitaker House! I have no idea who to give the credit to! I’d been asked by Whitaker House to send them images of settings and of what I thought my characters looked like. I sent them a ton, and wrote out descriptions of what the books were like. That was all! The covers as they are were what were sent back to me a few months later! And I was floored by them! I think every author is nervous about what their publisher will come up with for a cover to their books—and I was very nervous! But, in the end, so very pleased!
Fun Q&A
If you could pick one place to spend a weekend, where would you go and why?
If I could get to the coast of Maine for a weekend again, I would go there! My husband is from Maine, and we go there to visit his family every summer—but I rarely get to go to the coast. I would specifically go to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (where Bar Harbor is situated!—and consequently, where about a third of the scenes in my three books take place!).
What is your favorite snack food while writing?
I am sure to drink my coffee!—but I usually drink it pretty fast or I’ll forget it’s there. I usually forget to eat while I’m writing. Actually, I think I forget to eat while I’m reading too.
In the summer, are you a barefoot kind of gal or do you prefer flip flops?
I’ve always loved being barefoot.
Bling or no bling on your summer sandals?
No bling—actually just really cushy-gel-padded black or brown Nike flip-flops
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Do you have a pet? If so, what kind and how does it get along with Rhett?
We have three cats—one 14 year old Tonkinese named Lilly whom I’ve had since she was a kitten. Pumpkin in an orange male whom my husband became attached to when I brought him home to give away (because I seriously didn’t think he would want another cat!), and Clover is gray and black tiger striped with lots of orange mixed in. She’s actually Pumpkin’s niece, and I rescued her from a hole in the ground when she was just a few weeks old. Rhett absolutely LOVES the cats! They keep around him too, but mostly just out of reach so far.
You’re going to the beach and you need a book to read. Which new Christian fiction book in 2015 would you take?
I CANNOT WAIT to read Not by Sight by Kate Breslin! Her debut, For Such a Time, was one of my favorite books from 2014! I was so impressed! I’m not even that huge of a WWII reader, but I just love her voice and the way the turns her novels take twist my heart!
The Hesitant Heiress (Everstone Chronicles #1)
After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy disappearing before her very eyes. Now the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: marry within the year to inherit her grandmother’s fortune. Amaryllis reluctantly takes part in her aunt’s society, intent on getting to the west coast on her own… and without a husband.Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself falling in love with the most unlikely of men, Nathan Everstone, whose father not only had a part in her expulsion, but whose ominous presence has haunted her dreams for a decade since her mother’s tragic death. Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems and everything she never knew she wanted. But just as everything Amaryllis has recently hoped for comes to fruition, it all falls apart when she finds that the real culprit who has been managing her life isn't who she thought at all.
Click here to read the review posted on Goodreads by Rebecca Maney, Stuff & Nonsense contributor.
The Bound Heart (Everstone Chronicles #2)
Will she marry Vance once he returns from Europe? Or will she be strong enough to break free from the tangled web she's convinced she deserves, and accept that God's plan for her life includes redemption...and, quite possibly, Lawry Hampton?
Click here to read the review posted on Goodreads by Rebecca Maney, Stuff & Nonsense contributor.
The Captive Imposter (Everstone Chronicles #3)
When Estella finds herself in need of help, Dexter comes to the rescue with an offer she can't refuse. She sees no other choice aside from going back home to her family and accepts the position as companion to his sister. Throughout her interactions with Dexter, she can't deny the pull that's evidenced between them every time he comes near. Estella realizes that while she's been hiding behind a false name and identity, she’s never been freer to be herself than when she's with Dexter Blakeley. But will he still love her when he finds out she's Estella Everstone? She's not entirely sure.
Click here to read the review posted on Goodreads by Rebecca Maney, Stuff & Nonsense contributor.
A beautiful quote from The Captive Imposter, " I love you, Estella; and not because of your family connections or your wealth, but despite them. And because of who you are when you're locked out of a house in the middle of the night, and who you are when you sit with me on a mountain. And who you become when I kiss you . . . . "
Dawn is celebrating the release of The Captive Imposter with lots of giveaways, so hop on over to her website for the full blog hop schedule here!
Great interview Anne! Dawn is so engaging and full of personality! I found out something new about her. We share degrees in Christian Education!
ReplyDeleteHey Rebecca, I agree! Dawn has a great personality, so upbeat and full of excitement about life. Cool about sharing the same degree! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. :)
DeleteSuch a fun interview! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sydney! I appreciate you coming by and commenting. Have a blessed day!
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