Interview with author Dawn Crandall!

Today I am hosting Dawn Crandall, author of the newly released novel, The Hesitant Heiress, and also new mother to a baby boy named Rhett.  : )  Go check out my recent review of Dawn's book here.  I'm so excited to have Dawn here today to answer a few questions about life, writing, and being a mom.






Are there any similarities between being a first-time mom and debut author?  Your little boy is absolutely precious, by the way!  2014 is certainly shaping up to be an exciting, busy year for you! : )

T​here are! For the most part, you have no idea what you're getting into when you begin the process for either one! They both bring immense joy, but it's a bit terrifying to not know exactly what you're doing. They are both very emotional things to go through. The one very different thing about the two is that one is so privately mine (Rhett), and the other, which has been solely mine for the last four years is now anyone's who wants it. It's kind of strange to have my book-baby go out into the world. Maybe this is what it will feel like when Rhett goes off to college in eighteen years? 

Oh, goodness...I don't even want to think of my babies going off yet...so I know that putting your book out there has to be a huge mixture of emotions.  

You've mentioned that you have ADD.  How has that affected you as a writer and what advice would you give to encourage other aspiring writers who have ADD or ADHD?

Actually, having ADD and being a writer isn't that bad... as long as I don't have anything else to do. That used to be the case; I was a stay at home writer with no children for the last four years. I could focus on my writing for an entire day whenever I chose to. It was what I liked to do best, so it wasn't difficult to get into. It was actually the only thing I would think about for about 8-10 hours on the days I wrote. Now I have so many more things to think about (mainly, keeping one very precious baby content!) that thinking about my books, plots and characters gets squeezed out of "front and center" for such long periods of time, I really have to work to get back to where I'd left mt thoughts... The baby is only four months old, and I'm still trying to recondition my brain for this new normal. I'll be able to do it though--I've had to do it twice now anyway. Basically, every time I write a book, I end up teaching myself how to do it a different way than I had before because of life circumstances.

You're doing a great job, Dawn! Keep it up...because we love reading your books!

I know you told me once that you don't cook much, but my traditional interview question is what your favorite recipe is.  If you don't have a favorite recipe, could you tell us what your favorite restaurant is and your favorite dish there? : )

I like a lot of different kinds of food. I'm not very picky... which is probably why I'm not a very talented cook. My favorite restaurant EVER is an Indian Restaurant in town, and I always get Chicken Korma (curry with cashews and raisins). I've never tried to make it myself. I'd probably mess it up.

I've never had Indian food...that sounds delicious!

What are you working on now?

W​ell, I'm still figuring out how this writing while being a stay-at-home-mom works!! I have lots of series 

​and​ book ideas to go with, and I even have an idea for a fourth book that goes along with The Everstone Chronicles--I could actually keep writing about different characters in this series forever. :) I do also have a Contemporary Romance plotted out and started--which I did just to see what it was like. It was fun, and much easier than writing historicals, but I don't think I'll ever permanently switch over. I love history too much. Maybe it'll be published someday under my maiden name. :)

Sounds great! : )

Thanks so much for joining us today!  If you'd like to get connected with Dawn to learn more about her and her books, look her up on:
Facebook
Pinterest
or her blog

If you'd like to see other stops on Dawn's blog tour, you can find those at http://www.dawncrandall.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-hesitant-heiress-blog-tour.html.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of The Hesitant Heiress, click here! 

Dawn has been generously giving away some great prizes and free copies of her new book.  She is also offering a free e-copy of her book today on my blog!  Please leave a comment to be in the drawing.  I know you'll love Amaryllis' story!

Happy Reading!

​​