Today I have the joy of interviewing the very lovely Lynn Crandall. Lynn Crandall started spinning stories as a child when she tried to entertain her younger sister at night when they were supposed to be going to sleep. In the dark, her stories typically took on a scary or paranormal element — didn’t do much to put her and her sister to sleep. Today, she hopes here stories still fail to put readers to sleep, but rather take them on a journey. That’s what she’s been on since she decided to make writing her focus. As a reporter and magazine feature writer, she truly enjoys learning as she works on stories. As a romance writer, she enjoys following an evolving story of her characters. She loves to tell stories about characters who don’t back down and use their challenges to grow.

What intrigues you about Dancing with Detective Danger?
Call it biased, but I love all of my books for a variety of reasons. What intrigues me about Dancing with Detective Danger is the relationship between the sisters, Sterling and Lacey. I wanted to explore being in family in different ways. The sisters are unique but they still support each other and allow for differences without judgement. So when heroine Sterling faces the return of a former lover, Detective Ben Kirby, and all the confusion surrounding their relationship, her sister is understanding but gives her a straight shot of truth when Sterling is ready for it.

When did you absolutely know that you had to be a writer?
Many times. I first had that aha moment years ago when everything about writing and my personality came together. I began pursuing a writing career, but often I had to face self-doubt. I would reexamine being a writer from different angles and always land on a solid spot that confirmed it was right for me to write. Over and over, and finding different layers of self-doubt. Even just a few months ago, I faced it again at a deeper level. I realized anew and more profoundly that my passion always brings me to greater understanding of myself and the place writing holds for me. I don’t have any doubts now, so I absolutely know I have to be a writer to live my life. Things like disappointment with sales and reviews come up, but hope is more outspoken in me these days.

What was your favorite part of writing Dancing with Detective Danger?
I’m an introvert, so I enjoy finding the inner motivations and experiences of characters via my self-reflection and becoming the character. The experience of being lost in life is not unique, but with Sterling, I found it meaningful to take apart a foundational wounding and illustrate how it plays in her present choices. My version of that can only be written by me, but the experience is universal.

What is your favorite aspect of reading a novel?
I love immersing into a story, feeling the characters’ journey, and learning things about myself and life from the story. That total experience is mesmerizing.

Are you a plotter, a pantser, or both?
I am a pantser and I embrace that aspect of me. It can be challenging because I don’t necessarily know what happens next, but I enjoy the organic movement of the story’s development. I trust that process even with the nerve-wracking moments of What now??!! I interviewed an expert on the pantser vs. plotter and just learning to become a plotter a while ago and she settled that dilemma for me. She said pantsers can change but probably only because they were a plotter in the making. True pantsers have brains wired that way.

Do you have a certain theme in all of your novels?
I think themes in all my books are pretty common to all stories. I like to explore ways of humans being in family, feeling different, and how love can embrace more of life than characters expect. Dancing with Detective Danger showcases how patterns people have prevent them from living their true lives and finding love.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I think a great take-away from DWDD would be that no matter how much pain sits beneath our daily experiences we have control over our lives by facing the various truths waiting to be revealed.

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one book with you, what would you take?
This question made me gasp. One Book! My brain just froze.

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one song with you, what would you take?
I love this question! One of my favorite songs right now is Melanie Doane’s Chopin Ballad https://youtu.be/8Ks02_Er9hA. It is so calming and reassuring.

Are you working on any projects right now?
I’m working on a romantic suspense with paranormal elements. I’m planning it as the first book in a three-book series. It’s taking longer to complete than any other books I’ve written because I’m being very deliberate and trying to stretch my skills. It’s done, but I’m going through it right now rewriting and editing. The main characters are what I call Aeons, who are direct descendants of Atlantians. They possess abilities that equip them to help prevent the world from going all to Hell.

Do you see writing as a career?
Writing is a business, and I know that. It is amazing work but it is hard, also. But because it is such a strong passion for me, I’m willing to recognize that it’s work and put in the work. Yes, it is a career. It can have duration if I can sustain a combination of skill, luck, determination, and successful promotions, as well as drink tons of coffee.

Besides writing, what would be your career of choice?
I enjoy learning about symbolism, especially in art, so I would be interested in art history. However, I can’t imagine choosing any career other than writing.

Can you share a tip about what you do when you get stuck in your writing?
Another great question. I do get stuck. It can prompt anxiety. But I’ve learned that is a passing phase of getting stuck, so I don’t stay there. The thing that gets me unstuck is writing. I use clusters. http://www.gabrielerico.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=77 to help me get my thoughts moving without censor. They have been really helpful for me over and over.

Are you a pet person? If so, do you have any?
I am a very strong animal lover and advocate. I presently have one cat. Willow is a member of family. I have a T-shirt that conveys my sentiments about pets very well: I’m sorry. I can’t. I have plans with my cat.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Oh my gosh. This question makes me want to have a sit-down with my younger self and reveal all of life’s secrets. LOL! I think I would tell young Lynn to believe in herself and not make others her inner authority. I could offer my/her gramma’s advice – Follow your heart. And I would assure her that everything will be okay.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?
Website: http://lynn-crandall.com/Blog: http://lynn-crandall.com/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynnCrandallAuthor/Twitter: https://twitter.com/lcrandallwriter
Instagram: Lcrandall246
Amazon: http://a.co/4f24tYhGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25692171-dancing-with-detective-danger?from_search=true

Thanks for stopping by and answering my questions, Lynn. We loved learning more about you and your stories!

Thank you very much, Angela, for interviewing me for your blog. Your questions were fun and made me think!