Claudia,
how did you start writing? I don't remember NOT
writing. My school teachers evidently noticed some talent, because I always
had tremendous support from them. By high school, I knew I wanted to be a
writer. Fast forward to 1992. Through the years I had always talked about
writing a book, but it was just a dream. The only writing I did was technical
proposals, newsletters, and a travel column for a small town newspaper. The
nature of my job didn't allow for any "down time", so I never had
an opportunity to dedicate time to a book. I had, by the way, continued
taking writing classes off-and-on during those twenty years. One day I just
sat down in front of my computer, and began making notes for a book. I
started writing DREAM TAPESTRY the next week, and carrying a hand-held
dictation machine with me everywhere I went. I even quit my job to dedicate
myself to my book. The funny thing is it took me nine years to see it
completed and published, because I got married and started a family in
1993. That last third of my book was written in Florida with a baby sitting
on my lap.
How
do you develop your protagonists? With Dream Tapestry, I
knew the story from beginning to end right away. I made lots and lots of
notes. I not only made an outline of my story, but I sat down and outlined
every character...appearance, likes and dislikes, attitudes. I had been
taking a course in children's writing and quickly realized that I am not a
children's writer. My teacher suggested writing for teenagers. When I began
writing Dream Tapestry, I knew I wanted to tell the first part of the story
through the eyes of a young teenager, Peejay Novak. Dream Tapestry is not
really the story about her father's disappearance. It is Peejay's story. I
felt a real need to do her justice. She felt like a friend.
Right
now, I am working on two stories. I have a storyboard in front of me (I use
a tri-fold science project board) with magazine clippings displayed. I cut
out pictures of people who fit my idea of what my characters look like,
photos of the houses they live in, and anything else that might help me get
to know them better. I also do heavy Internet research to help me expand on
who my characters are. In example, my current book is about a family of
glassblowers. I have read books, watched videos, visited web sites, and
even visited a glass studio to make sure what I write is accurate so that I
can make my characters, and my story, believable. Oh!
And I keep a card file and a notebook where I record descriptions of
people's faces, places I've visited, interesting names, photos and news
clippings...things I can refer to whenever I need a little boost.
How
and why did you get involved in Internet publishing?
Truth
is, very few new authors get a contract with a major publisher. My main
decision, I think, was whether I would hire an agent. Once I decided I
wouldn't do that--at least not yet--I started researching self-publishing
or going with a small press. By chance, I saw an advertisement on the
Barnes & Noble site advertising iUniverse. They have been a perfect fit
for me. I am very pleased with the product they produced, their author/customer
support, and their distribution system. Right now, I have the possibility
of being published by a more traditional publisher (for my next book), but
I may go back to iUniverse. I like the idea that my book can stay in print
for a long time, while I publish more books and establish a foothold on my
writing career. I also like the idea that somebody may discover one of my
latter books and they'll still be able to go back and find my first book.
POD offers me that opportunity.
How
do you use the Internet to promote your work?
First,
I have a website (www.claudiamccants.com). I participate in several online
discussion groups. The main one is the Wicked Company community at
iUniverse. I also manage the Wicked Company Book Preview Club (www.wickedcompany.net).
It is my way of helping other mystery authors promote their book, while
promoting me at the same time. I have met many, many wonderful
people--authors and readers--through Wicked Company and the book club.
What
is your Baltimore connection?
I was
born in Washington, D.C., but I lived in Maryland for most of my
life...near D.C. I have lived in Baltimore, too...in Hunt Valley for a
year, and in downtown Baltimore on Charles Street for another year (in a
wonderful high-rise apartment with a glorious view of the city). When I go
"home" to visit family and friends, I almost always take a trip
to Baltimore. It is one of my favorite cities. I adore Fell's Point and the
Inner Harbor. Oh, and I forgot to mention...I actually ran a small
restaurant with a friend for about a year right smack-dab in the middle of
town. By the way, Dream Tapestry is set in Maryland.
What
are you working on now?
I am
working on two novels. The first one I will finish is BROKEN ANGEL. It is
about a family of glass artisans, and how they cope with the mysterious
death of one of their family members. My third book is tentatively titled
MIRROR, MIRROR. My main character is an agoraphobic woman who is forced
into the world when the senior citizens in her apartment building start to
disappear.
