Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristine Anderson.
Hi Kristine, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I come from a home that was filled with books and reading material. I’ve kept diaries and journals since I was a little girl and majored in English in college. I believe we’re wired for story — it’s part of our DNA. And I’m always listening for people’s stories.
More than fifteen years ago, while we were at a family picnic in south Georgia, I heard a compelling story that resonated with me. An elderly relative told me about a middle-aged couple who had a Mongoloid *son in the 1930s, He didn’t go to school and his older brother constantly called him “Dummy” and “Moron.” The name-calling and abuse got worse as the boys got older and their father got more feeble. Finally, one hot afternoon things blew up and a violent shooting took place on the farm. As I scribbled notes on a napkin, the story took hold of me. I couldn’t forget it since I’d been working with a boy with Down Syndrome at an elementary school in metro Atlanta. And I knew how loving the special needs children can be.
My cookout notes AND my experience working with a young boy with Down Syndrome provided the seed for Crooked Truth.
* The term Down Syndrome was not commonly used until the 1970s.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
When I retired from teaching, I decided to write a story about the Mongoloid boy on the farm. Since I’d worked as a freelance writer and taught high school and college composition courses, I assumed writing a novel would be a fairly easy process. But, I vastly underestimated the time, skill, and old-fashioned hard work that was involved in completing a historical novel. I joined a critique group and spent four years making changes and revisions on my manuscript.
For me, the most difficult part of the writing process was the early drafts and endings. And I frequently remind myself that Anne Lamott says first drafts are always sh*tty. I had two endings for Crooked Truth before I wrote the one that seemed right for the characters and situations. Writers have to really know their characters to pull together a credible ending. Please note –I didn’t say happy.
After I finally completed my manuscript, I began the frustrating job of trying to find an agent. I sent out lots of query letters, but no one said, “I just have to have your book.” I was getting pretty discouraged. Then, three days before the deadline, I heard about Mercer University Press and their Ferrol Sams Fiction Award. At ll:45 pm, I rushed my book to the nearby Fed Ex and sent it to Macon, GA. Six months later, the Mercer Press editor called and told me Crooked Truth had received the Ferrol Sams Award for the work that best exemplifies the human experience in a Southern context. And I got a contract. Crooked Truth came out two years later and I was nominated for the 2021 Georgia Author of the Year in the debut novel category.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a retired teacher. I’ve taught English classes in high school and college. I’ve also taught special ed classes in a Title 1 elementary school.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Some estimate that close to four million books are now published every year in the U.S., with nearly half of those coming from self-published authors. With the increase in print-on-demand technology, there are more options for getting material into print than ever before. Would-be authors can consider traditional publishers, as well as hybrid companies that offer a variety of services and even crowdsourcing and kick-starting. But writers have to do their homework and look for the option that best fits their material, budget, and readers’ interests.
Pricing:
- Mercer Un Press, 18.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kristinefanderson.com
- Instagram: kristine.anderson.5815
- Facebook: kristine anderson, kristine f anderson
