Ask the Author: Christy Chafe
Answered Questions (6)
Christy Chafe
"I'm Here" was an idea born ages ago, out of one of my deepest fears. When I was newly married with young babies, my husband, Adam, traveled all the time, and I worried a lot. What if the plane crashed? What if I was alone with three kids? What if this is the last time he leaves the house? These are dark thoughts, I know, but it's true. (Possibly the hormonal thoughts of a new mother, but true, nonetheless. ) "I'm Here" isn't about just fear; it's about grief, of course, but also deep love, loss, and in Meg's case, what she's willing to believe--and hold tightly to--when she's facing her biggest fear. Although the story isn't mine, I think I would have acted like Meg in a lot of these scenes.
Christy Chafe
Different ways! Once I had a fantastic dream that was going to be a wonderful book. And I forgot the whole thing. I have notes and Post-Its and envelopes and napkins all over my office with bits of brainstorming and tiny snippets from dreams I do remember, so sometimes I read through those for a starting point. I have a file folder full of "starts" that I go back to often. I think sometimes they could be the right words at the wrong time, so I never throw a draft away.
Christy Chafe
I'm working on my second book! I'm having tons of fun with these characters, and I'm finding lots of creative outlets that I didn't expect, like drawing a map of the town and making lists of different kinds of bakery items . . . YUM!
Christy Chafe
Learn how to call yourself a writer. Now.
Christy Chafe
For me, it's always been the freedom of loving what I do and being able to live my life in a way that works for me and my family. I've been a stay-at-home mom since my first baby was born (gulp, 24 years ago!) and now my youngest is 17. I still put being a mom to my three babes ahead of everything, but I've almost always been able to find time to write. Obviously, writing a novel took longer, but I was willing to wait.
Christy Chafe
Damn you, writer's block! I've tried every trick in the book-- but I usually have to walk away from my characters for a bit, and then come back refreshed. When I was writing "I'm Here", I did have a breakthrough in the plot by just writing through it-- it was a wonderful moment when one of my characters (Sarah Parker) actually said something that I didn't expect, because I let my fingers type as fast as my brain was working out the story. I taught myself a little something about relaxing and free-writing!
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