The Bookshelf: Author Spotlight: Kristine Anderson

Published 11:00 am Saturday, February 1, 2025

I had the privilege of interviewing award-winning author Kristine Anderson for this month’s Author Spotlight. She discussed her writing process, upcoming projects and advice to aspiring writers.

Request: Tell us a little about your writing process and how you brainstorm ideas.

Anderson: I have a background in journalism, and the initial seed for most of my story ideas comes from family events and/or people I have known. I have a home office and like to write in the morning when the house is fairly quiet. I make out a chapter-by-chapter outline, but I am open to changes.

“Outside the Diamond,” my second novel, takes place in the rural South in the early 1960s and is a follow-up to “Crooked Truth.” It required a lot more research than my first novel, as several of my characters are involved with the civil rights movement and the Freedom Riders heading into the Deep South.

Question: What is your inspiration for writing?

Anderson: If writers waited for a muse to come down and tap them on the shoulder they would seldom finish a book. Writing involves a lot of old-fashioned writing and revising. It can be hard work.

Question: Do you believe in writer’s block?

Anderson: I think there are times when it’s easier to write than others. But once I get into my regular daily routine and get to know my characters and what they want and need, I can usually write almost every day.

Question: How did you celebrate the publishing of your first book?

Anderson: “Crooked Truth” was released during the COVID shutdown, so I had an online launch and lots of online events. In some ways, the online events were better than a personal event since I had people from all over the country Zooming in.

Question: What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

Anderson: The metro Atlanta area has a big writing community with a lot of writers’ groups and events. I’m involved with the Atlanta Writers Club and I’m also active in two critique groups. A good writers’ group is essential: other writers give helpful support and feedback while holding one another accountable.

Question: If you were given the opportunity to form a book club with your favorite authors of all time, which legends or contemporary writers would you want to become a part of the club?

Anderson: I’d select writers from several different genres and backgrounds: Beverly Armento, “Seeing Eye Girl”; Matt Haig, author of “Midnight Library”; Shelby Van Pelt, author of “Remarkably Bright Creatures”; Ariel Lawhon, author of “I Was Anastasia”; Robert Gwaltney, author of “The Cicada Tree”; and Stephen King.

Question: How do you think the concepts such as Kindle and ebooks have changed the present or future of reading?

Anderson: Readers today have shorter attention spans. They like books that hook them in the first few pages. Chapters are shorter, and books are usually shorter. And more readers enjoy using Kindle and ebooks since they are easy to carry.

Question: What marketing strategies do you find most helpful?

Anderson: Working with a publicist can be helpful, but it’s also expensive. I’ve done a lot of speaking at conferences, libraries and large and small book clubs. I’ve also asked people who enjoyed “Crooked Truth” to post a short comment on my Amazon page.

Question: Can you tell us about your current projects?

Anderson: My new novel “Outside the Diamond” focuses on two of the main characters from “Crooked Truth” (Lucas and Cotton, who is now going by CJ). It takes place in the early 1960s against the backdrop of the civil rights movement. The manuscript for “Outside the Diamond” recently received the Honorable Mention Award (second place) in the 2024 Faulkner Literary Competition. I was very pleased as 68 novels were entered in this year’s competition.

Question: Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?

Anderson: If writing a book were easy everyone would be doing it. If you want to write, put your butt in the chair and join a writing group.

• Anderson received the Ferrol Sams Award for Fiction and was nominated for the Willie Morris 2021 Southern Fiction Award and the 2021 Georgia Writer of the Year for Debut Novel.

If you enjoyed “Crooked Truth” or are interested in historical fiction you can check out the upcoming historical fiction panel at the Georgia Writers Museum conference in Eatonton, coordinated by Anderson. The conference will take place Feb. 21-23, and the panel will feature Carolyn Curry, Piper Huguley, T.M. Brown and Gwaltney. For more information, please visit https://www.kristinefanderson.com/.

If you’re interested in exploring the library’s catalog of books, videos, games and audio selections, check out ngrl.org or our social media. Our operating hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. You can reach us at (706) 876-1360.

Jessica Carrasco is the public relations coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield County Public Library.