An
interview with C. C. Harrison
I have had the opportunity to review both of C.C. Harrison’s novels
("The
Charmstone" Feb. 2007, and "Running from Strangers" Sept. 2008)
and have found them to be very engaging stories. But it was the
second one that caught my attention because a number of scenes take
place at very familiar locations; within ten miles of my home. I
had to find out how an Arizona writer knew so much about Michigan’s
Lake Huron shoreline, right down to the name of the restaurants
and the children’s fun center at the edge of town. I contacted C.
C. and discovered that she vacationed in this area as a child and
was coming back to visit relatives this past summer. I made a breakfast
date with her and we had a very nice discussion about writing. It
went something like this...
HOW LONG HAVE
YOU BEEN WRITING?
I've been a
freelance writer most of my life. My nonfiction and short fiction
work has appeared in hundreds of regional and national publications.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had corporate writing jobs along
the way, mostly magazines for employee and other corporate publications.
For years I wrote for Vocational Biographies, a company that published
career reference material. But I always knew I wanted to write novels.
THE CHARMSTONE came out in 2007, and that was my first book. RUNNING
FROM STRANGERS will be released in September 2008. SAGE CANE’S HOUSE
OF GRACE AND FAVOR, an Old West historical written under the pseudonym
Christy Hubbard is scheduled for July 2009. It's about a reluctant
madam who teaches the miner's wives how to keep their husbands home
at night.
DESCRIBE YOUR
WRITING PROCESS.
A story idea
will churn around in my head for quite a while, sometimes months,
before I put anything on paper. I do lots of research, take lots
of notes, set up files and a Work-in-Progress notebook. After that,
I begin character development and plotting. I write character sketches,
a chronological working outline, some rough scenes. Since I write
mystery / suspense, I always know my ending, of course. I always
know where I'm going before I start, and for the most part I have
a pretty good idea how I'll get there. I don't mind surprises and
detours along the way, though. On my last book, I tried something
new. I wrote all the plot points and turning points on 5"x7" file
cards, and then sorted and numbered them in order of occurrence
in the story. The file card system worked very well for me. I always
knew where the story was going. I don’t believe there is any such
thing as writer’s block. Writer’s block is really lack of planning.
WHAT PART
OF THE WRITING PROCESS DO YOU LIKE BEST?
I really enjoy
starting - the plotting and character development, and I love final
revision. I’ve always been very interested in the writing process,
curious about how other writers develop their books. I give a workshop
on it called "Are You a Plotter or a Pantser?" The big surprise
that came out of my research was that there are no pantser purists.
Even writers who claim they write their entire book by the seat
of their pants and never plot, when pressed, will admit they outline
and plot a little bit.
WHY HAVE YOU
CHOSEN TO WRITE IN THIS GENRE?
Well, it's
what I like to read. I like strong female characters who, even though
they may be flawed and make mistakes and bad decisions, don’t squeal
and run away at the first sign of danger. They pursue their story
goal relentlessly despite obstacles and setbacks; they check out
those creepy noises in the shadowy attic or dark basement. Even
though they’re afraid, they do it anyway. That’s real courage.
A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT CHARMSTONE
HOW DID YOU
COME TO WRITE THIS NOVEL?
I spent time
on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Monument Valley as a VISTA volunteer
(AmeriCorps). My experiences there inspired some of the people and
events in the book.
WHAT WAS THE
MOST DIFFICULT PART OF WRITING THIS NOVEL?
Getting the
Navajo culture and belief system correct. I verified everything
including the language. I wanted to be correct and respectful in
my portrayal of the culture, and of life on the Navajo Reservation.
WHAT IS YOUR
FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS BOOK?
I really love
this book. It's set in one of the most beautiful places in the southwestern
desert - in the world, really. Certainly the most beautiful place
I've ever been. The time I spent there, and the people I met will
be in my heart forever.
WHAT MAKES
THIS NOVEL STAND OUT?
Well, there
aren't many novels published today that show contemporary life on
the Reservation, or contemporary Native American relationships.
The romance element in this story involves a Navajo man and a non-Navajo
woman, and how they work out some of the inherent difficulties in
that. The mystery element in this book is about Native American
antiquity theft. That hasn't been widely written about in a mainstream
novel, either.
LET’S MOVE ON TO RUNNING FROM STRANGERS
HOW DID YOU
COME TO WRITE THIS NOVEL?
I was a child
advocate, a Guardian Ad Litem, in a county child and family services
department in the east, so I learned a lot about family court and
foster care and the plight of abused and neglected children. My
experiences there inspired some of the people and events in the
book. We’ve all read stories in the newspapers about children supposedly
under the protection of the system who end up dead or missing. Those
things do happen.
WHAT WAS THE
MOST DIFFICULT PART OF WRITING THIS NOVEL?
I wanted to
portray the deficiencies in the child welfare without specifically
pointing any fingers at any particular county social services department.
But the truth is, despite the good work of the child welfare systems
in this country, many are greatly flawed. The child welfare system
and social workers portrayed in this book are entirely made up and
not based on specific workers or counties.
WHAT IS YOUR
FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS BOOK?
The characters.
They had to overcome great obstacles and face grave danger to protect
a child. And of course the Southwestern setting and the wild horse
herds. And, I was able to set some scenes in one of my other favorite
places, Caseville, Michigan.
WHAT MAKES
THIS NOVEL STAND OUT?
The behind
the scenes look at the flaws in the child welfare system.
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