Interview Andrea Crisp

by

Dena Christy

1. Tell us a little bit about The Island.

The Island is set fifty years in the future. Some of the diseases we live with today have raged out of control, and the government decides to quarantine all those infected with them to an obscure island. One such carrier is Sharon, a smart but cynical lady who is shipped off along with a group of other diagnosed “incurables.” She soon discovers the infamous island to be not a haven for the sick, but a refuge filled with desperate and despairing people. There, she struggles to keep her humanity intact and matches wills with a crazed man who seeks to pit the inhabitants against each other.

2. Is this your first book?

This is my first actual published book, although I’ve been writing full-length novels for my own enjoyment for several years.

3. Where did you get your idea for this book?

I believe I was watching a movie that featured an island in it. The movie had nothing to do with The Island’s actual theme--the island I saw on the screen that night just struck me as haunting. The idea for The Island simply evolved around that image, I suppose.

4. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

As soon as I learned how to string sentences together in school, I was writing one-page stories about animals and their adventures. That’s how long I’ve been writing.

5. What advice would you give to someone who aspires to be a published author?

Never give up. No matter how many rejections you get, keep your spirits up and keep submitting. This is your dream; the only person whose opinion really means something is your own. Keep writing and keep trying to improve your work. There’s always new tricks to learn. Remember, practice really does make perfect.

6. What does your family think of your success in being published?

They think it’s wonderful, but they’ve been supportive all along. I’ve been blessed with a really great family.

7. How structured are you when it comes to plotting a story?

I’m extremely structured. Usually I piece together the entire plot-beginning to end-in my head before I even start writing. I always wind up making some changes along the way, but the original framework stays pretty much the same.

8. What led you to Wings?

I only recently discovered that online publishing exists. Once I had stumbled upon the industry while net-surfing, I was quick to look for anyone taking submissions. Fortunately I happened upon Wings, which looked like a great site, offering a wide variety of novels. I noticed they were accepting submissions, and the rest is history…

9. Who was the first person you told when you first learned you were going to be published?

The first person I told were my brother and his fiancé. No particular reason why-they just happened to be the only other people in the house at the time. Needless to say, both were very proud.

10. Finally, do you have another book in the works, and if so what will it be about?

Yes, I actually have another novel in the works right now. It’s a drama about a working-class woman who grows rich through a turn of fate and learns the hard way how it can corrupt.