We were lucky to catch up with Kristine Anderson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kristine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

We have been story creatures for thousands of years. Listening to stories and telling stories is part of

our DNA and identity. One Labor Day weekend, I heard a story from an elderly relative about a family

living in rural Georgia with a Mongloid* son in the 1940’s. The story did not have a happy ending, but it

stuck with me. And I knew it was one I needed to share.

The family story and my experience working with a little boy with Down Syndrome became the seed

for Crooked Truth. As I developed my plot, I added events and some characters, including Lucas – the

fifteen-year-old narrator who must care for his uncle with Down Syndrome.

*the term Down Syndrome was not commonly used until the 1960’s

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Getting a novel published requires a lot of time, energy and old-fashioned persistence. You cannot wait

for the muse to tap you on the shoulder and give you inspiration. You have to put your butt in the chair

and write, revise, and edit. It’salso important to attend conferences, develop a writing community, and,

if helpful, work with a writing coach.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

My novel, Crooked Truth, was released during the pandemic. Since people were reluctant to attend

large gatherings, I promoted it primarily through my website, Facebook, book give-aways and

donations to libraries and schools, and small groups.. I learned that strong reviews and personal

recommendations are still a good marketing strategy for attracting readers and selling books.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I’ve taught English and worked as a freelance writer in the past. And I’ve always been a reader. But I

vastly underestimated the time and energy involved in writing a book. I wish I had known about the

importance of attending conferences and finding a critique group– writers who will give you some

support and honest feedback while holding you accountable.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kristinefanderson.com
• Facebook: Kristine F. Anderson
• Other: Crooked Truth, my debut novel, has received several awards, including the Ferrol Sams Award for Fiction. It was nominated for the 2021 Willie E. Morris Fiction Award, and I was nominated for the 2021 Georgia Debut Novel Writer of the Year.