Candice Dow

AUTHOR'S Q&A

Q: How does a software engineer become a novelist?
A: I think the novelist became the software engineer. Although, it’s relatively easy for me to put on the technical hat, I’ve never really fit in. My colleagues are more concerned with the dynamics of an operating system or software language, while my major concern is the dynamics of love, life, and relationships

Q: How long did it take you to write Caught In The Mix?
A: The story existed in my mind for a long time. It took me 4 years to write the first two chapters. When I finally made a vow to myself to get it done, it took me two months to finish the entire manuscript.

Q: Did you take any time off of work?
A: No. Actually, I was working two jobs. I was working full-time and teaching one class at Morgan State.

Q: Why did it take you so long to write the first two chapters?
A: FEAR. When I decided I wanted to write a novel, I started reading any and everything about writing fiction and getting published. I would read background information on all my favorite authors. Although I’d highly recommend other aspiring writers to do the same, I think it was also a little discouraging for me. It seemed that it was almost impossible for African-American authors to get published without self-publishing first. Subconsciously, I began to defeat myself. I convinced myself that self-publishing would be too overwhelming. So, why write, if no one will ever read it.

Q: How did you find the motivation to finish?
A: Once you bring characters to life, they don't go away. Not until you finish telling their story. So, I had to change my motivation. Instead of concentrating on having my work published, I focused on being true to myself and the only way I could do so was to finish. At that point, it didn’t matter if only my friends and family read my work.

Q: Did you pursue self-publishing?
A: I thought I would eventually have to, but I decided to try the traditional route first. Also, the perfectionist side of me really wanted validation from industry professionals. And to my surprise I landed a literary agent almost immediately.

Q: Did you get any rejection letters?
A: I sent the manuscript to three agents and two sent rejection letters within a few weeks. My agent sent a request for the entire manuscript a few months later and the rest is history.

Q: How long did it take for your agent to find a publisher?
A: Miraculously, it took about two months. My agent submitted to three publishers and two months later, two were interested.

Q: What made Caught In The Mix stand out?
A: TIMING. I think it’s about having the right story touch the right person, at the right time. Had it traveled through a different set of hands, at a different time, who knows if the results would have been the same

Q: What do you hope to accomplish as an author?
A: I hope that my work will help people better understand themselves and their relationships. I think that works of fiction can and should change lives.

Q: What do you like about being an author, and why did you choose to become one?
A: I just love bringing characters that I've created in my mind to life. It's as if I have sole control of their destiny. I've always enjoyed entertaining people with interesting stories. Becoming an author was a way of sharing my stories with as many people as possible, in hopes that they'd gain something from them.

Q: What will you remember most from your literary experience so far?
A: When I received the phone call that someone wanted to publish Caught in the Mix. I'll never forget that day. Kanye West's "Through The Fire" was playing and that song meant more to me at that moment than ever before.