Andrea McKenzie Raine on Characters, Bookshelves & Self-Publishing

Posted October 19, 2016 by Kim Heimbuch in Interviews, Written Interviews 347

Connect with Andrea

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Andrea McKenzie Raine earned a B.A. in English Literature at the University of Victoria.

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She has attended the successful Planet Earth Poetry reading series (formerly known as Mocambopo) in Victoria, BC since 1997, and participated in the Glenairley writing retreats led by Canadian poet and novelist Patrick Lane in Sooke, BC. In 2005, she published her first book of poetry, titled A Mother’s String, through Ekstasis Editions. Andrea lives in Victoria, BC with her husband and two young sons. Turnstiles is her debut novel.

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An Interview with Author Andrea McKenzie Raine

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When I am writing fiction, I mostly use a computer keyboard; I also jot down my thoughts on sticky notes.[/mpc_icon_column][mpc_icon_column layout=”style_3″ background_color=”#ffffff” padding_css=”padding:0px;” margin_divider=”true” title_font_preset=”mpc_preset_65″ title_font_color=”#053b57″ title_font_size=”16″ title_font_line_height=”1.1″ title_font_transform=”uppercase” title_font_align=”left” title=”Do you tend to focus more on character or plot? Do you think one is more important than the other?” title_margin_divider=”true” title_margin_css=”margin-bottom:5px;” content_font_preset=”preset_1″ content_font_color=”#333333″ content_font_size=”14″ content_font_line_height=”1″ content_font_align=”left” mpc_icon__icon=”icnm icnm-users” mpc_icon__icon_color=”#053b57″ mpc_icon__icon_size=”20″ mpc_icon__background_color=”#ffffff” mpc_icon__border_css=”border-radius:0px;” mpc_icon__padding_divider=”true” mpc_icon__padding_css=”padding-top:5px;padding-right:5px;padding-bottom:5px;padding-left:5px;” mpc_icon__margin_divider=”true” mpc_icon__margin_css=”margin-top:-6px;margin-right:15px;” mpc_icon__hover_icon_color=”#ffffff” mpc_icon__hover_background_color=”#cf030e” mpc_icon__hover_border_css=”border-radius:20px;” mpc_divider__disable=”false” mpc_divider__width=”10″ mpc_divider__align=”left” mpc_divider__content_padding_divider=”true” mpc_divider__content_padding_css=”padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;” mpc_divider__lines_color=”#dddddd” mpc_divider__padding_divider=”true” mpc_divider__padding_css=”padding-top:3px;padding-bottom:3px;” animation_in_type=”transition.swoopIn” animation_in_offset=”75″ animation_in_duration=”500″ animation_in_delay=”0″ hover_padding_css=”padding:0px;”]

I tend to focus more on character than plot, as I am interested in how the characters develop due to their circumstances. The plot is important, as it drives the character and story forward, but I think it is more interesting to witness the character’s reaction to their changing environment and what course they take rather than always looking at the external scenery of ‘this happened, and then this happened…’. I don’t dwell too much on character description (i.e. hair colour, etc.) I try to paint the characters in a way that gives the reader a better sense of who they are, where they are coming from, and where they are headed.

I have books shelved and stacked all over my house. I have a tall (7ft) bookshelf in my basement and a shorter (4ft) bookshelf in my bedroom. I also have towers of books stacked on my night table and dresser. My boys have their own bookshelves in their bedroom and in the living room.

My oldest book – one of the first books I was given – is A Christmas Carol. My Dad gave it to me for Christmas in 1984. I was in the fourth grade.

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“It is also not easy being a ‘one-man band’, and having a traditional publisher helps to increase both author and book exposure in a competitive book world.”

The idea for A Crowded Heart stemmed from my debut novel, Turnstiles. Willis Hancocks Sr. is deceased from the beginning of my first novel, and yet the choices he made in his life, including the decisions he made in his last will, negatively affect the people in his life and cause a ripple effect that extends much farther than he could have imagined. Therefore, I thought it was only fair that he had a chance to tell his story and to examine those life choices that he made or were made for him. Readers will decide whether he can be redeemed.

Working out the timeline for the prequel novel kept me awake at night. The events that take place in A Crowded Heart had to line up with the events in Turnstiles i.e. the ages of the characters, world events, historical dates, etc.

A Crowded Heart is a prequel to the first novel, Turnstiles, and focuses on Willis Hancocks Sr. I am now working on a sequel novel to Turnstiles, and also have plans to write a spinoff book or two based on a group of characters featured in Turnstiles, as well as the backstory to Willis Hancocks Jr.’s good friend, Sam. So, I think readers can expect three more books in the series.

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I had tried querying literary agents first, but then I decided to take the plunge and not wait any longer. I wanted to find an audience for my books.[/mpc_icon_column][mpc_icon_column layout=”style_3″ background_color=”#ffffff” padding_css=”padding:0px;” margin_divider=”true” title_font_preset=”mpc_preset_65″ title_font_color=”#053b57″ title_font_size=”16″ title_font_line_height=”1.1″ title_font_transform=”uppercase” title_font_align=”left” title=”Are you currently on the market looking to be picked up by a traditional publisher?” title_margin_divider=”true” title_margin_css=”margin-bottom:5px;” content_font_preset=”preset_1″ content_font_color=”#333333″ content_font_size=”14″ content_font_line_height=”1″ content_font_align=”left” mpc_icon__icon=”icnm icnm-book” mpc_icon__icon_color=”#053b57″ mpc_icon__icon_size=”20″ mpc_icon__background_color=”#ffffff” mpc_icon__border_css=”border-radius:0px;” mpc_icon__padding_divider=”true” mpc_icon__padding_css=”padding-top:5px;padding-right:5px;padding-bottom:5px;padding-left:5px;” mpc_icon__margin_divider=”true” mpc_icon__margin_css=”margin-top:-6px;margin-right:15px;” mpc_icon__hover_icon_color=”#ffffff” mpc_icon__hover_background_color=”#cf030e” mpc_icon__hover_border_css=”border-radius:20px;” mpc_divider__disable=”false” mpc_divider__width=”10″ mpc_divider__align=”left” mpc_divider__content_padding_divider=”true” mpc_divider__content_padding_css=”padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;” mpc_divider__lines_color=”#dddddd” mpc_divider__padding_divider=”true” mpc_divider__padding_css=”padding-top:3px;padding-bottom:3px;” animation_in_type=”transition.swoopIn” animation_in_offset=”75″ animation_in_duration=”500″ animation_in_delay=”0″ hover_padding_css=”padding:0px;”]I am definitely hoping to find a traditional publisher for my self-published novels and/or future book projects.[/mpc_icon_column][mpc_icon_column layout=”style_3″ background_color=”#ffffff” padding_css=”padding:0px;” margin_divider=”true” title_font_preset=”mpc_preset_65″ title_font_color=”#053b57″ title_font_size=”16″ title_font_line_height=”1.1″ title_font_transform=”uppercase” title_font_align=”left” title=”How do you combat writer’s block?” title_margin_divider=”true” title_margin_css=”margin-bottom:5px;” content_font_preset=”preset_1″ content_font_color=”#333333″ content_font_size=”14″ content_font_line_height=”1″ content_font_align=”left” mpc_icon__icon=”icnm icnm-hour-glass” mpc_icon__icon_color=”#053b57″ mpc_icon__icon_size=”20″ mpc_icon__background_color=”#ffffff” mpc_icon__border_css=”border-radius:0px;” mpc_icon__padding_divider=”true” mpc_icon__padding_css=”padding-top:5px;padding-right:5px;padding-bottom:5px;padding-left:5px;” mpc_icon__margin_divider=”true” mpc_icon__margin_css=”margin-top:-6px;margin-right:15px;” mpc_icon__hover_icon_color=”#ffffff” mpc_icon__hover_background_color=”#cf030e” mpc_icon__hover_border_css=”border-radius:20px;” mpc_divider__disable=”false” mpc_divider__width=”10″ mpc_divider__align=”left” mpc_divider__content_padding_divider=”true” mpc_divider__content_padding_css=”padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;” mpc_divider__lines_color=”#dddddd” mpc_divider__padding_divider=”true” mpc_divider__padding_css=”padding-top:3px;padding-bottom:3px;” animation_in_type=”transition.swoopIn” animation_in_offset=”75″ animation_in_duration=”500″ animation_in_delay=”0″ hover_padding_css=”padding:0px;”]

To forge through writer’s block, I switch to another genre, such as poetry; read a book; colour; or work on a character sketch. Sometimes I turn my attention to housework, or step into my children’s world for a while.

I don’t think there is a right or wrong way in approaching the decision to either self-publish or find a traditional publisher. No matter what route an author takes to ensure their work reaches the light of day, there are always many factors to take into account and different aspects of publishing to embrace to become savvy about using. It is a journey, and with every journey there are lessons to be learned.

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Closing Thoughts

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I am glad I chose to self-publish my books, as I believe it is an opportunity to ‘test the waters’ and prove to a prospective publisher that my books are selling. My self-publishing journey has been exciting and educational, and I have had wonderful support from the editing, design and marketing team at Inkwater Press .

I hope to find a traditional publisher because self-publishing can be expensive. It is also not easy being a ‘one-man band’, and having a traditional publisher helps to increase both author and book exposure in a competitive book world.

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Tags: Andrea McKenzie Raine, Author, Interview, Kim Heimbuch

About Kim Heimbuch

Kim has a personal relationship with books that only a fellow bibliophile could understand. She's a mom to three beautiful daughters, the wife of a submariner, and while she considers Portland the 'Motherland', San Diego is now called home.

She's a little eclectic, a bit geeky, a smidge know-it-all, and a jack of all trades. Over the past nine years she has collected degrees spanning a BS in Game Art & Design, BS Social Science; EDU Concentration, and finishing up a MA Ancient & Classical History.

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