Author Interviews - Kristy McCaffrey

 Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

This is the beginning of what I hope will become a way for readers to connect with some of their favorite authors. Simple interviews to give us an insight into the mind and process of writers. 

First up is an author whose 'Wings of the West' series should be on everyone's - To Be Read List 

Amazon
Check out the special edition Hardcover of this book

Interview with Kristy McCaffrey

 

Thanks so much, Doris, for the chance to chat with these fun interview questions.

 

How did I decide to write for publication?

      I’d written for myself since I was a little girl, but when I finally finished my first novel, I was curious to see if I could get published. I was 33 years old. I was able to work with a small press for several years before going independent. I learned a lot back then and while the drive for publication certainly involved financial reasons, it also pushed my work to the next level. I’m the type of person that needs a goal to stay motivated.

 Do you write for the market or yourself?

      In the beginning, it was nearly 100% for myself, but as I grew my writing business it became necessary to assess market conditions if I wanted to remain doing this. Today, it’s a combination of both.

 My writing routine:

      I’m not a morning person, so I find it a challenge to be creative as soon as I wake up. I usually read and/or do puzzles (crosswords as well as the daily Wordle) while eating breakfast, and then I do admin stuff. After lunch, I write for 2-3 hours. If I’m behind on either the writing or business stuff, I’ll work for a few hours after dinner then watch TV with my husband.

Amazon

Do you research while writing or before?

      Before, during, and throughout revisions. I never stop really. I’m an information junkie. It’s an asset at times, but also a negative. As I’ve gotten more books under my belt, I’ve become more selective about this process and don’t lose myself as much in it anymore.

 Do you “interview” your characters before you write their story?

      No. I like to build story and character at the same time. This isn’t an ideal process, however, because it generally involves a big rewrite after the first draft (because I’ve finally gotten to know my characters). But it’s the way my brain likes to work, so I’ve given up fighting it.

 Do you like to write short or longer stories?

      I’ve written both. I like the compressed process of shorter stories, but nothing beats the complexity of a longer book.

Amazon

 Where did you get the idea for your latest release?

      I keep track of older story ideas, and this was one of them. THE NIGHTHAWK is Book 10 in my Wings of the West series, but when I was brainstorming I needed an idea quick (I was setting up a pre-order at the end of the previous book and I was out of time). So I repurposed a plot I’d developed over fifteen years ago and had never used.

 What advice would you give to those who dream of writing, or what advice would you give your younger self?

      Start writing. Keep writing. Read widely. Take criticism with discernment. Learn to pick yourself up after receiving criticism. Don’t let setbacks run the show. Surround yourself with authors better than you and pay attention. Be nimble and pivot when needed.

Check out Kristy's Author Page

Thank you Kristy for sharing your story and writing with readers. THE NIGHTHAWK is up for pre-order now on Amazon. Don't wait! And be sure to follow her so you don't miss out on new releases.

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris

Kristy McCaffrey-Guest from Arizona

RATTLESNAKES

by Kristy McCaffrey



AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
OF THE
WINGS OF THE WEST
SERIES

Three years ago my family and I moved to the desert north of Phoenix and one of the many aspects to which we had to adjust was the presence of rattlesnakes. Because our property buffers an open area of desert belonging to the city, we get a fair amount of wildlife (coyotes, javelina, bobcats) as well as snakes that wander onto our land. Most are non-poisonous—bull and garter snakes—but we’ve also encountered and caught a good number of rattlers. In this area the prevalent species is the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. It blends well into its surroundings, with a dirt-colored hide, but does have one outstanding feature which helps with a swift identification. On its tail, just below the rattle, are one to two inches of black and white stripes.




YOUNG RATTLER IN AN APPLE JUICE JAR

In the summer, when it’s very hot, snakes gravitate toward water, so puddles can pose a problem. We found a young rattler near the house this way. My husband captured and placed it into an empty (RS in jar)apple juice bottle. We then deposited the snake off-property. We’ve been told that rattlers will live within a one mile territory; because we have dogs and children we prefer to relocate the snakes. The other alternative is to kill them, which many of our neighbors do. Not only is this dangerous (to kill one you must get close to it—distance is always the safest course of action when dealing with a poisonous reptile) but I also feel it’s unnecessary. Western Diamondbacks aren’t very aggressive unless threatened. And even then they’ll slither away the first chance they get.

            This was apparent when one of our chocolate labs, Lily, encountered a rattler during a walk in the desert. It lay coiled and when she poked her nose at it the snake struck. Luckily she pulled back just in time to avoid a bite. Just as quickly the snake turned and slithered into a bush, rattling it’s pathetic rattle (nothing like in the movies).

            My husband and older son often ride motorcycles and quads in the desert and have come across rattlesnakes on the trails several times. Sometimes they can pass but often are forced to turn back. Rattlesnakes tend to enjoy their moments of sunning and simply won’t move unless pressed. In the winter months it’s never a good idea to be out in the desert during the day since the snakes will be warming themselves from the cold night. And during the summer, dusk is a dangerous time since they’ll be out after staying in the shade of a bush for the better part of the day. Initially we had the false impression that rattlesnakes hibernate but have come to learn this isn’t true. They can be out and about year round.




KRISTY'S HUSBAND RESCUING
A RATTLER TO BE RELOCATED

We’ve found big rattlers on our driveway twice on chilly winter nights, likely soaking up the warmth of the concrete. My husband has a long metal snake catcher, which he uses to capture the reptile and then lift it into a large garbage bin. We then load the can on the back of our pickup truck and drive it to a portion of the desert far from our house for release.

A SNAKE-CATCHER

I must admit I don’t fear rattlesnakes as much as I did when we first arrived. I have a healthy respect for them, scan my surroundings at all times, and don’t walk outside barefoot. We keep a close eye on our dogs during walks. It’s also important to keep the property clear of clutter, to minimize hiding places.



KRISTY'S ARIZONA DESERT HOME

            Still, we had one in the backyard the other day, despite it being completely fenced in. My mother happened to discover it. As she sat by the pool, reading a book and enjoying a break in the heat, she heard a low, quiet rattle. She didn’t think it was a snake, but then noticed that our dogs as well as hers (four in all) had surrounded something and were on full alert. The snake stood its ground, only because it had to, against the dogs. She quickly got all the animals inside without incident and my 18-year-old son wrangled the snake into the garbage bin and sent it on another relocation program. Maybe if we move enough of them they’ll breed elsewhere!

            Now, if we could just get rid of the scorpions...
 

BIO: Kristy McCaffrey

 Kristy McCaffrey has been writing since she was very young, but it wasn't until she was a stay-at-home mom that she considered becoming published. A fascination with science led her to earn two engineering degrees--she did her undergraduate work at Arizona State University and her graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh--but storytelling was always her favorite hobby. Born and raised in Arizona, and recently returned after a 20 year absence in Pittsburgh, she writes Old West romances to capture the landscapes that were such a big part of her childhood. Her first novel "The Wren" was a CAPA winner for best new author traditional, a Texas Gold finalist, and a HOLT Medallion finalist for best first book. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband,

four children, and two chocolate labs, Ranger and Lily.

 

All books can be found on Amazon on Kristy's author page:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Kristy+McCaffrey

www.kristymccaffrey.comhttp://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristyMcCaffrey
 

 

 

 

Posted by: Celia Yeary