“When the time is right… re-enter the meditative writer state.” ~~Beth Castrodale
Mysteries Unfolding Gradually
It took me a while to get to Beth Castrodale’s The Inhabitants, but once I did, I had trouble putting it down. I was fascinated by the way she moved from grounded reality into the possibility of ghosts. She kept me wondering and believing in the authenticity of this story, and she made me wonder about some unexplained phenomena in my own life.
In the interview below she talks about her experiences and motivations, and she gives wise advice, especially for any writers who may feel stuck.
BLG: Tell us about your earliest stories. How old were you when you started writing, what were your subjects and who encouraged you?
BC: Early in grade school, I made my first attempts at fiction, and my favorite thing to write was spooky stories. Often, I’d create staple-bound, illustrated booklets that told tales of ghosts or haunted houses or castles. My parents were hugely supportive of my work, and they bought me books that helped feed my interest in ghosts. One of my favorites was Gus Was a Friendly Ghost.
BLG: What triggered your interest in ghost stories?
BC: I’ve always loved a good scare. Aside from that, I’ve always been intrigued by the fictional possibilities of ghosts—for example, the ways in which they might be responses to grief or longing for a loved one, or suggest unfinished business of some sort. Often, ghost stories say far more about those who encounter spirits than they do about the spirits themselves, and I love that aspect of such tales.
BLG: Did you do an MFA program and if so, do you recommend it? What advice or class has helped your writing the most?
BC: I don’t have an MFA, but over the years, I’ve taken part in several fiction-writing workshops, as well as writers’ groups that spun off from these workshops. My M.O. has been to maintain, as much as possible, a regular writing habit; to get honest feedback on everything I write; and to read as much as I can.
BLG: What tips do you have for developing believable, 3-dimensional characters?
BC: In the early stages of writing a novel, I try to get a good handle on what’s driving characters in the context of the story—what they want most, and what’s getting in their way. Then, I try to inhabit them as I write each scene. What I mean by this is that I try to immerse myself in a given character’s point of view, almost forgetting myself as I move about their world. On some days, this state is easier to reach than on others, and there’s no magic way of getting into it. One thing I try to do is shut off my inner critic and to visualize the character’s surroundings as clearly as possible. The process is almost a form of meditation. In fact, it’s the only meditating I do!
BLG: What was your process for plotting this story and switching between ghostly and normal worlds?
BC: Early on, I sketched out a rough story arc, just to have a general sense of where the story might go, while also leaving plenty of room for discovering new angles as I wrote. As far as switching between ghostly and normal worlds, I considered that a matter of pacing—offering breathers from unsettling scenes and also allowing some “quiet” space for character development.
Another point about pacing: I tried to have the mysteries within the story unfold gradually so that there’s an ongoing tension/feeling of suspense.
BLG: Tell us about your publishing journey. How did you find Garland Press for your first book, who recommended the contests you entered, and how did you decide to go with Regal House?
BC: I was very fortunate that Garland’s publisher reached out to me after reading a short story of mine that she really liked. She asked if I had any novels in the works, and it turned out that I did. The novel was Marion Hatley, and it became my first published novel, which Garland released in 2017.
I found the contests on my own. As I recall, I consulted the Poets & Writers database for contest listings.
When I was looking for publishers for my latest novel, I was really impressed by what I’d read about Regal House. I feel very fortunate that they liked my book and put it under contract.
BLG: What suggestions do you have for marketing a book not published by the Big Four?
BC: Over the years, I’ve tried so many things on the marketing front, and it’s impossible to tell whether any of these efforts have had a direct effect on my book sales. Still, I believe it’s worth trying as many approaches as possible to build awareness of your work over time and, hopefully, draw new fans. Here are just some of the approaches I’ve tried: reaching out to book bloggers, or paying for a virtual book tour; aiming for as many advance reviews as possible, either from trade reviewers (Kirkus, Foreword Reviews, etc.) or ARC reviewers from services like BookSirens; reaching out to booksellers and librarians, sharing with them any positive trade reviews you’ve received; writing and placing articles that have a connection to your book but are not promotional; advertising on Facebook or other outlets; reaching out to podcasts for interviews; building an email newsletter subscriber base; and providing email subscribers with regular content that’s not baldly promotional.
BLG: What else would you like readers to know?
BC: So many writers feel deeply discouraged at times—from rejections, negative reviews, extended periods of writer’s block, and so on. From time to time, I’ve been discouraged that way myself, and during such spells, I’ve found it helpful to take a break from writing, to spend time with friends, and when the time feels right, to try to re-enter that meditative writing state I spoke of earlier—even if I just get down a paragraph or two. (That state is one of the main reasons I’ve kept writing.) I thought I’d share this in case it’s helpful to anyone else.
BLG: Where can we learn more about you?
BC: The best place to find more information about me and my work is my website: https://www.bethcastrodale.com/.
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