When I was researching different aspects of querying, the book market, and publishing, I often found myself on the BookEnds website, where thorough, author-centric information was readily available. From a business standpoint, BookEnds does an excellent job selling books and recognizing both where the market is and where it’s heading. BookEnds agents are also notably excited about the authors they represent.
Tell us a bit about your writing process. Where do you write, and how often?
My kids are in school Monday through Thursday. So after I drop them off and morning farm chores are done, I usually have from about 10AM to 2:30PM on those days to write. I used to be able to pull all-nighters, but now at 39, those nights take a toll, so I only do that when I have to. I don’t have a formal office, although I am slowly claiming a weird little nook in my bedroom as a writing space. Our house is over 100 years old and has some personality. We lovingly call it a “disaster puzzle.” For now, I write in the living room on a turquoise table with an ottoman as a chair. It’s in the center of everything, which can be tough, but I still want to be accessible to my kids if they need me when they’re home.
Where can readers find you on the web and social media?
Do you have any writing rituals? (e.g. burning a candle if you’re having trouble getting started at the computer or writing longhand first if you’re feeling uninspired.)
JC Geiger taught me his 3-step approach to help “warm up” his brain before writing, which begins with writing the alphabet top to bottom on a page in a single column, then writing a word that begins with each letter in the alphabet as fast as you can. He then moves on through two more exercises that involve free writing, but what I started doing to save a little time was to then go back to the top of my sheet and write a second column of words that each begin with the last letter of the first word in the original column. Then I do it one more time. It’s fun to see how the quality of the words increases from one round to the next.
What do you love about writing suspense?
I love reading a twisty story, so being the one who creates and drops the breadcrumbs and easter eggs along the way for another reader is so much fun, especially if I am building to a big reveal.
Why did you choose the genre you’ve chosen?
Honestly, this world can be terrifying, especially as a mother. Most aspects of life – and of parenthood – are totally out of my control. In writing suspense, I get to approach some of my worst fears with a sense of control, no matter how false, and that brings an odd sense of peace.
What is the hardest part about writing suspense?
Obviously in a suspense story, hard and terrible things are likely going to happen. To do them justice, I feel like it’s important to approach those topics without flinching, but also in a way that doesn’t glorify or amplify the act itself, but rather the acute experience and how it might change something/everything for those characters moving forward. Part of that is crafting a satisfying end that is also realistic and organic.
If money were no object, what would be your dream writing location?
A quaint little beach house on the Florida panhandle, set well off a packed sand road and tucked in the twisted branches of live oaks.
How did you know your book was ready to submit?
I knew I had done everything in my power to let each character tell their story in their own way, start to finish, with words that had become theirs and no longer felt like mine, and I just hoped like hell that it was enough.
Name:
Casey Dunn
What you Write:
Suspense
Agent:
James McGowan
Why BookEnds?
When I was researching different aspects of querying, the book market, and publishing, I often found myself on the BookEnds website, where thorough, author-centric information was readily available. From a business standpoint, BookEnds does an excellent job selling books and recognizing both where the market is and where it’s heading. BookEnds agents are also notably excited about the authors they represent.
Tell us a bit about your writing process. Where do you write, and how often?
My kids are in school Monday through Thursday. So after I drop them off and morning farm chores are done, I usually have from about 10AM to 2:30PM on those days to write. I used to be able to pull all-nighters, but now at 39, those nights take a toll, so I only do that when I have to. I don’t have a formal office, although I am slowly claiming a weird little nook in my bedroom as a writing space. Our house is over 100 years old and has some personality. We lovingly call it a “disaster puzzle.” For now, I write in the living room on a turquoise table with an ottoman as a chair. It’s in the center of everything, which can be tough, but I still want to be accessible to my kids if they need me when they’re home.
Where can readers find you on the web and social media?
I am on TikTok (@caseydunnbooks), Twitter (@1caseydunn), and am just now starting on Instagram (@caseydunnbooks). My website is www.caseydunnbooks.com
Do you have any writing rituals? (e.g. burning a candle if you’re having trouble getting started at the computer or writing longhand first if you’re feeling uninspired.)
JC Geiger taught me his 3-step approach to help “warm up” his brain before writing, which begins with writing the alphabet top to bottom on a page in a single column, then writing a word that begins with each letter in the alphabet as fast as you can. He then moves on through two more exercises that involve free writing, but what I started doing to save a little time was to then go back to the top of my sheet and write a second column of words that each begin with the last letter of the first word in the original column. Then I do it one more time. It’s fun to see how the quality of the words increases from one round to the next.
What do you love about writing suspense?
I love reading a twisty story, so being the one who creates and drops the breadcrumbs and easter eggs along the way for another reader is so much fun, especially if I am building to a big reveal.
Why did you choose the genre you’ve chosen?
Honestly, this world can be terrifying, especially as a mother. Most aspects of life – and of parenthood – are totally out of my control. In writing suspense, I get to approach some of my worst fears with a sense of control, no matter how false, and that brings an odd sense of peace.
What is the hardest part about writing suspense?
Obviously in a suspense story, hard and terrible things are likely going to happen. To do them justice, I feel like it’s important to approach those topics without flinching, but also in a way that doesn’t glorify or amplify the act itself, but rather the acute experience and how it might change something/everything for those characters moving forward. Part of that is crafting a satisfying end that is also realistic and organic.
If money were no object, what would be your dream writing location?
A quaint little beach house on the Florida panhandle, set well off a packed sand road and tucked in the twisted branches of live oaks.
How did you know your book was ready to submit?
I knew I had done everything in my power to let each character tell their story in their own way, start to finish, with words that had become theirs and no longer felt like mine, and I just hoped like hell that it was enough.
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