Handsome, successful husband. Adorable daughter. Chairwoman of the PTA. Security for her ailing mom. Jane’s got everything life has to offer. Including the lie that could destroy it all.
We chat with author Bethany Crandell about her latest book release See Jane Snap, along with book recommendations, writing, and more!
Hi, Bethany! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hey Nerds! Thanks so much for inviting me over!
I’m a forty-something wife/mom/author who lives in an older San Diego suburb that’s got a distinct Norman Rockwell vibe to it. (Think Flag Day parades and kid-run lemonade stands). I watch more than I read, eat A LOT more than I cook, and I roll my eyes way too much for a woman my age.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
2nd grade. My teacher was young and spirited and apparently looking to snub the “establishment”, because rather than focusing on sentence structure and grammar, she encouraged us to, “just write”. It was incredibly liberating for a seven-year-old who wasn’t very good at following the rules.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
First book I remember reading myself: FROG AND TOAD ALL SEASON. My mom was a school librarian, so we were always being read to, but this is the first book I remember reading on my own.
First book that made me want to be an author: LORD OF THE FLIES. I was a freshman in high school and up until that point all the “school” reading I’d done about put me to sleep (No offense, Mr. Steinbeck). I remember reading that book and thinking, “Holy crap! This is amazing. And terrifying. And SO good! I want to do that!”
Book I cannot stop thinking about: I’m a very promiscuous reader. I tend to fall in love with whatever I’m currently reading. Right now, that would be FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT, by Elle Cosimano. It’s smart, funny, and impeccably paced.
Your latest novel See Jane Snap is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Honest. Relatable. Funny. Hopeful. Empowering.
What can readers expect?
Like a true cancer, I feel everything which is exactly how I write. Readers can expect a lot of emotions when jumping into Jane’s world. You will likely laugh, probably get choked-up, you’ll definitely get mad, and you’ll quite possibly enjoy a toe-tingle or two.
Where did the inspiration for See Jane Snap come from?
Well, the title came before the story itself (my books always work that way) so once my muse locked onto SEE JANE SNAP then I got to explore what kinds of things could make a middle-aged woman have a breakdown. Considering I live with people who leave dirty dishes in the sink when the dishwasher is literally a foot away, it wasn’t that hard to find inspiration. Ahem.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
The majority of this book was written during quarantine, and while my writing routine didn’t deviate from what it’s been for the last fifteen years, the change in atmosphere as I wrote definitely impacted how the book came together.
Usually, when a scene gets a little too intense, I can just close the document and return to the safety of my safe, normal life until I’m ready to tackle it again. But it was very different with this book. There was no safe, normal life to get back to. Closing the document didn’t provide any reprieve it just perpetuated my own anxieties for what was going on in my real world. It was intense, and at times a little overwhelming, but looking back I can see that it provided a level of authenticity to Jane’s story I don’t think it would have had if I’d written the book a year earlier.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I love when my characters have over-indulged a bit (trying to articulate slurs is ridiculously fun!), so Jane’s incapacitated scene in the parking lot is a definite favorite. Also, when Jane and Iris rescue Burty and Rosebud. I laughed a LOT writing that scene, as I did when I researched certain elements revealed during it. No spoilers here, but I assure you they sell literally everything on Etsy!
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
Best advice: JUST WRITE. You can edit and clean it up later. The most important thing you can do is get the story down on the page.
Worst advice: I don’t know that I’ve ever received any bad advice, but I have received really critical feedback from people that I knew were well-intentioned but just delivered their comments in a way that didn’t resonate with me. That’s not to say you don’t need critique partners/beta readers who give you honest feedback, but everyone has a different style that works for them, both in taking and giving feedback. It’s okay to shop around until you find people who speak the same editorial language you do.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently finishing up a WiP that I’m really excited about. Think GOOD GIRLS meets GOLDEN GIRLS with a twist of SWEET MAGNOLIAS. Lots of emotional ups & downs, female bonding, and a little ass-kicking, too.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
DIAL A FOR AUNTIES (Jesse Q. Sutanto) was hysterical! Definitely a fun, easy read if you’re in that kind of mood. Kris Clink’s GOODBYE, LARK LOVEJOY was absolutely lovely; one of those emotionally-driven, second-chance kind of romances that never disappoints. As I mentioned before, I’m currently reading FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT which is proving to be a whole lot of fun. And up next on my TBR is THE CHICKEN SISTERS by KJ Dell’Antonia. I love stories about women and our complicated relationships, so I have no doubt that’ll be a winner.
