Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Simar.
Candace, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been a history buff. Quite by accident, I stumbled across a bit of family genealogy that I couldn’t wait to share with my college-aged kids. They were going to be home for the 4th of July in 2000, and I planned a Hallmark moment. I could imagine them wide-eyed and excited as I told them about their great-great-grandfather who drove the stagecoach to Fort Abercrombie during the final days of the Civil War. To my chagrin, they were not interested in their ancestors, Minnesota history, the Sioux Uprising, or the Civil War. My son challenged me to “write a book about it if I cared so much.”
My first book, Abercrombie Trail, was loosely inspired by my great-grandfather’s story. I wrote it as historical fiction to reach people who had never been interested, like my kids, in history. The writing was harder than I expected. I had already been writing poems, magazine articles, and short anthology pieces, but had worked as an RN all my life, a novel proved to be daunting.
I googled and attended my first Iowa Summer Writing Program in 2001. My instructor for the historical novel class was Diana Ossana, Larry McMurtry’s writing partner. Little did I know that she had shown my sample pages to Mr. McMurtry (Pulitzer Prize Winner for Lonesome Dove) and received his advice concerning my project. She challenged me to revise and complete the story. Looking back, her generosity and encouragement helped me to write Abercrombie Trail, Pomme de Terre, Birdie (Spur Award Winner), and Blooming Prairie (Spur Award Finalist).
The Abercrombie Trail Series carries the readers through the actual history of the U.S. Dakota War of 1862, the Civil War, those first difficult years as Scandinavian immigrants coming to America, and the Rocky Mountain Locust Plagues of the 1870s. It was great fun researching and writing about actual events in regional history using fictitious characters.
My next novel, Shelterbelts (Willa Award and Midwest Book Awards finalist) was about Scandinavians in rural Minnesota at the end of World War 2. Escape to Fort Abercrombie returned to the U.S. Dakota War. It received a Will Rogers Gold Medallion and the Peacemaker Award. In between novels, I have published two short story books and a poetry book with my sister, My next novel, Sister Lumberjack, is with the publisher and scheduled to be released in early 2024.
Sometimes when I’m feeling like I’m not accomplishing much, I look at my wall of book covers. It’s satisfying to see how far I’ve come. Yes, I’m working on my next novel scheduled to be released in 2025. Needless to say, I’m never bored.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There is a lot to learn about writing novels. No one would expect someone to perform in Carnegie Hall after her first piano lesson, and yet most people think writing is different. I attended multiple writing workshops and have learned the writing craft bit by bit. There is much more to learn. I continue to attend at least one master-level writing workshop every year to keep improving my craft.
I was shocked to learn that a writer spends as much time marketing the final product as he did writing the novel. Self-promotion is distasteful even on a good day. I was blessed to connect with Krista Soukup at Blue Cottage Agency for assistance with marketing.
I like to think that my best writing lies ahead of me. For sure, the stories keep perking in my brain.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I write historical fiction about Scandinavian immigrants in frontier Minnesota and North Dakota. Being of Danish/Norwegian descent, I was raised in the Scandinavian culture of rural Minnesota. Readers connect with the frontier experience and the history of the region.
I have received a Spur Award and was a finalist Spur Award winner, a Will Rogers Gold Medallion, a Peacemaker Award from the Western Fictioneers, was a finalist for the Willa Literary Awards in Historical Fiction, a finalist in the Midwest Book Awards, and numerous regional awards.
I have shared my research and writing with schools, churches, Scandinavian groups, historical societies, and other civic groups. I have met great people at book clubs, library events, and as a vendor at book festivals. I feel blessed to have had this unexpected adventure at this time of my life.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Writing is like putting a baby in a beauty contest. The mother does not want to hear any criticism of her darling and can become defensive when it occurs.
It’s risky to put something written out into the world for others to read. Some people might complain or criticize. Some might think of my characters as autobiographical when they are not. Reviewers may give it a thumbs up or thumbs down. It’s all risky.
Writing creates a deep connection with readers all over the world. Readers feel like they know me after reading my work. I feel the same about my favorite authors. This connection with readers makes the risk worthwhile, but writing still requires a lot of courage.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.candacesimar.com
- Facebook: Author Candace Simar
- Other: Author Candace Simar on Instagram
Image Credits
Krista Soukup, Blue Cottage Agency
