1--What is the title of your latest release?
SUN DON’T SHINE
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Reece was abducted by her father when she was little. Now she’s sixteen and searching for a way out.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I was born and raised in Miami, Florida and it’s fascinating to see how much my home has changed over the years. The city is so much more complex than the cliches you see on TV—palm trees and pink flamingoes. When the novel opens, Reece mentions that she’s never even seen the beach. Her world is limited to the roadside motel and the characters who drift through the “Magic” city, always searching for a dream that might never come true.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
All my protagonists are friends to me! But it would be very difficult to make friends with Reece because she’s always got her guard up. That’s the one thing she really wants—a true friend.
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Brave, sarcastic, resilient
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I spent a lot of time researching Stiltsville—a special place that makes a cameo in the book. Many of these unique homes from the 1930s (think of a treehouse floating above the bay) were destroyed by hurricanes over the years and there’s only a few still standing. In the novel, there are many references to “home” and the idea of home. Reece feels solidarity with the so-called shacks. Just like Stiltsville, she’s a survivor, too.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I’m a pantser and my writing process is very “edit as you go.” I always begin my writing sessions by editing the previous day’s work. It helps me sink back into the world of the story.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I love to cook! After staring at a computer screen for hours, it’s fun to do something a little more tangible. In winter, it’s all about soup. And in the summer, I throw stuff on the grill - whole ears of corn, shrimp skewers, and grilled peaches drizzled with honey.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I don’t have an office…but I’ve had the same “writing hutch” and comfy chair since I was eighteen. Music is also a big part of my daydreamy writing routine, and I like to build playlists for specific scenes, characters, and the entire novel itself. Of course, a writing space isn’t complete without a cat on my lap.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Joyce Sweeney is the “fairy godmother” for so many South Florida writers, including myself. She’s also a brilliant editor who knows exactly how to bring out the strengths in a manuscript (especially my messy first drafts!)
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
THE CHANGELING by Zilpha Keatley Snyder is my childhood favorite. When I first read the book, I felt an instant connection to the main character, Ivy, and the fact that she created her own complex imaginary kingdom (and this fantastical world became the basis for another series of books - the Green Sky trilogy). Ivy taught me something that I still think about today - creativity can give you strength and self-confidence.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
The so-called “call” has always been an email for me! LOL. This time it was a little different because I talked to my editors via Zoom before the book sold. I was trying not to giggle because my cat was licking my feet. It was great to meet the publishing team and discuss their vision for the book.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
I don’t have a favorite genre, but I love voicey books with strong protagonists who don’t always fit the typical definition of “likeable.”
14--What’s your favorite movie?
Again, I don’t have a favorite because I’m such a big movie-goer and I’ll watch just about anything. But if I’m clicking through channels and a Wes Anderson film pops up, I’ll always tune in (I loved Asteroid City!)
15--What is your favorite season?
It’s no secret that I’m a fall/winter girl and I dread summer. Yes, I’m sure this sounds a little weird because I’m from Miami. But I do miss South Florida’s epic thunderstorms and mashed potato clouds.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I’m a December kid, which means that sometimes I feel like my birthday gets forgotten. When I was little, we’d go to Santa’s Enchanted Forest, a holiday-themed amusement park in Miami. My birthday cake was a gingerbread house from Publix - complete with marshmallow snowmen and tiny plastic reindeer.
17--What’s a show you highly recommend?
If I’m at home on the couch, you’ll find me watching random YouTube channels. A favorite is The Carpetbagger, who drives around the country filming weird museums, haunted houses and old-school roadside attractions (hey, can I have that job?)
18--What’s your favorite cuisine?
I’m lucky that I live in NYC with every type of cuisine you could imagine. My family is Polish and I’ve found the best pierogi at Christina’s in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I love my long walks in Green-Wood Cemetery, where I take pictures of the angel statues and castle-like mausoleums. If I’m lucky, I’ll get a glimpse of the wild parrots who build their condo-nests in the front gate.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
More dark stories from the Sunshine State!
Sixteen-year-old Reece is an expert at keeping secrets. She has to be, since her father abducted her ten years ago. For as long as she can remember, she' s been on the run, sneaking food out of the dumpster and sleeping in the woods. Every time she moves, the same rules apply— cut your hair, change your name, and, above all, don' t let anybody get too close. Reece has no choice except to obey Dad' s orders. When Reece meets her first real friend, a boy named Shawn, she begins to realize that everyone else has secrets too. And the deadliest secret of all is the one her father has kept from her all these years.
Thriller | Young Adult Suspense [Regal House Publishing, On Sale: January 16, 2024, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781646034307 / eISBN: 9781646034314]
Crissa-Jean Chappell was born in Miami and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her debut,Total Constant Order (HarperTeen) is a NYPL Book For The Teen Age and a VOYA Perfect Ten. Chappell’s second novel, Narc (Flux Books) is optioned for film. More Than Good Enough (Flux Books) is a Florida Book Awards medalist, which Kirkus calls, "compelling and emotionally nuanced." Chappell's newest YA novel is Snowbirds (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). “…an engrossing mystery,” School Library Journal. Next up: Chappell’s fifth young adult novel, Sun Don’t Shine (Fitzroy Books, spring 2024). She holds a PhD and MFA from the University of Miami and has taught creative writing and cinema studies for over fifteen years. She is currently an adjunct professor at Lehman College. When she misses South Florida, she talks to the parrots in Green-Wood Cemetery.
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