Meet Crissa-jean Chappell | author / professor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Crissa-jean Chappell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Crissa-Jean, what’s your definition for success?
The concept of “success” for an author is often perceived as a magic number. How big was your advance? How many copies have you sold? Did you win any awards? Are you on a best-seller list? (although the actual numbers for “best-selling” aren’t always in the public eye). Of course, authors love those shiny gold award stickers that validate our work. But if you only focus on the numbers… you’re never going to feel satisfied.

Publishing is a tough business. And so much is outside your control. That’s why it’s really important to figure out your own definition of success. It might be simply completing that first draft. Or reaching your personal writing goal for the day—whether it’s a thousand words or half a page. Most of all, I consider it a success when I receive emails from readers who have connected with my books. In my opinion, that’s the greatest success of all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am the author of five young adult novels. My most recent title is SUN DON’T SHINE (Fitzroy Books / Regal House, 2024). I write thrillers that reflect “…real struggles…” and “…swampy south Florida in all its grittiness…” (Booklist).

Back in college, I took a lot of creative writing workshops. I dreamed about completing a novel, but I was intimidated by the idea of drafting a “big book.” Then a wonderful professor at the University of Miami, the author, Evelyn Mayerson, suggested that I study screenwriting. Her advice changed my life. I learned so much about plot and structure by analyzing movies. My film classes transformed the way I approached storytelling. I began to see reading as an interactive experience. It’s all about leaving space for the reader / viewer’s imagination to fill in the blanks (much like montage, which is the language of cinema).

Professor Mayerson encouraged me to write about growing up in South Florida. When I enrolled in her fiction class, it was only a couple years after Hurricane Andrew devastated the city of Miami. I was helping my family rebuild our house, which was tucked in an oak hammock near Biscayne Bay and suffered major damage during that Cat. 5 storm.
In Professor Mayerson’s class, I wrote about things that are close to my heart. Tree frogs. Cabbage palms. The smell of low tide. I wrote a story about a girl exploring an old house that was abandoned after the storm. Professor Mayerson recognized a glimpse of my voice in that rough draft. And that’s one of the most difficult lessons that a beginner needs to learn. You can’t really teach “voice” because it’s such a personal view of the world. But you can applaud a student’s honesty when they stay true to their voice.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
—No trip to South Florida is complete without a visit to the Everglades. I recommend Tigertail Airboat Tours, which operates out of the Miccosukee reservation (a sunset boat ride is especially magical).

—jazz on the patio at Lagniappe with a glass of prosecco.

—Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a fairy tale castle in real life.

—kayak through the mangrove tunnels at the Charles Deering Estate.

—brunch and people watching at Greenstreet Cafe in Coconut Grove (try the dulce de leche french toast!)

—karaoke, pizza and synth battles—there’s always something fun going on at Gramp’s Bar.

—salsa at Ball and Chain, then a scoop of guava sorbet next door at Azucar in Little Havana.

—Fox’s Lounge (since 1946!) has been a favorite in my family for many years. They’ve still got the red leather seats, sidecar cocktails, and Patsy Cline singing on the jukebox about broken hearts.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate a shoutout to Joyce Sweeney, who is a “fairy godmother” to many writers in South Florida. Her feedback on the early draft of my first novel was invaluable. She taught me about the business of publishing and encouraged me through the rejections and heartbreak along the way. The path to selling a novel isn’t easy (and it doesn’t get any easier after your debut is released), but Joyce never let me give up.

Website: https://www.crissajeanchappell.com

Instagram: @crissachappell

Twitter: @crissachappell

Image Credits
Harlan Erskine

Crissa-Jean Chappell