Crystal Smith Paul

Touching the Hearts of Many Through Complex

Interview by Angela Anderson

Crystal Smith Paul is a native of Charlotte, NC, with an eclectic background in writing, editing, television and film, and digital media She attended Spelman College, UCLA’s School of Film and Television, and has a Master’s in journalism from NYU

Crystal is no stranger to the written word, as her nonfiction writing has appeared in publications such as Salon and the Huffington Post Being creative at heart, Crystal has an artistic way of utilizing her knowledge and skills to bring out her creative side in the world of fiction Recently, she made her fiction debut with a gripping, edge-of-yourseat page-turner that was selected by Reese Witherspoon as Reese’s Book Club pick for the month of May

Crystal spends her weekends writing, staying wellinformed, and tuning in to pop culture Spending time with her family and enjoying dining are a few things that she relishes

The Heat Seekers Magazine had the opportunity to interview Crystal Smith Paul and talk about her as a writer and her new novel

Angela Anderson: When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

Crystal Smith Paul: I’ve known I wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl Writing a novel, specifically, has always been my dream, although I dabbled in screenwriting and worked in journalism before focusing on the book that would become Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

AA: What do you enjoy about being a writer?

CSP: I most enjoy the actual work of writing the process of creating a story and the way the plot and characters reveal themselves over time. Writing is a spiritual experience for me, and I am always in awe as the story world develops.

AA: How would you describe your writing style?

CSP: In four words: analytical, visual, contemporary, and nostalgic I’m focused on how the past affects the present and, more specifically, how race and racism impact society, but also the individual.

AA: Do you have a writing tagline to describe your stories?

CSP: I don’t have a tagline, but in general, I strive to incite conversation and encourage empathy.

AA: What was one surprising thing you learned about yourself during your writing journey?

CSP: My best ideas come during the revision/editing stages. I’ve learned to rely on the fact that there’s always something more to discover about the story world you’ve built. In writing Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? characters like Lillian really blossomed during the revision of the scenes in Charlotte, NC Editing gave me the creative space to go deeper into Lillian’s experience off the page, which helped readers to understand her behavior in later chapters

AA: You have written a dual-timeline Historical Fiction novel, which is an amazing accomplishment. What is something you know now about writing Historical Fiction but wish you would have learned sooner?

CSP: Thank you! I wish I would have understood earlier that reading other novels written within your novel’s period(s) of focus can also help the research.

AA: What are some of your writing must-haves when you are working on a manuscript?

CSP: I must have background noise except music which distracts me, my laptop/iPad, a pen/notebook, and a hard copy of the manuscript, which contains all of my plot points and story notes. I most often write at home with the television on, but I also enjoy writing at a cute coffee shop with good pastries.

AA: If you had to give one piece of advice to new authors, what would it be?

CSP: It’s important to connect with other authors for guidance and support during the publication process. There’s so much to learn from your publisher and agent, but only another author knows how it feels to put your work out into the world and understands the unique challenges that come with that. Building your writing community is essential for new friendships, getting new opportunities, and developing a support base.

AA: This is an exciting time for you! Your multigenerational saga, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, was released during the month of May. What was the inspiration behind this story?

CSP: The inspirations behind Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? was born out of my life and the lives of my grandmothers to whom I dedicated the book I grew up in North Carolina and went to college/grad school in Los Angeles and New York all places where timelines the book takes place. My great-grandmother was a maid and worked seasonally in a tobacco factory. My paternal grandmother was an enigma headstrong and hardworking like Kitty Karr My maternal grandmother was passable like Kitty Karr but did not pass. The Black experience was often a topic of discussion in the homes I frequented, and race was at the forefront of my experience. This book is my fictionalized dive into the layers of an American family tree and me trying to fill in the leaves of my own Outside of personal experience, my biggest inspirations were the 1959 movie The Imitation of Life and the story of Ellen and William Craft, a married runaway couple that escaped slavery by her passing as a White man and him as her slave