Chasing Dust: A Conversation
Works of fiction exist in a few hundred pages but the connection an author has to the story goes much deeper. Below is a conversation about just that. Please enjoy this behind-the-scenes interview about Chasing Dust and the depth of passion I had while writing it.
Below is a copy of an interview with Dani Keen, with a behind the scenes look at the writing of Chasing Dust.
1. Why did you write Chasing Dust ?
Honestly, because it asked me to. I had this glimmer of an idea that just wouldn’t go away. So after a good week of it bouncing around in front of me, I decided to write it down. As I did, the story showed more and more of itself. Once I saw the full vision of what it could be, I knew Chasing Dust was an important story to tell.
2. Why is this story important to you?
Ever since becoming a mother of my own I have a completely different perspective on life. I see now how each generation is working against the odds to succeed despite their own history. This story is important to me because it plays with the idea that we are linked to three generations before us and three generations after. Every little change we make shifts the path of our lineage.
3. You showcase a lot of strong female characters in this book, was that intentional?
Absolutely. I really wanted to write a book about women for the strong, independent people that they are. So often in romance, the female characters are only seen for the role they play in conjunction to the male lead. It was really important to me that the women of Chasing Dust were highlighted outside of that. I wanted them to have real conversations, real friendships, and explore the world beyond the romantic aspects in the book.
4. What did your writing process look like?
It’s important to me that the location shines in a book, almost like it’s a character of its own. I start with a lot of research. I read books, watch videos, scour interviews, and walk around Google Earth. In doing that for Chasing Dust, the spirit of Taos became its own entity, which helped drive and inspire how the story came together.
As far as writing goes, once I have a general direction, I spend time plotting, both from a story perspective as well as a character one. That gives me a good framework while I write and revise. Then it’s a whole lot of revising until it’s cohesive.
5. Why did you pick the American Southwest as a location?
The Mexican culture has been important to me my whole life. It has shaped so much of who I am now, through both living in southern California and the decade plus I spent working side-by-side with talented people in Mexico. I felt like they deserved to be highlighted.
The American Southwest was the perfect setting for this. There is so much vibrancy there, that the culture feels palatable. I wanted to give readers perspective on the history of the land and people. It’s a beautiful melting pot that doesn’t often get showcased in storytelling.
6. Now that Chasing Dust is complete, what future projects are you working on?
Chasing Dust is part of the six degrees series, where each book showcases a different woman on a unique journey. This series is really important to me and books will continue to be released over the coming years. Current releases are available here.
Outside of that, I love helping creatives connect with their story and develop the confidence to share it. Between Keen Musings and offerings for 1:1 support, I am really excited to see the work of other writers and creatives grow.