Meet Cary J. Hansson
Cary J. Hansson - Author The Midlife Trilogy
Cary J. Hansson is the author of six books and several short stories. Her work has been shortlisted in national and international competitions. She lives in Stockholm where she enjoys a glass of wine and a cold water swim daily, but not in that order.
We wanted to catch up with Cary since she just published her most recent novel this past year, and she’s been actively marketing her books and has some great insights in our interview below, but you can read more about her work on her website, and by connecting with her on social media.
Website: https://www.caryjhansson.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohanssonCary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cary-J-Hansson-109025625194980
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caryjhansson/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/caryjhansson/
Firstly, a huge congratulations are in order on the recent publication of your latest novel! Can you tell us a little about that?
A Midlife Holiday by Cary J. Hansson
A Midlife Holiday published in May this year. It’s doing great. Over 100 reviews on Goodreads, 200 on Netgalley and 60+ on Amazon.
It’s the first of a 3-part series, named The Midlife Trilogy. I’m a huge fan of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels. Ferrante's books take a female friendship and follow it from childhood through to middle age. Mine start where Ferrante left off, middle age, which for a lot of women (and men) is a crossroads. Midlife nowadays is an exciting time. An intoxicating blend of increased financial and personal freedom, confidence and experience. I really wanted to explore all of this within the context of long-standing friendship, which for many women is a life-raft.
What is your primary creative writing genre, and did this change over the years, or has this always been your main focus?
I write character driven contemporary, women’s fiction. Or as one reviewer put it: “This is chick lit, grown up and middle aged. Redefining what it is to be in our prime.” And yes, this has always been my focus. In our initial conversation, you mentioned that the marketing of a book is twice the work of writing it. That’s really a very important insight, and a point many writers struggle with - can you tell us a little about that part of your writing journey?
Cary J. Hansson with her latest novel
I always knew that my sales would be online, rather than physical bookstores. So, from the beginning I wanted to make my ‘digital footprint’ as perfect and, most importantly, as constant as possible. In today’s world, that means, creating a ‘brand’ that a potential reader will relate to. In tandem with publication and writing Book 2, I dedicated time and money towards building a professional on-line presence. I also joined ALLI (the Alliance of Independent Authors). The (free) advice I've received through both their FB group and the organization itself has been invaluable.
When it comes to the marketing side of writing, what tips or tactics can you share with us that have served you well so far?
Start with ALLI or indeed other FB groups that specialize in your genre. Writers are generous, we share what works and what doesn't.
Make sure your digital links are seamless and short, make it EASY for potential readers to first, find you online, and then buy your book or read your blog/work.
Understand and accept that, independently published, or traditional, there will be aspects of marketing that a professional can do better. Budget for that. This is a business, for your own sanity, delegate.
A fairly common thread in the SWF community is that many of us have dreamed of writing for years before we ever had the time, resources, or ability to sit down and actually do it. When did you first decide writing was something that you wanted to actively pursue, and then how long was it before you started writing seriously?
Cary in a Stockholm winter setting
At forty, I started a BA in English Literature & Creative Writing. At the time, it was nothing more than a creative writing itch that had bugged me for years. Three years later, I knew that writing was what I wanted to do. I started seriously after that. I’ve written six books now, and have compromised a lot in order to have the time to do that. It’s a job and like any other, you have to turn up every day.
Can you tell us about some of your favorite SWF moment(s) and what really stuck with you after the festivals?
My favorite moment was definitely listening to Jane Freidman's keynote speech a couple of years back, as she unpicked the publishing industry. I remember having a 'wow' moment as she explained the fast-moving changes and many varied ways in which writers were successfully producing and publishing content. In a little over two hours, she provided information and insights that would have taken me months to discover myself.
What would you say were the biggest takeaways for you from SWF?
Jane's keynote speech, Thinking Beyond the Book, Eira Ekre's workshop, Gaining an Ear for Audio (audio is the fastest growing area of the publishing industry) and the terrible, but terribly exciting Literary Idol.
Do you recall any moments that helped clarify things in a new way, or provided new insights into specific areas of the craft?
Oh yes! Literary Idol. In front of a huge audience, a panel of professionals listened to the first lines of (anonymous) manuscripts, raising their hand to stop the reading when they had begun to lose interest.
It was brutal and eye-opening. I came away with an extra skin and a fly-on-the-wall insight into the slush pile; essential for any budding writer.
How have you evolved as a writer since attending your first Stockholm Writers Festival, and what part did the festival itself play in that evolution?
Yes. I say jokingly that after Literary Idol, I grew another skin, but I really did. I became far less inhibited about sharing my work and far more subjective. I learned not to take it personally and I really believe that if a writer is going to succeed, this is where they should start: Don’t take it personally.
Beyond that, the Stockholm Writer's Festival has a brilliantly contemporary approach, entirely appropriate for its contemporary setting. It's not about coming to listen to a successful author read (and plug) their latest work, it's about providing relevant and accessible information on how, you as a writer, can take an immediate step forward in an industry that has changed dramatically over the last five years
Can you tell us a little about a piece you’ve written in the past that you are particularly proud of, published or not — just something that still moves you every time you revisit it?
I have never seen my mother cry, is perhaps the most personal piece I’ve ever written. I published it through my Substack Newsletter, showing it to my mother beforehand to get her permission. It had a huge response. Here’s a short extract.
He’d been eleven. Diagnosed with kidney failure in March, dead by April. There were no dialysis machines back then, nor the hope of a transplant and for nearly all of my life, the details of his illness and subsequent death had remained scant, to barely existent. My mother simply never talked about it. Even now I only know three facts.
I know that she was called home from school the afternoon he died.
I know that he whispered to her that he didn’t want to die. (My mother has given voice to these words just once, and only to me, although she’s lived with them in her head for over seventy years.)
You can read the full article here: https://caryjhansson.substack.com/p/i-have-never-seen-my-mother-cry
Overall, has attending SWF helped you in pursuing the “path to published," and if so, how?
Yes. As mentioned, Jane's talk was a real eye-opener. Having Jane unpack the maze of the industry, it became quite clear to me how I could navigate my way through it.
A Midlife Holiday is available to buy on Amazon and at all good bookshops.