Welcome to Author Wednesday. Today I welcome Lori Crane, the author of several books of historical southern fiction. Lori visited Author Wednesday last year and I reviewed her novel, Elly Hays for Book Review Friday. I’m so happy she returned today to tell us a bit about her new release, Savannah’s Bluebird.

Welcome, dear friend. I’m thrilled you’ve come to talk about Savannah’s Bluebird. Give us your one sentence pitch for the new novel.

Savannah’s Bluebird is a tragic love story that transcends the boundaries of this world.

It’s a beautiful title so I’m wondering how you chose it.

It took a long time to decide on a title. I knew I wanted the female character’s name to be “southern,” and I originally thought the setting would be Savannah, Georgia. I had the rough draft finished before I changed the location to Biloxi and gave the name Savannah to my heroine.

That’s interesting. I love the name Savannah for a female so it all fit together. How long do you estimate it took you to take the book from an idea to finished, published?

I wrote the outline and rough draft a couple years ago over a period of a month or so, and it’s been collecting dust in my computer ever since. I re-opened it December 1, sent it to my editor in January, and published in February, so a couple months, but it’s only a novella, not a full-length epic saga.

I know you’re an Indie Author, but how did you make the decision to self-publish?

I like having total control over every aspect of my work. I like to choose the timeline for writing and release, and even the cover design. If I published traditionally, those choices would all be taken away from me.

That’s true. I’ve gone both routes, and I love the independence of being an Indie Author. What message did you try to convey in Savannah’s Bluebird?

The obvious message is “Love is Eternal,” but an underlying layer shows how destiny and fate may have more important plans for you than you imagine. Everything happens for a reason.

I love it! It’s good to be reminded of that message. What is the best thing someone could say about this book?

“I didn’t see the end coming and had to read the book a second time from a different perspective.”

You did accomplish that, but I’ll save any more comments for my review on Book Review Friday. Explain how this book was conceived in your imagination.

I dreamt Savannah’s Bluebird a couple years ago and awoke at 4 a.m. in a cold sweat with my heart pounding. I had to write it down immediately and did so until the sun rose.

You were getting a message from somewhere! So happy you followed the muse.What type of research did you do in the writing of this book?

Once I decided on the setting and era, which didn’t happen until I had already finished the first re-write, I Googled every aspect of the 1930s from maps of Biloxi and New Orleans to railroads, from clothing and household appliances to automobiles.

Who or what is the antagonist in your book? 

In this book, there are two—the ticking clock and a gunman named Bernard. I found both to be very frustrating.

Without giving us a spoiler, tell us a little bit about your favorite scene in this book.

My favorite scene is when Savannah is approached by a gypsy woman on the beach. The woman tells Savannah a bunch of cryptic things about the future and gives her a mulevi—an item to reach the dead.

That’s a good scene, with vivid characterization of the gypsy woman.What else do you want readers to know about this book?

This is the story that started my writing career. After I woke from dreaming it, I told my husband about it, and he said I should write a book. The next day, I told my daughter the story, and she said the same thing. That evening, I told my son, and got the same response. On the way home that night, we passed a billboard on the freeway that advertised “Publish Your Book.” Listen to the universe when it talks to you!

You are so very right (write), Lori. I’m glad you did because it’s a treasure of a story and came to you for a reason. Thanks so much for stopping by today and sharing the creative process for your latest work.

From Lori Crane: I started writing novels professionally in 2012, although before that, I wrote songs and television/radio commercials for a living. Since 2012, I’ve released five novels and have two more slated for release in 2014. During the day, I write; at night, I work on Norwegian Cruise Lines as a dueling piano player. When I’m not playing bawdy songs on a cruise ship, I reside in Tennessee with my trophy husband and a menagerie of critters, including a four-foot ball python.

Links to Lori Crane

Website: http://loricraneauthor.com/

Blog: http://loricrane.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @LoriCraneHess

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lori-Crane/e/B00ATIQW8M