Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Timothy Crellin
Book Title: The Land of the Living
Released: 02/25/25
Genre: Historical Fiction
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “The Land of the Living”?
Crellin: I felt that the real Sicilian American story is completely overshadowed by Hollywood's fascination with the Mafia. The experience of real people who came to this country and made huge sacrifices and contributions and faced discrimination and even violence is somewhat hidden. I wanted to tell that story, and also to bring to light what it was like for people who immigrated to this country when the US was at war with the countries those people had left. Finally, I wanted to remind people that the current political moment around immigration is nothing new. Immigration as an existential threat has been used repeatedly in the past to draw the public's attention away from larger issues of economic injustice.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Crellin: A few are family names, or combinations of family names. Others I just tried various things and kept going until they felt right. A street sign or a name on gravestone in a cemetery - there were many sources of inspiration.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Crellin: I have been an Episcopal priest for almost thirty years. Writing is a passion that I make time for because I love doing it. I also love to climb mountains, garden and read. One of the best things about writing this book was that I went to Sicily and met all of my cousins there. My wife and son and I travel back every couple of years to see the family. That is a huge source of joy - to be part of a big, Sicilian family.
If "The Land of the Living” were adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Crellin: Oh - great question! I'm not sure there's a role for Stanley Tucci, but that would be cool. Isabella Rossellini as Angela for sure. I'd love to see some of the actors who have made a career in Mafia movies (Robert DeNiro has been in 14 Mafia films) do something to celebrate our heritage rather than to perpetuate tired negative stereotypes.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Crellin: I usually don't have that problem. I think because I have to write a sermon every week, I've developed the discipline to push through and keep going. I love to edit and revise, so I never worry too much about getting it perfect the first time. If I can get it down on paper, I can work with it over time.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Crellin: Winston Churchill (supposedly) said: "Never, ever, ever give up." It can be discouraging at times, but you have to believe in your work and keep going. Take a break. Read other people's work for inspiration. But don't give up.
What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?
Crellin: I love literary fiction the most - I love to see how artists can paint the world with words. Faulkner, Rushdie, Baldwin, Angelou, Garcia Marquez, Saramago, Pat Barker, George Saunders, Hilary Mantel. Absalom, Absalom might be my favorite book of all time, and One Hundred Years of Solitude. Oh, and Midnight's Children...
What are you working on next?
Crellin: I'm playing around with some characters and voices and a couple of story lines to see how it all comes together. It will probably take me a while, but the journey is the destination sometimes - according to Emerson.
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Find it for purchase here
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