Meet Maggie Critchley
Indie Author Spotlight
Welcome to Indie Author Spotlight where I interview talented writers who have valuable insights to share on their writing process, publication, and what it means to be an indie author.
Maggie was born and raised in Arizona, loves travel, tacos and hopes you'll tell your dog she says hello. In addition to writing, she co-hosts a mental health/comedy podcast, Which Dog Are You Today, that you should definitely listen to and is probably at the local coffee shop or, baking a Hollywood Handshake worthy pumpkin roll. Maelstrom is her debut novel.
What made you become a writer? How did you get started?
Honestly, I just showed up that way. I truly believe people know who they are from the get-go and I have always felt a pull to write and to create. I come from a long line of wordsmiths, Dad chiefest among them so, in a way it feels like it's just who I am.
I have always written stories. Little picture books to begin with, I am a Hobbit in all but size so everyone had very long legs in my childhood eyes, and then anything I could express in a written way altogether. I lucked into having teachers who recognized my talent at the outset and encouraged me along the way.
Can you tell us a bit about Maelstrom?
Maelstrom was called several different names before settling on that title. It felt appropriate as it is the first step into a storm my main character, Teagan, never saw coming and all the aftermath of such a thing. Its love and loss and found family and, her actual family being the most supportively chaotic brood one could hope to be part of. Teagan has a unique place in the world and she feels quite stabby about it at times.
What is it about the Southwest that led you to make it the setting of your novel?
She is beautiful and brutal and there is no place like her. Equal parts present and past, what a dream. The atmosphere during monsoon season? IYKYK. It lent itself easily to Urban Fantasy as a genre and I hope those who have yet to visit, appreciate her enough to find themselves transported here.
What can you tell us about your writing process? Are you more of a plotter or a panster?
As in all aspects of being, I am a mix of both. I have ADHD so plotting an outline helps build those goal posts my brain needs to keep me on track, while leaving room for the characters to surprise me. There are some things I write down just for me to know where a story could go because sometimes you have to chase that down to get to the real heart of things.
Do you have a writing routine? A favorite place to write?
Have I mentioned my ADHD. I loathe routine and find I struggle without one so, body doubling is my best bet. Being in a public space helps, shout out Stacks and public libraries everywhere, when other people are about and working it helps me focus on working as well. Music is a non-negotiable, I build playlists for characters as well as for each book and will listen to those while writing to anchor the emotion I need to convey.
Who are your main influences? Favorite books?
This is by no means an exhaustive list but, all the heavy hitters I would imagine. Lewis, Tolkien, LeGuin, Rice, Huxley and Feist are top ten. Jonathan Swift got me early on as well as Yeats and Wilde.
The Velveteen Rabbit was the first book I read on my own that I fell in love with and whose themes are still relevant today. I re-read The Lord of the Rings yearly, beginning on Bilbo & Frodo's birthday and recommend any and all Shel Silverstein to anyone who will listen.
Have you received any criticisms that have helped you be a better writer?
Dialogue and world building are my strong suit, I have to remind myself to be more concise with descriptors, I am not quite as in love with the color green as Tolkien but, can still go on quite a bit more than is necessary at times.
How do you market your work? What seems to be working for you and what hasn’t?
It is my weakest skill, honestly. I do my best to create content and it is slowly getting easier but, still feels unwieldy at best. Unfortunately social media seems most cost effective and accessible and, I am trying to build a marketing budget for next year to include working with independent outlets as much as possible.
What role does social media play in building a community of readers?
A big one. Bookstagram can be a double-edged sword, especially now that there is a debate over books being political (they are), ultimately though many people find their next favorite read via socials so being authentic goes a long way.
You’re also a podcaster. Tell us about Which Dog Are You Today?
WDAYT is the brain child of myself, a jester, and one of my very best friends who is a therapist. Our tag line is "bringing levity to mental health, one neurospicy babe at a time," which I think fully encompasses what we do. We alternate solo episodes where Kim and I just yap and sometimes educate, with guest interviews where the most valuable and vulnerable things are shared. Our hope is to reduce shame around mental health struggles which is more important now than it ever has been.
What are you working on now?
Banshee, a novella about a character we met in Maelstrom, Moxie, the second installment in my Southwest Faerie Chronicles, and I started a work of fiction recently that feels reminiscent of Gillian Flynn's work.
Where can readers find you?
I am @maggs_the_rad_writes on all social platforms and I can be found on Substack as well at
! Check your local bookstores for Maelstrom and support indie as often as possible!
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