Q: Please introduce yourself! Share your name, pronouns, and something fun, interesting, curious, or important (take your pick) about yourself that you would like your audience to know.
A: My name is Candi Tab (she/her) and I reside in the Washington, DC area suburbs but like most people in DC, I’m a transplant and grew up in the South in North Carolina and Florida. So you’ll see a lot of my stories take place in these parts of the US.
I’m a lawyer by profession but spend most of my free time caroling my two small children. Though you can definitely find me watching reality TV or General Hospital, as both are my guilty pleasures.
Q: What genre or format do you write in? (for example: romance, fantasy, short stories, poetry, etc.)
A: I write sapphic romance novels. Though I have written a series of short stories, as a very long epilogue to the first book in my WPU romance series. I’m currently writing another short story based on two of the characters from my third book, Case for Love that was requested. But it may actually turn into a full-length novel because I have so many ideas for this couple now :)
Q: Who do you write for? Who is your audience, and are you seeking to reach a particular type of reader with your work? Why?
A: My writing is geared towards adult audiences, primarily queer adult women. As a queer woman of color, I'm driven to create stories that center queer women with diverse cultural backgrounds. I believe our experiences are rich and complex, and deserve greater exploration. While some of my novels feature characters in their twenties and early thirties navigating coming-of-age themes, they are not young adult (YA). My stories include spicy open door sex scenes.
Q: When did you decide you wanted to write?
A: My professional life involves a lot of complex writing and theory, and to unwind, I enjoy watching soap operas and reading romance novels. However, I noticed a lack of stories that truly explored the complexities and beauty of interracial same-sex relationships. Many narratives seemed to gloss over the racial dynamics, presenting an idealized, conflict-free path to 'happily ever after,' without acknowledging the potential challenges and learning curves that real couples might encounter. As I approached my 40th birthday, I decided to write the story I wanted to read and complete it before I turned 40.
Q: What got you interested in the world of writing originally?
A: I started writing fanfiction here and there when I was in law school. Mainly Women’s Murder Club or Law & Order: SVU but I never thought about writing a full-length novel mainly because I didn’t have the time. Writing these types of short vignettes was just something to free my mind from all the reading and writing I had to do in law school. I kept it up here and there but never fully committed to writing until my late 30s.
Q: There are so many possible avenues to take. Why write?
A: Writing is one of the most pure forms of expression. It's in the written word and stories that we can truly delve into the nuances of expression and thought, crafting experiences that resonate deeply with readers. Language, when woven into a story, possesses a unique power to evoke emotion and paint vivid landscapes in the reader's mind. And there’s a reason that people always say the book was better than the movie.
Q: Similarly, why pursue being an indie author? What is your goal?
A: Historically, narratives centered on queer women and especially women of color, have been deemed commercially unviable by many gatekeepers in the industry. While my primary motivation and goal isn't to make a boat load of money or widespread fame, traditional publishers require authors to prioritize marketability, which can limit creative freedom.
Indie publishing removes those constraints. It allows me to tell the stories I want, in the way I envision them, without compromising my artistic vision. With the accessibility of modern self-publishing platforms, I can connect directly with readers worldwide, reaching my audience with just a few clicks.
Q: What do you do to hone your craft?
A: I have a small group of writers where we bounce ideas off each other and give feedback. We rarely put the onus on the other to be beta readers but we use each other as sounding boards for story arcs, plot points and how to develop certain traits in characters we want the reader to understand.
Q: What tricks do you use to get out of writer’s block?
A: Strangely enough, the park with my kids is a hotbed of inspiration for me. I think it's the combination of tuning out the background noise (lots of screaming) and the stress-free environment of a playground. When I'm not actively trying to write, and I'm simply watching my children play, my mind opens up and ideas flow. I've discovered that stepping away from my usual writing workspace and routine is a powerful way to overcome writer's block.
Q: Would you mind telling us about your writing process?
A: I’m definitely a planner and plotter. I start out with a 1-2 page summary of the overall story I want to tell. Then I plot out my entire thing and all the beats I want to hit on index cards and then I move to my writing software Dabble and plot out everything electronically. After that I go through the plot adding all the scenes I know I want in each plot point, though there often end up being more scenes once I get into the writing and realize there are others needed to make the story make sense. After I have done all that, I can begin to start writing and I start at the beginning and don’t really jump around. I make myself finish a scene or chapter before moving on to the next one. Though before I start typing each scene though, I take about 5-10 minutes and on paper write out the major things I want to happen and/or say in that scene. I think those quick 5-10 minute freehand bursts help me to stay focused on the main action of that scene and help me craft all the descriptive elements around it.
Q: Do you have any other writing “hacks” that other writers might benefit from?
A: I select certain days of the week that are writing days and try not to deviate from it. My family also knows these are my writing days/nights and I’m allowed time to devote to writing on those days. It also helps with scheduling for our busy life with two kids. For me that is usually Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each one often has a different word count goal for that day that I try to get to often based on the time I’ll have that day, but every time I sit down I try to write at least 1000 words. They may not always be great words but I make sure I get something on the page.
Q: Where do you get your inspiration?
A: It comes from many random places. But it will often be scenarios I see in the real world and say, "huh, I wonder if they were a couple what would they talk about or how would they handle it and overcome it." I’m always thinking about random storylines in my head for any given scenario.
Q: Would you like to share anything about your current work in progress?
A: I just finished the first draft of a sapphic romance novel taking place in the world of professional tennis. I was actually watching the US Open Grand Slam Tournament, and it got me wondering what if those two people playing each other were in a relationship and how would they navigate it. What is romance like when you travel the world all the time and compete against the person you love? And what is it like to be a person of color in a traditionally white sport?
Q: Do you consider yourself a minority? If so, would you be willing to share the ways in which you are?
A: Yes, I identify as an African American woman.
Q: Does this impact what you write about? If so, why and how?
A: This definitely impacts the way that I write and what stories that I want to tell today. I aim to write stories that are multicultural and explore intersectionality of race and sexuality in them. Especially want to tell stories about people of color living moving through traditionally white spaces.
Q: What do you wish you found more of in books today? Why?
A: In today's world, with all its complexities, I wish romance novels incorporated more lightheartedness and fun. Life is full of challenges, and the world can feel overwhelming, but everyday moments are often filled with humor and absurdity. I'd love to see more romance stories where characters genuinely make each other laugh, especially at the relatable silliness of navigating daily life.
Q: What does representation in literature mean to you? Is it important to you? How so?
A: Representation in writing were some of the first places that I really saw and found myself. Mainstream television and magazines media in the 90s and early 2000s wasn’t really featuring queer women of color, and if they were we were often some crazy stereotype that wasn’t me either. But in books I was able to explore stories and a simple happier ever like heterosexual couples.
Q: Does representation play a role in what or how you write? Please talk about why or why not.
A: For me, representation in writing means ensuring that diverse characters, particularly BIPOC queer women, are centered in my stories. I fully believe that writing is about creating space for diverse stories, especially those that have been marginalized.
Every book I've written features at least one main character who isn't white. I believe it's crucial to portray these women finding their 'happily ever after,' a narrative that has been historically underrepresented. I want to contribute to a landscape where all readers can see themselves reflected in empowering ways, realizing that they can have normal careers (not just singer, athlete or entertainer) and find their own 'happily ever after.'
Q: What advice would you give to new writers?
A: Whether it's Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, or Dabble, the key is to find a platform that aligns with your writing style and personality. A good software should support your preferred process, whether you're a meticulous planner or a spontaneous writer. For me, the most important feature was goal-setting. As a competitive person, I'm strongly motivated by hitting my word count targets. The software I chose helped me track my progress, and the fear of 'failing' to meet those goals kept me writing even when I lacked motivation.
Q: What do you wish someone had told you when you were finding your path?
A: That there is way more to publishing a book than just writing. I did not realize how much marketing is involved in getting your book out there for your audience to actually find it to read it. There are so many books published every day, and it takes work for people to actually find you.
Q: Do you have any work already out there that you would like to talk about? If so, please tell us about the project, why you wrote it, and what you hope readers will take from it.
A: I wrote the three books in my WPU Romance series, set in the Washington, DC area, drawing inspiration from my own and my friends' experiences in law school and as young female lawyers. The series explores the journey of finding one's place in the world while navigating the complexities of adult love. The first book delves into law school life, while the subsequent two focus on establishing a career and finding one's path after graduation. My hope is that readers will connect with the characters' emotions, the romance and understand that happiness comes in many forms, and often, it's found on unexpected paths, rather than the ones we initially planned.
Q: Where can readers find your work? Please share links and pertinent information.
A: All work can be found on Amazon and I’m also enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.
And you can learn about my and upcoming releases on my website: authorcanditab.com
Q: What would you like to share or say to the Underground Bookshelf audience that hasn’t already been brought up?
A: The final book in my WPU Romance Series Case for Love was released on April 1st. And look for my next novel ‘Breakpoint: A Sapphic Rivals to Lovers Romance’ this fall. You can also follow me on bluesky (@authorcanditab.bsky.social) or my newsletter for updates.
About the Author
Candi Tab is an attorney living with her family in the Washington, DC area suburbs.
She began writing during law school to fill the gaps between classes and study sessions. Inspired by her love of American daytime television, a passion she shared with her grandmothers, she gravitated towards writing romance and drama.
When she’s not chasing her kids around, she’s watching horrible reality television, women’s sports and trying to determine the perfect OJ to champagne ratio for mimosas.
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