Frequently Asked Questions

Q&A with Angela

When did you decide you wanted to become an author?

Even as a child I wanted to write a book. (The Mystery of Silver Glass Pond!) I majored in advertising and minored in English so had a few creative writing classes. A few years later I enrolled in a writing program when my oldest child was a toddler. But soon that goal was forgotten as life became too busy for pursuits that required homework.

Twenty years later, that toddler was now in college and my youngest (I have four children) was in school and I had more time to think about what else I wanted to do with my life. I enrolled in my first post-college writing class at 43 years old. It’s never too late to pursue a dream!

What is a key theme of The Things They Didn’t See?

I think we all want to be understood. We want the people who love us to give us the benefit of the doubt and see our good intentions, especially when we fall short of expectations. Because there’s generally a reason. But it’s hard. I think it’s a lifelong pursuit to give others grace, especially the people we care about the most. So often we think we understand a person, but there’s so much we don’t see. 

How did you design the cover for The Things They Didn’t See?

I worked with Damonza, a company that specializes in quality covers for self-published books. They made some mock-ups with wind chimes, a lake, mountains, etc. We had a little back and forth, but then I saw an Instagram post about a local artist showing in an upcoming show near me. The painting was a car driving a wet mountain road lined with pine trees. You’re looking through a rain splattered windshield that has just been cleared by the wiper. 

It was Jake driving to the lake. The rain was the storm but also his tears. Matt’s drives to the lake were also a vulnerable time for him. The painting said everything I wanted to say in a picture. I got to the art show early and ran to talk to the artist, Shelly Coleman, full of jangly nerves. She agreed to a commission and the three of us—me, Shelly, and Damonza—collaborated on the final result. I chose to take the scene to the lake instead as it better represents the story.