Chasing Normal was the winner in the LGBTQ+ (Non-Fiction) category of the 2023 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Craig Greiwe.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Chasing Normal, October 2022
What’s the book’s first line?
I have tried to forget nearly everything about growing up.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
When you grow up at the hands of emotional terrorists and life turns out ok, it’s an adventure worth reading about.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I never really thought about writing a book – it’s not like I grew up wanting to be an author. And frankly, the terrors of how I was raised were not something I wanted to re-live. But over time, as I processed things, I started to use writing as a way to process them – and that’s how the book was born.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The most distinctive thing about me (since it’s a memoir), I think, is that this isn’t a story where the ending ties everything up in a neat little bow. It’s about embracing the messiness of life in a way where you can still find happiness without needing it all to be perfect.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
It’s my hope that this book is a siren call for anyone who’s ever felt “other” because it seems like the whole world has it together and they don’t. Because that’s not reality. The truth is we’re all kind of a mess and seeing that, embracing that, is the way forward. I hope sharing my story, my truth is a way for others to feel less alone.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
This is my first time.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
My “day job” is I am Chief Strategy Officer for GoDigital Media Group, a multi-national holding company that specializes in brands across commerce, content, and community.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I spend a lot of time writing, but it’s usually op-eds and work materials – this is my first book and we’ll see what comes next!
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
Building awareness, hands down, is the hardest part. The world is obsessed with influencers and celebrities, and that makes organizations and awards like this one all the more important to help share with folks!
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I think we have an epidemic of loneliness in this country, so anything I can do to help anyone feel less alone is my obsession.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Ray Bradbury has such a sense of place and world-building, it’s incredible.
