Carolyn Arnold had a love for
writing back in her teen years, but her passion was reignited in 2006 when a
co-worker asked her to tell them a story. Since then, Carolyn has written ten novels (is
halfway through number eleven), two short stories and one novella. Her Madison
Knight series has become an Amazon Kindle best-seller, with the first three
hitting the top 100 in Police Procedurals in the US. Carolyn lives near Toronto.
What does writing mean to you?
In one word, everything. I can’t imagine my
life without writing being a part of it.
How
did you teach yourself to write?
When I decided that I was going to take
writing seriously, treat it as a career, I read up on the craft. On how to best
master suspense and mystery. I took the principles I found and utilized these.
Of course, the best teacher, is experience. The more you write, the more you’ll
improve. As a popular quote of Ernest
Hemingway says, “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
You
mentioned, amongst other pleasures, drinking good quality red wine and, watching snow come down and I have a lovely vision of you doing
both at the same time and being inspired to write. Is this the case?
LOL. Nope, I never mix drinking with writing. I can’t say I
haven’t had some ideas come to me when I’ve been drinking, but I’ll never touch
a manuscript with even a sip of alcohol in me.
What
do you think are the hardest aspects of the craft to learn?
Character development. This is why I’ve focused so hard on it. I
actually received the advice from my mother-in-law who read an early version of
Ties that Bind. She said she loved the story and the characters, but they could
have been drawn out more. I’ve made it
my goal ever since to ensure that my characters have a tangible presence.
What
has been the high point of your writing career?
Reaching top rankings in the Police Procedural genre on Amazon.
Every time a reader buys my book, it reinforces to me that writing is what I
was meant to do. It is for a purpose.
Police
Procedural novels are regarded as one of the most ‘enduring’ types of crime
fiction. Why do you think this is?
I think it’s because people are drawn in because books in this genre
unfold in a methodical order. There is a logical template in the finding of
justice. Readers of the genre love trying to piece the mystery together for
themselves as it unfolds. They want to beat the lead detective to finding the
killer.
What
are the challenges of writing in this sub-genre?
I guess I would say research. I don’t have a background in
forensics, I was never a cop, and I don’t have any family members who are cops.
However, I am blessed with good friends who have this experience so if I have
any questions, after research, they are there for me.
A
clichéd question, I know, but how much, if at all, do you identify with your
heroine, Madison Knight?
I love this question, actually. Madison and I are quite similar,
while we do have our differences. She loves Hershey chocolate, fears
commitment, hates the sight of blood, is outspoken at times and stubborn. She
also derives her strength from inside and a small network of people that she
lets get close.
In my personal life, I rely on a few close individuals who are my pillars
when bad times come along. I’m thankful I don’t have too many bad times. I
like chocolate, but don’t crave it like her. I’m married so I got over any fear
of commitment. LOL. And, blood, well, I'd rather not see a lot of it.
How
difficult was it to switch from writing novels to your novella Hart’s Choice?
Not difficult at all! This story just came to me, like BAM! I had to
write this story because the lead character, Tessa, wouldn’t let me rest until
it was out. I wrote the novella quite fast.
I think it took only a couple of weeks to write the first draft. It’s one
of those stories, I think, that touches the heart. Even though an author reads
their books many times before it’s published--and we’re usually sick of it by
then--I have thought about reading it again just for pleasure.
Do
you have a routine where your writing is concerned?
It used to be that I wrote first thing in the morning, now there’s
not so much of a routine per se. Things have changed in the past couple of
years.
Before I published Ties That Bind, I had written a few books and I
have continued to keep writing, but these books need to be released at some
point. This is where my schedule started to change. I had books to edit. I had
to find an editor who I worked well with. I also had a book to promote. (It can be hard to strike a balance between
writing, editing, promotion, and networking.)
Long story, short, I now write at whatever point in the day I can. I still prefer to start the day off writing,
but it doesn’t always happen.
Have
you ever suffered from writer’s block, and if so, how did you get over it?
I believe writer’s block is really stress.
It’s when an author allows reality, and in turn, the logical side of their
brain to take over.
As far as have I had it? In the above-noted
sense, I’d have to say yes.
My advice is twofold:
1) Sit down and make yourself write.
Sometimes all it takes is BIC (butt in chair) and before you know it, the words
are flying and you’ve fallen into “the rabbit hole”.
2) Give yourself permission to write. We can reason that so many other things need
to be taken care of. Well, they will be. It just might not be right away. As I’m getting older (hate saying that!), I’m
beginning to realize things happen when they’re supposed to happen.
What advice would you give
to beginning writers?
Don’t get discouraged by anyone saying that you can’t do it, that
everyone is publishing a book so you won’t stand out. I say prove them wrong.
What are your future
writing plans?
To just keep on writing. :)
Where can readers find your
books?
How can readers connect
with you?
Thank you, Carolyn, and the best of luck with your future writing.
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