Author interview Carol K. Carr
Author bio:
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Hi Carol, welcome
over to The Book Plank and for taking your time to answer these few questions
for us.
BP:
First off, could you give us a short introduction as to who Carol K. Carr is?
What are your likes/dislikes and hobbies?
CK: I’ve been a lawyer and corporate executive. Now I work in my pajamas.
I’m a history buff, news junkie and coffee lover. I can hit a lovely nine iron
and shoot a shotgun. Currently trending with me: Jack Black, Penny Dreadful (what
the heck is going on?), S.J. Bolton’s latest book and organic facials. If it’s
summer, I’ll be drinking a gin and tonic.
BP:
You have been writing for a few years already, do you still know the moment
when you decided that you wanted to become a full time author?
CK: I’d actually characterize it as the moment I decided not to pursue
gainful employment, ever again. I much prefer staring at a blank computer
screen than donning heels, slapping on makeup and being nice to people all day.
But I’m very grateful for that corporate paycheck. It gave me the freedom to
try my hand at this writing thing and work taught me a great deal about the
human condition, which comes in handy when you’re writing about, you know,
people.
BP:
India Black was your first book, what gave you the idea behind the story?
CK: I’m enamored with the history of the British Empire and the Victorian
period. The men and women from that era seem larger than life to me: Benjamin Disraeli,
Richard Burton, Francis Younghusband, Chinese Gordon, and Queen Victoria. They
are so colorful they practically beg to be included in historical fiction. The
most direct source of inspiration for the book, however, was George MacDonald
Fraser and his incomparable creation, Harry Flashman. I just love that
cowardly, womanizing, drunken poltroon of a protagonist. India Black is my pale
imitation of Fraser’s character.
BP: India
Black was your debut in fiction, writing a debut is a daunting task, how did
you go about and plan this?
CK: I’m not a pantser. I have to plan everything. This interview, for
example, was on my to-do list for today. I worked from an outline, containing
the major scenes I wanted to write. I didn’t have to do a lot of research. By
the time I was ready to the write the novel, I had a good grasp of the history
of the events discussed in the book. I set a goal for my daily word count, and
try to achieve that. For the first book in the series, I was writing around
2,000 words per day. Since then, I’ve cut back to 1,000, with more time spent
editing and proofing the day’s word count. That saves a bit of time in the
final editing process.
BP:
The third book in the Madame of
Espionage series will be published soon, had you gained valuable experience
from the others that you are using when you plan to write a new addition to the
series?
CK: Oh, most definitely. Writing is like any other skill: it improves with
practice. I certainly feel more
confident with most of the technical aspects of writing, such as
characterization, narrative structure and the arc of the story. I’ve always
felt very comfortable with writing India in the first person. Her views and
mine are the same. Her voice belongs to me. Writing her gets easier with each
book. I’ve also learned that if my instinct tells me to change, delete or add a
scene, or revise dialogue because it doesn’t sound right for a particular
character, then I should do what my instinct prescribes. In other words, I can
more easily see what is natural to the story and what isn’t. If it doesn’t feel
“organic” to the final product, it needs to come out.
BP: India
Black and the Shadows of Anarchy is out June 13th, if you would have
to sell your book with a single sentence, how would it go?
CK: Brothel owner infiltrates a nest of anarchists at the request of the
Prime Minister, and hilarity ensues.
BP:
Did you encounter specific problems when you were writing any of the India
Black stories?
CK: Writer’s block? No, that was never a problem. Difficulties with
research? Nope. Oh, yes. My house burned down when I was halfway through the
first book. The restoration company was able to salvage the hard drive from my computer
and after months of living in a hotel and surviving a remodel, I was able to
finish the story. If I had had to start over on the book, I probably wouldn’t
have. India owes her existence to a computer nerd in a windowless office in the
American Midwest.
BP:
What has been the hardest part when you were writing the India Black stories?
CK: The most difficult part is making myself start writing each day. I can
think of a million things I’d rather be doing. Checking email. Looking at
Facebook. Watching music videos on YouTube. In a pinch, I’ll even do housework.
But once I finally fire up the computer, I don’t usually have a problem
churning out the words.
BP:
Besides the hardest part of the book, which chapter/scene did you enjoy writing
about the most?
CK: I have a fondness for certain characters. I like writing Mrs.
Drinkwater, India’s cook. I enjoy the Marchioness of Tullabardine, who has
developed into the bane of India’s existence. I always enjoy penning India’s
observations about politics. And because I spent several years in Human
Resources, I get a ridiculous amount of pleasure from writing about India’s
philosophy of employee management. It’s a tricky area, considering that we are
talking about tarts.
BP: If
you would be given the chance to rewrite any particular scene of any of the India
Black and the Shadows of Anarchy before it hits the shelves this June, would
you do so? If yes, which part and why?
CK: I’m a perfectionist, so I’ve never written anything that completely
satisfies me. There’s no specific scene I’d rewrite, but you can bet I’d go
over the thing with a fine-toothed comb, and eliminate a word here, a sentence
there.
BP:
Will The fourth book in the Madame of Espionage series will be out later in
August this year, will you be adding more books to the series?
CK: I have ideas aplenty for future books. I’d like to drop India, French
and Vincent into the Anglo-Zulu War. A visit to India (the country) would be
delightful. Given the scope of Britain’s global interests during the Victorian
era, I can find quite a few things for India to do.
BP: Do
you have any other projects that you would like to pursue?
CK: I’ve got more ideas than time. At the moment, I’m working on a couple
of thrillers with female protagonists that make India look like a sober,
well-adjusted woman. Then there’s the World War II espionage novel I’d like to
write. And there’s always a short story brewing.
BP:
What do you like most about historical fiction?
CK: Hello? History buff here. When it’s done well, historical fiction is
utterly enchanting to people like me. If you can write a piece of fiction that
convinces me that I have dropped into Edwardian England, for example, or
America during the Civil War or a French castle in the Middle Ages, for the
duration of the book, I’m yours. Give me the sights, sounds and smells. Create
characters who think and speak in the language of the time. Make them men and
women of their age, but show me the commonality they share with their modern
counterparts. In other words, make history come alive.
BP: If
you would have to give you top 5 favourite books, which would they be?
CK: Sob. I can’t possibly limit myself to five books. I’ll try, but I’m
going to cheat a little by including some authors in the list. Here goes:
Dickens, for his stunning
characters who illustrate the sweeping variety of human types
Mark Twain, the
most American of authors. My favorite: Letters
From Earth.
Hilary Mantel – Wolf Hall. Historical fiction at its
best.
Sarah Caudwell’s
mysteries. I like to laugh. These make me laugh. A lot.
Ruth Dudley
Edwards’s series featuring Jack Troutbeck. How I wish I’d written these.
BP:
And just lastly, can you give us a sneak peak as to what will be in store for
the readers of Madame of Espionage series?
CK: As you know, the fourth book will be out later this year. India
encounters an old flame and learns the secret (well, part of it) of her past.
And she has to deal with a pregnant collie. Good times!
BP:
Thank you very much for your time Carol and good luck with your future writing
projects!
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