AN INSIGHTFUL INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR CAROL THOMAS

I first met Carol through Twitter in December 2016 after I noticed that her debut book had been published through the same self-publishers I had approached to publish my first book. 

Since then we have been in touch regularly, and Carol has been a great support and knowledge base for me on my writing journey.

I offered to read and review her debut book ‘Crazy Over You` a romantic novel, and Carol offered to take my children’s book to review with her children. After writing her first book, Carol went on to write a children’s story-book called ‘Finding a Friend` a rhyming story about a little pup who needed a home.

Since we first met Carol has been offered a publishing contract with Ruby Fiction an imprint of an award-winning independent publishers ‘Choc Lit`. Carol’s latest romantic novel ‘Maybe Baby` has just been released!

I asked Carol if she would be interested in an author interview for my blog. She agreed! So here are my questions and Carol’s answers.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Annette, and for all of the great support you have given me over the last three years – wow, that has gone quickly!

1.       When did you first realise that that writing was what you wanted to do?

I had done a little creative writing in college and kept notebooks as a result, but it wasn't until a friend published her first book that I felt inspired to start my own. I was taking a break from teaching in 2012 and decided to seize the opportunity and write. Crazy Over You was released three years later.

2.       Where do you get your inspiration from for your romance novels and the children's book?

My contemporary romance novels are set in my local area, on the south coast of England. Within them I explore modern relationships, of course, there is the love interest between the leading couple, but I also address relationships between friends, family, colleagues and so forth. I like to ground my books in reality and record situations and snippets of conversations to thread into my stories. My husband is much more romantic than I am and so his actions have inspired some of those of my heroes ;-)

My children’s book was inspired by my son’s love for our dog, Benson, who died aged almost sixteen when my son was two. They were great friends, and I thought how lovely it would have been for them to grow up together. Finding a Friend came to me, almost in one go, as I was looking at a picture of the two of them together.

3.      What are the good bits and the not so good bits about being an author?

When everything is going well, and I am lost in the flow of writing, it is a wonderful feeling. It is also amazing to reach the point of publication, to see your book complete and to know others are reading it. And if in paperback, nothing beats holding it in your hands.

The not so good, would be the days when the ideas are not flowing, and the dreaded fear that it is all going horribly wrong creeps in (this usually hits me around thirty-thousand words) and I have to write through it.

4.       What have been your best success stories?

Pitching one-to-one to an editor for my novel The Purrfect Pet Sitter and gaining a publishing contract with Ruby Fiction, as a result.

5.       What have you found challenging?

I am a busy mum with three of my four children still living at home, finding the time to write and focus for an extended period has proved a challenge. I have overcome this by taking hotel mini-breaks, and, most successfully, going on a writing retreat to Umbria, with Sue Moorcroft. She was very inspirational and has an amazing work ethic.

6.       Is there anything you would have done differently?

I used Matador Publishing to publish my first book in 2015. They did a great job and produced a very professional product for me, of which I am very proud. At a point when I knew little of publishing, the process taught me a great deal and helped me establish my author platform. I saw it as an investment in my writing career.

I then used Matador’s services to produce my picture book, Finding a Friend, but at that point, my knowledge had increased and, as I intend to keep my children's books self-published, I should have used a more cost-effective option. I have subsequently switched to using KDP and other avenues for Finding a Friend.

7.       Do you write as a full-time job?

Writing is my primary “job” at the moment, though my hours are part-time due to other commitments. I also volunteer at my local Cancer Research UK shop one afternoon a week. I am a primary school teacher and may well return to it in the near future. But for now, I am focusing on my next novel.

8.       What is the best part of your working life?

My time is flexible, and so I get to indulge in a good amount of family time – while my children are young, that is special.

9.       What has been the best novel you have read?

I don’t have an overall stand out favourite as I tend to have different preferences at different times and for different reasons. Currently, I read contemporary romance and romantic comedy novels. I enjoy the escapism and like to analyse what I think has worked well, or not, to inform my own writing. With this in mind, I’d recommend any book by Mhairi McFarlane.

10.   Where do you see yourself in five years?

Eek, I’ll be fifty then! Hopefully I’ll be travelling more, still writing and have a good amount of successfully published novels in my back catalogue.

11.   Have you any plans to write more children’s stories?

I have two other children’s stories written awaiting illustrations. I just need time to dedicate to getting them ready for publication.

12.   What advice would you give to new writers?

Stay fit, you’ll be sitting down a lot! Become an observer and keep notebooks. Threading real-life situations into your work will give it a good grounding in reality, enabling readers to connect with it.

13.   How do you manage your social media advertising/promotion? And is this something you enjoy doing?

I greatly enjoy connecting with readers, other writers and book bloggers. Online promotion is necessary but can be time-consuming. I know I need to be better at sticking to allocated time for this and not letting it eat into my writing time.

14.   Is there anything that has surprised/shocked you in your writing career?

I was surprised to discover how supportive and encouraging the online writing and blogging community is. I remember feeling very nervous the first time I contacted a book blogger, but she was welcoming and supportive and remains so, four years on. The connections I have made online have been invaluable.

15.   How did you get signed by Choc Lit / Ruby Fiction?

I read many Choc Lit books and followed the publisher and authors online. When I saw that they were hosting a romance panel with the opportunity to pitch to an editor in my local area, I signed up. I was terrified, it was out of my comfort zone, but I knew it was an opportunity not to be missed. Pitching went well, and so I was asked to submit my completed novel. The book then went forward to the Choc Lit reading panel. This is a group of romance readers who decide which books should proceed to publication. The Purrfect Pet Sitter made it through and so I was offered a contract. My recent novel Maybe Baby was also published by Ruby Fiction.

16.   What are the three main differences between self-publishing and being published through an independent publisher?

Reaching a wider audience – within a very short period of being out, The Purrfect Pet Sitter outsold my self-published novel, Crazy Over You. Having the backing of a publisher gives the book a bigger push.

Less control –I don’t have the final say on the title, cover, blurb or categories. (I don’t mind any of these things, they are just differences.)

The pressure is increased to get the next book out – my publisher expects a certain output of novels to keep the momentum of my sales going.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog Annette. I really appreciate it. X

Maybe Baby is available in audio and as an ebook, buying links:

Amazon: http://getbook.at/MBAmazon

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/maybe-baby-35

Ruby Fiction: https://www.rubyfiction.com/dd-product/maybe-baby/

Website and Social Media Links (if required):

http://carol-thomas.co.uk

http://facebook.com/carolthomasauthor

http://twitter.com/carol_thomas2

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/carol_thomas2/

https://www.instagram.com/carol_thomas2/

Blog:

http://carol-thomas.co.uk/blog