Carolynn Carey Interview Published on: 31, Oct 2018

I grew up in a small town in Tennessee, where I enjoyed being part of an extended family that included lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins. We were happily unaware that the area where we lived was not only rural but remote, lying about halfway between the second and third largest cities in the state, Nashville and Knoxville. Our activities centered around church, school, family, and friends, all features that play into my small-town novels set in the fictional town of Barbourville located in fictional McCray County.

When I first tried my hand at writing a book, some thirty years ago now, I didn’t know what I didn’t know, as folks are fond of saying these days. There was no internet, and learning anything about the craft and the business was iffy. Finally, after I joined Romance Writers of America, I began to realize exactly how much I had to learn, but I was encouraged and amazed when I became a finalist in the Golden Heart, RWA’s contest for unpublished writers. I was a finalist three different years with three difference Regency novels. None of the three were published until years later, but upon publication, each of those either won or was a finalist in contests for published writers.

Research for historical novels can be both frustrating and fulfilling. Trying to be true to the customs and facts of life in society two hundred years ago often feels like shooting at a moving target. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, a new or different source from that era may negate what you thought you knew.

Motivation to write is an individual thing. In my case, I love making up stories and allowing characters to reveal themselves as that story develops. I write romance because I enjoy reading books that entertain and leave me feeling optimistic.

I love the idea of small-town life where the people stand behind and support each other whenever trouble affects any of them. I’m aware this is an idealized concept, but I think many people, like me, enjoy immersing themselves for a few hours in a setting like that found in my Barbourville and McCray County books. I don’t think I could pick a favorite, but I especially enjoyed writing the two set around Christmas (The Forgotten Christmas Tree and Barbourville Christmas Reunion).

The first book that made me cry was probably The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, which I read repeatedly when I was young. Set during the American Civil War, the story ends with a man riding away from the woman he loves because a different woman (who loved him) had lost her life in order to save him. As for my own books, occasionally I’ll tear up while writing a scene, but I would never write anything as sad as the ending of The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come.

My goal is to tell a story that entertains the reader and hopefully leaves them feeling upbeat at the end. I hope I achieve this goal with every book I write.

The best review I’ve ever received was actually a letter from a fan who said she’d read Compromising Situations six or seven times. To me, having someone like a book enough to read it multiple times is the highest compliment. As for bad reviews, I remind myself that tastes differ, and what appeals to one reader may not appeal to another. The only time I’ve responded to a bad review was when the reader gave me a one-star review because she couldn’t download my book. I asked her to contact Amazon for help. I hope readers understand that their review should reflect their opinion about the writing, not elements over which the authors have no control.

My advice for aspiring writers sounds simplistic: write. As you write, it’s important to learn the craft, so if you can, join a critique group. Also, organizations such as Romance Writers of America and its many chapters offer education and information. But nothing substitutes for simply writing.