Happy New Year everyone! Welcome back to my first Q and A of the year with today’s feature, French- Canadian author, Carol Balawyder and her new #Thriller release – Warnings Signs. I’m a big fan of Carol’s writing and have read all her books from her heartfelt memoir – Mourning Has Broken to her Mr. Right series, and now her newest release – a psychological thriller, which I’ve recently finished reading and will be thrilled to share my review soon. Carol is one of my oldest blogging friends I connected with soon after I first began blogging. So with no further ado, I’m delighted to introduce you to Carol.
About Carol:
I was born and brought up in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada but have lived most of my life in Montreal. As a child, learning to speak, I had the good fortune of acquiring English and French simultaneously. My early outside world was a French neighborhood while my inside world (home) was the language and culture of my Slavic roots – a mixture of Russian and Polish though because of the wars it is hard to tell
exactly.
I taught English for years at different colleges and universities, including Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology in Vietnam. Because I was unable to find suitable material for the Business English course I was teaching, using my then married name Carol Ann Fournier, I created Open for Business a student workbook, along with a teacher’s guide and tape.
After completing a Master’s Degree in Criminology from The University of Montreal, I taught criminology in the Police Technology and Corrections Programs at Ahuntsic College in Montreal. In the midst of my divorce and my sister and mother’s
deaths, I wrote my comedy-romantic Getting to Mr. Right series and Mourning has Broken, a collection of vignettes on grief and loss.
My short stories have appeared in Room Magazine, Mindful.org, The Anthology of Canadian Writers.
I manage a blog www.carolbalawyder.com where I post on various categories: Famous Writers’ Desks, Female Nobel Prize Laureates in Literature, Review of books written by fellow bloggers, Femme Fatales, and my dog, Bau. Check it out!
Warning Signs is my debut novel in the crime genre.
Blurb:
Eugene’s research into his criminal mind is not about the why, but how to prevent his horrific crimes. Angie, a young woman starving for passion sees Eugene as her saviour from a lonely life of caring for her heroin addicted mother. How far is she willing to go in order to save her relationship with Eugene and his promise for a future together?
Detective Van Ray is out on a vindictive mission as he attempts to solve the murders of young girls in Youth Protection.
Their lives collide in a mixture of mistrust, obsession and ignoring the warning signs. A psychological thriller about human frailty and loneliness.
Time to get to know more about Carol:
Do some of your own character traits or personal experiences spill into your book’s characters?
There I am, age twenty-seven, writing on a Smith Corona typewriter. I was working on a novel which I never finished but I still have it somewhere along with a stack of other
first drafts. At times, when I come across them, I tell myself that I’ll get back to them when I’m old and don’t know what to do with my time. Well, I’m old now and have plenty to do with my time. Writing has come in waves with me. There were times that I thought of giving it up completely and did so for a few months, even years, but it crept back up on me. The photo was taken in a cabin up in the Quebec Laurentians along Riviere Rouge. Both the cabin and Riviere Rouge are part of the setting for my latest novel Warning Signs.
D.G. – Fantastic backstory Carol. And you are from from old!
Who is your favorite author and why?
Julian Barnes. Hands down. He not only is a terrific writer but I love what he writes about, especially his latest novel The Only Story. Having said this, there are so many other authors that I love. Some of them write about romance, some memoirs or biographies and of course crime novels, in particular domestic crime novels such as Leila Slimani (The Perfect Nanny), Paula Hawkins (The Girl on the Train) and
Shari Lapena (The Couple Next Door).
With my dog, Bau, we volunteer at a school in Point St. Charles (one of Canada’s poorest neighborhoods) for children with special needs. Wanting to do a bit of research on The Point in order to use as setting for a future novel, I googled and came
across the writer Kathy Dobson’s memoir of growing up there. I was expecting a serious book – after all nothing funny about poverty, right? But Kathy Dobson is hilarious as she questions the differences between social classes and presents a candid and provoking voice as first hand witness to being brought up in poverty all in a style reminiscent of The Catcher in the Rye.
Having a favorite author is like having a favorite song. The song is number one for a few weeks or even months on the charts and then there’s another number one to replace it. These days Kathy Dobson is one of my favorite authors. It was a great
discovery for me, especially her being practically from my doorsteps.
Do your books have messages in them?
In writing a post on Olga Tokarczuk – the latest Nobel Prize Laureate for literature – I came across this quote of hers: “… just writing a book to know who is the killer is wasting paper and time, so I decided to put into it animal rights and a story of dissenting citizens who realize that the law is immoral and see how far can they can go with saying no to it.”
This made me think about the messages I am interested in exploring through my writing. Messages about loneliness, poverty, homelessness and social injustice. In my Getting to Mr. Right series I touch upon such subjects as Multiple Sclerosis, Down Syndrome and the Prince Charming Myth. I love the research part of writing and therefore try to tackle a subject which I have little knowledge about. I know…write what you know but sometimes I find that boring.
In my latest novel, I took a risk in writing about a serial killer whereby I wanted to give the message that although his actions were monstrous, there was also a lot of hurt and rage inside of him because of childhood abuses. As a criminologist, my goal was to try to understand his abhorrent behavior in the hopes that a “cure” may be possible for these lost and evil inhabited souls and to put forth the hypothesis that one is not
necessarily born evil but a product of many other factors, such as upbringing, social inequalities and environmental dynamics and personality disorders. I was also interested in the betrayal theme and obsession.
D.G. – Fascinating insights Carol. And I think ‘write what you know’ is a good starting point layered with always learning.
How do you promote your work? Do you find marketing and social media overwhelming?
Forget about how I promote my work. I’m really weak at that and am grateful for my blogging community to invite me for reviews. Thank you, Debby, for your generosity and interest in my writing. What I really want to talk about is blogging. Do I find social media overwhelming? Yes. Double yes. Triple yes. Now, understand that I manage only a blog. I am on no other social media and wonder how those who are on Facebook,
Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Pinterest and so forth do it. It’s not that I don’t find these platforms interesting. On the contrary, but I can hardly keep up to blogging even once a week, let alone updating my website and keeping up with my fellow bloggers.
D.G. – I feel your pain Carol. I am one of those ‘all over the map’ when it comes to trying to be everywhere and still churn out some writing. It’s overwhelming to say the least!
Do you have an interesting writing quirk or habit that helps you with your writing?
It’s not so much a quirk or habit but rather a belief and has to do with co-creating with the Universe. I am a firm believer in being guided and connected to spirit energy to assist me in my writing and to open my mind to write with clarity, sensitivity and joy. Hopefully.
Before I begin to write, I usually start off by listening to an inspirational message. For example, before writing my answers to these questions I listened to Pura Rasa (Receiving Messages & Blessings from Spirit Guides). While writing I mostly always listen to background music which inspires creativity, concentration and focus. Two channels I like are Brainwave Power Music and The Brainwave Hub but there are
many more such as Denzel Washington’s video on the importance of gratitude.
Drop expectations and try to keep positive.
D.G. – I love your ritual Carol; I can definitely see how becoming one with yourself and thoughts can help quiet the mind and help with creativity. Thank you for sharing this video and for being with us here today. I enjoyed learning more about you.
Visit Carol on Social Links:
WEB SITE: www.carolbalawyder.com
BLOG: www.carolbalawyder.com/blog
Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/carolbalawyder
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/cbala
DGKayewriter.com 
Debby, a wonderful interview with Carol and your questions and her answers give such insight into her as a writer!
Carol, what a fantastic cv and if must have been amazing to teach in Vietnam. As you list some of your favourite authors I realise I haven’t read any Julian Barnes for ages, I loved his work and will have to check this out! Haha! Yep, books are like a playlist, a number one gradually knocked off the top spot!
I like your concept for your latest thriller and it reminds me a bit of Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult,where she tackles the topic of a school shooter and introduces elements from the guy’s life and how events led up to those horrific nineteen minutes. Maybe not the most comfortable of reads but brilliantly written and fascinating.
Best of luck with your latest venture and always a delight to chat via blogs! Xx
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Annika, I’m delighted you got so much out of Carol’s feature. I’m happy to introduce you to Carol and her amazing work. 🙂 xx
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Annika, it is always a delight for me to read you. You are always so generous with your support of other authors and I thank you profoundly for being so with me. It is interesting that you mentioned Jodi Picoult’s Nineteen Minutes for at one point my protagonist is reading the book! As for Julian Barnes. Two of my favorites of his are: The Sense of an Ending and of course, The Only Story. Wishing you all the best with your writing! ❤
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What a fascinating interview, thanks Debby for the introduction to a new and interesting author. I really enjoyed her piece and shall look for her work. Anything to do with crime and the criminal mind interests me. Spirit Guides, ah yes, I apparently have a couple, one of whom I have seen. I do think that creative things come from thin air and it is as if they were sent to us from someone or somewhere. I’ve experienced it myself and I have seen it happen when I have worked with songwriters. Thanks so much and good luck Carol. Happy 2020 to you both.
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Thanks so much Jane. And I have to agree with you on ideas coming out of thin air, in just a moment a great idea can appear! ❤
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Thank you, Jane, for your comment. Yes, I agree that Debby poses a very interesting field of questions. It would be rather presumptuous of me to think that everything comes from me alone. In a way, I am the vessel (I am sure you have heard this). The problem often is that I do not trust enough that spirit voice or there’s so much other noise going on that I can’t hear it. Thank you, Jane, for your good wishes for 2020. I wish you the same and will shortly be on your blog. This is one of the beauties of these interviews. We get to meet new like people. Thank you for this opportunity, Debby. ❤
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I’m delighted to have you over and my readers sharing their interest too! ❤
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I enjoyed reading this interview, Debby. Carol, I agree wholeheartedly with you regarding using social media. I’ve recently cut down to 3 sites, and that’s enough for me.
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Thanks Stevie. We have to choose our time carefully for sure. 🙂 x
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Thank you, Steve, for your comment. I’m glad that I’m not the only one that is so “behind” in social media. 🙂 I owe your enjoyment of this interview to Debby. ❤
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I am constantly amazed at how many of the writers I am drawn to are or were teachers. Didn’t know that about Carol. I just finished her latest book–just amazing.
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Yes, pretty interesting fact Jacqui. And good for you! I’m halfway through it myself and will be reviewing in the next week or so. 🙂
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Jacqui, teachers are of a special breed. For one thing they tend to love reading and also learn through teaching. Writing books is another level of teaching as well. Thank you, Jacqui for your warm felt comment about my book. ❤
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Excellent interview, Debby. As a longtime educator, I was immediately curious about how Carol is using her dog with special needs students. I liked many of her responses, especially the one about favorite authors and comparing them to new music.
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Thanks so much Pete. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading about Carol. I love her books – Memoir, women’s fiction and now a thriller. I’m currently reading her Warning Signs and love all her criminology expertise incorporated in the book. 🙂
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Jacqui, teachers are of a special breed. For one thing they tend to love reading and also learn through teaching. Writing books is another level of teaching as well. Thank you, Jacqui for your warm felt comment about my book. ❤
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Hi Pete, I noticed that you sent me an e-mail and that you wish me to contact you regarding my dog. I will do so shortly. Thank you for your interest in this interview and my dog. xxx
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A most interesting interview, Debby and Carol. I am especially interested in Carol’s comments about the character of her killer. I have been wondering recently how much of a person’s behaviour and character are moulded by their upbringing and how much is to do with their genetics and the type of person they are. I am very different from my three sisters only one of which has a full time day job. There are massive differences in our attitudes, life choices and behaviours despite all growing up with the same parents and in the same house. It is very interesting.
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Thanks Robbie. I’m sure Carol would love to answer you, but here’s my belief. . . We are all products of our environments, but we all have free will and our own individual feelings. I write in most of my books – there are 2 roads we take as we grow, we either follow the only path we are familiar with or take a different approach and go against the familiarity of how we are raised. I also mention in my book Conflicted Hearts – when I was a young child I too was enamored by my mother’s beauty, not yet fully aware of how she used it as a weapon. By teenagedom, I had made it my business that I did not want to end up like her because I learned how many people she hurt to live in her limelight. Also, the fighting and screaming environment I grew up in has made me quite intolerant to loud noises. 🙂
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Debby, I am again pressed for time. But tomorrow I will reblog your post and take the time to respond to Robbie’s comment as well as your reply to it. It’s a very interesting discussion and I don’t want to be rushed especially since I have about 10 minutes to put on my make-up and fly out of the house. ❤
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No worries Carol. Life happens and the post isn’t going anywhere. 🙂 No doubts there will be more comments tomorrow too. Happy Friday ❤
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Robbie, I am very interested in responding to your question and Debby’s response to it. I am though right now in a rush and will get back to you tomorrow for a well thought out response. Thanks for your thoughts. ❤
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Hi Debby and Carol, thank you both for your interest and responses to my questions. It seems that the answer lies in the middle somewhere and probably also has to do with determination as well. I was particularly interested in Carol’s comments about her sisters being quite different to her and not understanding her passion for writing. I also experience that with my sisters although they really do try to be supportive. I have bought this book because I am fascinated to see how Carol peels back this killer’s characters and delves into what makes him tick. Thank you again for this wonderful discussion.
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Thanks for adding to the discussion Robbie. And now you know you aren’t alone. My siblings don’t get it either! Personally, I think only another writer can understand a writer.
Carol will be thrilled to learn you’ve bought her book. ❤
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Thank you, Robbie, for buying my book. As Debby said, I am thrilled. It’s really a multiple of factors which make a killer tick as you will see. Thank you, Robbie for starting this discussion. ❤
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Robbie, I partially commented on the nature versus nurture in Carol’s comment below. I come from a family of four children and we all are different and sometimes I feel like I don’t connect with any of them (especially regarding my writing – which I sometimes think is the essence of my soul). Yet, we function socially and are there for each other.
In Warning Signs I question quite a bit the reasons for the killer’s behaviour looking at his family background (abandoned mother, abusive father) and looking at rejection, social environment, psychological make-up and mental illness. Studies have shown that there are many who grow up in similar situations as this killer but turn out to function very well in society. They do not become criminals. But, research has also shown that all those who have turned out to be serial killers have had horrible childhoods. Not one has had a “normal” upbringing.
A few years ago, I was doing field work as a criminologist at a women’s shelter. These women were there to escape an abusive relationship. Many of them had small children and babies. All of them had no money, no education, no trade, no social skills. They had been captive in their own homes at the hands of their husbands. They showed physical and psychological wounds from being beaten up, had absolutely zero self-esteem and besides this shelter had nowhere to go. No family. No friends. The educators had to start at the bottom which was an arduous task considering that many did not know how to read, many suffered from depression (understandably) or schizophrenia. It was difficult to carry a conversation with them let alone try to get them into some type of program which would enable them to become self sufficient.
Our goal was to get them to understand that they had choices and that coming to the shelter had been an honorable choice on their part (although we knew that many would return to their abusive situation). Sometimes, the familiarity of the status quo, how painful it is, is less difficult than having to change. Or at least it seems so at the time.
My character, in Warning Signs, was trying to change. He was constantly being confronted with his choices but he just couldn’t get there. Why he didn’t is a question I try to answer in the novel.
In Debby’s Conflicted Hearts, she illustrates the strength that it took her to escape from a life she did not want. As Denziel Washington says in his video on gratitude: Some are not so lucky.
Wishing you and your loved ones a year filled with closeness, compassion and tolerance. ❤
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Carol, thank you for this insightful share – and for the mention of my book ❤
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Debby, thank you so very much for giving me space on your well-read and well-loved blog. I am so very grateful. I have to drive my daughter home but when I come back this afternoon I will respond to the comments. ❤
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My absolute pleasure having you here, and judging by the comments, I’m thrilled my readers have taken great interest! ❤
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Terrific interview Carol and Debby and lovely to find out more about your background Carol… many congratulations for Warning Signs…and in 2020… hugs Sally ♥
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Thanks so much Sal. I always find it so much fun and interesting doing these interviews. Carol is a delight to have over. ❤ xx
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Thank you, Sally. A positive comment from you is always a gift. I am in the process of reading your book Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words and enjoying it very much. I am hoping to post it on my blog before I leave for my holiday. May your books in 2020 bring you outstanding sales and pleasure. ❤
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I enjoyed the interview, Carol and Debbie. I can certainly relate to the “weakness” with marketing. I think a lot of us suffer from that – marketing is so antithetical to many writers’ dispositions. And I love the way you gather inspiration before starting your writing day. Wishing you a happy new year and Happy Writing!
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Understatement Diana – us writers just want to write!!! 🙂 xxx
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Thank you, Diana, for your wishes for a Happy New Year and Writing. I’m often at a loss at marketing and think about hiring a book promotor though I still haven’t done the research on that. At least, and I am grateful for this, that I do not have to depend on my writing to earn my living. In a way, this frees me to write more about what I want to write. And maybe the saying is correct: Do what you like and the money will come.
Wishing you a New Year filled with exciting ideas and enthusiasm to implement them. ❤
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You ask the most interesting questions, Debby, and Carol did a great job with her answers. I enjoyed this Q&A! Happy New Year, my friend! ❤ xo
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Thanks so much Vashti. So glad you enjoyed! Yes, Happy Happy New Year to you ❤ xx
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I had a difficult time choosing which questions to answer. Debby supplies her guests with so many interesting questions. I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. Happy New Year to you as well, Vashti. May if be full of joy. ❤
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Another great interview, Deb. Carol has an interesting background. I have recently added her first Getting to Mr. Right series into my TBR and I’m eager to get reading it. It’s timely to see her pop up here on your author interview series. Congratulations on your new release, Carol. I will be popping over to your blog. Your blog topics sound fascinating. I also find social media quite overwhelming as an Indie author. I have a hard time measuring its effectiveness. 😛
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Thanks so much Lis. So happy to connect you and Carol “Canadian girls rock eh?” LOL Carol will be delighted to read your comment. ❤
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Thank you, Lisa, for putting Getting To Mr. Right on your TBR list and for the congratulations on my latest novel. I am eager to read your Wine Diaries.
It seems to me by many of the comments here that marketing is an issue for Indie writers. Yet, some writers seem to do quite well but I haven’t found their strategy yet.
I am delighted to meet you here and have a feeling that I will be reading more of you. Thank you, Debby ❤
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Thank you so much Sally Star for sharing our interview ❤
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A fabulous interview Debby and Carol…Like Robbie, I am so very different from my siblings and they from each other although we grew up in the same household…I also notice that with my children they have some similarities but other glaring differences…Do we subconsciously act differently towards them…
Yesterday I listened to a conversation between my son and his children it was over an incident and his first comment was to his son who wasn’t the perpetrator (this) time… his tone then changed as it was Lily who was…Now was that caused by a difference in the gender/age? or caused by the fact that it normally would have been Aston…A case of presumption by my son…Interesting…
I love these interviews as they introduce me to new authors…Thank you, Ladies 🙂 xx
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Hi Carol. You bring up some valid thoughts. Perhaps his tone changed to let her know he knew she was the perp, to nudge her into learning. I’d sure hate to think it was sexist. Also, remember, people are their own individual selves and pick up habits around their environments just as kids do. Their personalities, fears, humor if any, are formed at home first. How they are accepted and treated at home adds more layers to the self-esteem. If we’re lacking one then we may become cynical and very defensive. If that person manages to get out the home realizing they dont want their life to be like where they came from, they better themselves. Sometimes some are damaged in ways and drown into substance use, alcohol or maybe worse. We make choices. ❤
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Carol, I think Debby’s reply to your comment contained a lot of truths regarding nature versus nurture. I do think, however that daddies act differently towards their daughters – their little girls than they do toward their sons, just as mothers act differently towards their sons than their daughters. A lot might have to do with social norms handed down from generations and cultural factors. Just look at how girls can be treated by their fathers if they marry (or even date) outside their own race or religion. Honor killings in Pakistan, for example. It’s a very complicated issue and here in America, in 2020 we are still battling over equality rights regarding salaries between men and women. Men tend to be more protective of women which likely starts with their own daughters and if you look around at large companies and governments they are often run by men. A woman who enters their arena threatens their power…oh, I will stop now before this becomes a long-winded essay.
Thanks, Carol, for bringing up the subject and Debby for your response. I so agree with you that people have choices. We either decide to take our own power into our hands or remain victims.
Have a very happy 2020! 🙂
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Fantastic summation Carol. Thanks for coming back and elaborating on your thoughts. Truly a fascinating conversation, and like you say, we may well write books on the topic! 🙂 xx
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Fascinating interview with Carol. I agree with Carol about marketing and promoting – it is not a fun thing to do but I do what I can even it I don’t like it. It’s always interesting to learn about fellow authors’ backgrounds and what is their philosophy. Carol new book sound intriguing. I will definitely be checking it out. I have enjoyed her Mr. Right series. Best wishes, Debby and Carol, for much success with your writing.
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Hi Janice. Thanks for dropping by and leaving your kind words. I love doing these interviews and no matter what we learn about our fellow writers, it seems the common Achilles is the marketing part. Who could blame us – we’d rather be writing!!!! ❤
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Marketing again! It just goes to show how precious Debby’s interviews and bloggers promoting each others work is. ❤
Janice, you are such an active promotor of your books – a model for all of us. And such a prolific writer.
Thank you, Janice, for your kind words about my Getting to Mr. Right series. It always makes me happy when someone enjoys my work – especially when it comes from an author. 🙂
Best wishes to you as well for your writing. May 2020 bring you lots of new fans. ❤
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It’s lovely to meet Carol, Debby. Thanks for the introduction. Her life sounds interesting, as does her book. Focusing on positives and meditating before writing is a great strategy. I enjoyed the video by Denzel Washington. We do have much to be thankful for.
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Thanks so much Norah. I agree with all you said. And I’m happy to introduce you to Carol too 🙂 xx
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Thank you, Norah, for your positive words. I’m glad that you enjoyed the Denzel Washington video. We do have lots to be grateful for and it is good that we are reminded to do so. May your new year be an amazing one! ❤
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A great interview. This is such a wonderful way to learn more about our fellow authors. I enjoy Carol’s blog, especially when she features her dog. I love the Denzel Washington video, being thankful is so important. Thanks for doing this, Debby. Happy writing, Carol.
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Thank you so much for visiting Darlene, and for getting so much from this interview. We live and keep learning – especially as writers. ❤
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This is certainly a great way to get to know other fellow bloggers and I am grateful to Debby for the effort she puts into this.
I’m happy, Darlene, that you enjoy reading my posts on my dog, Bau. I’ve become more and more invested in featuring him on my blog. I find it enjoyable writing from his viewpoint and giving him a personality. I feel less serious and more childlike when I write about him – or should I say dog-like.
I agree about being thankful. There’s so much to be thankful for. Happy writing (and travelling) to you as well, Darlene. 🙂
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What an interesting interview and what an interesting life Carol has had. I have heard about her novel before and this time I have just popped through the ether to download it. We can all sympathise with Carol and the plethora of social media; the fact that we are getting to know her proves you don’t need to be on everything!
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Hi Janet, so true. I was lucky enough to befriend Carol in our earlier blogging years. Sadly, we don’t see much of her on social media, but I’m sure she gets a lot more writing done that way! So I’m happy to introduce you and some of my other readers to her here. ❤
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Thank you, Janet, for downloading my book. I hope that you enjoy it. Being on social media seems to be a concern for so many of us. But you bring up a good point about still getting to know me even though I am not on many platforms – thanks to generous bloggers as Debby, who puts in her time marketing other bloggers. ❤
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What a wonderful interview, ladies. I met Carol in my early blogging years. She seems so warm and caring. I know we would be good friends if we met in person. I really enjoyed getting to know more about her. I’m currently reading Warning Signs. Boy, is it a page-turner! Thanks for spotlighting Carol, Debby.
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Hi Jill, thanks for dropping by! I’m almost done reading her book too and I agree! Carol is one of my oldest blogging friends, and yes, how great would it be if we could meet in person! 🙂
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Maybe one of these days we’ll have a conference where we could meet in person. It would be a lot of fun. Also, a lot of fun would be if we all lived in the same neighbourhood but I guess WordPress is our hood.
Thank you, Jill, for your kind words about Warning Signs. I know that it’s a difficult subject and that not everybody likes to read about a serial killer. I started watching YOU on Netflix but stopped doing so because I found it too creepy. Although the serial killer in my novel can be creepy, I tried not to be too visual about the violence. I’m glad that you’re enjoying the novel.
And now for something different and romantic: A Mother For His Twins. I’m reading it and enjoying it very much. ❤
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You have an interesting bio, Carol. What made you switch from English to criminology? by the way, my dad was born in St Jerome- Quebec is beautiful!
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That’s amazing Jacquie. Now you live on the west coast? 🙂
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Sometimes Fate steps in. I had been teaching English for over 15 years and felt that I needed a new challenge. At the time the college where I was teaching was offering opportunities for teachers to go into different fields where teachers were needed. I was working on a crime novel and reasoned that studying criminology and then teaching it would give me credibility in my crime writing. Ironically, adapting to teaching criminology and a new environment (I was now teaching it in French) left me no time for writing. It was a challenge indeed.
St Jerome is a beautiful place in the Laurentiens. My novel is set not far from there.
My Kindle is waiting for the release of your latest book. ❤
Thanks for your interest.
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My switch from English to criminology was basically Fate. I had been teaching English for several years (15 +) and needed a new challenge although I still wanted to continue teaching. An opportunity arose whereby the Quebec Government needed criminologists to teach in their programs. So, because I was interested in writing crime novels I saw this as a chance to increase my credibility as a crime writer. It turned out to be indeed quite a challenge as I went back to school to study criminology and then was offered a teaching post but in a French speaking college. The adaptation left no time for writing. But I did acquire quite a bit of insight into criminal behavior. And now that I am retired I have time to give to my writing.
St Jerome is a lovely place in the Laurentiens. I used to ski there. It’s not very far from where I set my novel Warning Signs.
Jacqui, your latest book is awaiting to be downloaded on my Kindle. 🙂
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A fascinating guest, Debby, and Carol’s new book falls into one of my favourite genres, so I’ll make sure I check it out. Good luck with the blog and the marketing (oh, I’ve tried almost everything and given up on most of it by now, so I empathise completely).
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Lol Olga, I do hear you on the marketing front, it’s almost like a burnout isn’t it. But that’s okay as long as we keep our writing muscles flexed. And happy to introduce you to Carol, you both have criminology backgrounds in common! Happy week to you Olga. ❤
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Olga, it is somewhat comforting (but also discouraging) to hear that you have tried almost everything in marketing your books but given up most of it by now. It’s a long, arduous process. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have some Hollywood director stumble upon our work and say: I’d like to make a move of this.
I remember writing a review of your crime book Escaping Psychiatry -Beginnings awhile back. Now, I see that you have several more Mary Miller books out. Somethings I get so overwhelmed with all that there is to read and follow that I lose track of characters I liked. I am very much interested in psychiatry and so am very much interested in reading more of your series.
Thanks to Debby I am aware of you again.
All the best for the new year in creativity and marketing to both of you . ❤
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Sometimes Fate steps in. I had been teaching English for over 15 years and felt that I needed a new challenge. At the time the college where I was teaching was offering opportunities for teachers to go into different fields where teachers were needed. I was working on a crime novel and reasoned that studying criminology and then teaching it would give me credibility in my crime writing. Ironically, adapting to teaching criminology and a new environment (I was now teaching it in French) left me no time for writing. It was a challenge indeed.
St Jerome is a beautiful place in the Laurentiens. My novel is set not far from there.
My Kindle is waiting for the release of your latest book. ❤
Thanks for your interest.
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Debby, I responded twice to Jacquie Biggar. I hadn’t seen the awaiting moderation comment and thought that the first one hadn’t gone through, so you can delete one of them I tried to do so but wasn’t able. Sorry about that. xxx
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No worries Carol. xx
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Hola Carol and Debby. Thank you both so much for a fascinating read. As someone who has always been drawn to what makes people tick, although a complete novice, I find digging into people’s pasts so revealing, especially murderers. And the detective work is magnetic…What a vast difference early experiences yield in people, and just studying my own, unique, sons, made me realise just how different we are, even with the same upbringing. Fortunately, they all have good hearts and intentions…What a wonderful grounding you have had for your writing Carol. Like you, I enjoy listening to music while writing, and – as I’m now nearly as old as Methusaleh – it sharpens my mind to truly appreciating the fabulous gift of life. More thanks to you too, Debby. You are, as ever, generous with your time and help. May the year ahead bless you both. Hugs xx
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Lol Joy, you are an absolute delight!!! And stop it! You are not as old as Methusaleh! But you’re hilarious, and I love your humor. No doubt you brought up wonderful children. And it’s not always about the upbringing itself but the environment children are influenced by while growing up that determines actions too. Thanks for visiting and spreading your sunshine here Joy. Hugs ❤ xoxox
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