Author Interview With Carlie M. A. Cullen
Today, as part of Carlie’s blog tour for her Heart Search: Lost blog tour, we have a wonderful interview with the lady herself.
Hi Madeline, it’s great to be here with you today. A little birdy says you have some questions you’d like me to answer so where would you like to start?
So, what exactly do you write?
I write paranormal romance and fantasy and sometimes I even combine the two, just to give things a little extra twist.
How would you describe yourself in a short third person bio?
Ok-ay, do you want the sensible answer or me playing silly wotsits? Tell you what, as I’m in one of those slightly daft moods today, let’s do a bit of both, just for a giggle, shall we? (And the fact I’m under the influence of a general anaesthetic, having had surgery today has got absolutely nothing to do with it! Has it?)
Carlie was born to a female human woman in England and is female herself. She’s quite tall (even without the five inch heels), medium build with flame red hair, ice blue eyes and a face that could sink ships. Carlie is as crazy as a crate full of toads. She has a wacky sense of humour and a heart full of cold, (oops sorry, meant to say gold). She’s been writing ever since she knew how to hold a pencil; none of it made sense until a couple of years ago. She now lives in a house with seventeen cats, four hamsters and a partridge in a pear tree. Heart Search: Lost is the first thing she’s written that people can actually read.
Now for the sensible bit . . .
Carlie is quite outgoing and friendly with a sharp wit and occasionally a wicked tongue. She is fiercely loyal and protective of her friends; she forgives but never forgets. She can be indecisive, but once her mind is made up, she can be stubborn. Carlie would rather compromise than confront. She loves writing with a passion yet also loves to edit others’ work. She loves to help people, often to her own detriment and would give her last pound/dollar to someone and go without herself. Carlie suffered an identity crisis after losing her beloved parents, but bounced back strong and determined. She adores her beautiful daughter more than life itself.
What made you initially want to write? Has your motivation changed since then?
I really began writing for my own entertainment. Growing up as an only child and having both parents working full-time hours, I learnt young that I had to create my own entertainment or be bored stupid. By then I was already an avid reader (I was reading very basic books at four-years old) and I used to write stories to amuse myself and help pass the time. I discovered quite quickly how much I enjoyed writing and I’ve written pretty much ever since.
I would have to answer yes and no to whether my motivation has changed (yes I know, typical Libran, can’t make their chuffing minds up, lol). No, because I still do it for my own pleasure and entertainment, and because I love it. Yes, because I’ve been convinced my work is good enough to publish and so I now also write to entertain other people too.
What is your favourite part of writing?
This is a bit of a tough one, because I like different facets of the writing process for different reasons. But, if you’re going to nail me to the wall and make me pick one, I think I would have to say getting to know my characters, especially my main characters. Finding out what makes them tick, what they’re passionate about, their likes and dislikes, what enrages them and conversely what makes them go all gooey. Each of my characters, regardless of what size part they play is a special friend to be nurtured and loved.
Tell us an interesting fact about you.
Hmmm which one to choose from? Aha, got it! I’m going to tell you something really random and it’s not the sort of thing writers come out with during interviews, but is still interesting. Ready . . . ?
I was born with only one kidney!
It’s on the right side of my body and is 30% larger than a normal kidney.
You’ll sleep a lot happier knowing that, won’t you? [Chuckles]
Do you have a day-job, (other than writing)?
Not anymore. Unfortunately, I have problems with my spine and am now disabled. I really wasn’t kidding earlier when I said about having had surgery – I’m truly writing this from my hospital bed after surgery on my spine! (I would ask one of the nurses to take a photo to prove it, but I look a wreck and would scare even the most ravenous and tenacious of vampires away right now!) So my day-job now is writing and/or editing. I’m also a professional editor, so between the two, I have a fair amount to keep me busy.
Tell us a bit about your debut novel, Heart Search: Lost.
How long did you say you want this interview to last? [Laughs] Okay, I’ll be serious.
Basically the story revolves around Remy and Joshua, a young couple in their twenties who are a couple of weeks away from getting married when Joshua gets bitten by a vampire. He doesn’t transform immediately, it’s a slow process with little changes occurring as the days pass. When he inadvertently hurts Remy twice, he can’t cope with it, writes her note and vanishes two days before the wedding.
Remy is distraught and when her twin sister manages to penetrate the depressive zombie-like state, she manages to persuade Remy to fight for the man she loves. Remy comes up with a plan and embarks on a long, lonely and emotional journey where strange and inexplicable things begin to happen.
In the meantime, Joshua has now fully transformed, found his maker and is feeding on humans. He’s also discovering he possesses amazing gifts in addition to the normal immortal heightened senses, strength and speed. He begins an affair with another coven member yet is conflicted by his love for Remy.
Dramas unfold inside the coven, embroiling Joshua in a political wrangle which threatens his life.
There are links between their individual lives which crop up through the story in unusual ways. And what happens when Remy finally sees him?
You’ll have to read the book to find out!
How long did it take you to write this book? And how many drafts did you write in total?
From when I typed the first word until the last, it was around nine-months actual writing time. However, I was trying to fit it in between two jobs, running a home and being a mum.
In total there were four drafts, the fifth being the final printed copy. I had an alpha reader and two beta readers as well as an amazing editor who was incredibly supportive.
Are you an indie author, or did you get your work published the ‘traditional’ way?
I’m an indie author with Myrddin Publishing Group. I did originally try the traditional route, but when it took the first agent I approached (who, incidentally, said he wanted first refusal on the manuscript) sixteen weeks and two reminder emails from me to get a rejection out of him, I decided to go indie.
Do you think that it is necessary to have a degree (of any sort) in order to be a good writer?
Absolutely not! This and the following statement is not designed to demean graduates in any way, or belittle the enormous amount of work they undertake to have those ‘letters’ after their name, but you don’t need a degree to have an imagination. You don’t need a degree to find inspiration in the world around you, and you don’t need one to write a damn good story.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Loads and loads! But as you haven’t got all day and I could do with another cup of tea, I’ll try and keep it reasonably brief.
1. Read as much as you can. Look at characterisation, story and sentence structure, dialogue etc while you’re reading. You can learn a great deal from that.
2. Write a lot – every day if you can, even if it’s only a half a page – as it will help fire your imagination on a more regular basis. Also, practice makes perfect, right?
3. If you write a novel, never ever self-edit. Always get a professional editor. It may cost you a bit of money in the short term, but it’s better than having a ruined reputation which is unsalvageable.
4. Finally, follow your dreams. Your dreams are part of what defines you as a person and a writer so be like a Rottweiler and don’t let go of them!
It’s been really cool chatting to you today, Madeline. Thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog and putting up with my weird English sense of humour!
Thanks Carlie!
~~~
More about Carlie….
Carlie M A Cullen was born in London. She grew up in Hertfordshire where she first discovered her love of books and writing. She has been an administrator and marketer all her working life and is also a professional teacher of Ballroom and Latin American dancing.
Carlie has always written in some form or another, but Heart Search: Lost is her first novel. This is being launched 8th October 2012 through Myrddin Publishing Group and work has started on book two: Heart Search: Found. She writes mainly in the Fantasy/Paranormal Romance genres for YA, New Adult and Adult.
Carlie is also a professional editor.
Carlie also holds the reins of a writing group called Writebulb. Their first anthology was published September 2012.
Carlie currently lives in Essex, UK with her daughter.
Buy Heart Search: Lost on Amazon (US) and Amazon (UK) and don’t forget to enter the giveaway for Heart Search: Lost below.
