Author Interview: The Literary Spotlight with Author Carmen Reid
Welcome to this exclusive interview which I got an opportunity to conduct with the captivating author, Carmen Reid, who hails from the enchanting city of Glasgow, Scotland. Carmen has been a prominent figure in the literary world for many years, specializing in women’s fiction with occasional forays into the realm of young adult fiction. Her writing is a tapestry of emotions, laughter, and adventures, with characters that effortlessly become your new best friends. Carmen’s literary journey began in her early years, fueled by a passion for reading and writing. Excelling in English at school, she later pursued her love for literature at university, where she delved deeper into the art of storytelling.
Carmen’s professional path initially led her to journalism, where she honed her skills for about five years before taking the plunge into the world of fiction. The road to becoming a published author was no easy feat for Carmen. It took perseverance and dedication to secure that first publishing deal, marking the beginning of her career. In this exclusive interview, I’ll delve into Carmen’s creative process, her inspirations, and the adventures she embarks upon through the lives of her characters. Join me as I unravel the story behind the storyteller, exploring the mind and experiences that have shaped Carmen Reid into the celebrated author she is today.
Introduction:
Cyra: Could you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your writing background? What inspired you to become a writer, and how did your writing journey begin?
Carmen: I’m Carmen Reid, an author from Glasgow, Scotland. For many years now I’ve been writing mainly women’s fiction, but also some YA fiction. I like to create characters who should quickly feel like your new best friends. I want to take you on an emotional journey through their lives, with plenty of laughs and adventures on the way. I was always interested in reading and writing from a young age.
I was good at English at school and loved writing stories. I studied English Literature at university. First of all, I was a journalist for about five years, then I started writing fiction. It took a long time to get that first publishing deal and to build up a career as an author.
Creative Process:
Cyra: Could you share a glimpse into your creative process? How do you approach developing ideas and turning them into stories? Do you have any specific rituals or habits that help you get into the writing zone?
Carmen: I usually start with quite a vague idea and keep working and working on a synopsis and on developing my characters. I don’t usually start writing until I have a good idea of where the story is going, most of the major plot points, and a good handle on the main characters.
I don’t like the feeling of suddenly getting ‘lost’ about 50,000 words in! Once I’m writing a book, I like to keep going all the way to the end, then I turn back and start editing. I think it’s important to keep up that momentum. I hope it means readers will want to keep on reading too.
Writing Influences:
Cyra: Who are some of your favorite authors or literary influences, and how have they shaped your own writing style? Are there any books or works that have had a profound impact on your writing career?
Carmen: I read all kinds of fiction. Some of the authors I’ve read the most include Anne Tyler, John Irving, John Le Carre, Anthony Trollope, fellow Scottish author and good friend, Shari Low, Marian Keyes, Candace Bushnell, Sophie Kinsella, Jill Mansell, Louisa May Alcott.
Probably Little Women by Louisa May Alcott was the most important book because this had a central character, Jo, who knew she was going to be a writer and have a creative life. As a 12-year-old reading that story, I didn’t know any writers and I didn’t meet any for years, so Jo was a role model.
Overcoming Challenges:
Cyra: What challenges have you faced as a writer, and how did you overcome them? How do you handle writer’s block or periods of self-doubt?
Carmen: Almost every writer’s career is going to come with ups and downs, highs and lows. Some books do well and readers connect with them, some books just don’t! And sometimes, it has nothing to do with you. I’ve worried so much in the past about ‘what kind of book do people want from me?’ but now, I focus on the book I want to write, the book I would like to read.
Mainly, I want to give people a friend in a book and a story that makes them laugh and feel uplifted and inspired because there’s quite enough difficult stuff going on out there in the world. If I’m feeling uninspired, I generally take a walk, watch a film, or have a bath! Usually, when you clear your head, that’s when the good ideas come. If you want to be a better writer, just write! Nothing else will improve your writing like this does.
Character Development:
Cyra: How do you approach developing compelling and relatable characters in your stories? Are there any strategies or exercises you use to ensure your characters feel authentic and three-dimensional?
Carmen: This is one of my favorite parts of the writing process – developing three-dimensional characters that feel real and relatable. I’ve always been fascinated by psychology, and so I love to consider different types of personalities and personality traits. Sometimes, my characters are inspired by real people I know, and other times, a certain type of character just fits a particular story.
A lot of the female characters I write (and some male characters actually!) have a little slice of myself in them. People are never simply what they seem, and I feel that characters are the same.
Creative Inspiration:
Cyra: Where do you find inspiration for your stories? Are there any specific themes or topics you enjoy exploring in your writing?
Carmen: Good question! I suppose many characters are a little bit based on me, and maybe someone I know, then with some other character traits thrown into the mix. I do think writing is quite like acting as you have to try and imagine what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes.
Personal Reflection:
Cyra: Is there a particular book or project you are most proud of? Could you share the story behind it? What is the most rewarding aspect of being a writer for you?
Carmen: I am probably most proud of my first ever rom-com release – The Next Worst Thing. This was an enemies-to-lovers, brother’s best friend romcom that was my first foray into writing comedy. I LOVED being able to exercise some humor around the romance and storytelling. E2L is also one of my favorite tropes and I loved playing around with it.
At the time, I was visiting a friend in the UK, and so this inspired the main male character to be British, which was fun. I fell in love with writing romcoms during that book though, and I haven’t looked back!
Creative Inspiration:
Cyra: Where do you find inspiration for your stories? Are there any specific themes or topics you enjoy exploring in your writing?
Carmen: Family life, friendships, what has happened to me in the past, other stories I’ve heard about or read about. Then sometimes, ideas just come at you completely out of the blue and I have no idea where they appeared from! Ideas can be like dreams, bubbling up from the mix of things happening at a subconscious level.
Personal Reflection:
Cyra: Is there a particular book or project you are most proud of? Could you share the story behind it? What is the most rewarding aspect of being a writer for you?
Carmen: I’m proud of all the books. I enjoy the research and I also enjoy the writing – finding new words, new characters and new ways to express emotions that have been felt many times before is a huge and rewarding challenge. I’m always interested in finding the humor, even at the saddest of times, as that can be what keeps us all going.
Editing and Revision:
Cyra: How important do you think the editing and revision process is for a writer? Could you share your approach to editing your own work? Do you have any suggestions for writers on how to improve their editing skills?
Carmen: Editing is so important. It makes the difference between an OK-ish book and an excellent book. I think you should expect to spend almost as much time editing your drafts as you did writing them. I write a rough ‘first draft’ then I go straight back and do my first edit. It’s not just about improving the writing, it’s about deepening the story and making the incidents and emotions around them much clearer.
Then I get input from my editor and one or two other trusted readers. After that, I go back and start the hard work of making the manuscript better.
Publishing and Marketing:
Cyra: What has been your experience with the publishing industry? Any advice for aspiring authors on finding agents or publishers? How do you navigate the world of book marketing and promotion? Any tips for authors looking to build their audience?
Carmen: The traditional route of finding an agent and letting them find you a publisher still has a lot of merit. Also, there are now many more digital publishers around, and they often take on writers directly. Then, of course, you can also self-publish much more easily now.
I would say, do plenty of research before you sign up with anyone, or go it alone. You need to find the agent, publisher, and publishing method that suits you. If you think you could write more than one book a year and you love social media and building an audience, maybe self-publishing or a digital-first publisher is for you. If you want a more traditional publishing career, pursue the traditional route.
It’s important to think about other sources of income because not many writers make all their money from writing alone. But, then again, social media, blogging, writing articles for publications, doing events – these are all ways to build your audience and make more income. My best advice would be, keep going! We always hear about the authors whose first book was an amazing success, but usually, it takes years and many books to build up a successful career.
Advice for Budding Writers:
Cyra: What advice would you give aspiring authors just starting their writing journey? How do you handle rejection and criticism in the publishing world?
Carmen: Enjoy the journey. Enjoy every little success that comes. Make your work as good as it can be, then don’t be afraid to share it with the world. Helpful criticism is a positive thing, you can learn from it, but you certainly can’t please all of the people all of the time.
Favorite Quote:
Cyra: What’s your favorite quote that keeps you going in life?
Carmen: This is the hardest question ever!!! So many! Let’s go with: Keep looking forward with a smile!
Future Projects:
Cyra: Could you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or books you’re currently working on? Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers and aspiring writers?
Carmen: Next year (2024) is going to be super busy! I have two new novels coming out, so I’m on a deadline right now. I’m also planning two non-fiction books, which should be interesting. Plus, I have a queue of backlist titles that are going to be re-edited, re-covered, and re-published. So, looking forward to all the action ahead.
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