Carolyn J. Rose is the author
of the popular Subbing isn’t for Sissies series (No Substitute for Murder, No
Substitute for Money, No Substitute
for Maturity and No Substitute for
Myth), as well as the Catskill Mountains mysteries (Hemlock Lake, Through a
Yellow Wood, and The Devil’s
Tombstone). Other works include An
Uncertain Refuge, Sea of Regret
She grew up inNew York 's Catskill Mountains,
graduated from the University of Arizona , logged two years in Arkansas
with Volunteers in Service to America ,
and spent 25 years as a television news researcher, writer, producer, and
assignment editor in Arkansas , New Mexico , Oregon , and Washington Vancouver ,
Washington
She grew up in
Carolyn, it's great to have you back on the blog.
You've lived in several areas of the country. How has your environment
affected your writing?
Two environments have
affected me the most—the Catskill Mountains of New York where I grew up, and Vancouver , Washington
The feeling of being rooted
but also yearning to break away that I had as a teenager figures in the plot of
Hemlock Lake
My Subbing isn’t for Sissies
series is set in Reckless River , Washington , a fictional town that has a lot in common
with Vancouver
How many books have you
written?
Counting one I trashed, three
now out of print (and staying that way), and six co-written with my husband,
the total is 19 going on 20. I just started on the fifth Subbing isn’t for
Sissies book. (Working title: No
Substitute for Mistakes.)
WOW!
Give a short synop of your
most recently published book, No Substitute for Myth.
No Substitute for Myth:
Is Bigfoot prowling around Reckless River , Washington
Barbara Reed doesn’t know if
she believes the legendary creature exists, but evidence is stacking up.
Something big is scavenging for food in city parks. Something tall and heavy
left footprints across a dirt parking lot. And something huge and hairy
careened into her one night on the riverfront trail.
Did that same creature kill a
man and drag his body into a swamp? Or was the killer human? Will justice be
undermined by media frenzy, a tide of tourism, and hundreds of hunters?
With help from the usual
suspects, Barb, her drug-cop boyfriend, her pearl-powered wealthy neighbor, and
Cheese Puff, her less-than-loyal dog, set out to solve a mystery, catch a
murderer, and bust a few myths along the way.
I love Cheese Puff!
How much of yourself is
hidden in the characters in the book?
Instead of hidden, I’d use
the phrase “thinly disguised.” My main characters share a lot the attitudes and
opinions I’ve had at different times of my life. And most of them can’t resist
snack food or a BLT on rye with crispy bacon. They’re pretty outspoken and
sarcastic, love dogs, prefer small towns to cities, like a frothy rum drink now
and then, and think we’d make more progress in government if we took some of the
politicians out of politics.
What challenges did you face
while writing this book?
Sitting. Cutting back on the
snacking. Getting through the dreaded middle.
Thanks to a special cushion
that helps my sciatic nerve pain, I am now able to sit comfortably for longer
periods of time, but I make an effort to get up every 20 minutes and move
around. Unfortunately, moving around generally takes me in the direction of the
kitchen, the lair of the cheesy snacks. More unfortunately, my brain demands
carbohydrate fuel to generate ideas to get me out of the quicksand I
occasionally write myself into. If it wasn’t for water aerobics at the
community pool, I’d have to sew my lips shut so I wouldn’t have to shop for
clothing at a tent store.
LOL! And did I mention, dear readers, that Carolyn Rose has a great sense of humor that runs through her stories?
Do you travel to do research
or for inspiration? Can you share some special places with us?
To get the feel for The Devil’s Tombstone, I read a number
of articles on the geology of the Catskills and went back to those mountains in
April of 2014. That’s the time of year when the book begins, a season when the
sun casts long shadows, wind soughs through the pines and hemlocks, and ice may
still clog the lakes. One theme of the book is the legend surrounding a huge
rock, a glacial erratic. I wanted to see and touch some of these rocks carried
by glaciers and left behind when the ice sheets retreated. Fortunately, I was
able to convince my brother (Lorin Rose) and my cover-designing cousin (Dorion
Rose) to come along and carry the sandwiches. More fortunately, the hike wasn’t
so arduous that they had to carry me on the return trip.
I get plenty of inspiration
for the Subbing isn’t for Sissies series every day that I show up to sub at my
favorite Vancouver , WA Columbia River
or streams that run through the city. Thinking about what creatures might be
lurking in the forest along a greenbelt trail gave me the inspiration for No Substitute for Myth.
And, I confess I’d been
watching several TV shows featuring teams hunting for Bigfoot. I’m always ready
to make popcorn and slouch on the couch for an hour or so and take in a mystery
or a Bigfoot hunt.
What do you think is the greatest
lesson you’ve learned about writing so far?
To let my characters express
their opinions. I used to hold back because a writing coach told me my
characters were too over-the-top. I also worried what people would think of me
because of what my characters said and did. As a result, my characters were
flat. Now I let them cut loose and splatter their thoughts on the pages.
I'm so glad you do, Carolyn.
What advice can you give new
writers?
Don’t get discouraged. Don’t
give up. And don’t let others define “success” for you. If you’re able to do it,
take money out of the equation and write for the joy of sharing your stories
with people you’ve never met and may never meet. I did end-zone happy dances
when I saw I’d sold books in Malta ,
Angola , Ecuador , and Singapore
Where do you store ideas for
later use: in your head, in a notebook, or on a spreadsheet?
Everywhere BUT on a
spreadsheet. I have four bulletin boards in my office, all layered with scraps
of paper, cartoons, articles, file cards, and photographs. I also keep
notebooks for each series with character and setting details.
We all know how important
promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online?
I’m terrible at this. I use
Facebook and blog for a few other authors and I have a tiny mailing list. I
don’t Tweet. I’m an example of what NOT to do.
I don't tweet either. I never quite figured out how or even why.
Can you tell us your future
writing goals/projects?
I’d like to write at least
two more in the subbing series, and then tackle a mystery/love story with
paranormal elements.
Where can folks learn more
about your books and events?
Check my website: www.deadlyduomysteries.com and my Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003515CZ4
Are your books available in
print and ebook formats? (please provide the buy link for easy reader
accessibility)
Amazon Links:
Kobo Links:
Nook Links:
Both books are available as
trade paperbacks.
