It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome C. J. Carver onto the website today. Caroline is the author of 15 critically acclaimed novels that have been published in the UK, US and translated into several languages
Alex: Tell me a bit about yourself, Caroline.
Caroline: I was brought up on a farm in a household of book worms. When I invited a school friend to stay one summer, she later admitted to finding my family very peculiar because we read our books over breakfast. No conversation just the contented rustling of pages and the crunch of our cornflakes.
I wrote extensive diaries, but I didn’t turn to what I’d call real writing until I was in my thirties, and this only came about because I followed my dream: to drive from London to Saigon. On my return from the 14,500-mile journey, I was asked to write an article for Car Magazine, so I trotted to my local Waterstones and bought a book “How to write and sell travel articles”. Instructions under my belt, I wrote the piece, which to my delight was published as a double feature. More thrilling, however, was when they paid me twice the amount I was earning at Bath’s Royal United Hospital!
This gave me the boost to approach other outlets with my story and I ended up becoming a travel writer, and from there, I decided to go for broke, and write a book.
Ha! If only I’d known it wasn’t quite as easy as trotting out an article! Still, I gave it my best shot, and feeling wildly buoyant when I’d finished, I entered the Crime Writer’s Association’s Debut Dagger Award. It cost £10 to enter back then, and as soon as I’d parted with my money, I regretted it. I’d never win. What had I been thinking?
I forgot all about the CWA until to my absolute astonishment, months later, they contacted me to tell me I’d won. You could have knocked me over with a feather.
Blood Junction became the first of fifteen thrillers and I consider myself the luckiest person around to be doing something I love so much.
Alex: Tell me a bit about yourself, Caroline.
Caroline: I was brought up on a farm in a household of book worms. When I invited a school friend to stay one summer, she later admitted to finding my family very peculiar because we read our books over breakfast. No conversation just the contented rustling of pages and the crunch of our cornflakes.
I wrote extensive diaries, but I didn’t turn to what I’d call real writing until I was in my thirties, and this only came about because I followed my dream: to drive from London to Saigon. On my return from the 14,500-mile journey, I was asked to write an article for Car Magazine, so I trotted to my local Waterstones and bought a book “How to write and sell travel articles”. Instructions under my belt, I wrote the piece, which to my delight was published as a double feature. More thrilling, however, was when they paid me twice the amount I was earning at Bath’s Royal United Hospital!
This gave me the boost to approach other outlets with my story and I ended up becoming a travel writer, and from there, I decided to go for broke, and write a book.
Ha! If only I’d known it wasn’t quite as easy as trotting out an article! Still, I gave it my best shot, and feeling wildly buoyant when I’d finished, I entered the Crime Writer’s Association’s Debut Dagger Award. It cost £10 to enter back then, and as soon as I’d parted with my money, I regretted it. I’d never win. What had I been thinking?
I forgot all about the CWA until to my absolute astonishment, months later, they contacted me to tell me I’d won. You could have knocked me over with a feather.
Blood Junction became the first of fifteen thrillers and I consider myself the luckiest person around to be doing something I love so much.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to explore.
Caroline: I write thrillers. As a rally driver, I can write a mean car chase! According to one reviewer, I “give Lee Child a run for his money”, which kind of says it all really.
Although my books are tightly plotted and tick all the thriller boxes with action scenes and cliff-hangers, it’s the characters that interest me most. I also like to have a theme or topic I’m passionate about. For example, when I read an article by The Telegraph’s science correspondent Richard Gray, who stated that researchers had found they can use drugs to wipe away memories while leaving other memories intact, I wanted to know more!
I went on to explore the ramifications of such an amnesia drug, and so Spare Me the Truth was born.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Caroline: I definitely have a plan of where I’m going but nothing super-detailed because for me, this prevents the creative spark I can get when actually writing, which results in those plot twists that are totally blindsiding, even to me.
Caroline: I write thrillers. As a rally driver, I can write a mean car chase! According to one reviewer, I “give Lee Child a run for his money”, which kind of says it all really.
Although my books are tightly plotted and tick all the thriller boxes with action scenes and cliff-hangers, it’s the characters that interest me most. I also like to have a theme or topic I’m passionate about. For example, when I read an article by The Telegraph’s science correspondent Richard Gray, who stated that researchers had found they can use drugs to wipe away memories while leaving other memories intact, I wanted to know more!
I went on to explore the ramifications of such an amnesia drug, and so Spare Me the Truth was born.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Caroline: I definitely have a plan of where I’m going but nothing super-detailed because for me, this prevents the creative spark I can get when actually writing, which results in those plot twists that are totally blindsiding, even to me.
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Caroline: I was inspired to write Scare Me to Death after a hair-raising BA flight from Innsbruck to Bristol, which involved three aborted landings and a final emergency landing at Stanstead. My experience made me think about what I might do if I was in a plane that was forced to crash land, and how I’d react if I discovered my aeroplane had been sabotaged.
I really enjoyed writing my feisty, kick-ass character DC Lucy Davies, who becomes reunited with her father who she believed abandoned her when she was eight. When she learns this was a lie, she is forced to uncover the secrets he’s been holding all this time. Naturally, they’re not ordinary secrets, but deep and dangerous ones that lead Lucy to confront a vicious murderer…
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Caroline: It was either Peter Rabbit (terrifying) or Dr Seuss Green Eggs and Ham (weird but fabulous).
The first book I remember reading and genuinely loving was Wilbur Smith’s When the Lion Feeds. I was a teen and had never read such a gripping story. Rampaging through the jungles of East Africa, vanquishing lion and crocodile, falling in love and out was the Courtney family and I loved them all.
This trilogy inspired me to go to Africa, and it had a major effect on what I write today. I love writing action scenes and exploring family conflicts.
Caroline: I was inspired to write Scare Me to Death after a hair-raising BA flight from Innsbruck to Bristol, which involved three aborted landings and a final emergency landing at Stanstead. My experience made me think about what I might do if I was in a plane that was forced to crash land, and how I’d react if I discovered my aeroplane had been sabotaged.
I really enjoyed writing my feisty, kick-ass character DC Lucy Davies, who becomes reunited with her father who she believed abandoned her when she was eight. When she learns this was a lie, she is forced to uncover the secrets he’s been holding all this time. Naturally, they’re not ordinary secrets, but deep and dangerous ones that lead Lucy to confront a vicious murderer…
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Caroline: It was either Peter Rabbit (terrifying) or Dr Seuss Green Eggs and Ham (weird but fabulous).
The first book I remember reading and genuinely loving was Wilbur Smith’s When the Lion Feeds. I was a teen and had never read such a gripping story. Rampaging through the jungles of East Africa, vanquishing lion and crocodile, falling in love and out was the Courtney family and I loved them all.
This trilogy inspired me to go to Africa, and it had a major effect on what I write today. I love writing action scenes and exploring family conflicts.
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Caroline: I always immerse myself in research, learning as much as I can so I can – hopefully! – write with authority. The first draft tends to have quite a bit of this research in it, because it helps me put down what I need on paper, clarifying my thinking. This, however, is absolutely deadly to the reader, and once I know what I want to say and how to say it without using exposition (show, don’t tell!), all the technical and boring stuff is cut.
I tend to interview the people I need to learn about, usually over a casual lunch if I can. Interestingly, I’ve never been turned down for an interview (everyone loves a free lunch?!) and I’ve found that people , no matter if they’re a member of the SAS or a chief constable, love talking about themselves to someone who is 100% interested in every second of their day.
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Caroline: No. Never. That said, the characters I create have to come from somewhere! I guess there’s a bit of me in some of them and along with a variety of traits taken from people I’ve met, or know. But it’s a subconscious, and not a conscious thing for me.
Caroline: I always immerse myself in research, learning as much as I can so I can – hopefully! – write with authority. The first draft tends to have quite a bit of this research in it, because it helps me put down what I need on paper, clarifying my thinking. This, however, is absolutely deadly to the reader, and once I know what I want to say and how to say it without using exposition (show, don’t tell!), all the technical and boring stuff is cut.
I tend to interview the people I need to learn about, usually over a casual lunch if I can. Interestingly, I’ve never been turned down for an interview (everyone loves a free lunch?!) and I’ve found that people , no matter if they’re a member of the SAS or a chief constable, love talking about themselves to someone who is 100% interested in every second of their day.
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Caroline: No. Never. That said, the characters I create have to come from somewhere! I guess there’s a bit of me in some of them and along with a variety of traits taken from people I’ve met, or know. But it’s a subconscious, and not a conscious thing for me.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Caroline: Funnily enough, the book I most enjoyed recently and which I’ve been recommending to everyone, is Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce. It’s a charming novel about second chances and friendship, and I loved the adventure side of it when Miss Benson treks through the jungle in search of her beetle. Wonderful, life-affirming story telling.
Alex: How do you market your books?
Caroline: Do you know, I really struggle with self-publicity. I use social media, but with the amount of voices out there, especially after lockdown, it is increasingly difficult to be heard. I have fans who I keep in touch with, sending out a newsletter from time to time to keep them up to date, and I will always give a talk when invited, but it’s tough. I attend festivals, like the Harrogate Crime Festival and International Thriller Writers in the USA. The best bit is meeting readers and hanging out with authors afterwards at the bar!
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Caroline: Having been a farmer, I love the outdoors, so walking in the countryside or up a mountain rocks my boat. I love cycling too, as well as fishing, and since I married a pilot who built his own aeroplane in our garage – a fully aerobatic RV-8 that cruises at 200mph – I love flying too! We flew to the Isle of Wight last week for lunch, heaven!
To truly relax, however, I like nothing more than tucking up with a really good book in front of our wood burning stove.
Caroline: Funnily enough, the book I most enjoyed recently and which I’ve been recommending to everyone, is Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce. It’s a charming novel about second chances and friendship, and I loved the adventure side of it when Miss Benson treks through the jungle in search of her beetle. Wonderful, life-affirming story telling.
Alex: How do you market your books?
Caroline: Do you know, I really struggle with self-publicity. I use social media, but with the amount of voices out there, especially after lockdown, it is increasingly difficult to be heard. I have fans who I keep in touch with, sending out a newsletter from time to time to keep them up to date, and I will always give a talk when invited, but it’s tough. I attend festivals, like the Harrogate Crime Festival and International Thriller Writers in the USA. The best bit is meeting readers and hanging out with authors afterwards at the bar!
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Caroline: Having been a farmer, I love the outdoors, so walking in the countryside or up a mountain rocks my boat. I love cycling too, as well as fishing, and since I married a pilot who built his own aeroplane in our garage – a fully aerobatic RV-8 that cruises at 200mph – I love flying too! We flew to the Isle of Wight last week for lunch, heaven!
To truly relax, however, I like nothing more than tucking up with a really good book in front of our wood burning stove.
Alex: My goodness! Your husband sounds like a character straight out of my debut thriller who also builds aeroplanes in his garage. LOL! Swiftly moving on, which authors do you particularly admire and why?
Caroline: I think at the top of the pile is Dick Francis, whose books I devoured as a kid, and who I now re-read whenever I feel the need for the book equivalent of comfort food.
Francis became everyone’s favourite back in the day, and when you study his work you can see why. His books are incredibly readable but they are also much more profound than anyone gives him credit for. His prose is sharp and economical, his heroes believable and flawed, but decent.
It is genius to make such “easy reads” so incredibly deep. Dick Francis is one of the few authors who can also make me cry.
Alex: Thank you so much for your time, Caroline. It's been fascinating listening to you. The process of writing a book is an endlessly intriguing one. Everyone has their own particular path, not to mention style. I shall have to look out for Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce. And good luck with your latest book.
Caroline: It's been great to have an opportunity like this to talk about writing. And it's been a lot of fun, I have to admit. So thank you Alex.
Caroline: I think at the top of the pile is Dick Francis, whose books I devoured as a kid, and who I now re-read whenever I feel the need for the book equivalent of comfort food.
Francis became everyone’s favourite back in the day, and when you study his work you can see why. His books are incredibly readable but they are also much more profound than anyone gives him credit for. His prose is sharp and economical, his heroes believable and flawed, but decent.
It is genius to make such “easy reads” so incredibly deep. Dick Francis is one of the few authors who can also make me cry.
Alex: Thank you so much for your time, Caroline. It's been fascinating listening to you. The process of writing a book is an endlessly intriguing one. Everyone has their own particular path, not to mention style. I shall have to look out for Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce. And good luck with your latest book.
Caroline: It's been great to have an opportunity like this to talk about writing. And it's been a lot of fun, I have to admit. So thank you Alex.
