Thanks for inviting me here,
Charlie. I’ve met so many wonderful people online, especially within the
writing community. I appreciate this opportunity to connect with your readers.
What’s your name, and
where are you from?
You’ll
find me online under three names—Careann was the pseudonym I used when I
began blogging, because it was my Shetland Sheepdog kennel’s name and the name
I used when painting, so I felt comfortable hiding behind it as a writer. Iris Whyte is identified with my Young
Adult short stories. And eventually I owned up to my real identity, Carol J. Garvin. I added the “J” when I
discovered another artist and writer in Florida with the same name.
How long have you
been writing?
It
depends what genre we’re talking about. I was sketching and writing bad poetry
since I was ten. Fortunately none of it survived my childhood! I’ve been writing
non-fiction—devotionals, magazine articles, and book reviews—since the
early-1990s, but didn’t begin my first novel until 2000.
What genre(s) do you
write?
At one time
I would have said contemporary suspense, but my stories seem to have evolved
into inspirational romantic suspense.
What’s your current
WIP? Can you tell us about it?
My
current story is still in the unfinished draft stage and apt to go through a metamorphosis
or two before it develops into anything we’d want to talk about. But my last
completed novel is tentatively titled SHOWDOWN and is the story of what happens
when a couple’s addiction to purebred dogs and the world of dog shows gets out
of control. The price of success is costly!
What’s your current
day job? How does it help or hinder your writing?
My current
one? I’m retired. Sort of. I’ve been a teacher, secretary, and film consultant,
but most recently for a dozen years I ran my own professional dog show
business. Its workload was a feast-or-famine thing. I’d work eighteen hours a
day for several days, then coast for a week. A writing routine didn’t exist.
During that period I snatched time to jot down words whenever they occurred to
me. Most of my writing was non-fiction then, with shorter pieces that I could
complete in bursts of writing.
I’m
also a pastor’s wife, so there are church commitments, plus I’m the Director of
Music. Fortunately, I like being organized, and now that my time is less
chaotic, I compartmentalize my various tasks, staking claim to mornings and
late nights for my writing. The continuity is necessary when I’m writing a
novel.
Who is your favorite
author?
You’d have
to be more specific. What genre? J
I enjoy Jodie Picoult, Barbara Delinsky, John Grisham, Diana Gabaldon, Linda
Hall, Maeve Binchy, Robert Service, Dan Walsh, James Scott Bell, Jody Hedlund,
Jane Kirkpatrick… and so many more, each one for different reasons.
Favorite book?
Oh, dear! Do
I really have to pick just one? One
of Barbara Delinsky’s novels made a big impact on me a few years ago. SHADES OF
GRACE brought me face to face with Alzheimer’s Disease just when a dear
friend’s husband was dealing with it. And then a couple years later my father
was diagnosed. Perhaps the story was more poignant because of its relevancy,
but its one I’ve never forgotten. I wasn’t a fan of her early romances, but
I’ve read everything she’s written since that one.
What other hobbies or
activities do you do outside of writing?
In a
nutshell… photography, oil painting, gardening, music and, of course,
loving/raising/training/exhibiting purebred dogs… Shetland Sheepdogs and
Labrador Retrievers.
What is something
unique about yourself?
………. (that’s silence while I try to think of
something!) I know God has created everyone with distinct strengths and
abilities, but I’m not sure I can identify something truly unique about myself.
Does it count that I was the Grade One teacher of the astronaut Robert Thirsk?
I did a blog post about that a few years ago—http://wp.me/phaYw-cs
Do you have a blog,
Twitter, and/or Web site we can link to?
I do —
Careann’s
Musings is my blog at http://careann.wordpress.com
I’m
@caroljgarvin on Twitter,
Carol Garvin
on Facebook, and
CarolJGarvin
on Google+
Thanks again, Charlie. This has been
fun!
Nice to meet you, Carol. You sound pretty busy, but that's great you can organize your time to be able to do so much!
ReplyDeleteNot so busy anymore. Being retired is nice; you get to choose what occupies you. :)
DeleteI don't know a lot, but one thing is for sure, Carol J. Garvin is a rare and precious being, who I had the honour of meeting awhile back. Good for you for introducing this delightful and wondering lady to your blog readers, Charlie. I joined your blog because you obvious have great taste.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, Joylene! I think you've mistaken me for someone else!
DeleteI enjoyed this interview. I've been reading Carol's blog for awhile now and must say it is time well spent :) I've learned much and been greatly encouraged.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brooke. I've also learned things from blogs such as yours that share reflections and life experiences with gentleness, faith and simplicity. Our cyber community is awesome!
DeleteGreat interview with an awesome woman! :)
ReplyDeleteI remember how surprised I was when I found out Iris Whyte is my mom...lol (that should confuse a few people unless they've been following along closely).
Why did I show up as unknown? Aw, I feel so invisible....
DeleteIt's me...really, it is!
DeleteYes, I'm sure that will confuse anyone who didn't know there's a mother-and-daughter writing duo skulking around cyberspace! That's what must have caused the invisibility... the skulking. But I can vouch for you. You really are you. LOL!
DeleteA-HA! IRIS WHYTE...love it! And I'm going to have to get that Delinsky novel --and really, wouldn't being invisible be a hoot :) Gotta agree, you are one "awesome woman" ! ! !
DeleteCharlie, I just realized I didn't completely answer your first question! I'm so sorry. "Where I'm from" is Canada's west coast... living rurally in a suburb of Vancouver, BC.
ReplyDelete