Please welcome Carolyn Summer Quinn to my blog. “Good morning, Carolyn! Please sit down. I’m thrilled to have you on my blog today. Carolyn is an award-winning Author of fifteen books.”

Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.

Greetings from New York City!  I’m an Author and Photographer.  I grew up singing show tunes in the suburbs of New Jersey and particularly like anything to do with the 1920s, the clothes, cars, styles, music – everything!

Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?

I’ve been writing stories since I learned how to write in the first grade.  I loved it right from the start!

How difficult was it writing your first book?  

My first book was MAMA ROSE’S TURN.  It was a biography of Gypsy Rose Lee’s mother, Rose Hovick, whose unorthodox parenting style inspired the beloved Broadway musical GYPSY.  The writing wasn’t difficult, but the amount of research I had to do was enormous!  It took two and a half years of meticulous research in my spare time while working full time as well.  When all was said and done, it was well worth all that effort.  The musical was written by playwright Arthur Laurents, and it’s fantastic, but he freely admitted it was “75% fictionalized.”  I found an entirely different story by looking into old newspaper articles, official records like the census, the family’s archives, and interviewing people who knew Rose or were her relatives.

Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you? 

No, I’ve never wanted to give up.  I am writing because I enjoyed it.  If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t do it.  I’m always rather astounded at some of the authors who say it’s a chore for them to write because I must wonder what’s going on there. 

Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?

My parents were very supportive, and so was my godmother, but they’re all gone now.  It’s my friends and cousins who are my cheering section now!

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

If you enjoy writing and have an idea for a book, go for it!  Start to write and see where it goes.  To those who think they’re untrained, keep in mind that Dame Agatha Christie was one of the bestselling authors of all time – and she never went to school for a day in her life.

What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?

My father said the best attitude to have, especially in the face of any naysayers, is, “Hooray for me – to heck with you!”  And the lady who ran the musical theater I participated in during the summertime in my town used to say, “Don’t let the idiots get you down.”  In both cases I’ve cleaned up the language they used in those two phrases, tee hee!

What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

I’ve written in three different genres, including two books for middle school students, but my main target audience is adults.  My favorite genre is cozy mysteries and historical fiction.  One of my most recent books, UNTIL THE STARS ALIGN, is about the Kindertransport and World War II, when Jewish children were sent to foster homes in the United Kingdom to escape persecution.  That one is historical fiction.  So far UNTIL THE STARS ALIGN has won eleven writing awards!  And a mystery I wrote, THERE’S NO CURE FOR IMPOSSIBLE, was the Cozy Mystery Award Winner at the American Fiction Awards this year, too.

Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you? 

I pick out all the images for the covers then work with an artist who puts them together for me.  Here’s how that evolved.  One of my first books was for middle-grade students and I needed a cover with a nice picture of a 12-year-old girl on it.  I was working with a different artist than the one I use now, and she found this utterly ridiculous picture of a girl who looked like a 15-year-old Lolita type!  It didn’t work.  From that point on I’ve had to insist on finding the images myself.  I found a better image for the cover of that book, NOW AND FOREVERMORE ARABELLA.

What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?

I’m working on THE MYSTERY FROM WAY BACK WHEN.  It’s set during the 1940s and 1980s in the Catholic neighborhood where my father grew up.  It isn’t finished yet, but it’s coming along.

Any last words before we wrap things up?

I’d just like to say to other writers when they’re first starting out, as the old song says, “Don’t give up the ship!”  Keep going!  Give it a whirl!

Book Link

https://www.carolynsummerquinn.com

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