Author Dialogue 10: With Shy Retiring “Birmingham Girls” Writer Carol Arnall

The Author's Memoir

Like so many other authors and virtual friends, I met Carol via the Social Media a few months ago. Unlike others, Carol only lives about 25 miles away from me. We have promised each other a coffee in her country house, but that date is yet to come, sometime in the Spring of 2012. I have also read her book Birmingham Girls. Yes, you’ve guessed it – it’s actually set in the great city where I have lived in the past nine years and loving it. While I was reading her memoir, I felt as if I was having a leisure chitchat with her over a cup of English tea, so I guess in a way I know her quite well already . 

Today I’m welcoming her to my blog for a nice easy chat, over a virtual cup of coffee, or an Earl Grey, if you prefer. Carol, can you please tell us something unique about yourself? 

I am me.

Haha! For a moment, I thought I’ve seen your body-double Carol, lovely to have you here  

Who, living or dead, do you most admire? 

My son, who is very much alive. He is a total inspiration to me.

He must be delighted to hear that from his devoted Mum. What inspired you to write your latest book? 

I suffer from claustrophobia. Speaking to friends I realised how wide spread this phobia is, it is quite debilitating once it gets a grip.  I researched the causes and possible cures. One day Chrissie James and her family jumped into my head. I had to write her story.

Wonderful! Tell us about your favourite book/author and if they influence your writing, and how?

My favourite authors are Ken Follet, Barbara Erskine and Diana Gabalon. I don’t think they influence my writing.

Thank you for the list – I must check them out  

Do you have a routine for writing? How long does it take you to complete your current book?

I spend a couple of hours in the afternoon writing or researching. It can take me one to two years or longer to finish the first draft.

Carol's Embroidery

What do you do when you’re not writing? What’s your favourite pastime?

I enjoy walking, reading, fabric painting and embroidery.

Interesting hobbies. I love reading and don’t mind walking either, but fabric painting and embroidery are skills quite beyond me, I’m afraid  

Do you use Social Media for promoting your work and communicating with other writers? What’s your take on it?

Yes.

I enjoy some aspects of the social media but try not to spend too much time on it! I fail miserably!

Don’t we all?! That is one of my New Year Resolutions for 2012, and so far I have not been successful, Lol. 

Do your characters talk to you? Have you ever used people you know as a character? 

My characters chatter away in my head constantly, they drive me nuts at times! I have never consciously used anyone I know as a book character. Sometimes different character traits of people I have met get jumbled into one character.

I know exactly what you mean, Carol. 

If you could go anywhere in the world to write your book. where would it be?

Meols on the Wirral –May I time travel back to the 1980s for this please?

If I had that magic power, yes, you can go back whenever you wish and to whichever time period you fancy  

Finally, a challenge for you: describe your latest novel within 140 characters, as in a tweet.

The Other Place, has  many twists and turns it is a must read.

About the Author: It was following a serious road accident in the late 1980s that I decided as I could not return to work, I would write a book. Having always had an interest in the Supernatural – I read the tarot cards for a while – the booklet was obviously always going to be about ghosts. When I was reading the cards many people told me ghost stories, so with their permission these were included. Local papers were always helpful in publishing my appeals for stories, and there was no shortage of people willing to share their ghostly tales.

My first ghost booklet Mystical Staffordshire, appeared in the early 1990s. I really only intended writing one, but as it was so popular I wrote another, then another. Numerous ghostly booklets later I combined them into Mysterious Happenings.

Author Carol Arnall

I have also written other books, Memories of Rugeley, Dreams Explained, Birmingham Girls, Choosing Your Psychic Pathway

I decided to turn my hand to writing fiction in 2007, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of writing Dancing with Spirits and Spirits of the Lights the sequel. Both are full of mystical happening.

Links where you can reach Carol and her books: www.carolarnall.com