Carolyn Arnold Archives - Stacy EatonStacy Eaton

Welcome to Sunday morning Coffee Chat time!

Today’s guest is Carolyn Arnold!

It is a true pleasure to have Carolyn hear today! I’ve known Carolyn for a few years and I have read quite a few of her books.? Let me just start out by saying, I love her writing. If you like police procedural, you’re going to love Carolyn’s books! Welcome Carolyn!

CA: Hello everyone. I?m honored to be here today. Stacy, thank you for having me as a guest.

You are quite welcome – so glad you joined me! So to get us started, I have to ask this, coffee or tea?

CA: Coffee, hands down. I can live without tea?but coffee? It?s probably best not to find out. LOL

I so totally get that! I love coffee – personally I can’t get enough! So let’s get started and why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself. We know you?re an author, but do you work another job when you are not writing?

CA: I do. I work three days a week in an office where my main responsibility is accounts receivable.

Ah! That is probably one of the few jobs I have never done. Lucky you, not having to work a full time job and getting so much awesome time to write! Before we get to all that tell us what is your favorite thing to do when you aren?t writing or working?

CA: To name a few, I love reading or watching movies, going out with friends, trying new things, taking off at the last minute for a little getaway (it doesn?t have to be anything fancy?even to go visit with my sister for a few days; she lives about five hours away), sitting on my patio on sunny days and enjoying my flowers.

Who doesn’t love a last minute getaway! What is your favorite color?

CA: Red.

Why?

CA: It?s bold yet comforting, to me. It?s the color of my kitchen and dining room. Yes, to some it might seem to be too much, but it?s resonates with me and I can?t imagine a better color for the rooms.

Good thing you don’t do crime scenes, you might get to comfortable with all the red blood, lol… So what is your favorite season and why?

CA: Tough one. I love the snow in the winter. Yes, I?m odd that way. It?s not like I get involved with outdoor winter activities, but I love to sip a glass of red while watching the snowflakes come down.? On the flipside of that, I love sunshine, my patio, and watering flowers.

lol… So you like them both. I’ll skip the snowflake part!? Let me ask you this, if you could live anyplace on earth, where would it be? Why?

CA: Another tough question. I?d have to say as long as I had my husband and friends around me, pretty much anywhere would do. I am more drawn to large towns (or small cities)?somewhere in between the bustle of a major city and the country.

That’s a good mix! Now, if you could have any car, what would it be?

CA: A Corvette, hands down.

lol.. I wouldn’t mind one of those myself! So now we know a little bit about you, let’s get into your writing. How long have your been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby?

CA: I used to write as a teenager, and at the time always thought it would be quite the accomplishment to write a full-length novel. I took it seriously enough to write to Harlequin (I started off writing romance) for their submission guidelines as a teenager. Life, however, diverted that path for about thirteen years.? I got married, moved far away from where I grew up, and it was only by a chance request that writing was re-introduced into my life.

Since then I have never looked back. Writing is a part of me. It will be until my dying breath.

Personally, I am so glad that you came back to writing! I love your stories!

CA: And, you know, even when I hadn?t made a penny, no one was to call it a hobby. It is so much more than that. I don?t make money from my writing, I make it from sharing my passion with readers.

So very true! How many hours a day do you devote to writing?

CA: This all depends on the day and the schedule. I tried something new the start of this year and it?s working out quite well. I decided how many titles I?d like to release and when. From there, I figured out what I had to do, and when, in order to reach those goals. And the result? I?ve stuck to it. I?ve written five novellas, and published 5 titles so far this year.

HOLY COW!!! I thought I was a busy woman! You go girl!

CA: The trick is making a schedule that works and, along with that, also allowing flexibility.

With this schedule, when it?s weeks that I?m writing, I aim for a minimum of 2,000 words a day. When I?m on a roll, I can do 1500-1700 in an hour so it?s not an unreasonable target.

Absolutely not! I’m so dang proud of you! Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes?

CA: See, even though, I have a schedule, I can?t help it when scenes for future books pop into my head! I have to write them down. So, I?d say a blend of both.

Very good! Is there some place special you like to be when you write?

CA: I?ve actually become spoiled in the last year. Hubby and I made over our 2^nd bedroom into an office. This will be my first summer with it and I believe I?ll stick to working inside?at least with edits. Other years, I?d take the laptop out to the patio and write there.? Who knows, though? There is a lot of summer to come.

It’s hard to switch things around when it works for you, isn’t it. I’ve thought about taking my laptop outside to write too, but find myself at my desk instead. Do you listen to music or do you need a quiet place to write?

Most times, I prefer tomb silent. The only risk with this is when one of my beagles decides there?s something to bark about. When I?m deep into writing, this can really jar me. LOL

I have used music at times to immerse myself further into a scene, but it?s a rarity.

I bet the doggies do jar you! So, now let’s start talking about some of your books. What is the name of it and is it part of a series or a stand alone novel?

CA: I?m not sure which book to pick, but I?ll go with my first in my Madison Knight series, Ties that Bind. This series, as are all of mine, is designed as stand alone, meaning that each book is self-contained and they don?t have to read in any particular order.

Oh, no! You can’t miss one! These are awesome – I love them all! Madison is a freaking trip! Where did the idea come from??

CA: Detective Madison Knight came as the result of what I loved to read and watch?cop shows. But what I noticed with most of them, was that the women played a supporting role, standing behind a strong, male partner. I wanted to switch that around. This is how Maddy was born.

hehehee – I’m all about strong police woman! Look at me! What is the series about?

CA: The series is basically a blend between Law & Order and CSI. Readers have compared the series and my writing style to JD Robb?s In Death series, Tess Gerritsen, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, and more.

In Ties that Bind, Madison must race to stop a potential serial killer.

You know, those are some pretty impressive names to live up too! Very cool. Give us an overview of the story.

CA: Detective Madison Knight concluded the case of a strangled woman an isolated incident. But when another woman’s body is found in a park killed with the same line of neckties, she realizes they’re dealing with something more serious.

Despite mounting pressure from the Sergeant and Chief to close the case even if it means putting an innocent man behind bars, and a partner who is more interested in saving his marriage than stopping a potential serial killer, Madison may have to go it alone if there’s not going to be another victim.

I know I loved it – and I’m sure other’s will too!? Tell us about your upcoming projects.

CA: I have a lot of projects on the go. Presently, I have three series and have plans for a fourth. The fourth, likely to come out the end of 2015/early 2016 will be an action adventure series?think Indiana Jones.

This year has seen already been exciting with the 2^nd release in my Brandon Fisher FBI Series, and the introduction of a new series, McKinley Mysteries. This year will still see the release of the fifth (not counting the prequel) in the Madison Knight Series, and the third in the Brandon Fisher FBI Series.

I have to admit, I haven’t read the Brandon Fisher series yet, and I need to remedy that!

With my latest series, I now proudly offer my readers all aspects of the spectrum. My FBI series taps into the dark cases and there is foul language and graphic violence. McKinley Mysteries promise none of this, while my Madison Knight series is middle of the road with minimal occurrences of each.

It all sounds great Carolyn!? Thank you so much for coming to visit with use today!

To check out more on Carolyn Arnold you can find her at the following places:

Website: http://carolynarnold.net/

Blog: http://sassy3421.blogspot.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold

Purchase links:

Amazon