Carol’s Comments (group member since Oct 06, 2013)

Carol’s comments from the Q&A with Carol Goodman group.

Kendra Levin. A wonderful editor!

1. I wrote two novels before I sold Lake. No, I don't really think about publishing those, although recently I thought about rewriting one (the second one), but it would take a total rewrite. I think there's a reason why they didn't sell!
2. I couldn't get an agent for those two novels (I tried about 20 for each), but I did get one on the third novel. The agent worked with me on a rewrite and then she was able to sell that book pretty quickly.
3. Write what you believe in and try not to think about publishing while you're writing it. The best part of the whole process is the actual writing. The one thing I think I'd do differently if I could go back ten years is that I'd have kept teaching instead of writing full time so I never had to rely on income from my books to make a living. I think it puts a lot of stress on the writing to have to depend on it for an income.

Ha! Yes, they are. I guess when I came up with the idea of writing about a demon lover the sex kind of came with it! I couldn't very well write a book about an incubus and NOT have any sex. Thanks for noticing :)

Theresa wrote: "Carol, it is so good to see you here! I hope I haven't missed the discussion. The Lake of Dead Languages, The Sonnet Lover and The Night Villa are three of my most favorite books ever! I've always ..."
Hi, Theresa! The discussion is just getting off the ground. Thank you for your kind words about my books! Oh gosh, I think of Jane Hudson (Lake), Rose Asher (Sonnet Lover), and Sophie Chase (The Night Villa) from time to time. I think there's a little bit of me in all of them. Jane has my Latin teaching background, Rose my old house in Austin, and Sophie my junior year abroad in Italy! Then again, I've never gone to a private boarding school (Jane), discovered the identity of Shakespeare's dark lady (Sophie), or gotten lost in the tunnels under Herculaneum (Rose).
Actually I'm working on a non-fantasy mystery right now (okay, it may have a ghost, but no fairies), but I can't say when it will come out yet.

Carole wrote: "Carol wrote: "Did you have any questions about Lake of Dead Languages, The Seduction of Water, Arcadia Falls, or any of my other books? Ask them here!"

Hi Carol
My favourite book of yours is call..."

I'm so glad you like Demon Lover. That actually came to me pretty quickly. The idea came to me while walking in a woods that was overgrown with honeysuckle vines. I became possessed by the story and started writing it even though I was supposed to be writing something else! My publisher thought that I should use the pseudonym to distinguish between my non-fantasy books and fantasy books, although honestly, I think there's a logical progression from the non-fantasy books, with their fairy tale themes, to the fantasy books where the fairies are real.

Diana wrote: "I was also curious what inspires the fairy tale elements? I love how you incorporate them into your novels and I find myself researching to find the ones you mention. Were you more into fairy tal..."

I've always loved fairy tales, from childhood, but increasingly as an adult. And I love writers who incorporate fairy tales into their fiction, from Charlotte Bronte to Angela Carter to Holly Black.

Diana wrote: "The Ghost Orchid and Arcadia Falls are two of my favorite books, though I love them all. What inspired you to include the difficult subject of death and suicide? You are very good at including ele..."

I think I see those darker elements as part of the whole picture. Just today in my writing class we were talking about the death card in tarot, and one of my students pointed out that it's not really a negative card because it can also represent rebirth and new beginnings. So the darkness puts the brighter elements in perspective. Not to spoil any endings, but my books always end pretty happily, so the dark doesn't actually win. It's just part of the process.

Good question! I become very attached to my main character and always stay focused on her, but sometimes the secondary characters can be more fun. I really liked writing Helen because she's had a totally different background from Ava--wealthy family, privileged upbringing--and can seem a bit superficial at first, but as we get to know her we learn that she's much more complicated. She always surprised me, and I hope she surprises my readers too!

Anything else you want to ask feel free to ask it here!

Did you have any questions about Lake of Dead Languages, The Seduction of Water, Arcadia Falls, or any of my other books? Ask them here!

Any of your questions about Blythewood - from inspiration to research to the most obscure corners of the world — here!