I have been blessed this month to be interviewed twice.
Judy Penz Sheluk’s debut novel, The Hangman’s Noose is an Amateur Sleuth with an Edge mystery. She also runs a series of interviews with authors on her blog. I am so happy to be part of her Interview With Authors Series.
Interview with an Author: Carol Balawyder
My guest today is Carol Balawyder. Carol holds degrees in both criminology and literature. It is this mixture that brings her to want to write crime novels, but it was her divorce that led her to write fiction about being single in mid-life.
Carol’s short stories have appeared in The Anthology of Canadian Authors Association, Room Magazine, Entre Les Lignes, Mindfulness.org and Carte Blanche. She also manages a blog where she posts series on: Female Nobel Prize Laureates, Famous Writers’ Desks, The Femme Fatale, Interviews with crime writers on How They Got Published, Ten Great First Dates and posts on writing.
Judy: Tell us a bit about your latest novel, Cafe Paradise
Carol: The protagonist in Cafe Paradise is Suzy Paradise (who also was one of the four main characters in Getting To Mr. Right). At fifty-two she’s finally fulfilling a long cherished dream of owning her own café when a giant chain opens across the street. As she fights to save her business she learns to re-define the meaning of work, family and romance so she can find her own formula for happiness.
Cafe Paradise takes place in two up-and-coming boroughs in Montreal.
Griffintown or The Grif, was quickly becoming a vibrant neighborhood. As part of a revitalization project, the city was building parks, playgrounds and bicycle paths in the area and attracting artists and hi-tech enterprises. It seemed like the perfect place to open a cafe .
The second setting is in The Plateau, specifically Prince Arthur Street.
The street had been Montreal’s hippie haven and the home of its counterculture movement in the ‘60s. A number of artists and playwrights still lived around the square.
What’s the best writing advice you have ever read continue reading here
The other interview was with Heather Debreceni from The Divorce Summit website.
This was my first experience doing a voice interview and by listening to much more seasoned and very interesting guests that were part of this Dating Edition summit, I discovered how much I love listening to interviews while lying in bed at night! 🙂
In case you didn’t catch it the first time I posted it, here’s my interview again.
Carol Balawyder 
“Say what you want to say not what you should say.”—Yes. Love that piece of advice. If we worry too much about what others will think, we’re not being true to our story. Stephen King says something along these lines in his book “On Writing.” One of my favorite pieces of advice.
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This is great, Carol! I’m very happy you’re getting a little well-deserved notice, and I love your writing advice!
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Fabulous interview Carol! You are always so busy, I’m grateful when you drop by my blog. I just switched computers, as I read this post on Judy’s page then clicked on the link to your older post about Natalie Goldberg. I left a comment there with much trouble thanks to my newest surface pro laptop. It won’t show my ‘likes’, keeps making me loggin, and after I finished my post and did all that, it disappeared. So I just want you to know how much I love Natalie Goldberg’s writing. I go to her books for inspiration and writing prompts when my well is dry. How lucky you were to partake in one of her seminars. I’d love to go someday! 🙂
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Thanks for reblogging Carol!
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Ctv always interview authors do you want me to recommend you Did you get my last email?
Sent from my iPad
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Good morning Carol, I enjoyed both interviews and loved hearing your voice…I like the concept of looking for the silver linings even though we might be going through very challenging times…..ultimately as you clearly understand, ultimately we gain so much. I have been divorced for 28 years…..and so can relate a great deal to your writings. Your books are on my list….have a wonderful weekend. Janet. :)xx
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Thanks, Janet for your kind comments. They mean a lot to me. Have a wonderful weekend as well. 🙂 xx
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Great interview Carol and, yes, the boogie man in the cupboard comes in all forms and shapes and sizes and once courage gathered to “let him out” one is “home and hosed”. Cheers
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Enjoyed the interviews, Carol. Good advice & good fuel for the journey. By the way, love the new photos on your site. So inviting.
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That’s great, Carol! learning more about you … 🙂
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