We chat with debut author Carol Williams about The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney, which is a fast-paced middle grade mystery (with just the right amount of hair-raising thrills)!
Hi, Carol! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I have two kids, one husband and an imaginary dog (don’t ask). I’ve been a marketing writer for eons: ads, websites, radio and TV spots—as CJ might say, all the blah-blah. I love it though. For one thing, marketing writing is what’s given me the patience and thick skin to try to get a book published.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was in grade school, my mom—an avid reader and English professor at a local university—would make me and my siblings read for at least an hour almost every day in the summer. Believe me, I wasn’t trying to earn brownie points for reading many more hours than that. I could get lost in a book. All. Day. Long.
More directly, when my childhood best friend and I were around 10, we started writing a book about a girls’ boarding school. I wrote part of it, she wrote part of it, and I also illustrated it. The book went on ad infinitum, but it’s because we loved the process of passing it back and forth and seeing the main character’s new adventures based on what the other person wrote. Plus, as I said, I’ve always loved to read, so I think that translated into writing something I’d want to read as a kid.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: CRICTOR by Tomi Ungerer comes to mind. It’s about a boa constrictor who becomes beloved by a French village. A bit odd. And a lot lovely,
- The one that made you want to become an author: Too many to name, honestly. My love for writing only grew with every book I read. But I’d say the ANNE OF GREEN GABLES series is a top contender.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I return to the Lockwood & Co (by Jonathan Stroud) series a lot. Of them, the EMPTY GRAVE is my fave.
Your debut novel, The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Funny. Spooky. Relatable. Relationships. Pets.
What can readers expect?
An ambitious junior (do not call her “Cub”) reporter thinks she’s landed on a big story that’s possibly about a cult of crazy folks who worship a goddess. Or, she thinks, it could be an elaborate prank by some college kids. Soon CJ realizes something supernatural is happening. Maybe she gets a clue when huge ghost dogs chase her. Or when a mysterious figure perched on a fence in her backyard jumps down, steals her beloved pet, and escapes with superhuman speed. Or maybe it’s the unearthly voice she hears coming from a tunnel she’s investigating. She’s a smart kid though. Doesn’t take too long for her to get a clue.
Where did the inspiration for The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney come from?
My idea to write a book about an 11-year-old ace reporter named CJ came from, of all things, an ancient TV series: “Kolchak, the Night Stalker.” The show is about a middle-aged reporter who’s always encountering supernatural situations like mummies, vampires, monsters and ghoulies. Many of my book ideas spring from TV shows, news articles or some trivia I come across that gets me thinking about how a kid would handle a certain challenge and how it could translate into a fun adventure.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing about CJ’s relationships: with her best friend; her grandmother, who’s her hero; her dad; and even the two snarky people in her life—her sister and her main “competition,” a kid who’s also at the paper that summer (the annoying one who calls her “Cub”).
The exchanges between CJ and Parker, her best friend, gave me the most joy to write about.
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
One of the most important things I learned on my journey is not to give up. Trite as it is, the idea that persistence pays off is more than half the battle. More than half when it comes to finishing the book. Or when you’re seeking a literary agent to represent you if you’re going the traditional publishing route. And more than half if you want to be an independent (indie) author and market your work through outlets like Amazon.
For more than 10 years I submitted query letters literally hundreds of times to literary agents (I counted), until I finally got an agent. Then there are edits to make and publishers to query—it’s a very long process, so the other lesson I learned is: Love writing more than I love the idea of being published. Because getting to the point of publishing was a roller coaster for me at best and a heartbreaking slog at worst. But I couldn’t not write, so I stuck with it.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on another kids’ book that has a totally different main character from CJ. It’s an epistolary novel that has fantastical, unexplainable elements that anchor the book. But it’s really about relationships,
Lastly, are there any book releases that you’re looking forward to picking up this year?
FERRIS by Kate DiCamillo. MURDER ON A COUNTRY WALK by Katie Gayle.
