Meet C. Hope Clark, Author of The Carolina Slade Mystery Series
What inspired you to become an author?
Nothing concrete. Since I can remember, I enjoyed stringing words together so they sounded smart, emotional or entertaining. I gravitated toward journalism and nonfiction, however, and it wasn't until I was in my forties did I consider fiction . . . a novel. I experienced a bribe offer in my daytime profession, and that situation spawned a story that just kept growing in my mind. Seeing it come full circle and become published has set me afire for writing fiction. The reviews are marvelous, and I now weave stories continuously in my head. My protagonist, Carolina Slade, is perfect for me, and I think it shows on the page.
How did you come up with the idea for the first book in The Carolina Slade Mystery Series, Lowcountry Bribe?
As hinted in the last question, I once worked for the US Dept of Agriculture and was indeed offered a bribe by a farmer. While the situation wasn't nearly as in depth or breathtaking as Slade's story, the ordeal was stressful and took several years to overcome. But what-ifs kept playing in my head, so I reduced them to paper. Recording all those what-ifs and writing out those internal worries helped exorcise my own demons. Add that to the fact I love rural South Carolina and the people who live there, and I felt very much at home in Carolina Slade's world.
How many books are available in the series so far?
Lowcountry Bribe is the first release, and with baited breath I waited to see how people would take to it. They love it! 74 reviews as of today, and it's only been out three months. The next two books are written, and the publisher is editing book two as we speak. Of course I wish they would hurry, but I also want it as well edited and designed as Lowcountry Bribe, too, so that takes patience. I'm researching book four now.
What do you think readers will remember most about your books?
The characters. Characters drive a book and a series. You don't remember all the twists and turns, but months after reading a book, you recall the protagonist, antagonist and secondary characters that splashed the page. Readers continually state they love the spunk of Carolina Slade, as well as her deep devotion to children while she's dealing with danger. That's a careful, hard to balance juggling act - dangerous career and children. Most mystery writers do not tackle it, but I felt it time to break out of the stereotype of the damaged, single or estranged protagonist. I wanted my protagonist to worry about children, not her next drink or some ex-spouse or haunted past.
What advice would you give to a new author trying to get their book published?
You can never edit a book enough. I suggest a hard dozen times minimum. Mine are closer to twenty. Consider throwing out the first draft. Toss it. Then write it over again. It will be one of the best decisions you ever made. You dig deep to write the story better, not relying on those novice mistakes in the first draft, and the result is amazing. And finally, stick to it, but not just making the same mistakes. Be ever daring to improve. Accept the fact you are seriously flawed as a writer, and always strive to become better. That hunger will indeed make you good.
Are you currently working on other books?
Absolutely. I'd love to do a nonfiction book on navigating the self-promotional waters of being a writer. I'm also working on the follow-ups to Lowcountry Bribe. Toying with another series downstream, but I'll let the dust settle on Lowcountry Bribe first. It's my first born, and I want to enjoy watching it take its first steps.
You can find out more about C. Hope Clark and Lowcountry Bribe by visiting http://chopeclark.com.
Nothing concrete. Since I can remember, I enjoyed stringing words together so they sounded smart, emotional or entertaining. I gravitated toward journalism and nonfiction, however, and it wasn't until I was in my forties did I consider fiction . . . a novel. I experienced a bribe offer in my daytime profession, and that situation spawned a story that just kept growing in my mind. Seeing it come full circle and become published has set me afire for writing fiction. The reviews are marvelous, and I now weave stories continuously in my head. My protagonist, Carolina Slade, is perfect for me, and I think it shows on the page.
How did you come up with the idea for the first book in The Carolina Slade Mystery Series, Lowcountry Bribe?
As hinted in the last question, I once worked for the US Dept of Agriculture and was indeed offered a bribe by a farmer. While the situation wasn't nearly as in depth or breathtaking as Slade's story, the ordeal was stressful and took several years to overcome. But what-ifs kept playing in my head, so I reduced them to paper. Recording all those what-ifs and writing out those internal worries helped exorcise my own demons. Add that to the fact I love rural South Carolina and the people who live there, and I felt very much at home in Carolina Slade's world.
How many books are available in the series so far?
Lowcountry Bribe is the first release, and with baited breath I waited to see how people would take to it. They love it! 74 reviews as of today, and it's only been out three months. The next two books are written, and the publisher is editing book two as we speak. Of course I wish they would hurry, but I also want it as well edited and designed as Lowcountry Bribe, too, so that takes patience. I'm researching book four now.
What do you think readers will remember most about your books?
The characters. Characters drive a book and a series. You don't remember all the twists and turns, but months after reading a book, you recall the protagonist, antagonist and secondary characters that splashed the page. Readers continually state they love the spunk of Carolina Slade, as well as her deep devotion to children while she's dealing with danger. That's a careful, hard to balance juggling act - dangerous career and children. Most mystery writers do not tackle it, but I felt it time to break out of the stereotype of the damaged, single or estranged protagonist. I wanted my protagonist to worry about children, not her next drink or some ex-spouse or haunted past.
What advice would you give to a new author trying to get their book published?
You can never edit a book enough. I suggest a hard dozen times minimum. Mine are closer to twenty. Consider throwing out the first draft. Toss it. Then write it over again. It will be one of the best decisions you ever made. You dig deep to write the story better, not relying on those novice mistakes in the first draft, and the result is amazing. And finally, stick to it, but not just making the same mistakes. Be ever daring to improve. Accept the fact you are seriously flawed as a writer, and always strive to become better. That hunger will indeed make you good.
Are you currently working on other books?
Absolutely. I'd love to do a nonfiction book on navigating the self-promotional waters of being a writer. I'm also working on the follow-ups to Lowcountry Bribe. Toying with another series downstream, but I'll let the dust settle on Lowcountry Bribe first. It's my first born, and I want to enjoy watching it take its first steps.
You can find out more about C. Hope Clark and Lowcountry Bribe by visiting http://chopeclark.com.
Stacie Theis / beachboundbooks@yahoo.com / copyright 2012