Interview with Carol Cadoo

Carol Cadoo

Interview Date: 8/7/2012

Biography

Welcome glad you stopped by I hope you enjoy the books I have written I love writing Chick Lit/ Romance. I am a retired Actress, Director,Choreographer, who discovered her real passion in life ...writing.
I have two sons Zachary and Garette I also have two doggie kids Hazel and Harry. My free time is spent gardening, decorating, and writing. I would love to have feedback from readers I think we are always curious about what people think of our work.
http://www.facebook.com/CarolCadoo


When did you start writing, and was there a significant event that prompted you to do so?

In the fourth grade I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I was blown away not by the story, although it was good. What really did it for me was the way she strung her words together. The impact her choice of words created. It was the first time I was moved by the writing not the story. Then in the 5th grade Mrs. Allen had us write a two page short story. Mine was called Wilbur the Waterlogged Waggendorf. She wrote “Maybe someday I will buy a book from you. Excellent story Carol, next time do not use so many exclamation points. Less is more when it comes to those.” I have kept that paper in my nightstand drawer most of my life. It is still there, I read it when I am bummed out with the progress on a project. I still have to remind myself about those damm exclamation points too. I just like em dammit. Teachers are the key to success in my opinion. Our parents give us life, teachers give us lives.


If you could have one superpower, what would it? (Assuming said power would be reasonbly powerful.)

Twitch my nose baby…no runner ups on this one.

Kev's response: That would be "god-mode." You want to be able to do anything you can think of. ;P


Do you have a favorite superhero from novels, comics, or movies?

Hands- down Samantha Stevens on Bewitched. My complete ideal of what a Chick is and behaves like is predicated on Samantha Stevens. She was cute, perky, bubbly, smart, in charge, in the 60’s very rare. I also liked the control she had over her space, a control freak in the making.

Kev's response: I actually used to watch that when I was young. Hmm, and here I thought my love of magic was from fantasy novels. It might be from a TV witch!


Where do you get your inspiration for writing? What motivates you?

Sorry I have a real unromantic and truthful answer… the rent.

Kev's response: Any author that wants to make a living out of writing has to! Especially with so few making a serious amount of money from the profession.


Do you pre-plan your stories, or are you a by-the-seat-of-the-pants style writer?

I am always writing in my head. Gardening, doing laundry, grocery shopping. I write everything in my head when plotting out first drafts. I can’t really explain it but it is sort of like all this info just percolates together. Characters meet each other, relationships develop, crisis happen resolve becomes a component than all of a sudden my brain goes okay Carol it’s time. I get my pepsi, cigarettes and cold Kentucky fried chicken together. Turn on Law and Order and start typing. It usually takes about 7 days to type out the first draft. My kids know if you are not bleeding or it is not the police at the door leave me alone. Almost like channeling I really have very little memory of the story. That is what makes reading it back so much fun. It is actually my first conscious recognition of the piece. I don’t know the story while it is percolating. It sits in another part of my brain. That has nothing to do with my reality, if that makes sense.

Kev's response: I love it. Bleeding? Nope. Don't go in.


Do you write only when inspired, or do you have a set schedule where you sit down to write?

I am a disciplined writer; it is my job I do it 40 to 60 hours a week. Six days a week. I am like an old work horse. I don’t know how to do nothing. So this is a great outlet for both creativity and energy level wise. You know a real Indie writer is an editor, publicist, webmaster, marketing guru, proofer, graphic artist, computer illustrator and so on. This business is not for cry- babies.

Kev's response: It does take up far, far more time than I thought it would back when I wrote the first novel.


Do you have a favorite genre to write in? To read?

I like writing Chick Lit that is my thang! I love the sisterhood of women, our dynamics, are pecking order. I have great female friends and we are a pretty tight group. I think that women are interesting friends and there is nothing like a room full of women to get shit done!


What do you enjoy the most about writing?

The process, it fills the holes in my life. Plus I am a total control freak. So I love the control I have at various points in the development, that would be total by the way. I really appreciate watching the characters develop. Prior to book writing I got my start as a dialogue doctor. So of course that is still my preference.


Is there any part of writing that you don't enjoy?

No I love every bit of it and often pinch myself to make sure this is really what I get to do. I mean come on I get to talk to invisible friends all day, drink coffee, chat with real friends on line, listen to music, watch old movies and tell stories. Are you kidding me… I love my job, no there is not a thing I don’t love, love, love about writing.

Kev's response: I'm a bit jealous. I find that if I turn on the TV (or a movie), I get too distracted to write.


Can you tell me something odd about yourself?

I am left handed an anomaly. Only 15% of the world’s population is left handed. I have no body ink, never had plastic surgery including implants. Raised my kids in a divorced house with an active co parent and no custody arrangement. Believe in happy endings, fairy tales and the power of “wish”. Learned everything I needed to know about life in between the covers of The Wizard of Oz. I have never fallen in love but write romance. My life has been this Forrest Gumpesque ride. That I would not trade for a minute in any other shoes. Well that’s not totally true. The exception would be Debbie Reynolds shoes when she dances with Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor. The Good Morning number in Singing in the Rain. That is three minutes and forty eight seconds I would live in someone else shoes. But other than that I am good for go in my own Uggs.


Do you write one story at a time, or do you have several novels in the works at one time?

I work one book at a time at each level. I always have a story I am blocking, a story in first rewrite, a story in final rewrite, a story in character development and a story in plotting. I like to rotate them based on priority and preference. This way I am always producing at peak level, with a project to suite my creative mood. I also always have a story in my head, getting to know what the characters have to say. I usually let the character first draft the book without intrusion. They know far better than I, how to get the job done.


Have you ever wondered why evil people want to take over the world. Why not take under it?

No but I have wondered why George Carlin was taken from us so early. If he was here he would be able to answer all those questions.


Where do you see the future as far as paper books versus e-books?

I believe there are paper worthy books and kindle worthy books. You know I don’t write War and Peace. I write Fluff, I write good fluff, great story lines, strong, flawed characters Funny engaging dialogue but it’s not War and Peace. It’s a fabulous vacation read, sick bed read, airplane read, you get the drift. There will always be libraries, there will always be books. What there will not always be, if we are not a little more discriminating on paper worthy books… is trees. I always say this; “somewhere in the world a Mother Tree is thanking me for allowing her to become a Grandmother Tree.” I saw this quote and I love it “Kindles have about as much of a chance to replace books, as elevators replaced stairs.” Enough said.

Kev's response: Carol, thank you for joining me! Good fortune on the romance genre!



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