Interview with Caryn Gottlieb FitzGerald

Caryn Gottlieb FizGerald

provided by Caryn

Caryn Gottlieb FizGerald is a writer I met at last summer's Dallas writer's workshop conducted by David Farland. I've come to admire her strength as a person, overcoming personal obstacles and turning them into books to share with us all, I admire her ability to create a story with twists that engages readers, drawing them closer to her characters and routing for them to win their battles. She enjoys using her experience within the prison system to bring layers of life to her antagonists. Her writing style varies as she finds herself comfortable in writing both fiction and non-fiction work. Caryn is a sought after motivational speaker who shares her story of surviving and thriving after living with anorexia, bulimia, physical, sexual and emotionally abusive relationships. Here is Caryn:

Pat: What do you write?

Caryn:  On going: the Riley Matthews Mystery series, book 1 (2008), book 2 & 3 (2010). I also enjoying compiling inspirational stories for e-books and soft cover. I am currently writing my memoir. I blog at www.EmbracingMyJourney.com. I am a contributing writer for the Communities at the Washington Times, writing a column entitled: "Changing your life, living your passion"

Pat: How do you write? What are your writing habits? How do you start? idea? dream? then what?

Caryn: My first habit is to write something everyday, it could be blog post, something inspirational, a chapter for a book, whatever strikes me. My favorite place to write in lying in bed, my back against the pillows on the wall and my computer on my lap. I will start by closing my eyes and letting my mind wander, or I may read the last paragraph I wrote in the book before I stopped the day before. Once my mind begins to wonder I let myself just go and my fingers hit the keys. I enjoy imagining what my characters are doing, seeing things from their viewpoint and putting myself into their place for the moment.

Pat: Where do you write? desk? home? coffee shop? toilet?

Caryn: I prefer quiet areas. Last year my husband and I moved into our dream home which sits on a private lake filled with wildlife, if it's too cold outside to sit on the porch, I'll sit by the window and use nature as the backdrop as I begin to let my mind wander.

Pat: Favorite writing methods?

Caryn: It really depends on what I am writing. I enjoy longhand if I am writing something personal or intimate as it allows my mind to flow more freely back into those memories. If I am writing a mystery or blog post I will type it out, leave it for a while and then come back and re-read before I move forward.

Pat: Are you a plotter or a pantser? Is it completely formed in your head before you write or do you follow blindly along?

Caryn: I am a bit of both. Initially my work is outlined in a general fashion, characters I envision as part of the storyline, places the characters may visit and the basic plotline. However, this is definitely not written in stone and my storylines change frequently, even after the rough drafts are completed I have been known to go back and rewrite scenes completely changing the plotline. I bounce ideas off of a couple of close friends to see their reactions and ask if they would, as a reader, believe what is taking place.

Pat: Where do you get your ideas?

Caryn: You know that saying "be careful or you may end up in my novel?" I don't who said it originally, but it is 100% me! I merge people that I know personally and then add other qualities or habits to create the characters. I've run into people over the years who have personalities that are not very positive and I'll take them and merge them with others creating the villains in the stories. Everything is possible idea for me, from my personal life to the lives of people around me, the newspaper stories always give me ideas. In my former life in Corporate America I was a licensed Professional Counselor, working in a medium security men's prison as well as in the community sector and with domestic violence victims, all three areas have given me the ability to learn more about situations that happen in the darker parts of this world, and the ideas start to flow. My friends all know that I write mysteries and love to share their experiences, many of which will spark an idea for a storyline.

Pat: What is your favorite book/character(s)? (of yours, or story)

Caryn: Oh my gosh, I love so many different books and the characters within them. To be fair (and biased) I'll pick one of mine, the character of Taylor in the first Riley Matthews Mystery, Tulips in the Sand he was based on a personal friend and then given a huge twist. The person I based him on called me excited about being the base for the character and laughed like heck when he saw what happened to him....

Pat: When did you "get the call" (to publish) and how did that go?

Caryn: I've been writing since childhood and always wanted to be published as my grandparents were both published authors as well as many other members of my family. I've always found it amazing that people wanted to read what I wrote and the more feedback I received, either positive or negative, the more I drove forward towards my goals. In 1995, it was suggested that I submit an article I had written to a journal, it was accepted and I had my first taste of a larger audience reading my work. From there it was full speed ahead and in 2008 when Tulips in the Sand hit the stands, it was actually bittersweet as my dad became ill and within a few months he was gone, never having the capabilities (due to dementia) to fully comprehend what I had achieved.

Pat: What are you writing now?

Caryn: On the fiction side, I'm currently working on book 3 of the Riley Matthews Mystery series and book 2 is in the editing stages. On the non-fiction arena, I am writing my memoir as I frequently share my personal story of triumph in speaking engagements and teleconferences around the world.

Pat: What do you read? Why?

Caryn: I love books! I enjoy mystery (Cook, Koontz, Kellerman), suspense (Grisham) educational (Goldberg, Cameron), new authors (Watson, May). I read for several reasons, first I love to read, so for the sheer pleasure of the written word. I also feel that in order to be a better writer, I need to be an excellent reader. Reading gives me the ability to expand my mind, my dreams, my ability to create. It's a gift I receive and enjoy every day!

Pat: What conferences do you attend?

Caryn: Which conferences I attend vary from year to year. If there is something local I make it a point to attend as that's just too convenient to miss out on. The DFW Writers Conference is something I plan to attend in 2010. I also enjoy any type of class or workshop on writing or given by those in law enforcement as it's a great way to learn. Each January I attend the More Heart Than Talent Mindset Conference in Dallas. Even though it is not a writers conference, it is all about setting your mind to something and following your passion to achieving it, a great way to start each year motivated and ready to move forward.

Pat: What writing groups do you attend?

Caryn: Sisters in Crime in Fort Worth, Mystery Writers of America in Dallas and I recently was blessed to learn about theKeller/Southlake/Ft. Worth Writers Group which I will be attending too!

Pat: Did anyone in particular influence your writing?

Caryn: No one in particular has influenced my writing, but I have used my writing as an outlet or release when someone or something has happened in my life that I felt the desire to work out. It's very cathartic for me to write.

Pat: Is there a formula involved to become a good novelist? (or short story writer)

Caryn: Absolutely! Read, read, read! Never stop learning about the craft. Write with all your heart and soul, share it with others who can provide constructive feedback and use that feedback to better yourself. When you think you know it all and don't need anyone else's help, that is when you stop growing as a writer and a novelist.

Pat: How much of your writing is based on personal experience? How much of your work is autobiographical?

Caryn: In the mystery series, there is just a fraction of storyline from personal experience, some of the characters are mixtures of people I knew and of course the settings are places I have been to. My memoir of course is very much my personal life put to paper.

Pat: As a writer, do you have any obsessions?

Caryn: I'm obsessed with book covers and titles, specifically mysteries and thrillers. I will spend hours roaming the bookstores just to see the covers and titles on the new books. It's one of the ways I keep my creative juices flowing as they always inspire me and give me new ideas for creation.

Pat: Do you work at a "real job" or do you write full time?

Caryn: Both. My real job is writing as I walked away from Corporate America in 2003. I write daily as well as coach and train others on using social networking and media to create new contacts and potential business partners.

Pat: Who is your editor(s)? And how did you acquire them?

Caryn: I use various editors depending on the project. The people I work with always come from first hand referrals based on the project.

Pat: Who is your agent? And how did you acquire them?

Caryn: Linda Levy of NWT Group is currently representing the Riley Matthews Mystery Series.

Pat: Do you read your contemporaries?

Caryn: Yes. I enjoy reading a variety of materials and always make it a point to buy books written by new novelist, especially if I can get an autographed copy of their work - that too me is a priceless investment.

Pat: Would you comment on the future of the novel? (or short story)

Caryn: I like to think that the world will continue to embrace the novel and short story, my only concern is in what form? With the increase in electronic media I feel that we may move into an environment where people don't realize the beauty of an actual book, as they are becoming lost in the world of instant downloads and audio books.

Pat: When did you first start writing?

Caryn: I remember writing my first short story when I was about eight years old. It was shortly after my father told me about his parents being published and I thought it was really cool at eight to have grandparents with books in the stores. Ironically, it was an incredible gift my father didn't know he had given me as I began writing and when my parents divorced a year later I used writing as an outlet for my sadness.

Pat: Were you sure you wanted to be a writer?

Caryn: I don't know when it happened that I knew I had to write, but for as long as I can remember writing has been a part of who I am. Just recently I remember a friend telling me she wasn't sure what her passion was . . . and all I could think of was, "Wow, I can't imagine living life without the ability to write." For me, the written word is my voice and my passion. If I don't write something each day, it's like I haven't eaten, slept or showered . . . it's part of my daily routine and I cannot imagine life without it.

Pat: How does one arrive at short story/novel technique? Are there devices to improve one's technique?

Caryn: There are many books, workshops, and conferences available in all budgets, to enhance one's technique. The key is to continuously keep learning, listen to what others who are in the same field are saving about your work ,and take that feedback to heart, not as a criticism of you, but as something you can use to make your writing more enjoyable to your readers in the future.

Pat: Do you like anything you wrote in the early days better than what you write now?

Caryn: I don't like to go back and re-read what I have written in the past as I feel that as each project is completed, I grow into someone new and leave that project behind at that moment in time. My writing has changed greatly over the years and I like to think that what I wrote in the past was, at that time, the best of what I had to offer, at that time, and that I continue to grow as a writer as each year passes and I gain new experiences and knowledge.

Pat: Have your best stories or books been written in a tranquil moment in your life, or do you work better, or in spite of, emotional turmoil?

Caryn: I use writing for several reasons; as a creative outlet for a story I see within my mind, to share my opinions or views with others about the world as I see it and as a way to deal with or 'vent' emotions related to situations that I experience. Sometimes my emotions fuel my writing while at other times my emotions will hinder the process as I get into a zone where it's as if I cannot think straight enough to put a sentence together. The majority of the time, I just let things flow and then come back to the work to see what, if anything I can take from it for my projects.

Pat: Do you have any definite ideas or projects for the future?

Caryn: There are several additional books in the Riley Matthews Mystery Series in production and I expect the series to grow greatly over the next few years. I expect my memoir to be ready for publication in 2010.

Find out more about Caryn Gottlieb FitzGerald at her website and her blog or find her on Twitter as caryngf.