Interview with Author C.L.Charlesworth

1. What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a book?  The idea for The Last Merry Go Round came one Saturday when I walked to a 9 a.m. creative-writing workshop and encountered at an isolated crosswalk, a convertible Porsche. Inside the car were a man in a tuxedo and a woman in an evening gown. What affair had they attended? I watched with stunned curiosity, the more his voice raged. He called her vile names. The silent woman bowed her head and wiped her eyes. In the second she looked up, the man back-handed her three times. No one ever hit me, nor had my father beat my mother. I felt helpless as the car sped away. A real, unhinged sight and sound of someone's hand slicing into another's flesh isn't a movie. The image imprinted my mind.

2. What is it about and whom do you believe is your targeted reader?  The Last Merry Go Round is a psychological page-turning thriller, scrutinizing human nature, and what happens to people when secrets devour them.  I wrote it for three types of adult readers. One targeted market is those reading psychological drama-fiction. Second, is aimed at the powerless, dangling between sanity and insanity, because fear has stripped their identity. I hope they will gain insightful courage. Last, I've penned a recommendation to people who squash another person's voice. The book is a reflection of what people are or could be, without the filter of compassion. It is the study showing the best and worst in humanity.

3. What do you hope will be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book? What should remain with them long after putting it down? Choices aren't as easy as 1-2-3. Can we accept the consequences? The Last Merry Go Round throughout will evoke discussion and self-examination of yourself and those you know. Is it a happy ending or not? In the end, the reader will realize, I wrote the only ending worth writing. 

4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers?  If you let doubt overshadow your writing, the story will only be a fraction of how good it could be. Be brave and tell your story.  

5. What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?  The publishing world is no longer ruled by the guarded, royalty of traditional publishers and agents, holding court in the New York's upper crest addresses. E-publishers and self-publishing start-ups took a bite out of the traditional publisher's apple. A writer must be more of a Sherlock Holmes to investigate reputable publishers (like smaller presses and indie-publishers). The writer needs to understand the influence of creative marketing (for example audio books and interviews), building their brand (as in website and blog), and social media platforms. Pick and choose what works and network with other authors. Nowadays, the choices are a vast banquet-buffet. If you want people to read your book: You Need A Plan.

6. What great challenges did you have in writing your book?  The greatest challenge was writing every day. Life got in the way of life. The second challenge was finding a story editor I trusted and understood my voice.

7. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours?  The Last Merry Go Round paced in a raw and poignant, 1st person narrative, is an intentional plot grabbing you from the first page, pulling no punches as to characters are. The story is a deliberate journey. You are a voyeur, hovering over conversations and watching scenes as real as if they were right in front of you. The unexpected ending, I believe, is what makes books memorable, will extract discussion and reflection. When finished, you walk away thinking ‘I know people like this. I see myself in one of the characters’, and you wonder, ‘how could and can I make better choices.’ – a recommended read, for today, is the right choice.

The author says this: I have the gift of imagination, and that has been a beacon all my life. I'm fortunate to be able to take a blank piece of paper and create a page-turning story that evokes a wide array of human drama. I'm inspired by the simplest to the most complex challenge a person can face, and with that, derive empathy for my characters. I would best describe myself as a "back porch storyteller"- writing that grabs you from the first sentence. For mor info, see: www.amazon.com/Last-Merry-Go-Round/dp/1913264238

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Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2020. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo.