Caroline Mitchell Visits CrimeBookJunkie! ~Author Interview~

I am so excited to welcome Caroline Mitchell to my blog today!  For those of you who are not familiar with Caroline, she is the author of three books of the paranormal crime genre — one is a true story about her own scary experience of paranormal activity.

I just wanted to also say a big THANKS to Caroline and the lovely Kim Nash from Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read, review and now interview this fantastic author!!

  

 Hi Noelle, thanks for having me today, I’ve been looking forward to our little chat.

CBJ: Can you share a little about yourself and your background?

I’m a happily married mum of four, originally from Ireland and now living in the coast of Essex. A full time police officer, I love going to the movies, writing and chatting to friends online. It’s all fairly standard stuff until I start telling you about the paranormal entity that entered our home in 2010. That changed our lives forever.

CBJ: How did you start writing?

I’ve always enjoyed reading, and the written word. But it was not until we experienced a story worth telling that I was prompted to write my first book, Paranormal Intruder.

CBJ: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Usually I collapse in a heap in the corner and cry out for wine / coffee / cuddles! Seriously, I don’t know because I don’t have any free time at the moment. I commute two hours to work every day, so I’m out of my home for ten hours a day. I squeeze in my writing when I’m not running around after my kids or catching up on social media. I’d love to have time to catch up on the things I love to do. Like reading great books.

CBJ: What drew you to paranormal crime thrillers vs another style of writing?

It made sense to merge the two subjects I’m most familiar with … and it was a lot of fun! Writing my true story was harrowing at times, as I had to recount some moments I’d rather forget. I wanted to try something fun for my fiction novels, and I really enjoyed the journey with DC Knight.

CBJ: Do you do any research for your books or does it all come naturally from your twisted and spooky imagination?

I’ve been in the police for nine years now and encountered lots of unusual situations. Police process is something I know well, and I’ve used that to lend some authenticity to DC Knight’s fictional investigations. As for the paranormal …the occurrences began in my home in January 2010 and although the exorcism helped (yes, really. We had an exorcism) we still experience some spooky incidents to this day. I wanted to write about how it feels to live in a world other people cannot comprehend, and that feeling when the hairs standing up on the back of your neck. You know there’s something behind you, yet you turn around and there’s nothing there.

CBJ: Do you ever experience the dreaded “writers block” and if yes, what do you do to get over the hurdle?

I’ve noticed a habit forming with my books where I get to 60K words and then dry up. The main thing is not to panic. I’m always full of ideas; there are about five future books in my head at any given time! So when I experience that 60K stall I just take a few days off writing and it soon comes flowing back.

CBJ: What books have most influenced your life?

Ooh there are so many. I love Stephen King, there’s no better feeling than opening one of his books and not knowing just where he’s going to take you. Dean Koonz is another fantastic writer. The old classics are brilliant too. I also like spiritual books on Buddhism, and motivational books such as ‘The Secret.’ I believe writers should have eclectic tastes.

CBJ: What book are you reading right now?

I’ve been very fortunate to receive a first draft of a manuscript by the talented Lisa Hall which is brilliant. But my lips are sealed and I can’t say anymore! I’m also a big fan of audio books as I don’t get a lot of time to physically sit down and read. I’ve just finished listening to Stephen King’s The Stand which, after 48 hours of listening, I can describe it as EPIC. 😉

CBJ: Are there any new authors that have grabbed your interest?

I recommend anyone on the hunt for fresh and exciting new authors to type in ‘Bookouture’ into the Amazon search engine. From crime to romance, there really is something for everyone. I can’t recommend them enough.

CBJ: How would you describe the DC Knight series to someone who has not read any of your books?

Reviewers have been very enthusiastic about the series, and for that I’m very grateful. They’ve described it as chilling, thrilling and creepy crime. Many have said they love that it’s grounded in reality, and full of authenticity. I’m not going to argue with that!

CBJ: What scares you…? I mean really scares you!?

That’s a really good question. I’m a very protective mum so ghosts and ghoulies I can cope with, as long as my children are OK. They’re my main concern. On a lower level I dislike heights, deep water and mustard. 

CBJ: I know from Paranormal Intruder that you have had your own personal experiences of the paranormal.  Without giving too much away, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Oh gosh, I wouldn’t know where to start! I was at work one day when my husband called to say the house had taken on a life of its own. Without any warning whatsoever, plates smashed, doors slammed, and household objects flew across the room. And that was just to begin with. What followed was a battle with something that escalated into fires, physical attacks, growls, scratches and more. Priests, fire fighters, professors and paranormal investigators became involved in what has been described as one of the most documented cases of paranormal activity in the UK. With over thirty witnesses, many of them police, our story has been told all across the world in the form of our best selling book, Paranormal Intruder.

CBJ: If you could describe your book(s) in three words—what would they be?

Dark

Exciting

Adventure 😉

CBJ: How can readers discover more about you and your books?

Thanks Noelle, there’s lots about me, including actual recorded sounds and pictures of our paranormal experiences on my website www.caroline-writes.com . You can also subscribe on the site to be entered into regular free prize draws. My books are for sale on Amazon and other online retailers. I’m also on Twitter and Facebook DC Jennifer Knight / Facebook

And finally, what current projects are you working on?

I’m just finishing up the third DC Knight book before I resume working on a new straight crime series that I’m very excited about. I expect to publish my new protagonist DS Ruby Preston in 2016.

Thanks for having me, it’s always a pleasure to talk to you.

Well who knew Caroline Mitchell has a fear of …MUSTARD!!  I think I will be asking her a bit more about that at some point in the future!  Once again, a huge thanks to Caroline for taking the time to chat with me as I am one of those reviewers who absolutely adore the DC Knight series and I am very excited to hear about DC Ruby Preston!!  Roll on 2016!

I highly recommend Caroline’s books which you can check out on the links below …..

[amazon template=thumbnail&asin=B00V6DTAYM] [amazon template=thumbnail&asin=B014KWJDPQ] [amazon template=thumbnail&asin=B00GURVKHY]

What are you waiting for #bookjunkies?!  Get clicking 🙂