For as long as she can remember, Caroline has always loved books. Her earliest memories of reading were visits to the library with her pale salmon coloured card clutched to her chest, stamped full of dates, each one evidence of yet another book read (she wished she’d kept that card.) The first book that moved her to tears was The Matchstick Girl by Hans Christian Andersen at the age of 4, it still makes her cry to this day. And a book she’s read over and over, The Water Babies, by Charles Kingsley (she still has a very old copy.)
Caroline has always loved adventure and often leaps before she looks hoping she can figure it out later. One such case was moving to Australia 14 years ago from the UK with her husband and two young boys. No job. No home. Just 4 suitcases to their name. With hard work and sheer determination, it all came together. It’s been a blast and a huge journey.
What inspired you to be a writer?
It sounds cliché, but life experiences have inspired me to write. Storytelling is such an important part of being human, it’s how I make sense of the world and how I disappear from it.
I’ve been surrounded by books from a young age and once I started writing I knew I’d found something special. And then I discovered writing is highly addictive and rewarding. It gives me a sense of freedom. Writing is powerful. It’s quite a rush!
What prompted you to write 'The Billywood Chronicles'?
I’d been playing around with a seed of an idea. It bugged me so much I sat down one day and stood up 8 months later with the first messy draft and a sore bum. It snowballed from there.
The story is partly inspired by my childhood. Billywoods is a real place positioned behind my old childhood home where I played. I loved the darkness and the possibilities of adventure, and that magic may dwell there. I wanted to capture and evoke these emotions for readers.
Do you have any more books in the pipeline?
Yes. I’m writing book 2 of The Billywood Chronicles and planning book 3.
What is your professional background?
I finished my Registered Nurse training in 2002 and in 2006 I completed a BA (Hons) in science.
A long career in nursing has exposed me to a smorgasbord of characters and experiences that have built a ready-made library and resource centre. I’ve heard stories that are heart-warming, heart-wrenching, hopeful, bizarre, and downright cruel. I pull on these to create narratives and characters.
Any advice you’d like to give aspiring writers?
Your first draft is always going to be a hotchpotch of words. Don’t worry, it’s only for getting the story down in any way you can. Writing a story is like making a cake. One step and one layer at a time until you finally get to the icing and decorating at the end. I’ve heard this advice described in many ways but it’s true and keeps me focused, otherwise my head would flip off with the enormity of it all.
I write short stories and enter writing competitions. I’ve been published twice in anthologies. I would encourage any inspiring writer to do this. It’s a great way to hone the craft and try out different writing styles and genres. It may also lead to bigger things.
Who/what inspires you?
I’m inspired by the enormity of what a human can go through physically and emotionally. Life is fleeting and precious – that inspires me to quit whinging and get on with this messy life and not to be afraid to have a go at things that challenge me.
What are your hobbies, interests and favourite books?
I love collecting oddities. My home is full of bits and bats.
I’m an avid podcast lover, especially on writing, comedy and science.
Favourite books – too many to name here. But I mentioned two in the bio above.
I love astronomy. One of my favourite shows as a child was The Sky at Night presented by Patrick Moore and I’m a closet NASA TV fan. I emailed NASA during my research for The Billywood Chronicles on solar storms and was delighted when they replied. I’m also a fangirl of Brian Cox the physicist.
How can readers contact you?
Instagram: caroline_jones author
Contact via: Hawkeye Contact Page
