Thomas: Welcome to my blog Lorraine.
Lorraine: Thanks for the invitation Thomas. It’s a pleasure to be here.
TJB: Lorraine, let’s start out with you so my readers can get to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
LC: Sure, Thomas. I’m a veteran children’s reading specialist, teacher and author. I’ve taught in many states where I learned to adapt to being the ‘New Kid On The Block’. For the last six years I have been residing in Grand Cayman with my husband. The island is a great place to find inspiration. I have fallen in love with the people here. If you have ever been to the Caymans, you can relate to this.
Thomas: I’m going to put Grand Cayman on my, “Places to Visit Before I Die List.” The way you talk about Grand Cayman is the same way I talk about Chile. I came here for a visit 16 years ago, fell in love with everything about it, and I will live in Chile for the rest of my life. It’s a great place to live.
Lorraine: Exactly, Thomas. I know what you mean. Anyway, many people know me as a paranormal enthusiast. Since early childhood I have had a passion for anything paranormal, especially ghost stories. I used to tell them to my students. I remember their eyes getting as big as saucers and begging for more.
TJB: You must be a fascinating story teller.
LC: Would it be immodest for me to agree with you? I remember that there was a teacher at the school who even called me ‘Mrs Scary’. Well, let me mention my books. I’ve written seven books to date. Mysteries of the Red Coyote Inn was an Amazon Best Seller and Jonathan’s Locket is a Silver Award Winner and a finalist for the Wind Dancer Film Festival for 20014.
TJB: Lorraine, I know you have a new book that recently came out. What is the name of your new book?
LC: My latest release is, The Good Teacher, Book 1 of Women of the Willow Wood.
TJB: Now that’s a book that interests me. As a teacher, I am definitely going to be able to relate to it. Could you tell the readers what the book is about.
LC: The Good Teacher is an Occult Thriller. It is a tale of a highly empathic young woman and first-year teacher. She is a victim of child abuse and harbors a dark past. She uncovers a darker secret within the halls of the new school where she is teaching and is thrust into a secret underground world of a religious cult of New Mexico. This is a story of strong women with a message of survival and forgiveness.
TJB: Sounds like a captivating book. For me, I like the way it shows the teacher living a life independent of the profession. Often, the profession demands so much of your energies and attention that a personal life outside of your job comes at a heavy price. In this case, it seems the protagonist is getting caught up in something she isn’t able to control. Lorraine, I want to take this opening to ask about your writing habits. Do you have any unusual writing habits, any rituals, superstitions, or quirky things you do to get your creative energies flowing?
LC: Do you really want to know? Maybe not.
TJB: Hahaha! I walked right into that one, didn’t I? give me something to satisfy my curiosity please.
LC: Okay, I’ll tell you one of them, although it is probably not that unusual. I put on loud music and dance around the house between wrtitng sprints. It seems to give me the needed break I need and is a great stress releiver.
TJB: I can imagine that quite easily Lorraine. It jumbles things up for you, gets your circulation going and brings you a fresh perspective on what yu’re doing. I would say you are celebrating the past bit of writing and anticipating the writing to come. Let’s stick with books and authors. What authors, or books have influenced you?
LC: I began reading Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews in high school and was hooked. I also love anything by Christine Feehan and Tima Maria Lacoba, who has written a Vampire Series.
TJB: Flowers in the Attic looks like a must read. The cover artwork is sensational. Fabulous. It draws you right in to the book just by looking at the cover. Lorraine, what other books are you working on now?
LC: Right now I am working on Book 2 of Women of the Willow Wood. A trip to New Mexico is also in the planning stages. This will be a ramped up novel where my protaganist evolves into a ‘Guardian’ and is given an assignment for a most dagerous mission.
TJB: Very interesting plotline. Sounds like a “Journey and Return” with the journey being the evolution of your protagonist. Will she be better or worse off for having experienced her journey? Sounds like an exciting piece of craftsmanship for you as a writer. Let’s talk about the business side of writing. As an indie author, no matter how great you write, you’ve still got to sell books. Can you share with me what your best method or website is when it comes to promoting your books?
LC: I have found it to be advertising on my own Facebook page. I can advertise, post updates, provide giveaways and post excerpts.
TJB: Yes, I do a lot of that too with my own Facebook page. It is quite a useful way to reach out to readers and make a meaningful relationship with your readers. Lorraine, for somebody who is considering becoming an author, what’s your advice to them? Is it worth the effort?
LC: Yes, it is. My advice would be to connect with other like-minded authors who can offer support and help with resources you will be needing. I was blessed to acquire great friendships where I’ve learned so many things that Iwould not have known without my support group.
TJB: There’s strength in numbers. That’s a great piece of advice, to stand on the shoulders of giants. So, let me ask you to be specific now. What is the BEST advice you have ever heard for authors?
LC: Connect with other authors. The more connected you are, the more you will be able to accomplish. Writing is not as lonely as its made out to be!
TJB: I agree with you Lorraine. What are you reading now?
LC: I am currently reading Blackthorne Forest by Claire Fogel. It is a Young Adult Fantasy novel.
TJB: So you obviously believe that authos should read widely, in and out of genre. Can you tell me what’s next for you as a writer?
LC: I’d like to tap into the world of Freelancing. I’ve done a few posts for Cayman Airways magazine and plan on making time to submit more of my short stories to other venues.
TJB: I’m impressed Lorraine. So a traveler would be sitting on a plane, bored, wondering when s/he is going to get there. He reaches into the back of the seat in front of him and pulls out a copy of Cayman airways magazine. He flips through it and then comes to a stop and reads an entertaining short story written by Lorraine Carey.
LC: That’s the idea Thomas (smiling).
TJB: If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you, what books would you take?
LC: That’s easy. The Bible, All of Doreen Vitue Books, and The First Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.
TJB: Yes, the Bible is my first choice also. Nothing like a desert island to make you want to get closer to God. The serenity and tranquility of the island is what we lack in our daily lives. Lorraine, thank you for this interview. It’s been very enjoyable chatting with you.
LC: Me too, Thomas. Thank you for inviting me to be on your blog.
Lorraine Carey is a veteran children’s reading specialist, teacher and an International Award-Winning Author. She has taught in many states in the US and currently is providing reading services for students at a private school on Grand Cayman, where she lives with her husband. Five years ago she was a city gal, living in Orange County, California, where life was very different from the one she lives in now. Trading in her fashionable heels for flip-flops was quite a change, but led to a lifestyle that allowed for a writing career to begin.
Her love for paranormal stories and urban legends began at a young age, when staying up all night to watch spooky movies or reading a scary book started a lifelong passion.
Published novels include: Losing Ground, a short memoir, followed by Mysteries of the Red Coyote Inn, Out of the Ashes, Jonathan’s Locket and The Last Vestal Virgin. All of these novels are paranormal with a mix of historical fiction, woven with urban legends. Her most recent novel, Beloved Sacrifice, is a Supernatural Thriller for Young Adults to Adults.
As a bonus, Mysteries of the Red Coyote Inn and Jonathan’s Locket have free downloadable comprehension worksheets on her website for educators, or parents.
Her latest novel, A Rock Star Reader by Kindergarten, is an educational guide for parents of young children to help their child achieve many of the pre-reading concepts necessary to be a successful reader by the time they reach kindergarten.
When not writing you can find Lorraine reading, beach- hopping, snorkeling, or boating around the island with her husband on their boat, the Angelica.
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Author’s Email: storyspirit4u@gmail.com
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profesorbaker
Profesorbaker's Worldwide Bilingual Blog 
Thank you so very much Professor Baker for having me on your blog. It has been such an honor.
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It was a pleasure Lorraine. Good luck with all your writing projects.
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