We were lucky to catch up with Carolyn Summer Quinn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carolyn Summer, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I always loved to write. From the time I was in grammar school I would write little stories for fun. I had also had a lifelong interest in the theater, beginning when I was twelve and entered a local summer musical theater program in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. It was there that I first heard all about the musical GYPSY, based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee. My grandmother found a copy of Gypsy’s book for me. Later she also found Gypsy’s sister’s first book, EARLY HAVOC. Strangely, the two accounts by the two sisters didn’t match up too well, and both didn’t match the plot of GYPSY, so I became intrigued. My first book evolved decades later when I found out that Gypsy Rose Lee’s personal correspondence was in an archive at a New York City library. I went over to the library that very night. The archive was already closed for the day, so I went back on the weekend. I initially thought I’d take a look in the archive for about hour and then go to the movies. I wound up staying there for five hours, fascinated by the personal letters in the archive. I knew what I’d found was the real story and would make a good book, and since nobody else has written it, I thought, here I am! I’m going to write this! The result was MAMA ROSE’S TURN, and after that, I kept writing. It would have been great to have begun writing sooner since I love it so much.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Creative writing was always fun for me. I often played with putting words together as a child the way other kids might play with toys, though of course, I played with lots of toys, too. I was also a big reader, still am, and loved mysteries. My first book was a nonfiction biography of the woman whose colorful parenting style inspired the musical GYPSY, but it took two and a half years of research done in my spare time, so after that I wrote fiction. Ha, it’s faster! I still research everything for books that are historical fiction. My parents were still alive when I wrote the first one, KEEP YOUR SONGS IN YOUR HEART, a novel for children about World War II. When it was named a Finalist in the American Fiction Awards I knew I was on the right track with writing!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had initially thought it would be great to have a career in the entertainment industry, but when I got there, “great” isn’t the word I’d use to describe it. It was bizarre. In one instance I had a boss who not only threw tantrums at 56 years of age but also threw furniture. One day he went berserk and wrecked a colleague’s office. It had to be seen to be believed. A lot of what goes on behind the scenes in that particular industry is not creative at all. It’s just nuts! So I reached a point where I thought my quality of life would never be anything close to decent unless I took jobs in ANY other type of business. Writing my first book about Gypsy Rose Lee’s mother was a tie-in to the entertainment industry, but in writing it, I was my OWN boss. And no furniture flew anywhere, either! That’s the best part about being an author. I’m in charge, not some tyrant. Woo-HOO!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to tell as intriguing a story as possible and to give people an enjoyable reading experience. I also like to infuse my books with a lot of hope. I keep in mind a saying of my grandmother, “You never know what tomorrow might bring.” And then I start writing!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carolynsummerquinn.om
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sequinrosette
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolynquinnauthor
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynquinn-nyc/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/carolynsummerq1

Image Credits

All image credits: Carolyn Summer Quinn