Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m 18, currently a student.
Stumbling through High School it has its ups and downs but overall I’m enjoying it until exams obviously, hahaha.
I started writing when I was seventeen.
My first novel “STUMBLING IN THE DEBRIS”, started as a joke.
I was at school with my best friend, during a study period- ‘we were not studying’.
And I had this random idea.
I’m the sort of person who gets random ideas in their head and I put them on paper and start a novel or write a song or a story, anything.
Anyway, I basically explained the novel idea to her. She is the inspiration for my main character in the novel, the character ‘Hiba Ghulam in STUMBLING IN TEH DEBRIS’ is based on her. She would probably go crazy if she knew I wrote this.
We spoke about the novel and she was like, “You know what, you should do it, I’d read it”. So I did and the rest is history.
I have one published novel so far and I can’t wait to publish more.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
THE TITLE:
My latest and debut novel is “STUMBLING IN THE DEBRIS”. And the title is actually from the hit song by the Eurythmics-Love is a stranger. I love their music.
I know people interpret songs and music differently for example one song can make someone sad and make someone else happy.
Personally, the song gives me heartbroken vibes.
Whenever i listen to it, I get the picture of someone who’s a slave to love and wants to be free but they can’t because their heart is programmed to love; it’s an obsession, an addiction.
The lyric “it’s guilt-edged glamorous and sleek by design you know it’s jealous by nature. false and unkind it’s hard and restrained, and it’s totally cool, it touches, and it teases as you stumble in the debris”. Which is also the foreword for the novel.
Is where the message is; it links to both main characters in the novel, they are going through this ‘phase’ of loving and being hurt, but they keep loving despite the pain.
THE BOOK:
The idea of ‘Hiba and Bradley’ just came to me during a study at school and I knew I had to write the story. I enjoy reading romance novels, I can read at least two novels in a week. At this point in my life I was trying to find myself and I paid attention to the little things I enjoyed. I have always wanted to share stories and help people and I wanted to do that through writing. Although this is a romance novel, both characters go through difficult times, I wanted to show that even at such a young age, young people can have a lot to deal with and it is an exceedingly difficult and confusing time for them. When I writing I could relate to ‘Hiba’ a lot and ‘Bradley’ too, it was difficult at first to write as somebody else and I usually found myself writing the characters in my own words instead of what they would actually say.
I enjoyed creating Hiba and Bradley because they are so unique and their relationship is very toxic , and this was one of the issues I wanted to touch on because I felt I is something people may not even realise. I also wanted to talk about other topics that are in my heart: child abuse, domestic violence, sexism, honour crime, religion, white-collar crime, feminism, racism and the best part is I was able to include all of those sensitive topics in the novel. I felt like it was a novel for teens who are at their lowest point and trying to find themselves and many can relate to Bradley, he’s not your typical 18year old, obviously he’s father is a multi-millionaire but he doesn’t care about all that, he craves maternal support which he finds Maria but she betrays him. I love this plot because, I think there’s a time when the people close to you leave or let you down and you’re at your lowest, but this can sometimes help us. I think this part marks Bradley’s growth and maturity, we see him take charge and not lash or use humour as a coping mechanism but instead he’s civil and sensible although we know he’s pissed off. Another side I love of Bradley is his softer side, when he opens up to Hiba, this is a beautiful moment because there’s a stereotype of boys not crying but he lets it all out.
Hiba is my favourite character because she’s a feminist in an anti-feminist household. She stands up against all the abuse although we could argue she gave up in the end she did try, Bradley’s betrayal didn’t help but she stood her ground when it came to the abortion, she was determined to keep her baby and when she took off her hijab, that was a sign of her freedom and bravery. I created her to inspire all women, especially those under patriarchy authorities giving them hope and encouragement to stand up for themselves. She also takes the first step in their sexual relationship: she drops her towel and makes the first move; this showed her brave side and her following her body and needs for once. We know her parents are against what she is about to do but she does it anyway. I felt like this point represented a time you throw caution to the wind and do something even though you are certain you should not be doing it, when you give in your desires and all your beliefs or morals fly out the window. She’s fearless and independent although Bradley has a great influence on her, I tried to make her the dominant one in the relationship but it was a little difficult because he’s very patient with her, and she has no choice but to let him take charge sometimes. Hiba can also be judgemental as we’ve seen the exchanges between her and her inner voice. This is quite challenging for Bradley because he wants her to let him in completely but she still has barriers up because of the abuse she suffers from her father and brother , it’s a little difficult for her to let men in her life however Bradley is different and they fall in love too quickly and they move fast and it ends a disaster.
I don’t think age played a massive part in the story, decided to make the characters because I felt I could relate to them more and it won’t be as difficult to write about them than, for example people in their thirties as I can’t really make them from scratch. It felt right to make them teenagers because I feel like the struggles, they go through especially nowadays are really difficult and I believe sometimes that can be overlooked and teens can be really affected. This is why Hiba has an abusive father and Bradley doesn’t have his mother. They both lacked that full maternal care and they find solace in each other and this also led to the end of their relationship because they had to find themselves first and forgive before involving other people in their lives. They were not ready because I believe to fully love someone else you have to love yourself first, and they both needed to do that.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
And I cannot write without music, it just doesn’t work. Music is my greatest inspiration and motivation. I have to feel what I’m writing and listening to music helps me channel my feelings from the music to the story I want to share.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the Twilight books, they are my guilty pleasure, so I’d say Stephenie Meyer is one of my heroines. And Siobhan Davis: I love her work, I’m a big fan too.
In terms of influences. The books that have influenced me the most would have to be mostly teen interracial romance novels. I love the idea of bringing people of different backgrounds together in a love story; I try to have the same in my novels. I think it’s my selling point.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my second novel, “LOVE AND HATE HAVE THE SAME ADDRESS”, it’s a continuation from my debut novel: “STUMBLING IN THE DEBRIS”.
I’m trying to stay motivated because I have to balance it with my online classes #depression #I can’t believe I’m saying this but I actually miss school.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’d say Instagram. A lot of people use it so I think its the best platform to reach a wider audience.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Wow, that’s a hard one.
I’d say never give up and never criticize yourself. I believe that we’re our worst critics and we’re also our greatest fan.
So you have to encourage yourself and even if you think your manuscript is crap, edit and edit until you love it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I always refer to this quote by Michele Ruiz. “If people are doubting how far you’ll go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”
I think that’s the best advice I’ve ever heard because it drives me to keep going and ignore all the hate.
What are you reading now?
Trying to finish Siobhan Davis’ Kennedy Boys Series. I’m currently reading ‘Seducing Kaden’.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I would really love to co-author with Siobhan Davis, it’ll be an honour.
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 bring?
Well they all have to be romance, so I’ll definitely take:
1. Twilight
2. Finding Kyler and
3. Twilight: New Moon
Author Websites and Profiles
Carly Jane Garner Amazon Profile
Carly Jane Garner’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile