Hello, everyone! Welcome to July, and the Month of Artist and Author Interviews here on the website!
Today’s interview features one of the sweetest women in the romance genre: fellow Waterworld Mermaid Carlene Love Flores. Hanging out with Carlene is like getting a sugar injection from Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory–and she knows a thing or two about music, which makes her a fabulous girlfriend to go see bands with.
I am honored to be hosting her today — take it away, Carlene!
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Author or Artist?
Great first question….an artist who writes love stories.
Who are your professional role models?
My moms. I have four of them. And each one at some point in their lives was a single working woman with more than one full plate to juggle. They continue to teach me balance between work and play. And while I have many writing role models, this question comes while something Robyn Carr said during her talk is still fresh in my mind. That right now, this is as hard as it gets. (Alethea, please help here if I’ve butchered Robyn Carr’s lovely statement.) I believe in that with all my heart and am thankful for the living proof from my moms.
What’s your favorite writing/sketching weather?
Nighttime weather is always preferable for me. I feel calm under a clear nighttime sky, cold or warm, breezy or still. I like to joke that it’s just too hard to write the intimate and tragic moments I tend to enjoy with all that vibrant happy sun shining.
Set your current playlist/musical device to “shuffle all” and hit PLAY. What’s the first song that comes up?
From my favorite playlist “Man Songs”, the song is “Bliss (I Don’t Wanna Know) by Hinder. I heart boys singing.
If you could win any award, which would it be?
Menyon of the Month and Best Hand Kisser When Practicing For The Kissing Scene In Your Story
Would you rather have magical powers, or a spaceship?
Um, yeah, so that’s gonna be magical powers. I’d rather free-fall from the spaceship than be locked inside.
What was your favorite book as a child?
The Monster at the End of This Book and Lambert the Sheepish Lion
What thing do you wish you could go back in time and tell your 10-year-old self?
Just because you love the boys of Menudo doesn’t mean you should have their haircut, Carlene Love Touchstone!
What’s your favorite constellation?
Oh, thank you so much for having this question! Orion and especially his belt! My grandma used to set out two of the long folding lounge chairs in the back yard of her house and we’d lay there in the night with her pointing him out to me. I know I’ll always be able to find him. 😉
What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Thumbelina
What thing are you most proud of?
I think I may be blessed with luck and my ability to believe in that
The Colin Harvey Memorial Question: Name 3 things on your List of Things to Do Before You Die.
1. Dedicate a book to my dad
2. Be blessed with as many days on earth as humanly possible to see as much of my son’s life as I can
3. Make it to the beach in time [Before Carlene dies, whenever that is, she would like to visit the beach one last time. I think that’s beautiful. ~Alethea]
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Carlene Love Flores is a big fan of the stars (especially Orion), honest music (especially Depeche Mode), and her traveling family (no favorites there-she loves them all). These things have always inspired her to think up stories and continue to do so. In 2008, she finally decided to try her hand at writing that edgy fiction she’d been imagining her whole life down. It’s been the best of journeys, already having completed three novel-length manuscripts. In real life, she has been fortunate to work in a medical laboratory in Colorado, decorate cakes in Germany, and has even tried her hand at Little League umpiring. Carlene feels honored to be a member of RWA, WRW, and The Waterworld Mermaids.
She currently lives in the D.C. area where she can often be found listening to live music and looking up at the sky on clear nights. If she could touch someone’s heart with her writing the way others have done for her, she’d say truly there never lived a luckier girl.
What a fantastic interview! I heart Carlene-Mermaid. She rocks my socks! Not only does her writing touch me but her heart of glittery gold constantly makes me feel better. Thank you for helping me get through this year! 😉
I agree with Kerri — Carlene’s brilliance trumps even MY sunshine. I hope she has an AMAZING time at SDCC this weekend!
Awww, hi Kerri and hi Alethea! I miss you girls so much. Thank you for inviting me and making me feel special 😉 I will be coming back to the east coast with some chocolate covered seashells for you to try and live up to the sweetness! Did I tell you I saw my first Steampunk band the other night? Anywho, love you ladies…off to practice for those awards I so desperately want to win 😉
Carlene is an amazing person who is full of life and is very talented. She’s also has a great family who supports her ;). Thank you for the interview.
Great interview, Alethea, of a wonderful woman. Love the last line, about wanting to touch reader’s hearts the way yours was by your favorite books. That’s what keeps me writing, too.
We love you, Carlene! I learned a few things about you that I hadn’t known (cake decorating? Really?) That’s a wonderful talent to have :). My favorite book as a child was also The Monster at the End of This Book. I read it to Cody not too long ago and he loved it too! We miss you so much so it’s nice to be able to “visit” you on occasions like this. Love to Aiden in SD! Muah!
Thank you Alethea for spotlighting my Carlene. She never ceases to amaze me with her capacity for love, life, strength,and fearlessness! She is a diamond of a daughter and one heck of a writer. Thank you for recognizing her & her unique spirit.
Wow, great interview. Although I am somewhat surprised that the first song up in your playlist wouldn’t be a song from Depeche Mode. 🙂
So nice of Princess Alethea to give us a chance to get to know you better, Carlene. You’re a fellow stargazer! Orion’s one of my favorites, too. All the best with your writing!
See, my luck overflows! Thank you for visiting me here at Alethea’s place cousins Melissa and James, Mom, brother Johnny and friend Yvonne! You all make me smile 🙂
I am very proud of my grand daughter Carlene.I loved her interview. She is an amazing person and so sweet and caring. I know she will soon be a published author and I am sure she will write a special book dedicated to her dad (my son David) and it will be on the best selling list. Thank you for giving her a chance to shine.
Lambert the Sheepish Lion. LOVED THAT STORY. I am going to be singing the theme song all afternoon long now.
Great interview ladies. Come home soon Carlene, we miss you.
I, too, did not know you were a cake decorator. Love the Menudo comment, CLT! I read that same book to Wendy, that had Grover as the monster right?
On my way to find a picture of Menudo and then off to find which picture of you matches, CLT!
Carlene what a great interview. Hope you write many more books so we can say we knew you when! Keep up the great work.
Aletha, you described Carlene better than I ever could! Carlene is the best and I’m honored that I have such a person in my life (I can thank DM for that!).
And I agree with Johnny. I’m shocked as well that the first song wasn’t Depeche Mode.
Much love! Xoxo
Hi there and thanks so much to the princess for having me and to all the friends and family who have stopped by! Waves and blows kisses to Willa, Grandma Shirley,Avery and Aunt Terry 🙂
Blows more kisses to Aunt Loretta and my best Depeche Mode buddy Kathleen!
By far the main reason I get up every morning and take on the day is because of Carlene. She is not only my rock on tough days, she is also my cheerleader on good days. I love that woman more than the sun is hot! Thank you Alethea for showing the world a little of what I get to enjoy everyday!