There are lots of fun things about being an author. You tend to spend quite a lot of time by yourself staring out of the window or googling things like, “Is a chaise and four posher than a barouche?” (no spoilers for the era I’m writing in at present!) So it’s a rare treat to:
a) Go to an event
b) See other authors there
Last month, I was fortunate enough to meet the lovely Carolyn Dawson both at Christian Resources Together at Swanwick and at the British Christian Writers’ conference in Cambridge (in the same week! Who says writers never get out?) She has just brought out her first book, The Narrow Path, with Instant Apostle, my own publisher. I caught up with her to find out a bit more about her life and writing journey.
So what can you tell me about your background, Carolyn?
I was born in Canada, but brought up in a Christian home in Belfast by my mother and grandparents and spent my twenties guest singing at different churches. I found that the songs I wrote about my own personal struggles really resonated with people, which led me to study pastoral counselling. Once I was accredited, I set up Stepping Stones Counselling Service which ran for a number of years and acquired a degree in Psychology. I married my husband Neil in 2006. In lockdown, following the death of my beloved mum, I began writing Bible-based devotionals and posting them online. I felt God leading me to do more with them and at the beginning of last year, I began to put my first book together.
How does your writing day look? Are you a nine to five-er or more of a fit it in around the edges writer?
I still write devotionals which go out twice a week. I allocate two full days a week to studying and writing down thoughts, then two more full days to book writing and thinking.
I’d love to know how you went from a set of devotionals to a full-length book.
So would I! I never imagined that the devotionals I wrote in early 2021 would be the basis for my book. The words I heard from God were from Psalm 32:8. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” I felt so led throughout the journey and incredibly blessed. It’s been quite the adventure and it’s not over yet!
Author Carolyn Dawson
What were the main challenges?
Chapters! How to start them, how to end them and what to put in the middle. I also spent a lot of time trying to decide what the main theme of each one was. It was hard!
Who is the book aimed at? And what is your hope for it?
It’s primarily aimed at new believers, exploring the fundamentals of faith and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. My hope is that it will encourage the reader to live out their faith in every aspect of their life. With everything I write, I want to encourage Christians in their daily walk as well as to discover the richness of God’s word, the depth of His love mercy and grace and our potential in Him. I want to focus our attention back on to the voice of Jesus and not the voice of the world.
Apart from writing, what are your three favourite things?
Indian, Chinese and Italian food; travelling and animals. When my husband and I go out for a walk, he’ll often realise I’m no longer beside him but have stopped for a chat with cows, sheep, horses or possibly a rabbit.
And what’s next for you?
Another book of course!
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You can buy Carolyn’s book directly from her website, Narrow Path; at independent Christian bookshops across Northern Ireland, at Faith Mission bookshops and from Amazon.