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Caroline Smailes was born in Newcastle in 1973. She moved to the North West to study English Literature at Liverpool University, before going on to specialise in Linguistics. A chance remark on a daytime chat show caused Caroline to reconsider her life. She enrolled on an MA in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University and began to write her debut novel In Search of Adam. Caroline is currently an Associate Lecturer for Open University and lives on the Wirral with her husband and three children. Here she talks with Chris High.

In Search Of Adam is a harrowing yet beautifully written book. How did the story come about and how far were you willing to go with the book?

Since having children I have become more aware of the dangers within society and interested in the questioning of a parent’s role in protecting their children. I wanted to examine how far we should expect society to intervene when ‘bad things’ began to happen. Writing In Search of Adam often left me distraught. I would become distant and I would dwell. I spent hours lying awake thinking about how Jude would have to react and wishing that I could give her a happy ending. I feel that I pushed boundaries and addressed topics that needed voicing. I was willing to take the story to where it needed to go. In Search of Adam is a considered piece of fiction that is firmly grounded in fact.

Was there anything you now regret not including?

No not at all. In fact, I am particularly pleased with the inclusion of the Thoughts, After Thoughts and my illustrations of Disraeli Avenue. I have been fortunate that all of the professionals working with In Search of Adam have had vision and creative thought.

How difficult was it researching the book?

Unfortunately, In Search of Adam was not difficult to research. We exist within a society where abuse is common place. We as a society may not choose to consider the affects and we may often turn a blind eye, but documented evidence of abuse and neglect is easily accessible for those who wish to look. The researching was not difficult, but the findings were devastating.

What was the idea behind the different styles of typesetting and grammatical construction?

The different fonts were used to indicate altered voice and mood. Key words, themes and repeated phraseology were signalled through a consistent font choice being assigned to them. The first person child’s voice of Jude Williams had restrictions. I could only describe what Jude could see and hear and so the limitations of her language were expressed through altered fonts and variation in grammatical constructions.

The interplay of text with white space was to give voice and expression, as well as being aesthetically pleasing. Altering the size, boldness and placing into italics were to attract the reader’s eye to specifics and to give depth to the words. The aim was to give the words life and breath on the page. I wanted the words to be given a creative expression beyond the surface meaning, so I experimented to add a depth that could not be obtained through standard presentation.

How did you set about building Jude’s personality?

The creation of Jude Williams was an organic process. She grew and evolved, often beyond my conscious control. I have detailed notes on Jude. I was as meticulous as she is within the novel. I can answer a number of questions about her. I know her intimately, as she lived inside my head for 18 months. Jude reacted to her situation and her character altered with the events that formed her and so her character was built as the story developed.

When I first launched my website and blog, I was told not to expect a publisher or agent to stumble onto my work. But Clare Christian did. Perhaps luck or perhaps being in the right place at the right time, but In Search of Adam is the first novel to have been discovered as a direct result of a blog. The CyberScout is said to be the next generation publishing executives, scouring the web for undiscovered talent. I now know of a number of other writers who have been discovered in a similar way. The power of the internet can not be underestimated. Aside from CyberScouts, In Search of Adam is benefitting from word of mouth and publicity from blog posts that mention or review the novel. The internet gave and continues to give me exposure, but for me the internet offers a supportive community where I can grow and develop as a writer.

What do you consider to be the most difficult and best aspects of writing a novel?

I think that the most difficult aspect of writing is initially having the confidence to continue and ignore the negative voices that scream inside your head. Then the difficulties are within the crafting and eventually in the letting go. The positives are to be found within the having of a voice, the creation and the exploration of new worlds. But, in all honesty, the best aspect of writing a novel was experienced on the day that I saw, felt and smelled the physical novel that I had created.

Have you ever been personally affected by something you’ve discovered whilst writing your books?

Writing In Search of Adam was a personal journey. I wanted and needed the story to be authentic. Child abuse is a hidden subject within our society, as are self harm, suicide and depression. I have given these topics exposure and a voice and through this exposure I have been deeply disturbed.Ìý When I wrote the diaries of Sarah Williams, I sobbed. I wrote a letter to Jude from her depressed mother and I ached.

Of what does your writing day consist and what advice would you offer to aspiring authors?

My writing day is split between paid work and writing my second novel. I tend to complete my paid work in the mornings or late evenings and then I write in between school runs and looking after my three children. My advice to aspiring authors would be to be disciplined, to set realistic goals, to persevere and to build a web presence.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? What do you think are the main obstacles facing authors today?

I have always wanted to be a writer, but I didn’t have the self confidence and belief. I enrolled on the MA in Creative Writing to see whether or not I had the talent and determination to achieve my dream.

I think that the obstacles facing authors are numerous. Initially, there is the element of competition, as there are a huge number of outstanding writers, first time authors have the difficulty of standing out from the crowd. Then there is the obstacle of being able to brush away rejection. Then there is the issue of matching their manuscript to that very person who is going to be enthused by it. And then the realisation that even if published, writing may need to be subsidised by other paid work. This in itself causes time management issues. Rejection and an ability to battle on, seem to be prerequisites.Ìý

What do you read and what are you reading now?

My reading tastes are diverse and I like to jump from genre to genre. I recently finished Confessions of a Chatroom Freak by Mr Biffo, which had me laughing out loud. I am currently reading A Son Called Gabriel by Damian McNicholl which is poignant, beautifully crafted and has made me cry.

What’s next for Caroline Smailes?

With In Search of Adam launched, I now need to focus on writing. I am on the second draft of my second novel Black Boxes. It considers the linguistic clues that are held within two black boxes after a mother and daughter’s relationship has crashed. I am exploring the expression of sounds and communication. I hope to have completed the final draft by the end of the summer. And then I’ll start the whole seeking a publisher/agent process all over again. I guess that my eventual aim is to write fulltime.