May Book Brew Interview ““

Catch of the Day author Carla Caruso, www.carlacaruso.com.au

 1. Why were you inspired to feature the particular profession that one of your main characters is involved in?

My first job as a journalist was at a newspaper in a small coastal town of South Australia, known as Kingston SE ““ home to the Big Lobster! (The Big Lobster being a ginormous sculpture of such a critter, which tourists love to have their photos taken at.) Aptly, the town is well-known for its lobster fishing industry, and my novel, Catch of the Day, is set there. A little inspired by my time in the town, the story features a hunky hero, Alex, who holds down two jobs: as a lobster fisherman and a freelance photographer. Both jobs are pretty out-of-the-box, really!

 2. When and why did you decide to become a writer?

I think it’s innate! When I was four, I used to annoy my kindergarten teachers by dictating long, detailed stories to them. And, as a teen, I’d write 100-page novels in my school holidays ““ for fun. I also devoured books by Enid Blyton, Judy Blume, Ann M. Martin, and R. L. Stine. It just took me a while to realise my childhood dream ““ journalism seemed a more practical course. I’m in my thirties now.

 3. What was your first job?

I was a check-out operator at a supermarket ““ and a pretty hopeless one. Numbers aren’t my strong point”¦ But I did enjoy the customer service aspect. And getting to peek in other people’s trollies.

 4. What is your guilty pleasure or secret vice?

Hmm”¦ which to reveal? Okay, well, I’m generally more of a savoury kind of girl, but I have eaten Nutella and salted caramel sauce out of the jar while typing ““ and sometimes I’ve gotten through a lot of the stuff. Sinful! Watching Revenge for the glamour is also a guilty pleasure.