Meet Carla Damron | Novelist, Social Worker, Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carla Damron and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carla, what are you inspired by?
As an author, my experiences and my imagination are my biggest sources of inspiration. My mind is constantly spinning stories. In my other professional life, I’m a social worker, and that profession has introduced me to amazing people dealing with challenging situations. Their resiliency has taught me more than any textbook could. I try to capture that spirit in my novels–I write about the struggles but also about the power of recovery and resilience. Social work has also given me a special look into social issues that affect us, that trouble me. Those issues always work their way into my writing. In a way, writing is therapy for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Becoming a published author is a long, rocky journey. It requires creativity, perseverance in the face of criticism, and ingrained stubbornness. I’m very lucky to have six books out: Keeping Silent, Spider Blue, Death in Zooville, The Stone Necklace, The Orchid Tattoo, and my most recent: Justice Be Done. My brand is “fiction that makes a difference.” While I want each of my books to be a good, entertaining read, I also want readers to come away with a new awareness. In The Orchid Tattoo, I expose readers to how much human trafficking occurs–and how—right here in our community.
Justice Be Done was just published, and it may be my most bannable book yet, as it deals with the destructive power of unresolved racial tensions in our community.
I’m still a practicing social worker, but I also feel like my practice is my writing, because addressing social justice issues is very important in the world of social work.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d show them the Columbia Museum of Art–a real treasure–and take them for a walk along the Riverfront. On a Saturday, I’d take them to the Soda City Market. We’d go out to eat at Pasta Fresca and Arabesque, or order take-out pizza from Il Buccato. MOST importantly, we’d spend at afternoon at All Good Books in Five Points–if the weather’s nice, we’d get coffee or wine and sit on the back patio before buying a TON of books!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I belong to a magnificent community of writers. Some I met in school when I pursued my MFA–these relationships have sustained me for ten years, and their feedback on my writing helps me continue to grow and improve. I also belong to several writing organizations: Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. This last group is particularly important to me. I participate in Zoom write-ins where authors from all over the country write together and discuss the ups and downs and wackiness of the writing life. The support I receive from them helps me keep putting words on paper. Otherwise, it can be a very lonely business. I also want to recognize my family: my husband puts up with my antics. My brother Ed and sister Pam are always willing to critique my drafts. And, of course, our four-legged children, who are no help at all. But I love them anyway.

Website: carladamron.com

Instagram: carladamron

Linkedin: carladamron

Twitter: @carlawritesfic

Facebook: carladamronwrites

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4qYa0KacNw&t=2s

Image Credits
Bradford Lee Photos, James Hussey