Carol will be speaking at The Town Hall (within the Corn Exchange) on Saturday 14th November 2026 between 11.30 and 12.30.
She will be speaking with Elisabeth Conway on Bringing Characters to Life in Crime and History Novels.
Most people will remember the character of Vera, created by Ann Cleeves for far longer than they will remember the plots of the novels. So what makes a character memorable? We will explore some of the differing aspects of character. How does the author help the reader to visualise and understand a character? Do the motivations that drive characters span both time and genre? We begin with a skeleton and use this to build our character. First, we add flesh to the bones to show physical attributes. His build, height colouring, the clothes he wears are all powerful prompts to the reader’s imagination. Then we consider how the character’s backstory influences his physical appearance and the way he speaks. His stature, his gait, his mannerisms will show how he views himself and his perceived place in the world. Then we can explore how he behaves and what motivates him. Short extracts from fiction will be read to show how physical details and distinctive behaviours form unique characters.
About the author
Carol was raised in a small village in the New Forest in southern England where she attended the local primary school. Following formal education and with an interest in forensics and police work Carol applied to join Hampshire Constabulary. Despite an attempt at subterfuge by piling her long hair on top of her head, her application was rejected as she did not meet the minimum height requirement.
Having settled into married life as a farmer’s wife, Carol wrote short pieces for the farming press, Farmer’s Weekly and The Smallholder, and a series of articles for Animal World, an RSPCA magazine. In her role as a school governor, she wrote educational pieces related to unusual school projects such as the authentic reconstruction of an Iron Age hut for Junior Education.
Carol has always liked puzzles and logic, and, along with her early interest in police work, is probably the reason she turned to the genre of crime when she began writing novels. Her first novel, Murder in the New Forest, was long listed in the Plaza Prizes crime category. She is a member of the Crime Writer’s Association. This is the first book in a series.
Now retired from farming she lives in a rural village near the cathedral city of Salisbury with her husband and their two rescued feral cats, Amber and Opal.
Murder in the New Forest:
Mary-Ellen Mitchell is dead
She was a competent horsewoman, but now she lies, neck broken, while her horse grazes nearby – was it really an accident?
DI Callum MacLean has relocated to the New Forest. His new patch couldn’t be more different from his native inner city Glasgow – and he’s frightened of horses!
At first he puts down the slow progress to ‘country ways’, but then realises he’s being used as a pawn in someone else’s game – but whose?
Carol Cole’s first novel in her DI Callum MacLean Mysteries series, is a skilfully crafted story that will keep you guessing until the end!
Blandford Literary Festival 