Meet Carlyn Greenwald | Thriller and Romance Author

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

Hi Carlyn, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’ve been writing since I was in middle school, and thus never really had a point where I wasn’t balancing it with something else. So, I had practice with fitting writing between life structures and youth gave me boundless energy. Throughout most of high school, I’d average three to four books written a year. But by the time college rolled around, I began to actually slow down to be more productive, really allowing myself to revise and perfect projects rather than churning out every shiny new idea that hit me. Then, I was fortunate enough to get agented and go on submission with my books in the year after college where I was still trying out different full-time jobs. By the time I got my first book deal, I was at my first full-time job and got to truly figure out balance.

Suddenly, it wasn’t only that I had to block out 8 hours every day to make a living, but I was also balancing trying to maintain friendships and relax after work. So, I started slotting in my writing career based on need and want. I’d only work in the evenings or in large sessions on weekends if I needed to — when I was on deadline with my publisher or had set a deadline with my agent. And as for any uncontracted projects, I now only work on projects for free if I really, really love them. I used to think badly of myself if I wasn’t constantly writing, but now I value the time I take to watch TV or a movie after work just as much as writing a new novel. One day, I may write full time if pay ever gets there, and then I suspect I’ll change my priorities again. But for now I really like the structure of a day job.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a novelist who writes thriller and romance books for teens and adults. I grew up writing all over the place in terms of genre, but had always come back to thriller as the genre I loved the most. But throughout my career, I love experimenting and pivoting — and thus my first two published books were a bit of a departure from the genre I thought I’d debut in. So, I have two romcoms out, but now primarily work in thriller in the YA and adult spaces.

While my work does run the gamut in terms of genre, they tend to always feature bisexual Jewish characters and often also feature characters who are neurodivergent, mentally ill, and/or physically disabled in a way that reflects how I grew up. I also love Americana — road trips, kitschy stuff, diners — and popular culture, so my works also often feature creatives and revolve around or pay tribute to entertainment. And as a native Angeleno, I love writing about Los Angeles and California in general. While I have a few ideas to be set outside of California, I think that’ll always be a part of my work. Lately, I’ve been really passionate about contributing to diverse stories within the thriller/horror genre and advocating for how important it is for marginalized readers who happen to love those types of stories to be able to see themselves, even if the emotional experience of the book isn’t necessarily escapist in a traditional happy sense.

My publishing journey was a lot of struggle, almosts, and waiting. I like to tell people that I queried for two years straight before getting my agent and then had two books die on sub before my debut sold. And even after that, I had a book die on submission and the next only sell after one dead submission round and an overhaul. And all that while only being published for two years, still early in my career. It gives me a certain perspective I appreciate, that every new project is a new opportunity to accomplish something new and set yourself up. It can get so scary between projects, especially if you aren’t working with the same publisher anymore, but I truly think talent, perseverance, luck, and a great support system will keep any writer’s career alive, even when there are some bad periods.

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.
So as mentioned before, I am a connoisseur of very low brow things, so my idea of a really fun time around LA is taking them to the Mystic Museum, the horror museum in Burbank, walk around Magnolia Blvd and visit all the year-round Halloween stores and vintage shops, and get dinner at The New Deal, which is this elevated American restaurant themed after FDR. If we were to venture out further, I love Vroman’s bookstore in Pasadena, The Ripped Bodice in Culver City, and Annabelle’s Book Club in Studio City, I love the Academy Museum and the Culver Steps to just hang out in good weather. I love kitschy restaurants like Yamashiro, a Japanese restaurant made to look like a Japanese tea house and the Green Room, a bar in the hills of Burbank that serves outrageous drinks themed after movies. I think the best beach is my hometown, Manhattan Beach, and the only tourist site I really think is worth it is Griffith Observatory, even if it’s soul crushing trying to find parking. And if you’re looking for haunted things in particular, I highly recommend the Old LA Zoo (also a nice hike), the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, the Biltmore Hotel in Downtown LA, and if you’re willing to risk getting arrested, the Devil’s Gate in Pasadena.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My agent, Janine Kamouh! We’ve been working together for 6 years now and I literally wouldn’t have my career if she hadn’t given me her insight and more importantly stayed optimistic when I wanted to give up and kept me trying through the downs of a creative career.

Website: https://www.carlyngreenwald.com

Instagram: @carlyn_gee

Image Credits
Molly Pan Photography