Carol Snow on The Girl on the Beach

"You really have to love the process. It can't be about, 'Oh, if I am an author, everyone will respect me so much.' You really have to love the process of it or there kind of isn't any point to doing it."

— Carol Snow

About This Episode

Carol Snow is the author of ten books spanning romantic comedy, young adult fiction, and now psychological thrillers. She holds a BA in psychology from Brown University and a master's in teaching English from Boston College. Originally from New Jersey, she now splits her time between Cape Cod and Southern California. Her latest novel, The Girl on the Beach, is a gripping psychological thriller set along the coastline of Santa Barbara's American Riviera. It follows a wealthy Montecito couple, their four-year-old daughter, and the babysitter whose summer with the family ends in tragedy — and whose obsession with the truth may be the only thing keeping hope alive. Mike and Carol talk about growing up as an avid reader in Chatham, Massachusetts (where they share deep roots), the 16-year journey from first serious writing to first publication, switching genres multiple times, recovering from creative burnout, and why aspiring writers should focus on craft long before they worry about getting published.

Key Takeaways

1. Readers become writers. Carol grew up in a family of avid readers, spent summers at a Cape Cod beach house without television, and devoured stacks of library books. That foundation — reading widely and constantly — is where her writing life began.

2. Sixteen years is not unusual. From the time Carol got serious about writing to the publication of her first novel, roughly sixteen years passed. Overnight success stories exist but are rare. Persistence and love of the craft are what carry you through.

3. Writing groups matter. After taking a fiction-writing class at Harvard Extension School, Carol and half the class formed a monthly writing group that applied the critique principles they'd been taught. That community kept the work moving forward.

4. Switching genres follows your reading life. Carol moved from romantic comedy to YA to psychological thrillers not out of strategy but because her reading interests evolved. She writes what she wants to read — and her psychology degree gives her thrillers an extra layer of character insight.

5. Burnout is real — and recoverable. After nine books in ten years, Carol hit a wall. She took time away, learned oil painting, and eventually returned with renewed gratitude and a fresh perspective. The ten-year gap between books taught her that stepping back can be a form of progress.

6. Wealth can't replace connection. In The Girl on the Beach, the ultra-wealthy parents are paradoxically the most isolated when tragedy strikes. Their money insulated them from building deep relationships, and when they need support most, no one is truly there.

7. Focus on craft before publication. Carol's single biggest piece of advice for aspiring writers: work on the writing itself before worrying about getting published. If you rush to publication before your craft is ready, you won't be prepared to sustain a career even if you get lucky early.

8. Don't take rejection personally — but do listen to feedback. A college professor told Carol she wasn't good enough. She ignored the verdict but kept working. The key distinction: rejection stings, but using feedback to improve is what separates writers who grow from those who quit.

Get the Book

The Girl on the Beach by Carol Snow

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4wwfTjS

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798892425773

Connect with Carol

Website: h