D M Carney has been writing short stories for several years. Now her debut novel is ready for the world. Her distinctly dialogue-driven style brings the characters and story to life, drawing readers closer to the action. Her stories typically focus on young adults and the challenges they face.
By day, D M Carney works as an insurance underwriter.
She currently resides in New Jersey with her husband, Larry, and their dog, Rocky, who serves as her number one fan.
When she isn’t working or spending time with her family, she enjoys playing her ukulele and singing for Rocky.
TBE: The title “One Decision Away” is quite intriguing. Was there a specific moment or decision in your own life that inspired this concept for the book?
D M Carney: This story started due to an article I read. It was the last paragraph and a comment that stated if another decision was made, the person may have lived. The story was born in that moment, and the title followed.
TBE: Your characters, Gabby and Richie, have a complex relationship. How did you approach developing their dynamic throughout the story?
D M Carney: I think some of the complexity is being young and in love. Then you throw in the fact no one wants you to get together, which makes you fight harder to stay together. It was the love that was obsessive and addictive. Not a healthy love but one that most people felt at one point in their life, and I think that is what gave that dynamic.
TBE: The book deals with some heavy themes like loss, addiction, and guilt. What was your process for handling these sensitive topics while still crafting an engaging narrative?
D M Carney: I actually hit it head-on like a freight train, lol. I knew what I was writing was not a happy story and may upset some. You don from the first chapter, though it was not a happy story. I tried to make the characters relatable. Show the reasons why they do what they do but not excusing them. I did not write a clear-cut villain, as for the most part I don’t feel there are. I wanted the reader to decide for their own.
TBE: There’s a strong focus on family relationships in the novel. Did any of your personal family experiences influence how you portrayed these connections?
D M Carney: This is fiction, but the characters are mostly a mix of my own family and growing up in the Bronx/North Jersey. This is loosely based on a friend of a family member but is in no way a non-fiction. It is what happened to her that drives the story.
TBE: The setting of the Bronx plays a significant role in the story. What made you choose this location, and how did you research to capture its essence?
D M Carney: I grew up in the Bronx when I was young, and I still have family there. There was not a lot of research that was needed. It’s still vivid to me. I did use some real restaurants, Bakery and street names.
TBE: Your writing style shifts between different time periods. What challenges did you face in maintaining coherence while moving between past and present?
D M Carney: This originally started in my head as most of the book being Patty and Richie and going back to Gabby but felt that would be too confusing. When I wrote the first chapter I decided I wanted people to get to know Gabby and Richie and follow them right through the end. I wanted Patty to open the story, so you knew where it was headed. I then decided Gabby would tell her sided and the end would be Patty and Richie. I thought it was cleaner to do it that like that. I wanted the reader to follow along with all of them until the end.
TBE: The character of Aunt Dee brings some lightness to the story. Was it intentional to have her as a counterbalance to the heavier elements?
D M Carney: Yes, definitely. I thought the ying and yang between Patty and Aunt Dee worked. There was so much that they had gone through, and in family’s you usually have that one or two who make things easier. The one you depend on to help when needed. That’s Aunt Dee.
TBE: Without spoiling anything, the ending leaves readers with a lot to think about. What do you hope readers take away from the conclusion?
D M Carney: I threw out the question of, does what you do in a moment make you a hero or monster? I want to let the reader decide that. I want people to talk about it. It is a thinking story, but I am not telling people how they should think.
TBE: How has writing this book changed your perspective on the power of decisions in our lives?
D M Carney: The news article I read made me start thinking about how important decisions are. I was already there when I wrote the book. I tried to stay true to that through out the story and hope I did.
