Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
April 11, 2001
Mystery novelist credits Catholic school
Carol Higgins Clark named character after nun
METUCHEN, N.J. (CNS) — For Charity Sister Maureen Cawley, mystery writer Carol Higgins Clark will forever be the charming first-grader who always had a joke to tell.
And Clark recalls her ``favorite teacher'' who invariably smiled at those jokes and was ``just always so kind.''
They have maintained a special bond since Sister Maureen, now librarian at St. Peter School in New Brunswick, and former principal of the high school, taught the well-known author many years ago at Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Washington Township, in the Archdiocese of Newark.
The two shared fond memories as Eileen Curry's third-grade class filed into the library March 13 to meet Clark and listen as she read a Bible story to them.
``Since she learned how to read in Grade 1 and is certainly grateful for her years of education in Catholic schools, she graciously agreed to come,'' Sister Maureen said.
Hands flew in the air as students were given an opportunity to ask questions.
They were amused to hear that she got the idea for her book ``Snagged'' from a friend going to a pantyhose convention; for ``Iced'' from a Christmas trip to Aspen, Colo.; and that ``Twanged'' combines her love for country music and a trip to Ireland, weaving a tale of a cursed fiddle that cannot leave Ireland or havoc breaks loose.
While she writes something ``more poignant'' at the end of every one of her books, Clark explained that ``when I finish them all I want to cry,'' often with relief at having completed the project.
And Clark explained that she took up the pen almost naturally about 10 years ago. While retyping the books of her mother, mystery novelist Mary Higgins Clark, Carol often made notes and discussed the plots with her. Eventually, she was encouraged to write herself, and when she did, she never let go of her affinity for telling jokes.
``A reviewer once said that `Mary Higgins Clark goes for the jugular; Carol Higgins Clark goes for the funny bone,'" she added with a smile.
She no longer feels butterflies in her stomach when addressing people. However, she described a recent writer's event put together by Laura Bush the day before the presidential inauguration in Washington as ``different.''
``We (she and her mother) were two of five authors chosen to read our work to President-elect Bush, the Bush family and the Cheneys. It was covered by C-Span, so we couldn't make a mistake,'' she said.
For Clark, reading and writing have been very important since first grade. ``You learn so much from reading. It takes you places. You see how other people tell a story. I love to read other people's books to see how they express themselves, how they develop the plot,'' she told the students.
``You should all get into the habit of reading, especially when you are young, because you learn a lot in every aspect of your life when you read. Keep reading and keep writing, every day,'' Clark advised.
In an interview with The Catholic Spirit, Metuchen's diocesan newspaper, Clark recognized that Catholic education gave her a great start that led to a successful writing career.
``It is just the point of being around caring people, loving nuns. It is about having decent people in your books with values, and I think that is a reflection of Catholic education. My family, of course, my mother,'' were also a positive influence, she added.
Sister Maureen described hosting Clark as ``a delight'' and enjoyed celebrating her success with today's students.
``What a wonderful learning experience for our students to meet with and be able to question a known author,'' Sister Maureen said. ``As Carol stressed in talking to the students, the keys to writing books are being a reader — read everything — and keep a journal and write frequently about all you read."
