Carol Baldwin Brings History and Heart to Life Through Her Powerful YA Novel Half-Truths
PHOTO: Author Carol Baldwin, whose debut novel Half-Truths explores friendship and racial tensions in 1950s Charlotte, North Carolina.
Exploring Friendship, Race, and Resilience in the Jim Crow South
Carol Baldwin shares the inspiration, challenges, and passion behind her YA novel Half-Truths, reflecting on race, history, writing mentorship, and the deeply personal journey of crafting authentic fiction.
Carol Baldwin brings a unique blend of heart, history, and honesty to every page she writes. Her debut young adult historical novel, Half-Truths, is not only the culmination of 18 years of passionate research and storytelling—it’s also a powerful exploration of friendship, race, and identity in the Jim Crow South. With characters that resonate and a setting that uncovers a city’s buried past, Baldwin’s work stands as a remarkable contribution to YA literature.
What makes Half-Truths especially compelling is Baldwin’s commitment to authenticity. Through careful interviews, immersive research, and a profound respect for the lived experiences of others, she crafts a story that feels both intimate and historically grounded. Her background in counseling and decades of literary engagement enrich her work with empathy and depth, offering readers both a gripping narrative and a meaningful reflection on societal change.
Beyond her fiction, Baldwin is an inspiring advocate for literacy and education. Through her newsletter Talking Story, her workshops with young writers, and her collaborative spirit, she has spent years nurturing the voices of emerging authors and shining a light on books that matter. It is an honor to feature Carol Baldwin in Novelist Post—a writer whose dedication to truth, both personal and historical, reminds us why stories still matter.
Carol Baldwin is a dedicated, thoughtful writer whose historical storytelling brings emotional depth, cultural awareness, and literary excellence to young adult fiction.
What inspired you to write Half-Truths?
I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina from the Northeast almost 40 years ago and was curious about my new hometown and this part of the country. Over the years, I learned about the South and Charlotte. Unfortunately, many historical homes and places were not preserved in this city. I started wondering what the history was “under my feet.” What had happened in areas that I walked or biked through that were now covered up by buildings or asphalt? What was the story in my own backyard?
For a long time, I had wanted to write a book for teens, and as I became curious about what led to Blacks gaining civil rights, I began to think about a story that would incorporate this struggle. I imagined a young White girl who moved to the city of Charlotte from a farm and the challenges she’d face fitting into her new world. I decided she would form a friendship with a Black girl despite their differences which would shed light on the racial tensions at that time.
Can you share how your love of reading has influenced your writing process?
My parents blessed me with a life-long appreciation of books. Since I was a child, I’ve had full bookshelves and I still appreciate a story that grabs my heart and won’t let it go. As I wrote Half-Truths, I blogged about the books and mentor titles I read that informed my story.
“I learned how to translate my emotions and thoughts into the written word.” — Carol Baldwin
How did your experiences with journaling shape your approach to storytelling?
I learned how to translate my emotions and thoughts into the written word.
What has been the most rewarding part of working on your young adult novel?
Now that the book is out, hearing readers say that the book is authentic is very rewarding. To accomplish that, I read books about the Black experience and the South; interviewed about 100 people who lived during Jim Crow or had family that told them about it; and went to some of the places featured in the book. Readers who grew up in the South during the 50s and 60s affirm the story I have told.
How do you balance writing with your other passions, such as gardening and learning to golf?
I try to exercise every day so that I’m not glued to the computer, but it’s hard to make time for everything I want to do.
Can you describe your experience co-publishing the “Talking Story” newsletter with Joyce Hostetter and now with Rebecca Wheeler?
It was Joyce’s idea to start the newsletter and we learned as we went. We wanted to appeal to educators, parents, and librarians, and to feature children’s authors and illustrators, preferably those who were new or not as well known. Our goal was to highlight a mixture of books for different age levels and include some new titles and classics. Initially, we published 6 times a year but realized that quarterly worked better for our schedules. We picked themes on topics with kid appeal that were included in school curriculums. Fairly quickly, we came up with the format that Rebecca and I continue: an interview with a kidlit author, a featured illustration from a picture book, an activity that teachers or home school educators could use, and a tween or teen writing short reviews of three books. The collaboration with both Joyce and Rebecca has been terrific. There’s a healthy amount of give and take as we brainstorm topics and titles we want to include. Your readers can view our latest issue here and subscribe. We have excellent giveaways and promise not to clog up anyone’s inbox! Readers can also join our Facebook group.
“Publishing is not a fast process. Go to conferences and network with other writers. You need a tribe to help you get through it all!” — Carol Baldwin
What do you enjoy most about teaching writing to young writers?
I love mentoring writers—whether they are teens or seniors. It gives me great satisfaction to help new writers learn how to translate their ideas and emotions into stories or essays. I feel like a midwife every time! Often, I help individuals who want to write a story but have no idea where to begin. Sometimes just brainstorming with them and encouraging them to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) is enough to get them started. It is fun watching someone who has wanted to write start exercising their writing muscles.
I understand it took 18 years to take your book from beginning to end. What challenges did you face while writing Half-Truths?
Since Half-Truths takes place in the Jim Crow South in the U.S., it shows the racial prejudice that existed then. My main character, Kate Dinsmore, is White, but the most important secondary character, Lillian Bridges, is Black. After spending several years writing from Kate’s point of view (POV), an editor at a writing conference suggested that I write the book from both girls’ POV. That was a daunting task, and by the time I finished that draft—about two years later—I was told that since I am White, it would not be received well by publishers. After wrestling with that news, I returned to my original idea of writing the story from Kate’s POV. Despite this detour, my book is richer for exploring Lillian’s thoughts, emotions, and history.
It was also challenging and time-consuming to find headlines as chapter titles. In addition, fitting together the characters’ genealogies was not easy. I went off course several times and needed good beta readers to bring me back to the story kernel: a White girl and a Black girl who form an unlikely friendship in the Jim Crow South.
“I couldn’t give up!” — Carol Baldwin
How do you stay motivated during the long process of writing a novel?
I loved the premise of the story and I admire both Kate and Lillian. After a while, I felt like I had put so much effort into it that I couldn’t give up!
What advice would you give aspiring authors who want to develop their craft?
Take time to learn your craft. I should have spent more time working through books about the writing craft. Every novelist needs perseverance, an openness to receiving feedback on her work, and patience. Publishing is not a fast process. Go to conferences and network with other writers. You need a tribe to help you get through it all!
