Carol Baldwin’s New Release 2025 – Feature and Giveaway

We have a special guest today to announce a new book from author Carol Baldwin, which is coming out this spring.

You will get a chance to win an ebook (International Readers) or paperback, (USA only) by leaving a comment at the end, by March 17, 2025, midnight, (12:00 am – CST)

Carol also wants you to know, if you pre-order on Barnes and Noble and send her a receipt, she will send you some extra swag. See her email address at the end of this post. 🙂

First, I will share my review of, “Half-Truths,” and then we will learn all the interesting details of how she arrived at her new tale.

My Review:

Author Carol Baldwin presents this YA story, “Half-Truths,” which tackles the serious issues of racism of the 1950s.

Meet Katie Dinsmore, a 15-year-old girl from Tabor City, NC who is passionate about journalism and dreams of going to college someday, which leads her to make some big moves.

Katie finds herself at her grandparents’ elite home in Charlotte and quickly learns that her posh grandma is hiding secrets. Her grandmother’s father owned slaves and this revelation shakes things up for Katie. As she works to make her mark as a young writer, she has to figure out how to handle awkward and tense situations.

Carol Baldwin’s vibrant descriptions and creative language draw readers into the story. Although this story tackles serious topics like prejudice and family drama, the author balances it with moments that keep each chapter entertaining.

I have a strong appreciation for historical fiction. I enjoyed the authentic storytelling. It has actual newspaper headlines at the beginning of each chapter. The research and photos at the back of the book will engage readers, guiding them to look up more topics from these times.

I envision this story as an inclusion in schools and at home. This story would make a great read-aloud for meaningful explorations and discussions about the racial tensions in the 1950s.

What inspired you to write, Half-Truths?

I moved to Charlotte 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 Charlotte. I started wondering what the history was “under my feet.” What had happened in areas I walked or biked through that were now covered by buildings or asphalt?

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. My background is in mental health and I’ve witnessed the trauma caused by family members who harbor deep secrets. I’ve seen the damage to the secret-bearer and the sorrow and hurt that gets passed along to the next generation. I wanted to write a book to encourage readers to think about this.

How long has it taken you to write your story?

Too long! Ha, ha! It’s been about 18 years from pre-writing to publishing Half-Truths. I had written nonfiction and knew I had decent writing skills but I didn’t have the skills to write fiction. That’s an entirely different ballgame! The story grew, morphed, and solidified over those years, but the kernel of it stayed the same: An unlikely friendship between a White girl and a Black girl in 1950. And, I learned how to write a novel!

I enjoyed reading about your research for this book. Tell us your experience in finding all your facts.

There were three main sources for my information:  Books and articles I read, people I interviewed, and places I went to.

Here is a picture of some of the books I consulted. Some of them I read from cover to cover; in others, I read only chapters or pages. I read about Charlotte, about the 1950s, about the conflict in Korea (at one point that was going to be a bigger part of the story); about fashion, food, and people. You name it, I wanted to know the time and place as well as I could. In my early research,  I read articles from The Charlotte Observer on microfilm. More recently, I’ve read stories archived online which is a lot easier! I also found information in other periodicals and on the internet.

This second Picture of Trade and Tryon Streets in 1955. Courtesy of Robinson-Spangler Carolina room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

I interviewed around 100 individuals who lived in Charlotte during the period or heard stories from family members. Bits and pieces of their stories got woven into mine. Often it was hard to figure out what not to include! For example, a 1952 graduate of Central High told me about going to Charlotte’s Armory to hear Black musicians. He told me the Whites were ”segregated in the balcony” while the Black patrons had the dance floor. I wanted to include that in my book…but it didn’t fit my story. I treasure all of these interviews; they helped give voice to my story.

In the End Notes of Half-Truths, I talk about visiting a former Rosenwald School. The two men I met, their stories, and a picture on the wall of that school were all pivotal in creating my plot. Through research, I discovered that there were remains of an African American cemetery less than a half mile away from an upscale mall and restaurants. That was part of the inspiration for the cemetery scene in the novel. I visited the Second Ward Alumni House and met Second Ward alumni  Vermelle Ely and Price Davis.  Throughout many interviews, they showed me how important the Black high school was to the community and gave me a picture of what life was like for a Black teenager in the 50s in Charlotte.

This mural is on the wall of Second Ward High School’s gymnasium, the only remaining part of the school. The young woman in the top center is Vermelle Diamond Ely, homecoming queen in 1948.

I received this picture taken in Freedom Park after I wrote the snow scene in Half-Truths. It fits perfectly! Used with permission of Kathryn Pickard.

What are some points you strongly want readers to walk away with after reading your story?

Great question.  Too often half-truths, prejudice, and harmful ways of thinking and behaving are passed from one generation to the next. This has the potential to build walls between people. The first step towards reconciliation is acknowledging wrongdoing and moving forward with open, respectful communication.

The theme of half-truths runs throughout the book. Kate not only uncovers deceptions that have been passed on in her family, but she also comes to grips with her half-truths. Like Kate, We must face the lies we’ve told others or ourselves.

Lillian, an important secondary character, is a teenage Black maid who works for Kate’s grandmother. The two girls bond over Kate’s goat, and while building that friendship, Kate frequently stumbles. In a major turning point, Kate alienates Lillian by publicly saying a half-truth about her. It is only when Kate admits what she did and communicates her genuine regret to Lillian that their friendship is reconciled.

As the story progresses, Kate discovers secrets about her family’s ancestry. She wants to talk about them to her stern grandmother— the lynchpin in the puzzle—but she’s afraid. At the end of the book, she broaches the topic as the two plant a garden. Kate’s hunch about her ancestry is validated as she breaks through walls that have existed for decades. She is then freer to speak her voice and move forward without debilitating fear.

Do you have future stories our readers can look forward to?

I am working on two other books. Out of the Flame is “sort of” a prequel to Half-Truths. I say, “sort of” because it features Kate’s granddaddy, Andrew Dinsmore, as a young man working in South Jersey in 1893.  It is a middle-grade novel featuring two boys who are glassmakers about a 150 years apart. The other is a graphic novel, Nightmare in Nuremberg, a time travel middle-grade that is loosely based on my father and grandfather’s escape from Nuremberg, Germany.

Thank you Carol for taking time to tell us about your new book.

You can follow Carol Baldwin’s page ► here.

If anyone has questions for Carol, please leave them in the comment section below. Don’t forget to leave your name for a chance to win Carol’s new book, by March 17, 2025 at midnight (12:00 am) CST.

Preorder her book on Barnes and Noble and send your receipt to her website address for extra prizes.

PS. I will announce the winner on my Books by Rose Facebook page. Carol will announce this, as well.

Thanks for stopping by today.

As always,

Happy Reading!

Rosie