Carol A. Campbell shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Carol A., thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Some people walk a clear path. I’ve wandered a little, stumbled plenty, but every turn led me closer to the storyteller I was meant to be. Out of that wandering came the seaside town of Bayou Vista—a place as real to me as any on the map—and Southern Psychos, the brand that grew from its shadows. Bayou Vista is where all my characters live, where their secrets unravel, and where ordinary Southern streets hide extraordinary darkness. It’s the heart of my storytelling, a town built on my love of thrillers, small-town whispers, and that fine line between what’s real and what’s imagined. What started as wandering became a world, and now that world drives every book I write.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Carol A. Campbell, and I write psychological thrillers with a Southern twist. I publish under my own brand, Southern Psychos, which is built around the fictional town of Bayou Vista, Louisiana. Bayou Vista has become the heartbeat of my books—it’s where small-town gossip collides with dark secrets, where everyday people find themselves trapped in extraordinary, twisted situations. Readers tell me Bayou Vista feels so real they could drive through it, grab coffee at Bayou Bliss, or overhear whispers about their neighbors at Tanya’s Crawfish Shack.
What makes my work unique is that I blend fast-paced, bingeable thrillers—think Freida McFadden or Alice Feeney—with grounded Southern realism. My characters aren’t just plot devices; they’re people you recognize, maybe even people you know. That mix of authenticity and suspense is what keeps readers hooked.
I’ve been on a mission this year to build both my catalog and my brand. By the end of 2025, I’ll have released more than ten books, each tied together by Bayou Vista and the Southern Psychos universe. Beyond books, I’ve expanded into merchandise through Studio C.C., giving readers a way to carry a piece of Bayou Vista with them. At the heart of it all, I want my readers to feel like they’re stepping into a world that’s as immersive, addictive, and unforgettable as the thrillers they love binging on Netflix.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself was with my dad. He always told me, “You can be anything you want to be. If you want something bad enough, just keep working on it.” Those words stuck with me, especially through the setbacks and rejections that come with being a writer. Writing isn’t a straight road—it’s full of twists, doubts, and moments where it would be easier to give up. But I always hear his voice reminding me to keep going, to push harder, and to believe in myself even when the odds feel stacked against me. That mindset not only shaped me as an author but as a person. It’s the foundation of Southern Psychos and Bayou Vista—stories about resilience, survival, and finding your own way, even when the path isn’t clear.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this: enjoy your life. Don’t get so caught up in what you think you’re supposed to do that you forget to live. And if you’re not happy, change your situation. You’re not stuck. You have the power to shift direction, to walk away, to start over. It took me years to realize that happiness isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. I’d want my younger self to know that choosing joy and peace isn’t weakness, it’s strength.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The project I’m committed to—no matter how long it takes—is building out the world of Bayou Vista and growing my Southern Psychos brand. It’s more than just a collection of thrillers to me; it’s a whole universe of characters, places, and stories that readers can step into and feel a part of. My belief is that storytelling should be immersive and addictive, the kind of thing that keeps you up late at night saying “just one more chapter.” Even if it takes years, I’m committed to making Southern Psychos something lasting—books, stories, and experiences that readers keep coming back to. I want Bayou Vista to live on the page the way small towns live in memory: familiar, haunting, and impossible to forget.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is that I never gave up. I went through an abusive marriage, hit rock bottom more than once, and faced lows that could have broken me. But every time, I managed to rise again. I want people to remember that I didn’t let my past define me—that I turned pain into strength, and strength into stories. If there’s one legacy I leave behind, I hope it’s that you can survive the darkest chapters of your life and still write new ones filled with purpose, creativity, and hope. And if I can do it, you can too.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorcarolacampbellghoststories
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolACampbellGhostStories
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorCarolA.Campbell
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorcarola.campbell
