This is something I've not yet totally worked out for myself. I just write stuff, and then people say, this is YA, or, this is more adult. Mostly I just roll with it.
What are some must haves when you sit down to write?
A computer. Tea.
If you became trapped as a character in a book or series, which would you choose and why? (Any book, any series, new or old)
Ah it would have to be Tanith Lee's Books of Paradys. They're so delightfully, creepily decadent. Also, gender-bending.
Were there any Books, Movies or Writers that have inspired you?
Too many to mention.
What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle, Kobo and Nook to the environment?
Hmm, no idea. My partner loves the Kindle, I'm still more into pages.
What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
I honestly have no idea.
What sort of things influence you into naming settings and characters from your books as they are named?
The world around me.
Did you write as a teenager?
Yes. Badly.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
Life. The Universe. Everything.
What’s your greatest comfort food?
Cheese, glorious cheese.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
I don't really watch cartoons.... I don't know why not.
What were you like as a young reader? And when did you know that you wanted to write?
Voracious. Probably in my early twenties.
Could you describe your road to publication for us?
Long. I wrote a good many books before the one which got me my first agent. When that didn't sell we parted ways and I queried Suzie Townsend with When the Sea is Rising Red. My friend had just been shifted to Suzie after her agent had left Fine Print, and I loved everything I heard about her. So when Suzie offered I was pretty much ecstatic. She sold When the Sera is Rising Red to FSG and I ended up working with a fantastic editor who really pushed me into making the book better and better. Whenever I hear people saying editors don't edit anymore I feel like waving the first and final copies of the book in their faces and going REALLY? REALLY? Obviously I don't, because then people would know I'm crazy.
Visit Cat's website for more info.
Article comments
1 - Pj Schott
Wish I'd had wonderful books like this when I was a young adult.
2 - Stephen Isabirye
I am heartened that Cat Hellisen was in part influenced by Enid Blyton's books as a child. I too was influenced by Enid Blyton's book in that I attempted to publish a novel based on Enid Blyton's plots at that time. Although my plans to publish my maiden book at that time fail through, instead, later, I was able instead write and publish a book on Enid Blyton, ttiled, The Famous Five: A Personal Anecdotage.
Stephen Isabirye