Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "the-bone-cradle"
Introducing author C.E. Trueman, and an international giveaway!
Today I'd like to introduce you to, Catherine Elizabeth Rose, (pen name: C.E. Trueman), author of The Bone Cradle and Grey Amber, the first two books in a children's trilogy.
I first met Catherine a few years ago as we were both using the same publisher, Pen Press, for our books. We were attending a marketing seminar in Brighton. Catherine was sitting on my left hand side and Helen Bonney, another children's book writer who I'll be introducing you to soon, was sitting on my right hand side. We all got on very well and attended the London Book Fair together in 2007.
Since that time we have remained friends and I have had the pleasure of reading both of Catherine's books. They are the type of children's books that can also be enjoyed just as much by adults.
Today is Catherine's birthday. Happy Birthday, Catherine!!
Happy Birthday Comments
As well as answering my questions, Catherine has very generously agreed to give away a copy of The Bone Cradle and a copy of Grey Amber! More details about that at the end of the interview.
Here are her replies to my interview questions:
Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?
As a child I was very inspired by Roald Dahl. I can remember reading James and the Giant Peach when I was five and being completely captivated. I used to love the way that Dahl’s heroes, who were children themselves, were able to go on fantastic journeys of discovery. Today, I am still in awe of his imagination. I think Dahl had a gift for seeing the world through a child’s eyes.
When did you first discover your love of writing?
I first discovered a love of writing when I was around seven years old. I would make books at home and fill them with stories and poetry. I still have notebooks from my childhood and brought them in to show other aspiring writers when I was invited to give talks for two years running at my daughter’s school.
Do you have an tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?
I would advise anyone who is thinking of self publishing their book to shop around and see what deals are available. Make sure you look at the quality of the publisher’s product. If the end result appears shoddy or badly printed on poor quality paper then no matter how good your story is or how successful the marketing, that will put readers off. Look at the front covers of their titles. Is the artwork eye catching and well done, or is it uninspiring? The front cover is the first thing that attracts a reader’s eye and moreover, it needs to sell your story.
As well as publishing two children’s books, I know that you are also a poet, can you tell us a bit more about that?
I have been writing poetry since I was a child and over the years, have won several competitions. My first poems were published in Pause, the magazine for the National Poetry Foundation during the 1980s. Its patron was the late Spike Milligan. Since then I have gone on to have poems published in several mixed anthologies. You can find details on my page at Authors Register. I have also done readings and was asked to do a poetry workshop at my local primary school, following which they named a table after me!
Which do you prefer, writing children’s books or poetry?
I think I probably prefer to write poetry as I enjoy using descriptive language and imagery. Poetry writing is like whittling. You keep shaving away the excess until you end up with something which is skillfully pared down, beautiful and unambiguous.
I have read both of the first two books in your trilogy, The Bone Cradle and Grey Amber, and thoroughly enjoyed them. They are certainly educational as well as gripping adventure stories. I imagine a lot of research had to be done about the various subjects contained in the books. How long did each book take you to write?
It took me about six months to write each book and yes, I did lots of research. When I wrote Grey Amber, I did some travelling, driving as far west as it’s possible to go in the UK without actually being in Ireland . I ended up staying in a cottage at Llanrian so that I could get a feel for the Welsh setting which is a huge part of the book.
How much can you tell us about the third book in the trilogy that you’re currently working on?
The third book centres around the search for Dylan as Matt and Ollie are given this task by Tobias at the end of Grey Amber. I visited the East Coast of America last summer which was a huge whaling centre in the 19th and 20th centuries so I am thinking of setting part of the novel there. It’s evolving!
What is the target age-group for your children’s trilogy?
The target age group is 9 – 12 years although I know of many adults who have read and love the books, which is great.
Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?
If a writer can make me catch my breath, or shed tears, or leave me with a delicious aftertaste for a prolonged time, then I know they are doing a good job as a writer. Wordsmiths that have done this for me are Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, David Almond, Sarah Walters, Michael Armstrong and Sylvia Plath but this is by no means an exhaustive list.
Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?
There are far too many books to read more than once. If I read a story that moves or inspires me, then the memory of it lingers and I feel that the impact may be lessened on a subsequent read so I don’t tend to.
What was the last book you read?
The last book I read was The Spare Room by Helen Garner. It was well written and poignant, and its characters also frustrated me immensely which I think was the author’s point.
Are you reading a book at the moment?
I am not reading anything right now although I have several books that are ‘in waiting’.
What do you think of ebooks?
I think that e-books are the way the publishing world is going, and for the author it may be good news as it will mean more direct sales, cutting out the middle men who cream off so much of an author’s profit. It will also mean that as readers we will have far less clutter in our homes! (I have shelves and shelves of paper and hardbacks which I can’t part with). Books will be able to become more interactive with additional layers of information contained in them at a click, which is especially useful for further explanation of the different educational aspects in The Bone Cradle trilogy for example. So apart from the fact I am a total technophobe and find it difficult to work a TV remote control, I think the advent and growth of e-books is an exciting new era.
How important are reviews for you as a writer?
I hate the fact that reviews can make or break an artistic endeavour – whether it is a book, film, or art. I think there are a lot of creative people out there, and an equal number of non-creative people who have given themselves the right to condemn in a few paragraphs something which may have taken months, if not years, of hard work. At the end of the day all appreciation of art is subjective so it can only be an opinion. On the other hand, some books can be over-hyped, especially those written by celebrities or more commonly their ghost writers. These will then sell in their thousands whether they are good or not because people are taken in by the hype. I like to think that critics are transient but good books last lifetimes. The trick is to get the good book out there and I’m afraid sometimes, critics don’t help.
How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?
In choosing the covers for my books, I was lucky in that the artist that my publisher used is very talented and intuitive. She came up with the most perfect cover suggestions that any author could wish for. They surpassed my expectations in fact and to this day I have no regrets that I went with the initial designs. I still love to look at them.
What else are you working on now?
Apart from some poems and the third book in The Bone Cradle trilogy, I am not working on anything at the moment.
Where can people buy your books?
You can buy my books: The Bone Cradle and its sequel Grey Amber, on Amazon and lots of other book websites. If you go to Book Butler, and put in the title of the book, it will tell you where it is available to buy. You would also be able to order them from any high street bookstore.
Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?
I have a page at Authors Register. I also have a MySpace account at MySpace that contains a blog of musings and poetry written over the past three years. Additionally, I write the Memory Lane page for my local newspaper, The Biggleswade Chronicle, and my articles can be read on their website at Biggleswade Today under Nostalgia.
Catherine is giving away one copy of The Bone Cradle and one copy of Grey Amber (Print copies in the UK and pdf copies for international winners).
To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment here for Catherine.
Winners will be chosen on 9th March 2011.
Good luck!
I first met Catherine a few years ago as we were both using the same publisher, Pen Press, for our books. We were attending a marketing seminar in Brighton. Catherine was sitting on my left hand side and Helen Bonney, another children's book writer who I'll be introducing you to soon, was sitting on my right hand side. We all got on very well and attended the London Book Fair together in 2007.
Since that time we have remained friends and I have had the pleasure of reading both of Catherine's books. They are the type of children's books that can also be enjoyed just as much by adults.
Today is Catherine's birthday. Happy Birthday, Catherine!!
Happy Birthday Comments
As well as answering my questions, Catherine has very generously agreed to give away a copy of The Bone Cradle and a copy of Grey Amber! More details about that at the end of the interview.
Here are her replies to my interview questions:
Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?
As a child I was very inspired by Roald Dahl. I can remember reading James and the Giant Peach when I was five and being completely captivated. I used to love the way that Dahl’s heroes, who were children themselves, were able to go on fantastic journeys of discovery. Today, I am still in awe of his imagination. I think Dahl had a gift for seeing the world through a child’s eyes.
When did you first discover your love of writing?
I first discovered a love of writing when I was around seven years old. I would make books at home and fill them with stories and poetry. I still have notebooks from my childhood and brought them in to show other aspiring writers when I was invited to give talks for two years running at my daughter’s school.
Do you have an tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?
I would advise anyone who is thinking of self publishing their book to shop around and see what deals are available. Make sure you look at the quality of the publisher’s product. If the end result appears shoddy or badly printed on poor quality paper then no matter how good your story is or how successful the marketing, that will put readers off. Look at the front covers of their titles. Is the artwork eye catching and well done, or is it uninspiring? The front cover is the first thing that attracts a reader’s eye and moreover, it needs to sell your story.
As well as publishing two children’s books, I know that you are also a poet, can you tell us a bit more about that?
I have been writing poetry since I was a child and over the years, have won several competitions. My first poems were published in Pause, the magazine for the National Poetry Foundation during the 1980s. Its patron was the late Spike Milligan. Since then I have gone on to have poems published in several mixed anthologies. You can find details on my page at Authors Register. I have also done readings and was asked to do a poetry workshop at my local primary school, following which they named a table after me!
Which do you prefer, writing children’s books or poetry?
I think I probably prefer to write poetry as I enjoy using descriptive language and imagery. Poetry writing is like whittling. You keep shaving away the excess until you end up with something which is skillfully pared down, beautiful and unambiguous.
I have read both of the first two books in your trilogy, The Bone Cradle and Grey Amber, and thoroughly enjoyed them. They are certainly educational as well as gripping adventure stories. I imagine a lot of research had to be done about the various subjects contained in the books. How long did each book take you to write?
It took me about six months to write each book and yes, I did lots of research. When I wrote Grey Amber, I did some travelling, driving as far west as it’s possible to go in the UK without actually being in Ireland . I ended up staying in a cottage at Llanrian so that I could get a feel for the Welsh setting which is a huge part of the book.
How much can you tell us about the third book in the trilogy that you’re currently working on?
The third book centres around the search for Dylan as Matt and Ollie are given this task by Tobias at the end of Grey Amber. I visited the East Coast of America last summer which was a huge whaling centre in the 19th and 20th centuries so I am thinking of setting part of the novel there. It’s evolving!
What is the target age-group for your children’s trilogy?
The target age group is 9 – 12 years although I know of many adults who have read and love the books, which is great.
Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?
If a writer can make me catch my breath, or shed tears, or leave me with a delicious aftertaste for a prolonged time, then I know they are doing a good job as a writer. Wordsmiths that have done this for me are Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, David Almond, Sarah Walters, Michael Armstrong and Sylvia Plath but this is by no means an exhaustive list.
Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?
There are far too many books to read more than once. If I read a story that moves or inspires me, then the memory of it lingers and I feel that the impact may be lessened on a subsequent read so I don’t tend to.
What was the last book you read?
The last book I read was The Spare Room by Helen Garner. It was well written and poignant, and its characters also frustrated me immensely which I think was the author’s point.
Are you reading a book at the moment?
I am not reading anything right now although I have several books that are ‘in waiting’.
What do you think of ebooks?
I think that e-books are the way the publishing world is going, and for the author it may be good news as it will mean more direct sales, cutting out the middle men who cream off so much of an author’s profit. It will also mean that as readers we will have far less clutter in our homes! (I have shelves and shelves of paper and hardbacks which I can’t part with). Books will be able to become more interactive with additional layers of information contained in them at a click, which is especially useful for further explanation of the different educational aspects in The Bone Cradle trilogy for example. So apart from the fact I am a total technophobe and find it difficult to work a TV remote control, I think the advent and growth of e-books is an exciting new era.
How important are reviews for you as a writer?
I hate the fact that reviews can make or break an artistic endeavour – whether it is a book, film, or art. I think there are a lot of creative people out there, and an equal number of non-creative people who have given themselves the right to condemn in a few paragraphs something which may have taken months, if not years, of hard work. At the end of the day all appreciation of art is subjective so it can only be an opinion. On the other hand, some books can be over-hyped, especially those written by celebrities or more commonly their ghost writers. These will then sell in their thousands whether they are good or not because people are taken in by the hype. I like to think that critics are transient but good books last lifetimes. The trick is to get the good book out there and I’m afraid sometimes, critics don’t help.
How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?
In choosing the covers for my books, I was lucky in that the artist that my publisher used is very talented and intuitive. She came up with the most perfect cover suggestions that any author could wish for. They surpassed my expectations in fact and to this day I have no regrets that I went with the initial designs. I still love to look at them.
What else are you working on now?
Apart from some poems and the third book in The Bone Cradle trilogy, I am not working on anything at the moment.
Where can people buy your books?
You can buy my books: The Bone Cradle and its sequel Grey Amber, on Amazon and lots of other book websites. If you go to Book Butler, and put in the title of the book, it will tell you where it is available to buy. You would also be able to order them from any high street bookstore.
Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?
I have a page at Authors Register. I also have a MySpace account at MySpace that contains a blog of musings and poetry written over the past three years. Additionally, I write the Memory Lane page for my local newspaper, The Biggleswade Chronicle, and my articles can be read on their website at Biggleswade Today under Nostalgia.
Catherine is giving away one copy of The Bone Cradle and one copy of Grey Amber (Print copies in the UK and pdf copies for international winners).
To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment here for Catherine.
Winners will be chosen on 9th March 2011.
Good luck!
Interview with Catherine Rose
I met Catherine Rose about ten years ago. We had both chosen the same publisher to publish our books. I'd just published A Time to Tell, and she'd just published The Bone Cradle. We met at a marketing seminar in Brighton that was set up by our publisher. We later attended the London Book Fair together to promote our books. We've kept in touch ever since. She's a great friend and a talented writer. I enjoyed reading both of her books, The Bone Cradle and Grey Amber.
INTERVIEW WITH CATHERINE ROSE (pen name C.E. Trueman)
Hi Catherine! Welcome to my blog. Please introduce yourself
My name is Catherine Rose although my two children's novels are written under the pen name C.E. Trueman which is my maiden name. I also write poetry that has been published as both Catherine Rose and Catherine Trueman.
Tell us about your latest book.
I am currently working on a book of short stories. I had around seven finished stories dating back to when I completed a post graduate certificate in creative writing and I felt that they needed to be gathered together and taken out of the bottom drawer! I spent a week on a creative writing course in Turkey this May where I started finding common threads and began work on an eighth story. I have now mapped out the final one as my plan is to have a book of nine stories grouped into three sections. I still have to think of a title for the collection. Normally titles come to me quite easily, sometimes even before the story itself! But this time, although I have pages of brainstorming in my notebook, I haven't yet had the 'eureka' moment.
Titles can be hard! I often change my books' titles at least 3 or 4 times before I'm happy with them!
Are there any characters in your books that are based on real people?
I borrowed traits from a friend's daughter for the character of Carla in The Bone Cradle and Nat was based on my own daughter. Apart from that, I haven't yet used anyone else from real life in my books. The character of Matt in The Bone Cradle was very strong in my head from the beginning but although I have three sons, he wasn't really like any of them: he was his own person. On the creative writing course I attended, which was run by the lovely Philippa Pride, Steven King's UK editor, we talked about the dangers of using real people in fiction because if you portray someone in a damaging light and they can be recognised as a living person, you could be sued for libel, even if you change the character's name, hair colour etc. Nevertheless, there have definitely been one or two people in my life that I would like to use in a future novel!
Hahaha!
How long did it take you to write your last book?
I suppose you could say that my last book was my Master's thesis in Art History entitled "The Pre-Raphaelites: Northern Renaissance Product of a New Victorian Age?", a bound copy of which is in Buckingham University Library. It took me eighteen fascinating months to research and write. Before this, my last fiction book, Grey Amber, took about six months to write and then another year to publish. Because it was a sequel, I already had the foundations of the story so it didn't take as long to write as it could have done. I introduced a new character, Ollie, who I grew very fond of and he will definitely have a big role to play in the third book.
That's a great series. Nice to know there'll be a third book!
Do you do your own editing or use a professional? Anyone you’d recommend?
I am a writer and journalist by profession so I edit my own work. Having said that, both The Bone Cradle and Grey Amber also went through an independent edit by the publisher as part of the publication process. My editor was very accommodating as I didn't agree with many of her edits! However, I would always recommend that someone else looks at your manuscript as it is surprising how you can miss things, even after several read-throughs. I also offer freelance book editing and am currently working on an autobiography written by a Yugoslav author, Zdenko Ornig. I am always interested in taking on new work. I like to support other writers.
Do you have a preferred writing space?
My preferred writing space is my study. It was the children's playroom when they were growing up and still has most of their toys in the cupboards but otherwise, it has gone through a complete transformation and is definitely the only room in the house that is a complete reflection of me. With a background of soft yellows and greens, two cabinets stuffed with papers and books, and our old three piece suite that I had recovered, it has developed organically into a creative space containing my favourite photographs, knick knacks, and artwork that includes my mother's and my own. My desk was custom made by a carpenter friend and is based on a Swedish design I saw in a magazine that was a lot more expensive! I love it. The focus of the room is a log burner which is set into a wall of reclaimed brick over which I have hung a scarf printed with the photographer Man Ray's first ever colour photo of the model Geneca Anathasiou. Because the scarf is translucent and in similar shades to the bricks, it looks as though it is printed on them.
That sounds lovely!
What are some of the pros/cons of being an indie author?
There are lots of pros to being an indie author, the main one being that you are your own boss and can control almost everything about the publishing process. You can also get your book out there in a much shorter time frame than if you were going down the traditional route - having to write to agents, endlessly submitting your manuscript, stockpiling rejection letters and building increasing despondency. History has shown that agents and publishers are not infallible and sometimes, books that have gone on to become best sellers have been initially dismissed. I often think sadly of the rejection slips that will have prevented an amazing book from reaching an audience. Being an indie author means that you are not relying on any one person's opinion which, at the end of the day, is subjective and usually based on commercial values rather than the true merit of the work. As an indie author, it is your readers who judge your book.
The drawback of being an indie author is that there is still a stigma attached and many people look down their nose at a book that has been independently published, seeing it as somehow inferior to one that has been accepted by a publishing house. Unfortunately this isn't helped by the print quality of some of the indie books out there which can be dreadful using cheap paper, narrow margins with cramped text, and appalling cover design. I can't stress enough how important it is to present your book as professionally as possible. This is your hard work - it deserves to be a thing of beauty. Moreover, it is the first impression a reader will have.
What’s your favourite book, and why is it your favourite?
My favourite book to date (and I have quite a few) is The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. If a book makes me cry (and it did) then for me, the book has succeeded. Beyond that, this book marries a great story with the most beautiful and accomplished writing. That is not easy to achieve and you often find a well-written book with a poor storyline, or research and grammatical errors that poison your willing suspension of disbelief. Alternatively, you can get a great plot that has not been written with any particular love of or talent with words. I find stories that encompass both to be the most satisfying.
I've never read that one. Will have to check it out.
What are you currently reading?
I have just finished reading The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. I usually have a store of unread books and this one has been in the 'waiting patiently' pile for a time. When I do start reading though, I can rattle through a book thanks to my English literature degree where we had a colossal reading list to get through every term. I managed to read The Bone Clocks on a week's holiday in Italy this month. At the moment, I am eagerly awaiting Amelia Gray's book of short stories, Gutshot, and am currently dipping in and out of The Anatomical Venus: Wax, God, Death & the Ecstatic by Joanna Ebenstein which is a sort of art history meets anatomy.
Do you have a pet?
We are a menagerie-loving household. Currently, we have an aged golden retriever called Jasper who spends a lot of his time spread out in doorways like a ubiquitous rug; a scruffy little Cavachon (cavalier king charles spaniel, bichon frise cross) called Bailey who is Jasper's best friend and always has his teddy bear nose in everything; a beautiful grey and peach Persian cat called Suki with very expressive amber eyes who believes she is queen of the household; a blue-black chicken called Dinah who was a foundling given to us by a friend and loves sneaking into the kitchen to pinch the dog food; and two adolescent Orpington chicks - Florence and Benedict - that we hatched from eggs.
That's a lot of pets! :)
Thank you, Catherine, for joining me here for a chat. It's been great to find out more about you. I'm looking forward to your new books!
**************************************
Author links:
Website: http://catherine-rose.strikingly.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CETrueman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBoneCradl...
INTERVIEW WITH CATHERINE ROSE (pen name C.E. Trueman)
Hi Catherine! Welcome to my blog. Please introduce yourself
My name is Catherine Rose although my two children's novels are written under the pen name C.E. Trueman which is my maiden name. I also write poetry that has been published as both Catherine Rose and Catherine Trueman.
Tell us about your latest book.
I am currently working on a book of short stories. I had around seven finished stories dating back to when I completed a post graduate certificate in creative writing and I felt that they needed to be gathered together and taken out of the bottom drawer! I spent a week on a creative writing course in Turkey this May where I started finding common threads and began work on an eighth story. I have now mapped out the final one as my plan is to have a book of nine stories grouped into three sections. I still have to think of a title for the collection. Normally titles come to me quite easily, sometimes even before the story itself! But this time, although I have pages of brainstorming in my notebook, I haven't yet had the 'eureka' moment.
Titles can be hard! I often change my books' titles at least 3 or 4 times before I'm happy with them!
Are there any characters in your books that are based on real people?
I borrowed traits from a friend's daughter for the character of Carla in The Bone Cradle and Nat was based on my own daughter. Apart from that, I haven't yet used anyone else from real life in my books. The character of Matt in The Bone Cradle was very strong in my head from the beginning but although I have three sons, he wasn't really like any of them: he was his own person. On the creative writing course I attended, which was run by the lovely Philippa Pride, Steven King's UK editor, we talked about the dangers of using real people in fiction because if you portray someone in a damaging light and they can be recognised as a living person, you could be sued for libel, even if you change the character's name, hair colour etc. Nevertheless, there have definitely been one or two people in my life that I would like to use in a future novel!
Hahaha!
How long did it take you to write your last book?
I suppose you could say that my last book was my Master's thesis in Art History entitled "The Pre-Raphaelites: Northern Renaissance Product of a New Victorian Age?", a bound copy of which is in Buckingham University Library. It took me eighteen fascinating months to research and write. Before this, my last fiction book, Grey Amber, took about six months to write and then another year to publish. Because it was a sequel, I already had the foundations of the story so it didn't take as long to write as it could have done. I introduced a new character, Ollie, who I grew very fond of and he will definitely have a big role to play in the third book.
That's a great series. Nice to know there'll be a third book!
Do you do your own editing or use a professional? Anyone you’d recommend?
I am a writer and journalist by profession so I edit my own work. Having said that, both The Bone Cradle and Grey Amber also went through an independent edit by the publisher as part of the publication process. My editor was very accommodating as I didn't agree with many of her edits! However, I would always recommend that someone else looks at your manuscript as it is surprising how you can miss things, even after several read-throughs. I also offer freelance book editing and am currently working on an autobiography written by a Yugoslav author, Zdenko Ornig. I am always interested in taking on new work. I like to support other writers.
Do you have a preferred writing space?
My preferred writing space is my study. It was the children's playroom when they were growing up and still has most of their toys in the cupboards but otherwise, it has gone through a complete transformation and is definitely the only room in the house that is a complete reflection of me. With a background of soft yellows and greens, two cabinets stuffed with papers and books, and our old three piece suite that I had recovered, it has developed organically into a creative space containing my favourite photographs, knick knacks, and artwork that includes my mother's and my own. My desk was custom made by a carpenter friend and is based on a Swedish design I saw in a magazine that was a lot more expensive! I love it. The focus of the room is a log burner which is set into a wall of reclaimed brick over which I have hung a scarf printed with the photographer Man Ray's first ever colour photo of the model Geneca Anathasiou. Because the scarf is translucent and in similar shades to the bricks, it looks as though it is printed on them.
That sounds lovely!
What are some of the pros/cons of being an indie author?
There are lots of pros to being an indie author, the main one being that you are your own boss and can control almost everything about the publishing process. You can also get your book out there in a much shorter time frame than if you were going down the traditional route - having to write to agents, endlessly submitting your manuscript, stockpiling rejection letters and building increasing despondency. History has shown that agents and publishers are not infallible and sometimes, books that have gone on to become best sellers have been initially dismissed. I often think sadly of the rejection slips that will have prevented an amazing book from reaching an audience. Being an indie author means that you are not relying on any one person's opinion which, at the end of the day, is subjective and usually based on commercial values rather than the true merit of the work. As an indie author, it is your readers who judge your book.
The drawback of being an indie author is that there is still a stigma attached and many people look down their nose at a book that has been independently published, seeing it as somehow inferior to one that has been accepted by a publishing house. Unfortunately this isn't helped by the print quality of some of the indie books out there which can be dreadful using cheap paper, narrow margins with cramped text, and appalling cover design. I can't stress enough how important it is to present your book as professionally as possible. This is your hard work - it deserves to be a thing of beauty. Moreover, it is the first impression a reader will have.
What’s your favourite book, and why is it your favourite?
My favourite book to date (and I have quite a few) is The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. If a book makes me cry (and it did) then for me, the book has succeeded. Beyond that, this book marries a great story with the most beautiful and accomplished writing. That is not easy to achieve and you often find a well-written book with a poor storyline, or research and grammatical errors that poison your willing suspension of disbelief. Alternatively, you can get a great plot that has not been written with any particular love of or talent with words. I find stories that encompass both to be the most satisfying.
I've never read that one. Will have to check it out.
What are you currently reading?
I have just finished reading The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. I usually have a store of unread books and this one has been in the 'waiting patiently' pile for a time. When I do start reading though, I can rattle through a book thanks to my English literature degree where we had a colossal reading list to get through every term. I managed to read The Bone Clocks on a week's holiday in Italy this month. At the moment, I am eagerly awaiting Amelia Gray's book of short stories, Gutshot, and am currently dipping in and out of The Anatomical Venus: Wax, God, Death & the Ecstatic by Joanna Ebenstein which is a sort of art history meets anatomy.
Do you have a pet?
We are a menagerie-loving household. Currently, we have an aged golden retriever called Jasper who spends a lot of his time spread out in doorways like a ubiquitous rug; a scruffy little Cavachon (cavalier king charles spaniel, bichon frise cross) called Bailey who is Jasper's best friend and always has his teddy bear nose in everything; a beautiful grey and peach Persian cat called Suki with very expressive amber eyes who believes she is queen of the household; a blue-black chicken called Dinah who was a foundling given to us by a friend and loves sneaking into the kitchen to pinch the dog food; and two adolescent Orpington chicks - Florence and Benedict - that we hatched from eggs.
That's a lot of pets! :)
Thank you, Catherine, for joining me here for a chat. It's been great to find out more about you. I'm looking forward to your new books!
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Author links:
Website: http://catherine-rose.strikingly.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CETrueman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBoneCradl...
