C.L. Cattano's Blog

Author Interview with E.A. Kafkalas

HELLO AND WELCOME!

I'M AUTHOR C.L. CATTANO AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH E.A. KAFKALAS ABOUT ALL KINDS OF FUN THINGS.

I MET E.A. LAST YEAR IN P-TOWN WHEN WE SHARED A TABLE AND GOT TO DO A READING TOGETHER AT THE WOMEN’S WEEK EVENT.

WE FINALLY HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE THE DRINK WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING, ALTHOUGH IT WAS VIA TECHNOLOGY. I'M A HARD CIDER FAN, SO I HAD A STRONGBOW, AND E.A. HAD AN OMISSION LAGER — APPARENTLY IT’S GLUTEN FREE!

E.A. KAFKALAS IS A NOVELIST AND PLAYWRIGHT. SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF THE NOVELS "OUT OF GRIEF", "THE SECOND HEART", "SOUL MISTAKES", AND "FRANKIE & PETRA", AND THE PLAYS "LOPSIDED" AND "PANDORA'S GOLDEN BOX".

A TRUE RENAISSANCE WOMAN, SHE HAS WORKED IN THE THEATRE AS AN ACTOR, DIRECTOR AND A PRODUCER. IN ADDITION, E.A. IS A MIXED MEDIA ARTIST WORKING WITH CLAY AND ACRYLICS.

SHE RECENTLY MOVED TO A FARM IN UPSTATE NY, AND RESIDES WITH TWO OF HER BEST FRIENDS. THE FAMILY DOG MILO, HAS DECIDED THAT E.A. IS MORE FUN TO HANG WITH THAN A GOOD DOGGIE TREAT.

I THINK IT’S TIME E.A. —WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THESE QUESTIONS SOMETIME TONIGHT!

SO, E.A., DO YOU HAVE OTHER AUTHORS THAT YOU’RE FRIENDS WITH, AND IF YOU DO, HOW HAVE THEY HELPED YOU BECOME A BETTER WRITER?

I belong to a writing group run by Marie White Small, author of “Stony Kill.” A writer’s group is a great place to read your work, and get solid, constructive feedback.

MARIE SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD FRIEND TO HAVE IN THE WRITING BIZ.

IF YOU COULD CAST YOUR CHARACTERS IN THE HOLLYWOOD ADAPTATION OF YOUR BOOK, WHO WOULD PLAY YOUR CHARACTERS?

Great question.

THANKS, I’VE BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS MOST OF MY LIFE… (WE LAUGHED THEN GOT BACK TO IT.) SERIOUSLY, WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO PLAY YOUR CHARACTERS?

Every author likes to dream about this. But I’d prefer that other people tried to cast them based on their perception of the characters. If I had to, I could come up with a bunch of pairings. But off the top of my head I’d say Piper Perabo (Kate) and Sara Shahi (Allie) in The Second Heat. Brooke Elliott (Frankie) and Stana Katic (Petra) in Frankie & Petra. Anne Hathaway (Alex), Ilsa Fisher (Mindy), and James Marsden (Simon) in Soul Mistakes. Jennifer Lawrence (Nikki) and Rachel McAdams (Quinn) in Out of Grief.

WOW, THOSE ARE AWESOME ACTRESSES AND ACTORS. I’D LOVE TO SEE SARA SHAHI IN ANOTHER LESBIAN ROLL.
ILSA FISHER HAS A GREAT AUZZIE ACCENT. CAN YOU FAKE ANY ACCENTS?

Absolutely

WELL THEN, WE NEED TO USE ACCENTS WHEN WE’RE IN CHICAGO FOR THE GCLS CONVENTION!

YOU WRITE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMATS FROM PLAYS TO NOVELS. WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR ARTISTIC PROCESS?

Endings. Sometimes I get so attached to the characters that I don’t want the story to end.

WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH DO YOU DO, AND HOW LONG DO YOU SPEND RESEARCHING BEFORE BEGINNING A BOOK OR PLAY?

I research before, during and after in the editing period. Research can include anything from reading to consulting with experts. I’m fortunate enough to have a doctor in the family, so that helps with a lot of the medical questions I have.

DOES WRITING ENERGIZE OR EXHAUST YOU?

Depends on what I’m writing. But usually energize.

EVERYONE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT WRITERS BLOCK, BUT HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN READER’S BLOCK?

Yes. Sometimes if I stay in one genre too long I don’t want to read for a while.

LET’S TALK FAVORITES. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOK?

“The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster

THIS MAY SOUND STRANGE, BUT WHAT IS THE FIRST BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY?

“Annie on My Mind” by Nancy Garden. And I don’t normally cry when reading. The next book was “The Art of Racing in the Rain”. I was sitting on a beach blubbering like an idiot. That was a sight.

IT’S A WONDER NO ONE GOT PICTURES! BUT IT’S A GOOD THING WHEN SOMETHING CAN MAKE YOU CRY. IT MEANS IT’S WELL WRITTEN OR YOU HAVE A LOT OF EMPATHY – MAYBE BOTH. LANGUAGE IS POWERFUL. WHAT WAS AN EARLY EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU LEARNED THAT LANGUAGE HAD POWER?

I was raised in a household where words and language were regarded as things to be wielded with extreme caution. I was taught to carefully think about what I put on paper, as words can cut deeper than any knife. Wounds can heal, but you can remember what a person said forever.

MOST WRITERS TAKE FROM REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES, WHAT DO YOU OWE THE REAL PEOPLE UPON WHOM YOU BASE YOUR CHARACTERS?

Gratitude for their wonderful stories, and presence in my life, but at the end of the day, if I tell the story, I make it my own.

DO YOU WANT EACH BOOK TO STAND ON ITS OWN, OR ARE YOU TRYING TO BUILD A BODY OF WORK WITH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EACH BOOK?

Interestingly, I love to read a good series of books. But when I write, I like to write stand alones, but fans have requested a sequel to “Frankie & Petra”, and it was so fun writing them, that I am giving it a whirl.

HOW MANY UNPUBLISHED AND HALF-FINISHED BOOKS DO YOU HAVE?

Two that I’m working on concurrently

HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DO YOU WRITE?

Depends on my muse, and my other projects.

I GET THAT… GOTTA FOLLOW THE MUSE.

HOW LONG ON AVERAGE DOES IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE A BOOK?

There is no set time period. The first book took forever. No, seriously, I mean, I started it in high school and finished it when I was 40. The others vary from two-three years.

HOPEFULLY YOU’RE A BIT FASTER NOW. WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE PRESENT?

Working on a sequel to “Frankie & Petra”, and a new book, working title, “The Cure”.

ARE YOU A FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME WRITER? HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR WRITING?

Started out as a part-time writer, which is hard trying to balance a full-time job and the writing.

WHERE DID YOUR LOVE OF BOOKS/STORYTELLING/READING/WRITING/ETC. COME FROM?

My mother, who read to me as a child began my love. My father who loved the theatre and movies, and took me to them as often as he could, helped to. Also, my need to escape in my teens led to loosing myself in a book, when I couldn’t cope with not being like everyone else, a book was a good place to hide.

WHAT DO YOUR PLANS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS INCLUDE?

Thinking that “The Cure", may turn into a series. Other than that, I take one thing at a time.

OKAY, CHOOSE A MOVIE TITLE FOR THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE.

You Can’t Make This Shit Up

HA HA I THINK A LOT OF US WOULD USE THAT TITLE FOR AT LEAST ONE CHAPTER OF OUR LIVES.

LAST QUESTION. I LOVE TO TRAVEL. IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE ON THIS PLANET, AND TAKE EVERYTHING THAT YOU LOVE WITH YOU, WHERE WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE?

The Greek Isles

GREAT ANSWER! THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND I HOPE YOU GET TO LIVE THERE SOME DAY.

SO THANKS E.A. FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS INTERVIEW. I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS READING THIS AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED TALKING WITH YOU. EA Kafkalas

TO CHECK OUT E.A.’S WORK TRY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING LINKS.


E.A. Kafkalas books can all be found at www.eakafkalas.com or on AMAZON at
https://www.amazon.com/EA-Kafkalas/e/...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eakoutbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eakafkalas

Met me in Chicago at the GCLS Con

This year at GCLS Convention in Chicago I will not only be a con-Virgin, but I will be on the panel for The Magic Elixir for Creating Unique Characters I on Thursday at 10am with the authors Nat Burns, Lori L. Lake, Aurora Rey and Laina Villeneuve and monitored by Mary Griggs. Everyone has a favorite literary character, all of who share the distinct trait of uniqueness. How do authors create characters that last generations? Join us for a discussion of strategies for making characters unique, memorable and non-traditional.

Additionally, I will be participating in the Authors Reading in Group 9 on Friday at 11:20am. I will be joining Jessie Chandler, Catherine Friend, Fay Jacobs, Andi Marquette, and Cass Sellars. I’m sure all of us will be available to meet and maybe get an autograph, if you’re ‘fan girl’ enough to ask!

Oh, and don’t forget we Authors are being auctioned off for the first dance! Not to toot my own horn, but I’m a pretty good dancer… and I smell good…

I hope to see you there!
C.L. Cattano

Salvaggio's Light News

Hello,

I'm excited to let everyone know that Book 3 in the Salvaggio's Light Serial will be out this month!

If you haven't started reading the Salvaggio's Light series I invite you to start the journey this weekend.

Book One - Shattered Paradise - will be available for FREE on June 16, 17 and 18th on Amazon!

Thank you to everyone who has given, or plans to give, a review, they are very important.

Happy PRIDE month!