Interview With Author Cat Collins
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, but I’ve self-published two books in the paranormal romance category. I’m working on a fantasy series for a serial platform as well.
My day job is a reading interventionist at an elementary school. Before that role, I taught 2nd grade, Kindergarten, Study Skills as a college instructor, and I worked as a historic interpreter at a local museum. Yeah, I got to dress up in costume and make popcorn in a Dutch oven. It was, by far, the most fun and exciting job I ever had outside of being a writer.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The second book in the Diminishing Magic series is FLAMES OF GOLD. The first book was JEWELS OF CLAY. The series was inspired by an idea I had a while ago when my daughter was doing youth theatre classes. They wanted me to write a play for the younger kids to do. It required a lot of characters, so instead of writing a bunch of people doing things, I decided to make the characters supernatural creatures who were doing boring human things, like meetings that could be emails. They ended up picking another play, but the idea always stuck with me. When I was considering writing an adult book to self-publish, I joked with a friend that I should just take that idea and spice the characters up. The main character remained a gnome (as I had written in the play) and her love interest became a hot brooding werewolf~
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No matter how hard I try to avoid it because it slows me down, I always have to read the last few chapters I wrote the day prior before I start writing new stuff. “They” always say to revise after you finish the first draft, right? But I can’t do it. I find a lot of typos and little tweaks by doing things this way.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The first writer I ever fangirled over was Madeleine L’Engle. A Wrinkle In Time remains my favorite book to this day. (Yeah, I’m showing my age.) And I have to give a shoutout to Veronica Roth. It was after reading Divergent for the first time, that I sat down at my laptop and started to write my first novel. (It never saw the light of day because it was garbage.) I had stopped reading for a long time in my life, due to kids and work, and when I picked that book up after that dry spell, I was HOOKED. It just spoke to me in a way I’ll never be able to explain. And I was far above the age demographic too. I just KNEW I had to write after that.
Other authors that I’ve loved over the years are Scott Westerfeld, Veronica Rossi, who is just a lovely human being, and, as of late, I’m tearing through every book written by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. If I could bottle what they do and drink it before I write, that would be awesome!
What are you working on now?
Three things actually. I’ve started on the third book in my Diminishing Magic series, and I’m editing the aforementioned fantasy for Vella this summer. And I’m working on a “Why Choose” romance for Christmas about one of Santa’s naughtiest reindeer shifters. I’m super pumped about all of those, but that Christmas book is going to be so much fun to write!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m just starting out but using Book Funnel promos have done some good for me. As well as Bookmojo featured newsletters. I’m excited to see what happens here on Awesomegang.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing. I know it’s silly, but really, it comes down to finishing or not. When I get discouraged or suffer from imposter syndrome I tell myself this: Right here in THIS MOMENT is when most people would quit. I’M not like most people. I’m going to keep going and work through the hard stuff. Because hard times will come. It’s the nature of what we do. You just have to tough out the storms to get to the good stuff.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
Nobody is wiser than Yoda.
What are you reading now?
Just finishing up MASON by Leila James. Then while I wait for that sequel, I’m on to another by the twisted sisters, GAME OF MALICE AND GREED.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve mentioned trying Kindle Vella, so I’m looking forward to that experience. Beyond that, I am finishing up my current series, with plans for a spinoff series or two from the same world. I already have plots and ideas lined out for the whole entire thing. I’m leaving little bread crumbs in the main story that I think readers will get a kick out of.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Zodiac Acadamy 7, Sorrow and Starlight by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
The last two books in the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series by the same authors.
Author Websites and Profiles
Cat Collins’s Social Media Links