Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Cathy Sharp, however I write under the name Catherine Sharp. I’ve written three books, two romances and one murder mystery. The first book is a romance, Untamed Heart, which is a western romance, the second book is also a romance, Viking’s Passion, and the most recent is a murder mystery/thriller, Blood Lust. I’m a retired Flight Attendant. I flew for two major commercial airlines and one private for 40 plus years. A couple of years ago I decided I had had enough of being a vagabond and wanted to stay home and spend more time with my family, so I gave up hotels and living out of a suitcase and embraced the ‘staycation way of life . It was an all around good decision. My oldest son was recently engaged and they will probably get married in Scotland, so I will definitely be traveling to see him get married, but the most traveling I do these days is to Los Angeles, where he lives, to visit him. My youngest son lives in the Dallas area, so no traveling is involved. As you’ve guessed, I live in the Dallas area with my husband and two dogs. My youngest son has a one year old little girl, so I’m a happy grandmother. I’m an avid reader, which I’m sure shocks no one. I love to read romance and murder mysteries. Mysteries/thrillers are my latest obsession. I can’t seem to get enough of them. I have a website, http://catherinesharp.webs.com, and I would love to hear from all of you out there and of course would invite you to try my books. I certainly hope if you do, that you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. So, enough about me. Happy reading all.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a murder myster/thriller, Blood Lust. I wrote it because I am fascinated with serial killers. The way their mind works and the detectives who hunt them. They have to mentally spar with these madman so they can be hunted down and prevented from continuing their evil ways. What is also remarkable about these killers, is that they look so benign. They are your next door neighbor, your mail carrier, or the guy walking down the street. They usually look quite nice, not like the monster you conceive them to be. So, my fascination with these serial killers like Ted Bundy inspired the book.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess the most unusual habit is that I don’t pre-think the book. I don’t outline the story. I just grab the first line to two in my head and then go for it. It’s just like I am watching a movie in my head.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Karin Slaughter, Willow Rose, and Greg Olsen, and Morgan Hannah MacDonald have influenced me in the murder mystery genre. My main influence in the romance genre has to have been Johanna Lindsey. She was my all time favorite romance author.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a sort of auto-biography of my flying years. So many weird and hysterical things happened while I was flying. I’m trying to put them into words on paper.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s a very good question. I’m still trying to find out the best way to promote my books without spending a fortune.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep on trying and don’t give up. It’s not as easy as just writing a book. You have to keep on going and going.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You must have a VERY thick skin. You can’t get your feelings hurt when someone or even a lot of someones say something hurtful about what you’ve written. It’s hard to hear, but if you’ve written something, anything, you WILL hear negative criticism.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading a novel by Willow Rose.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Just trying to finish up this book about my flying years. It’s not quite as easy as I thought it would be. Writing about things that really happened seem much more challenging than making things up in my head. I hope I can get it finished. I’m much more composed with fiction.
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?
Shogun, Gone with the Wind, a new Murder Mystery and a new romance that I haven’t read.
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