Ask the Author: Catherine Linka
Answered Questions (11)
Catherine Linka
It changes depending on the story, but it usually starts with a question that won't leave me alone. Then I start to wonder--what if this happened or what if that happened--and the story begins to take on a life of its own. And I find that my relationships and personal experiences, things I've read, and places I've been feed into the world I'm creating.
Catherine Linka
Absolutely. I tend to book my time about 3 months in advance--because I LOVE to travel.
Catherine Linka
Oh, I wish, but that's the only week I am not available in April. But I have nothing on the calendar for October or November yet....
Catherine Linka
Oh, that's great. Thank you for asking. Since the sequel/conclusion A Girl Undone launched last June, I've been advising on the script for the TV pilot (keep your fingers crossed) and the audiobook. The new novel I'm working on is for readers 10-14--and it's about a Persian boy who is turned into a falcon to teach him to act with more thought to others, but he is caught by his people's enemies. --I don't know if your book club would be interested, but I often visit book clubs at no cost and live less than an hour from Simi Valley.
Catherine Linka
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Catherine Linka
Thank you, Kimberly. Well, you are a wattpad.com reader, you can find my short novel, SPARROW'S STORY: A GIRL DEFIANT. ( If you've never tried wattpad, it's free and easy to sign up) Since we barely got to know Sparrow in A GIRL CALLED FEARLESS, this story sheds some light on why she did what she did. The other project I've been working on is consulting with the production team on a tv series for Fearless. The pilot script is being written now and with luck, the team will sell it to a network. Fingers crossed! I hope you like A GIRL UNDONE. I love how much Avie grows in this book! Happy Reading!
Catherine Linka
Being "too verbal" according to my headmaster meant that when I saw something going on at the school that I felt was wrong, I spoke up. He wanted students to be quiet and nice. Docile. I am not docile.
Basically, I got in trouble for expressing myself. Now I get paid to express myself. Ha! Ha! Headmaster!
Basically, I got in trouble for expressing myself. Now I get paid to express myself. Ha! Ha! Headmaster!
Catherine Linka
Like most writers, especially YA writers, there are so many, many people to thank that we write long acknowledgements and include them in our novels. In A Girl Called Fearless, mine is three pages long, because I had to include my writing mentors, my friends who cheered me on and everyone at St. Martin's who made the book a reality.
You'll see when you publish your book how many people you'll feel grateful to.
You'll see when you publish your book how many people you'll feel grateful to.
Catherine Linka
I guess that you two must like to write if you're asking this question.
For me--the best part of being a writer is connecting with readers. When a reader sends you an email or comes up to you at an event to tell you that your book touched something inside them--that's the absolute best feeling.
I would love it if my book became a best seller or won an award, but I can't control any of that, so I try to enjoy the journey. Now I'm starting to visit schools and that is incredibly fun and exciting and a little scary, too!
Good luck reaching your dreams, and don't give up!
For me--the best part of being a writer is connecting with readers. When a reader sends you an email or comes up to you at an event to tell you that your book touched something inside them--that's the absolute best feeling.
I would love it if my book became a best seller or won an award, but I can't control any of that, so I try to enjoy the journey. Now I'm starting to visit schools and that is incredibly fun and exciting and a little scary, too!
Good luck reaching your dreams, and don't give up!
Catherine Linka
I'm working on an e-novella about Sparrow. Like many of Fearless's fans, I love the character of Sparrow and wanted people to know her story. Because AGCF is told through Avie's point of view, and Sparrow keeps a lot of secrets, Avie can't explain why Sparrow did what she did.
Catherine Linka
I deal with writer's block by pretending I don't have it. If I get to a place in a story where I'm not feeling it, I'll work on something entirely different like a blog post or an interview. That way I'm still writing so technically, I don't have writer's block-- and I don't have to worry about it.
OK, but if that doesn't work, then it usually means I'm bored with the scene. And then the best solution is to change something significant about it. That might mean questioning which characters are present, where the scene should be set or what the main character's goal should be. Or it can mean having the main character say something aloud that up until then he or she has only thought.
OK, but if that doesn't work, then it usually means I'm bored with the scene. And then the best solution is to change something significant about it. That might mean questioning which characters are present, where the scene should be set or what the main character's goal should be. Or it can mean having the main character say something aloud that up until then he or she has only thought.
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