Interview with Cathy Robinson
Published 2018-06-02.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love bringing characters to life. I love their hopes, their fears, their foibles and their motivations. I love letting them escape out of my imagination and letting them loose....
What do your fans mean to you?
When I set out to publish my novel, my goal was to have one just person read and enjoy my book. That means the world to me. If I can entertain people, make them think, and transport them somewhere else for even just a short while, then I have achieved my aim.
What are you working on next?
Right now, I'm writing a few short stories. My next novel, which is currently forming inside my head, is inspired by a series of letter written in the 1960s by a fascinating lady who travelled the world in her later years. I'm fascinated by the way the world has changed since she recorder her experiences.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
The outdoors! I am fortunate enough to live in a great area, near to the ocean. I find it hard to stay indoors.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Walking, drinking coffee, staring at the ocean (I do a bit too much of that!), travelling. The world is a huge place and there is so much of it that I want to see.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Not exactly, but I wrote a lot at school - short stories and vacation journals. I have them all in the attic in an enormous box. I remember writing a book about wild horses in South America when I was about eleven years old - I typed it up on our old manual typewriter, with lots of tippex and hand-drawn illustrations. I stapled it together and made the whole family read it!
What is your writing process?
I have to write on paper- I just can't type straight onto a screen. I get a piece of paper, a pen, and then I just write. I don't really plan - I wrote 'The Boomerang Effect' by starting in the middle! I hadn't any clue how it would end when I started writing it. I let my characters decide what will happen
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
No - I've been reading from a very young age. I used to read with a torch under the bedcovers when I was meant to be sleeping.
How do you approach cover design?
I wanted something impactful and emotive, which would sum up a Greek vacation. Fortunately I found a great cover designer - Ken at creative covers http://www.ccovers.co.uk/ who was super patient with me!
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I'm a bit of a traditionalist and I like the feel of a paper book in my hands. But I do read ebooks on my phone when I don't have a paperback with me.
Describe your desk
My desk in anywhere. Just now it's my lap, but it's often a coffee shop.
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