Hello everyone, Welcome back to another session with Divya! Well guess whom do we have on board today? The person who loves to read and write about grouchy ladybug & the Cat in the Hat, also loves all things to do with Disney & a lot of Broadway musicals, Bonanza, Matlock, The Lone Ranger etc. By now you would have known the person. Her stories are one of a kind. Let's not waste any more time and invite Cathy sis on board PrincessCat2002

Welcome sis, First of all welcome to the interview, Thank you for accepting our offer. It means a lot to us. Myself Divya here to interview you today.

1. Real name ( if you don't want to disclose its okay!)

Catherine Keena. I usually go by Cathy

That's a great name sis.!

2. Age

Adult with the sprit and sometimes mindset of a eternal child. 

That's true, age is just a number. When we have a passion for something age doesn't matter.

I hate having to act my actual age.

3. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? And how old were you?

I've always loved writing for as long as I can remember however, I've never felt that I was a good writer because my teachers and foster parents always discouraged me. Telling me I'd never get published because of my grammar and that the stories just weren't good enough.

I won a writing contest in middle school and had two works published in my high school literary magazine. I took a college credit course on creative writing after I graduated.

That's absolutely amazing Mam. Oh! But every author need not be perfect in grammar and others. They can always learn. Nobody is perfect in this world.

When I write I try to follow my writing teacher's advice. A good chapter should contain at least 5k and not exceed 15K. However I find this often causes problems on Wattpad as judges find my chapters "too long". She actually said later that a really good chapter should be 20-25k.

4. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That the stories have a lot of reads

Oh okay!

Though I often feel sad that the readers aren't leaving comments on the chapters.

Mam please don't be sad. One day definitely you will gain a recognition which you deserve for sure.

The story that means the most to me that I hope to someday publish is my The Many Adventures of Detective Catherina Mackeena

But sadly, that story doesn't have many reads and someone on Wattpad gave it a really bad review which I felt would discourage others from reading it.

Mam, without facing the problems we can't succeed. You will definitely succeed mam.

Exactly which is why I didn't focus too much on that Review especially since other readers enjoy the story.

The other thing I often get surprised by is the scores I receive on my stories that I enter in contests. Even if they don't win the scores are usually really high.

5. Do you think someone could be a writer if they don't feel emotions strongly?

They probably could but I think it would be difficult to create characters that the readers could relate too.

6. What was the inspiration behind your book?

Most of them are based on tv shows and movies that I enjoy and how I would react and or behave if I was in the show or movie. The main character is usually based on me

That's amazing mam!

7. Which is the most favourite book of your creation and why?

That depends on if it's the fan fiction stories or one of my original stories that I wrote.

If it's an original one that would be my Detective one. As for my fan fictions I don't really have a favorite.

Woah! Awesome mam!

8. What do you suggest for other authors on Wattpad?

I would focus on writing what you enjoy and don't take criticism to heart. (I have to follow my own advice lol.) Don't give up no matter what. My Detective story was started back in 2002 and it's still not finished.

And I often get writer's block. To get past it try a Q & A chapter where the readers can ask your characters questions. Or wait, sometimes an event in real life will inspire you.

That's really helpful mam.

9. There are many authors who are yet to improve in writing, many gems of books which go unnoticed. Would you like to suggest to the newbies on how to improve in writing?

Find a subject that you enjoy. Or if your teacher gives you an assignment and you can write a story for the project try that. It can be lots of fun.

That's true mam, one should experiment their writing in every possible genre they can.

RAPID FIRE/FUN QUESTIONS

- Reading or Writing

Reading or writing is sort of a tie.

- Coffee or Tea

Tea

- Dusk or Dawn

I Like both as both are beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

- Books or Movies

That depends books are always better than the movies that are based on them. As the movies will add things or remove important parts for time issues. But I tend to watch a lot of movies

- Sweet or Salty

Sweet

- Staying home all day or Travelling

Depends on where I like going to parks and the ocean. I love amusement parks and museums but I also love just lounging around the house gives me more time for writing.

- Music or Games

I like a combo if I can play a game while listening to the music I like. I tend to do that.

That's all for the rapid fire mam!

10. Many authors are prone to writer's block. any suggestions on how to overcome it

I'm actually stuck on a major case of writer's block right now. I sometimes have a Question and Answer chapter where the reader can ask characters or me questions and I answer them. Other-times I let life or movies and music inspire me. Try not to worry about it too much.

That's true mam. The more we worry, our brain can't think much.

11. What do you think is the most important thing for writers?

Experiences and being able to relate to the character and emotions your writing about

I totally agree with you mam. Experiences help us to describe the scene perfectly.

12. Any experience would you like to share which you did as a teenager and that taught you a lifetime experience?

The biggest thing that happened to me when I was a teenager was being adopted

Oh! Hope everything was alright mam.

13. Teens authors are procrastinating at times, not only teens but also adults sometimes, any tips to avoid procrastination? Will procrastination affect their books or writing style?

My story of wild, weird and wacky stories of a teenage youth group are about some of life experiences as a teenager. In all honesty, I'm not good at not procrastinating. But probably set your mind to a goal focused on meeting that goal by a certain time frame.

That's really great to know you are not procrastinating. Rarely we find people who doesnt procrastinate, you are one of them mam.

14. Books are good friends for teenagers, they can learn good things and also bad things at the same time. Some read books which aren't meant for them. What would you like to say to them?

I'd say don't read books that are not for your age group because they can teach you things that you should or shouldn't know yet. Or give you a wrong view on reality. For example I was reading a comment on a werewolf story recently and the reader complained that the female character was too softhearted because she chose to go back to her mate and give him a second chance. That reading stories like this gave her an unrealistic view in relationships.

True mam!

15. The three important things that every teen should know.

God and his Son Jesus love you and no matter what circumstances you find yourself in he is always there for you all you have to do is call out to him.

Life isn't easy and it's certainly not always fair

Treat others as you want to be treated. Words and actions towards others often hurt more then you know.

16. How do you feel giving us your interview? Is there any way we can improve ourselves?

I was surprised that you wanted to interview me. The questions are good. I would ask what inspired and list which story you want to know more about.

I found you to be very friendly, respectful and encouraging as well. I would like to know what stories you liked and what made you want to interview me and why.

Well! Freddy Kruger's Daughter is the story I read. I read it from my profile. It was an amazing story. It made me curious to interview you mam. It was really great and amazing to interview you. I thoroughly enjoyed and knew about things that I needed from this interview. Thank you for giving us your time mam. All the best for your future endeavours

Thats all for today guys. See you all in the next update.

Logging off

DIVYA