Interview Catherine Greenfeder

by

Kimberly M. Nee

1) Tell me about your upcoming book. What was the inspiration for it?

Angels Among Us is a paranormal romance centered on Kay Lassiter, a clever artist, who is also psychic, who returns to her hometown in New Jersey to start a new career. As she does so, the past catches up with her in more ways than one. She rekindles a romantic interest in a man she knew in her childhood, faces danger, uncovers the truth about her parents’ accidental deaths, and learns to appreciate her unique gifts.

My inspiration came from several sources--a museum trip to view the Christmas tree at the Metropolitan Museum of New York, my long-time interest in angels and psychic phenomenon, and the desire to write a sweet romance with its origins in a childhood crush. My husband and I celebrate our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary this year, and that’s no small accomplishment given the fact we met in high school.

2) What is your writing schedule? Do you try to complete a certain number of pages per day, or do you just keep going until the well has run dry for the day? When does your muse strike, or are you always plotting, thinking up characters, new stories, etc?

I am a full-time teacher, mother of a teenager, and a writer. All three are demanding. I do the bulk of my writing during summer vacations, but I need to write weekly. By writing I include rough drafts, revision, and editing, as well as journal writing and research. I find it easier to set aside a certain amount of time, rather than a number of pages. With a work in progress, it’s important for me to stay in touch with the characters and plot.

I believe that the muse operates on a subconscious level, and it’s not always at the most convenient times. Therefore, I’ve learned to keep notepads around the house. I’ve tape recorded stories and even written in the park.

3) What do you find to be the most difficult part of the writing process? Do you plot using an outline, or does the story unfold on its own?

I find that sticking to a writing routine is difficult. There are so many distractions. I enjoy the research part and drafting. I’ve learned not to revise until the first draft is completed. I use highlighters and sticky notes which help me to organize for the revision and editing.

Although helpful, I find I need to be flexible with plot outlines. I do an outline and character sketches to get started, but invariably I divert from this as the characters take on a life of their own. This is part of the discovery and it makes writing more creative, fun, and exciting.

4) When did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you know? Is it something you've always done, or a matter of 'I wonder if I could write...?'

I knew that I wanted to be a writer when I was in fifth grade. My teacher commented that I was sure to be a writer because I was the last student to hand in my composition. I also wrote a picture book about a horse when I was eight. That was written for my own enjoyment at the time. I wrote poetry and stories as a teenager. I wrote my first novel as an adult commuting by bus from New Jersey to my advertising job in Manhattan. I used a spiral-bound notebook. That book had been revised multiple times, and will be the historical romance Wildflowers, a June 2007 release by Wings.

5) What sort of books do you like to read? What books or authors inspire you? Who are your favorite authors?

This is a tough question since I’ve read so many different types. I enjoy mystery and suspense, romance, classic, and metaphysical books. My earliest inspiration came from the writings of Edgar Alan Poe, Danielle Steel, Sidney Sheldon, and Mary Higgins Clark. In the metaphysical area, I enjoy reading the writing of Sylvia Browne and Doreen Virtue. I don’t really have a favorite author which allows me to be flexible.

6) What are some things you like to do when you aren't writing?

When I’m not writing, I enjoy time with my family including my dog Maxi. My dog inspired the character of Baxter in the book. She’s a lovable Labrador retriever who keeps me company while I write. I love to draw, paint, and travel. Recently, I enjoyed a tour of Greece and Turkey. My favorite trips have been to visit relatives in Ireland. I also like the theater and the movies.

7) What is something about you that others might not know?

I am very shy at times, but I’ve learned to open up more as I’ve grown older. Writing has been a way for me to express myself as well as tell stories. I use a journal and try to write daily pages as part of my writing activities.

8) Are you working on a new project? If so, what is it about?

I am writing a novel about an Irish immigrant who came to America in the 1930’s, having lived with her mother’s relations. It is about her struggles and how she grows to love her new life and the people in it. In a sense, it deals with family conflicts and the American dream. It spans two generations and begins with the flashback up to more modern times. I am drawing from my own experience as a second generation Irish American.

9) Do events in your life shape what stories you tell? How do they impact your characters and their lives?

Yes, events do help to shape the stories I tell. I had two close brushes with death at a young age which made me think of Kay’s childhood experience. As a child I strongly believed in guardian angels. I never quite gave up that notion, but like most adults, put it aside. However, a few recent incidents involving me or a loved one made me believe more strongly in the presence of guardian angels. So, that inspired the character of Eviance Angelique, Kay’s guardian angel.

10) When it comes to encouraging you, what kind of support do you have?

My family and close friends are pretty supportive. They’ve understood when I needed time to write, encouraged me to persevere, and cheered me in my accomplishments. I find, though, that it is fellow writers who are the most supportive because they understand what it’s like to spend long hours on something, not see results right away, but keep on trying. I belong to two writers’ groups, one which I have been active in for over fifteen years. They’re my biggest support group.

11) What was your most memorable rejection (if any) and did it help you become a better writer, or did you just chalk it up to wrong place, wrong time?

There’s no doubt that rejection is painful, but it’s par for the course. I don’t like to dwell on rejections, but sometimes a rejection with a lot of detail is actually encouragement to try again. It helped me to work on the book again then send it in a second time which is what I did and finally got it accepted.

12) Finally, what is the best advice you can give an unpublished writer?

I posted three words on my computer. Do It Anyway! This meant that no matter what others might think or say, no matter how much my internal critique or editor might naysay something, just do it. I can always go back and change things. I might have to send that manuscript out a few times, but at some point things will happen. I believe that a writer should write the book that is inside him or her. Don’t get discouraged. Most of all believe!