The Notebook is pleased to announce it's March Author Spotlight. This month, we are featuring the amazing author Catastrophia. She has written several stories for the Twilight Fandom including Breach, 29 Dimensions, When Bunnies Attack, and Welcome to the Cameo Hotel. If asked to choose a favorite story of hers, I'd be hard pressed to make a decision...I love each of them. If you haven't had a chance to read any of her stories, I suggest you take a change and give them a read, you won't be sorry you did, and I guarantee you'll be just like the rest of us, sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to see what she comes up with next.
Wanna get to know Catastrophia? Here's how you can...
We got the chance to sit down and chat with Catastrophia for a little bit and she was kind enough to answer some questions for us. Here's what she had to say...
The Notebook: What made you decide to start writing fanfic?
Catastrophia: Curiosity. I started reading fanfic, and then a few months later decided to give writing a try. At first I was pretty terrible, it had been so long since I’d taken a writing course I had forgotten so much.
TN: Which of your stories was your favorite to write?
Cat: 29 Dimensions. Hands down. That story leaves a cheesy grin on my face. It’s the only fic I’ve written that I have also read multiple times.
TN Who is your favorite character that you've written? Why?
Cat: Hmm, that’s a tough one. Breachward is definitely at the top, but so is Cameoward and Mase from Conventioneers. Though Mase may be up there because he is just so hot!
Well, it seems it’s always Edward, but I would say Breachward wins out. He is such a complicated, passionate, damaged man.
Oooh, but then there is Izzy from When Bunnies Attack. She is so much fun to write! Direct, quirky, and hyper with a bunny obsession.
Or, non-main characters I would say Mrs. Cope from Hate What You Do To Me. She is a blast!
TN: Who is your least favorite character that you’ve written? Why?
Cat: *goes to look at her ff profile*
I suppose this is not restricted to main characters, so I would have to say… I have no idea. Each character is needed to advance the plot.
Eh, it’s probably James from Hate What You Do To Me.
TN: Do people in your RL know about your writing fanfic?
Cat: My sister does, though she can’t get over that they’re not vampires in my stories so she isn’t reading them. My mom does, but thankfully I don’t think she understands. There are some people at work, and one who is a Twilight fan who started reading. My hubs and best friends know, but one of them kinda paved the way for me. She was writing Smallville fanfic for years.
TN: What is your greatest achievement so far?
Cat: Breach and its success. I’m astounded at what it has achieved. Multiple reviews on various blogs, over 2k reviews. It will be my crowning jewel, I think. The plot, the way that everything weaves in together, was very difficult. It is my most in depth story.
TN: Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
Cat: Music. I am an avid music listener and I listen to music constantly when I write. Some songs will speak to me about a certain story, some will spawn plot bunnies. It isn’t always about the lyrics, half the songs it’s about the music. There is one orchestral piece I can’t even listen to anymore because I see the last chapter of Reciprocity, the sequel to Breach, which hasn’t even begun posting yet.
TN: Do you outline your stories before writing them, or do you plot them out as they go?
Cat: I’m laughing at this question and the silliness of outlines. I tried a bit with Breach, but early on found out that what I had lined up for one chapter ended up taking 3. So, I have key points instead with vague chapter numbers. It really all depends on the story. Breach, I’ve had things on the list for months before they ever show up in a chapter. With Conventioneers each chapter is a day of the convention and spans three years’ worth of them, with a bridging chapter in between each year. Specific things are outlined to happen in each year. Cameo, each chapter was supposed to be a month, and I have 4 months outlined.
None of my other stories have had outlines, just plot as I go.
TN: What are 5 things you want your fans to know about you?
Cat: Gah!! It’s a talk about me question!! Abandon ship! Abandon Ship!! Lol!
Umm….. My characters can drink most people under the table because I can. Though I know 100lbs girls can’t drink that much, my body just laughs at five shots and says ‘you call that a drink?’. Hollow leg, baby!
I am on FB, tumblr, twitter, and have a blog. Come round, ask me questions, say ‘hi’, I love that stuff.
I’m a homebody.
I am an artist by trade and thought I sucked at writing. I’ve never really been passionate about anything until I started writing.
Umm….. Team Edward!!
TN: Who are some of your favorite fanfic authors?
Cat: I don’t get to read much for the past year, so this seemingly easy question is really tough!!
My girls always give me a good read though: theonlykyla, lvtwilight09, reyes139, and Xquisite Prodigy.
TN: What are some of your favorite fics?
Cat: Pride and Professionalism, Coming to Terms, Dear Mr. Masen, Just One of The Boys, Renfield and Chicklets, The Ties That Bind... I know there are more.
I’m also a one shot h00r.
TN: What was the first fic you ever read?
Cat: No clue. I think it was a Harry Potter fic years ago.
TN: How did you get into fanfic?
Cat: I think it was Harry Potter fanfic, but it’s been so long I don’t remember. I know I went away for quite a few years, but when I fell in love with Twilight I knew just where to go when I needed more!!
TN: What story owns your ass right now?
Cat: I don’t really have time to read between work and writing, so I’d have to say the drabble Learning to Let Go by Lvtwilight09. There have been some twists in this little drabble!
TN: What color socks are you wearing?
Cat: White
TN: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Cat: You know, I ask them that almost every day. There’s a bunch that live around the corner and I often see them on the other side. They never answer me, rude they are, pecking away at the ground. I have a compulsion now as I pass to cluck out chicken.
TN: . How do you find a needle in a haystack?
Cat: A really big magnet.
TN: Other than Edward, who is your favorite Cullen? Why?
Cat: Jasper. Cause he’s emo and hot, and I’d like to explore the Major part of his personality. ;)
TN: If you were Bella, how would you handle Edward’s leaving in New Moon?
Cat: About the same, just with more tears. Emotionally, I am a lot like Bella… only more selfish.
TN: How does Mr. Cat deal with your writing? Has he read any of your stuff?
Cat: Mr. Cat works a lot lately and has developed a hatred of my laptop. But I’d say his absence caused it. No, he hasn’t read any of my stuff. He’s cool with my writing and wants me to get something published. He said he wouldn’t have a problem being a kept man. It would be awesome if I could get published one day.
TN: If you could be any animal in the world, what would be and why?
Cat: For some reason all I can come up with is an owl. They have great sight, they can fly, and… they can be quite creepy.
TN: When you are writing do you visualize what you are working on as you write it or just write what comes to you?
Cat: Usually what comes to me, and it comes to me in bits. Then I need to visualize in order to glue all the bits together. It’s a very strange process and rarely can I just visualize it and write a scene or chapter in one cohesive vision. Bits, pieces, and glue!
TN: Are you a size of the boat kind of girl or the motion in the ocean?
Cat: Size of the boat, but I have more of the motion of the ocean. A girl can dream.
TN: Of all your Edward’s which one are you most attracted to and which Bella best represents you?
Cat: Which Edward??? Well, to quote one of my favorite movies: “I could no sooner chose a favorite star in the Heavens!”
Each one of them is different, and I am attracted to aspects of each of them. If I really had to choose though, I would lean more toward Hate What You Do To Me’s Edward. Because just as much as there are things that attract me to them, they all also have things that detract me. I do not write my perfect man. They are all flawed, but his flaws are less.
Then again, if you are asking for just pure sexual attraction…. I think Breachward might win that competition. :D
Breach’s Bella best represents me. She and I are a lot alike personality wise. Many of the other Bella’s I write have personality traits I wish that I had. Even Bella from The Blackened Flame.
TN: Thongs, bikinis or boyshorts?
Cat: Bikinis.
TN: Favorite video game?
Cat: Fatal Frame, hands down.
TN:. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Cat: As much as he can before his arm gets tired.
TN: If there was one thing you would change in either the Twilight books or movies, other than Edward leaving in New Moon, what would it be and why?
Cat: The book: make Jacob less pushy and annoying.
The movie: fix their conversation at the end when she gets to Volterra and beyond. They just butchered it from the book. The book ending was much better. Oh, and I love how the movies forget that Edward can read minds, he knows what attack is coming.
