Ask the Author: Catherine Dehdashti
Answered Questions (6)
Catherine Dehdashti
It's always a couple from whatever novel I've read most recently, if done well. The Book of Unknown Americans, by Cristina Henriquez had some good couples and my favorite was Alma and Arturo. Alma won my heart right away, and slowly I began to see what she saw in Arturo. By the end, I saw them as eternal lovers.
Catherine Dehdashti
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Catherine Dehdashti
I have a couple of other novels and other books on the back burner, but I feel some essays coming on. That's a good thing because, after finishing the novel, I'd like some shorter sprints. But I won't blog. I've tried, but I can't muster the self-discipline to keep it up regularly.
Catherine Dehdashti
Take an interest in other people. A character says this in Roseheart, and it's based on something told to me by the author Carol Bly and another teacher. If you don't feel the energy to be personally interested in people, be professional about it. Take a professional interest in people.
Catherine Dehdashti
It's when I feel like I'm in a "state of flow." That's a term I learned from youth development professionals describing positive human development, and it's stuck with me. I work full-time in communications for an organization, I freelance a little, and then here I am with Roseheart, my first novel. Anytime I can get my hands on a story, I'm in a really good place.
Catherine Dehdashti
I turn on the Skyro recording app on my phone and talk into it. I just talk and talk, and it helps if I'm also walking at the same time. Then I play it back at my computer. If anything good comes out, I can start typing and get into a groove, expanding or taking it in whatever direction. And I definitely write first draft material by hand, on any paper-like thing I can find.
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