Cathrina Constantine's Blog

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG.

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember, the question is optional!!!

Alex's awesome co-hosts are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine
October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?
My ya/contemporary, Incense and Peppermints is close to my heart. 
It's a work of fiction based on factual occurrence's. It takes place in 1969 during the escalation of the Viet Nam War when the draft hung over young 18 year olds like a guillotine. It was also a time of massive protests against the war, hippies, flower power, Woodstock, drugs, and a music revolution. 
I waited a long time to write this book due to certain people mentioned, although, their names are changed and many have since died. Readers, if not familiar with the music or that time frame have a hard time connecting. Some reviewers can't believe what I'd written. However, like I mentioned, I lived in a small village, I lived through those times and those experiences. 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.  

Alex's co-hosts are Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Diedre Knight!

I am enamored by the beautiful promos, which are AI, that are plastered on social media sites. They are eye-catching. Some day I'd like to learn how to make them.

After more than a year, closer to two years, my latest book is in the hands of The Illustrated Author, Melissa Stevens. Fingers-crossed I can get this into the world early next year. 

Here's the blurb for RUTHLESS KINGDOM

Born under a scarlet moon, Avianna Morningstar should have been revered and feared, just as the prophecy proclaimed. But Avia is taken to a remote realm where she would be safe from the anarchy festering in the Kingdoms, meanwhile her potential as a sorceress is all but extinguished.

An sinfully attractive tracker is tasked with bringing Avia back to a homeland she has never known in hopes of awakening the power that has lain dormant within her.

The Kingdoms of Verdae and Inkwood are intrigued and unsettled by the sudden return of the king’s illegitimate daughter. And troublesome is the coiling and churning of forbidden black magic throughout the land.

Piqued by the alleged prophecy, the council begins preparations for a Royal Tournament, a competition of magical skills and stamina intended to cull the incompetent. The ultimate sacrifice for weakness is death. In a desperate bid to survive, Avia must learn to unleash her powers.

Regardless, she soon discovers the tournament is a tactical diversion in order to assassinate the king and conquer Verdae. And, Avianna is merely an expendable pawn in this treacherous realm.

Taglines:

Two Kings. Two Kingdoms.

Betrayal cuts deep as one king vows to rule them all.

Snared in a web of deceit, Avia is the unwitting crux.

 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG.





Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.Alex's awesome co-hosts are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Natalie Aguirre, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Olga Godim!
August 6 question - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
On X -I get miffed when an author follows me and when I follow back, I get an immediate DM. I've been naive and deceived by a few asking all kinds of questions trying to be nice, and it turns out to be a scam. Some pretend to be famous authors...Ugh! Now, I don't reply to any DM's unless I know the person.
Unethical... I once received an email from Hollywood. (He really was from LA, I checked. LOL) The agent/or scammer was interested in my Wickedly Series. He sent me info, and then called me, and spoke in detail of what was required to get this in front of ---whomever. My publisher informed me, they'd ask for the rights to my books, not what he was implying.   I'm not at all familiar with AI as far as writing goes. But it seems unethical to use AI to write a novel.
I'm sure there is more unethical practices in the publishing industry!  

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG.





Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.




Alex's awesome co-hosts are Rebecca Douglass, Natalie Aguirre, Cathrina Constantine, and Louise Barbour! 
July 2 question: Is there a genre you haven't tried writing in yet that you really want to try? If so, do you plan on trying it?
When I had an agent, she encouraged me to write magical realism. I tried and failed miserably. However, I do like to write different genres: My books consist of Christian, Fantasy, Dystopian, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, and Contemporary. 

FREE!

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group:
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The Insecure Writer’s Support Group:
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Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG.





Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Alex's awesome cohosts are PJ Colando, Pat Garcia, Kim Lajevardi, Melisa Maygrove, and Jean Davis!
June 4 question - What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult.
I'm sitting here trying to remember what books impacted me as a child, and I can't remember my parents ever reading to me. As a young adult I remember reading The Shining. Scary, but good. Animal House, 1984, and The Catcher in the Rye were mandatory reading in school. What I learned from my English teachers was the underlining meanings in these books. Very interesting.
While I became a voracious reader, I was very much enamored with all kinds of movies.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.




Alex's awesome co-hosts are Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!
May 7 question - Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them?
When my writing journey began I feared ALL the above. Years later, some of those fears have lessened, but still brewing under my skin. 
Now, I fear age. I know age shouldn't be a factor for a writer, but in this new world of marketing - Instagram and TikTok, making videos, etc...I can't compete with any of that. I try, but I'm a social introvert. 
What writer fears do you have? 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Alex's  awesome co-hosts are Jennifer Lane, L Diane Wolfe, Jenni Enzor, and Natalie Aguirre.
April 2 question - What fantasy character would you like to fight, go on a quest with, or have a beer/glass of wine with?
Strider AKA Aragorn from Lord of the Rings: 


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Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Alex's awesome co-hosts are Ronel Janse Van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

  Be sure to visit the
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website!!!
March 5 question - If for one day you could be anyone or *thing* in the world, what would it be? Describe, tell why, and any themes, goals, or values they/it inspire in you.

My thought was to be JK Rowling's brain, when the tale of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone popped into her head. And be a part of that moment when she began penning this Amazing series.
Perhaps I could glean some inspiration, learn a few things from how her brain works. LOL 😃
I deleted my first answer to this question> Which was to be one of Jesus's apostles on the boat to see Him walk on water...but thought it might be too controversial. 

 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Alex's awesome co-hosts are are Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles!
I'm at a stage in my life where the days pass at lightning speed. There's so much to do and so little time to get it all accomplished.
As for my writing, I finally had my manuscript (that's been stewing on the back burner for like forever) professionally edited. Now, it's the long haul of rereading, fine tuning, and attempting to find those nasty typos from haunting my book. 
It's been 12 years since I published my first book, and I still feel incompetent and unsure of my words and my stories. It's always a mental struggle when I put my book babies out into the world, and wait on pins and needles to get feedback, which is usually good, bad, and meh....Then~ that time spent, those endless hours of mind boggling writing takes on a whole new meaning.
I've somehow lost a bit of that perseverance, that drive to get it done. 
I wonder if all writer's suffer from doubt and insecurities like I do? Do you?

 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Alex's awesome co-hosts are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!
December 4 question - Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?
Personally, I don't mind a good/great cliffhanger. None of my books end with a cliffhanger per se. In a couple novels I did leave a few unanswered threads, with a premise of another book in the making, though nothing that would drive a reader bonkers over.  LOL.
In my writing process, I tend to end each chapter with a taste of suspense, hoping the reader will continue on to the next chapter.