[image error]A.J. Cattapan



Author of Angelhood, Seven Riddles to Nowhere

Genre: YA fantasy; middle grade mystery







1) What inspired you to write?

I’ve always loved reading. I was one of those kids who actually enjoyed participating in the library’s summer reading program. I made up stories when I was young, but the first time I really thought about becoming a writer was when I read Anne of Green Gables for a book report in sixth grade. When I closed that last page, I thought that if I could write a book that touched other people’s hearts the way that one touched mine, then I would have the coolest job in the world!

2) What was the hardest scene/post you ever had to write? What was the easiest?

I honestly can’t think of individual scenes that were hard or easy to write. The plot for Angelhood came very easily. In fact, it came while trying to work on the plot for Seven Riddles. I was so stuck on working out the riddle-solving in my middle grade mystery that I began to despair that I would never actually be a novelist. I thought, “My writer career is over before it’s really begun!” And that’s when I got the idea for a story about a girl who thinks her acting career is over before it’s begun . . . and that was the start of Angelhood. Within three days, I had the story plotted out and all the characters mapped out.

3) How do you select the names of your characters?

In a word: . It’s a great resource when you want a name with a specific meaning. For example, when it came to name one of the key guardian angels in Angelhood, I looked up names that mean “guard,” and I found the name Warren, which became the perfect name for the guardian angel who becomes the mentor for my main character Nanette, a new angel who needs to “earn her wings.”

4) While writing, did the story go as planned or did it take a turn you didn’t expect?

The ending of Angelhood was a surprise. I can’t say more without giving it away! Seven Riddles turned out pretty much as I expected once I was finally able to fix the problems with the riddles that are involved. The riddles are all related to the artwork inside churches in Chicago, so figuring out how all those riddles were going to tie together took about a year of researching and visiting the churches that are featured.

5) Are you proud with the work you’ve done or do you wish you could’ve done more?

I’m proud of what I’ve done. What I wish is that I could find the time to hammer out the sequels to both books. I have ideas for both, but with a full-time teaching career, working on a doctorate program, speaking at writing and educational conferences, and hosting a TV show, I haven’t really found the time. Gee, I wonder why.