Cat Banks Author Interview

Today we have a rather special feature! This is the first of what I hope becomes a monthly Author Feature event. We’ll be talking to fantasy authors, editors, and even cover artists about their work! The goal is to not only share these creative peoples work, but also to help other fantasy writers in the group get new contacts, learn new advice, and see that the dream of publication is alive and well, and very much achievable!

Our first author is Cat Banks.
Tell us about your current project
My new release is Lady Serra and the Draconian. This is a YA Fantasy/Historical Fantasy about a girl who doesn’t want to be defined by how many heirs she can birth. She has an arranged marriage to a horrible man, but she knows there is no way of getting out of it. Then the ace of Brevard begins talking with her and befriends her and she starts to hope for something more.

What inspired you to write Fantasy?
It wasn’t until high school that I discovered the wonderful world of fantasy. My first fantasy book, and the one that inspired me to write fantasy, was The Hobbit.

What are your favorite Fantasy themes?
I love how fantasy takes you away from reality. Sure, there are bits of reality in it, especially if you read urban fantasy. However, it is an escape from our reality and issues going on here. I also love the theme of girls learning to accept themselves. I’ve always had self-esteem issues (still do) and writing about girls who struggle with it and learn to accept themselves is helpful to me, and hopefully to some of my readers as well.

What does your writing process look like?
I am a total pantser! I come up with either a basic story idea or just what the main character is like and write. My characters decide what is going to happen and I let them decide where their story will go. Sometimes it goes down an incredibly unexpected route, but it often turns out to be a fun and action-packed story.

Do you have any strange writing habits?
Not really. I like writing on my laptop in the living room so that I am around my family even while writing, but I have also holed myself up in my office on occasion.

How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend?
I use sites like “20000 Baby Names” to look up names and their meanings. Many of my main characters names have a meaning that applies to their characteristics. I also use this site: www.fantasynamegenerators.com/

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
My best accomplishment is being listed among more than 3 people who I do not know as one of their favorite authors. My second-best accomplishment is being invited to take part in a local author fair, after they read my book BITTEN, BEATEN, & LOVED.

What writing advice do you have for other aspiring authors?
WRITE! Seriously, just sit down and write. It doesn’t have to be good. It usually isn’t good when you first start, but all that matters is getting a story out onto paper, or screen. You can go back and edit later.

Do you have any favorite writing books/websites that helped you learn the craft?
Not really. The one thing I do love is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I have written several of my books during it, including PIRATE PRINCESS. It is a great way to give yourself deadlines and push yourself to write a book.

If you didn't like writing books, what would you do for a living?
I’m not a full-time writer. I am an Administrative Assistant for the State. What that means is that I schedule the head of the Department’s calendar, her travel, follow up on task assigned to other executives, and act as a liaison between her and higher levels of Government.

Are you a plotter or a pantster?
Pantser! Though, I am trying to be a plotter on one of my upcoming books.

Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?
I do read the reviews, but I never respond to them. The bad reviews do sting a bit, but what you have to remember is that you cannot please everyone. Some people may have seen that I liked The Hobbit and thought how terrible that is. That’s fine. They may like a book that I think is horrid. That’s fine too. We all have different tastes. Just remember that a bad review doesn’t mean you’re a terrible author. You will find scathing one-star reviews on every famous authors’ books.

What is your best marketing tip?
Honestly, the best thing I’ve found so far is to do newsletter swaps. You find another author and have them put your book in their newsletter and you put their book in your newsletter. It allows you to find new fans that you may not have had access to before.

What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing process?
Writing the blurb. I loathe writing blurbs.

Is there a certain type of scene that's harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy?
Racy scenes and action scenes can be a bit harder for me. Action only because I tend to rush through a scene. So, I have to go back and edit it to make the scene more interesting or fully unfold it so the reader can be immersed in the reading.

Tell us about your favorite character from your writing, and why you love them!
I love Serra because she’s a sweet girl who wants desperately to be loved and to be free. She just wants to have more out of life than being a broodmare.

What about your least favorite character?
My least favorite character is definitely Barnaby. He’s a slimy man who gets what he deserves.


Describe your ideal writing goal.
I have two ideal writing goals. One, to become a USA Today or NYT bestselling author. Two, to win a Dragon Award. Really, I’d love just to be nominated for a Dragon Award.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Flight! That way I could get around traffic and not have to sit in it each workday!

What is something you want to accomplish before your time on this earth is over?
I’d like to be able to earn a living from writing. Aside from that, I’d like to write at least 50 books before I die.

What’s your favorite scent? Color?
My favorite scent would be Tommy cologne on my husband. Purple and fuchsia are my favorite colors.

What are you working on now? What is your next project?
I’ve been working on a couple different projects, both fantasy of course. The main project I have been working on is called Anja’s Secret. This is a story about a girl, raised as a slave, who discovers powers in herself that are terrify her, but also allow her to escape. She travels to a Realm across the mountains, one where slavery is abolished and she can start a new life. Unfortunately for her, her former owner isn’t giving up on getting her back.
My next project is going to be finalizing PRINCESS TRIUMVIRATE (PIRATE PRINCESS #2). It is currently with my editor and scheduled to be released in November.

Do you have anything or sale/pre-order? If so, we’d love to hear about them and have a link to where we can buy them.
I have a few books up for pre-order right now.
DEMONIC CONTRACT: www.amazon.com/Demonic-Contrac…
DRAGON’S BLOOD: www.amazon.com/dp/B0746C3XPC
CIMMERIAN SHADE (Box set with 22 stories by 22 different authors for only 99 cents): www.amazon.com/Cimmerian-Shade…
THE LAST WEREWOLF: www.amazon.com/Last-Werewolf-C…


If you could have one thing drawn, related to your work, what would it be?
I would love to have a drawing of Tilia from Pirate Princess, standing with her father, the King of Pirates, on a ship as they’re sailing on the sea.

Please share any websites you have!
www.CatherineBanks.com
www.turbokitten.us
www.facebook.com/catherinebanksauthor
www.subscribepage.com/c6d3i2
www.etsy.com/shop/turbokittenind