✍🏿 Debut You: A 2020 Debut Author Series: Catherine Adel West
Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2020, are given five questions to answer about themselves and their book. Currently, the questions are the same for all authors. We hope you enjoy getting to know these new authors and can offer them your support.
Describe yourself in five words, then expound on one of them.
Intelligent, creative, focused, funny, and proud.
I’d say ‘focused’ is the word that best describes me. It took a lot to get my debut novel Saving Ruby King traditionally published. There’s a lot of rejection and doubt peppered throughout the journey towards publication, but if you remain steadfast and confident in your ability, there is a good chance you’ll be able to achieve your goal, no matter what it is.
Explain your writing procedure, such as how you come up with ideas, carve out time to write (or, if you can write anywhere at any time during the day), deal with writer’s block, or anything particular or peculiar.
I’m a pantser, so many of my ideas for Saving Ruby King came to me at moments when I was focused on something else. Also, I pull many of my ideas from my experiences and the people around me. I write at all times of the day (when I’m not at my job). Mainly, I write on weekends in the morning as it’s a calm time. Recently, I’ve participated in writing sprints with friends who are other women of color. We talk, encourage each other, and have a lot of fun.
If I experience writer’s block, I normally write something outside of my comfort zone. So, I’ll write some (bad) poetry or flash fiction, or I read a book I’ve been meaning to read for a while. That normally gets my creative juices flowing again.
Continue reading Debut You HERE on Our Stories Matter Blog
Family. Faith. Secrets. Everything in this world comes full circle.
Saving Ruby King: A Novel (Park Row, Young Adult, 320 Pages, June 16, 2020)
Pre-order Saving Ruby King
Find more children’s and young adult books by Black authors here
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