Fiction
Meet indie Author of the month:
Cathy Moran
Each month we introduce you to one of our wonderful independently published authors. What’s an indie author you ask? It’s someone who has self-published their own book. It’s a massive undertaking and so, so impressive! But it’s hard too, without the support of a traditional publisher and PR agent getting your work into the public eye is tough.
So we are shining a light on these super authors each month to introduce you to their work, which you might otherwise be unfamiliar with!
This month, we sat down with Cathy Moran, picture book author to learn a little more about her and her books.
Name / Pen Name:
Cathy Moran
1. Who are you, and what do you write about?
I grew up in Melbourne in the 50’s, the youngest of six children. My upbringing could be described as benign neglect but loving and happy and engendered independence from an early age. Lots of stories there.
I taught Prep and Grade One for some years and loved it. My favourite part of the teaching day was reading stories and delving into them with the class. So much incidental learning while reading to children
Then onto marriage and motherhood, four children and ten grandchildren and lots of story reading.
I was fortunate enough to have spent my teenage years riding at Lower Plenty Pony Club which was set up for city kids to keep a horse and all ride together all weekend. Massive fun. Later I was able to teach riding at Alexandra Pony Club where all four children attended for many years. More massive fun. The land bordered on the Watsonia Army Barracks and we could ride all through that land. Unrecognisable now. I think there is a Mac Donald’s there and many houses .
I write from my long life experience. There are thousands of stories all around. Some phrases and ideas I have kept in my mind for years. For instance, a friend told me forty plus years ago about asking directions in Ireland one day and the old Irishman she approached inquired if she wanted to go the short way or the pretty way. I found that so charming I used the phrase in my latest book.
I write from my long life experience. There are thousands of stories all around.
2. What’s the most unusual writing habit you have that you’d never put in a “How to Be an Author” guide?
To be honest I find writing the story the easiest part of the process. It is all the marketing and details that is hard. What size of book will fit in a postage bag and can be posted as cheaply as possible? What weight of paper to use for quality and endurance? Cost of printing? Where to print? IBSN number? A huge learning curve. My publisher, Brian Dole, at Caidex was invaluable. I had stories in my head for years and my husband said one day , Just do it! I found Brian on the internet and he was so encouraging.
I wrote Ducks Down The Drain one morning while having my hair done in Lorne. I had encountered the trapped ducklings while walking into town and it is a mostly true story.
3. What’s the strangest real-life place or moment that accidentally shaped your story?
What Came Through The Window is all completely true. We had flown to Africa and overnighted in Johannesburg. We were a bit nervous and had booked into a gated resort for the night. Jet lagged, I got up in the middle of the night to go to the loo and suddenly had a very friendly tabby cat curling around my legs. To my muddled brain it was so bizarre, unexpected and hilarious. We laughed about it the whole trip. Needn’t have been nervous either. It was a fantastic trip with fantastic people.
4. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why?
I was lucky enough to meet Bill from Ducks Down The Drain. He lived at the top of Lorne and had a spare block of land beside his house. He always had rescued animals there and would take the time to show them to any children passing. He was a lovely man and a legend in the town. Lorne is a very steep placed but he was never daunted by the terrain and would climb a precarious ladder to fix anyone’s aerial. We would have our hearts in our mouths as he ascended but nothing bad ever happened and Lorne locals could watch their telly. He was the hero of my story.
5. When you’re not writing, what are you doing instead?
I write in my head all the time. Driving, walking, lying awake at night, (arrrgh). All the little moments that spark ideas are all around.
When not writing I travel, farm, do grandchild adoration, sew, garden, keep up with wonderful friends, try to be useful.
Special mention!
I must mention my wonderful illustrator Kat Buchanan. My stories would be nothing without her. She must be able to see inside my head as she always comes up with exactly what I want. She has been an enormous help with all those tricky details I mentioned. Websites, Dropbox, promotional material, storyboards , page breaks, so much and always so calm and knowledgeable. Kat is an architect and I love how that shows in her illustrations. Birds Eye views, cross sections, maps. Collaborating with a younger woman has been such a great experience for me and I am so grateful to her. She does my books in her “spare” time while bringing up her little boys and working.
Shop Cathy's books here:
What Came Through the Window is a Children’s illustrated story books designed to assist young children in recognising various African animals based on their unique features.Children are asked to guess which animal their grandparents see through their hotel window.
A Children’s Book telling the story of four children discovering and saving a family of ducklings stranded in a storm water drain.
The sweet story of a Mother Duck and her Ducklings hazardous journey to a new home and the people who assist them along the way.
