Katharina Gerlach

I thought the thirteenth’s interview went well, don’t you? Let’s try it again with Katharina Gerlach.

Born and raised German with a generous helping of an adopted Scottish heritage, Katharina started writing at age seven (although she didn’t get serious until much later) when the tomboy adventures she lived in her father’s forest weren’t enough for her imagination anymore.

Writing about balloon people, flying hearts, giant spiders, and more was her lifeline to sanity and Real Life™ all through her education. After finishing with a Ph.D. in science, marriage and the start of a beloved but distracting family, she returned to her life-long vocation.

These days, Katharina lives for stolen moments of writing happiness in two languages while juggling her husband, two girls in puberty, a fledgling daughter that just left the house, a dog, and … laundry.

Find her online: Homepage, Facebook, Goodreads and Pinterest

1. Let’s start with something fun. What’s your favorite hobby?

Reading … what did you expect. 😀

But I also love spending time in forests, rowing, making dolls (although I haven’t made one in years), and – most of all – visiting friends.

2. If you had the opportunity—who would you like to spend an afternoon with and why?

Oh dear, there are so many people I’d love to meet, most of them historical. So assuming I had a time machine, I’d love to meet young Mozart (when he was a kid) because he wasn’t burdened with the daily chores of an adult man.

I’d love to meet Edith Nesbit (British author and full-time mother). She raised not just her own kids but also those of her husband’s affairs too, and she supported them all through her writing.

I want to meet Astrid Lindgren (writer) and Diana Wynne Jones just to learn from them.

I’d really enjoy talking to Alexander the Great, Cesar, Ada Lovelace, Nelson Mandela and many, many more.

If I were restricted to living people I’d spend most of my time with my writing colleagues, my reader friends and all those lovely book bloggers I met.

3. Coffee, tea, soda or something else?

Tab, water or milk – seriously. I hardly ever drink anything else.

4. What are you working on right now?

I just finished writing book 8 of my fairy tale retelling series. Books 1-4 are already published, book 5 is edited and ready to go, and I’m currently translating books 6-8 back into German. Also, I’ve got the planning for a sequel to Scotland’s Guardians nearly done (I’m still missing some research), and the audiobook will go live sometime in early January. You see, I’m quite busy.

5. How would you describe your writing style?

Flexible. 😀

My writing style adapts to the story I’m trying to tell, so it’s never exactly the same. I hope my readers like not getting the same book over and over again. Diversity and tolerance are important themes in my books.

6. Do you have any advice for a person just beginning their writing career?

BIC = butt in chair. As long as you don’t have several books to sell anything else doesn’t make sense. You will learn all the additional stuff (like coding eBooks, marketing, print versions, etc.) when the time is there. Take it one step at a time and make writing new stories your priority.

7. Do you immerse yourself in new situations for writing ideas or do your ideas come to you through your normal, day-to-day life?

Both. Usually, ideas happen when two things I noticed at some point in my life connect. They spark an AHA-moment which forces me to write.

8. Where can we find you on the interwebs?

http://www.katharinagerlach.com

https://www.facebook.com/KatharinaGerlach.Autorin

http://www.pinterest.com/catgerlach/

https://plus.google.com/u/0/111863430632383297320

Many thanks for stopping by the blog today, Katharina. We appreciate having you on ConniesRandomThoughts.com

Be sure to visit Katharina at any of the links she’s provided.