Guest Post - Cate Ellink - author and photographer

 By Cassandra Samuels

Please welcome author Cate Ellink also known as author Catherine Evans to the blog this week. 

Cate Ellink writing also as Catherine Evans

Cate Ellink’s first publication was an erotic short story in 2011. Since then she’s published a variety of erotic and erotic romance short stories and novels. Her novel, Team Player, won the ARRA Favourite Erotic Romance in 2017.

In 2020, writing has taken a bit of a backseat. Cate’s been using photography to focus on little things in the world around her, that bring joy in these tumultuous times.

What is one ‘must have’ when you are writing?

Silence. I want to be lost in my story and undisturbed by the world.

What are you reading at the moment?

Women Who Run With The Wolves, by Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estés and I’m loving it.

Name one thing you’re scared of.

Failure.

Like to share something that recently made you happy?

This morning there are 4 newly hatched baby plovers greeting the day. The parents have been nesting on my roof.

Like to share an embarrassing moment?

Oh, gosh, these happen far too often, I’m a bit immune to them now. My nephew has a collection of photographs of me making a goofy face (unknowingly!) – one day he thinks he’ll sell them 😊

Who is your favourite literary crush?

Markus Zusak, Keri Arthur, Alex Miller, Tim Winton, Anna Campbell, and Anne Gracie.

What is the last photo you took with your phone?

The family of plovers in my yard.

If you were the main character in your favourite book, who would you be?

I’ve loved so many books I don’t think I could pick a favourite.

What is the premise of your latest book?

I just did a photo book, which was a new thing for me. The title is Pockets of Joy and the premise is finding joy in the nature around you…even when life’s tough.

Buy this book here: http://www.catherineevansauthor.com/books.html

What unique challenges did the book pose?

Although I’d made holiday photos into books, I’d never done one for ‘publication’ so I had to learn who printed such things, what size pages were available, how much it cost, and what quality the paper and printing was, and how to stick photos into a book that others might find attractive and informative.

What are you working on at the moment?

2020 is a year of change, so I’m working on a few things that aren’t typical Cate or Catherine stories. I’ve got a non-fiction in the works, a children’s book, and an Australian historical reimagining.

What is your writing schedule? Morning, afternoon or night?

I used to be a night owl, but my life’s been flipped and I’m up seeing sunrises, so my writing time has turned to sleeping. Now I’m scribbling when I can.

Buy from here: http://www.catherineevansauthor.com/books.html

Are you a plotter, pantser or somewhere in between?

I think I’m in between but more to the pantsing end. My brain has a rough plot but I never write it out. I write, and as my characters develop, I learn the story with them. And then I go back and make it a story and not a mess (which it often is!).

If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you like to see in the cast?

I write Australian stories, so I’d always hope for an Aussie cast.

What do you love to love?

Nature in all its splendour.

What do you love to laugh at?

Life, the universe, kids and animals’ antics. I laugh a fair bit at myself too.

What do you love to learn about?

Everything and anything. I’m an insatiable knowledge-seeker.

Information about the photobook, Pockets of Joy, can be found here: http://www.catherineevansauthor.com/pockets-of-joy.html

Please feel free to join the Facebook group, Little Things, and pick up a free e-magazine each month, filled with little bits of joy and happiness. https://www.facebook.com/groups/664168057568306/?ref=shar