Interview with Author Cate Beresford
Author Cate Beresford is the winner of several poetry awards, grew up in a rural area, where she penned her first unpublished story, The Lonely Tricycle. After her children were grown, she and her husband moved to the coast, where she began writing more frequently.
Cate says she ventured into writing after working in a variety of industries after the loss of a senior role during the 2008 GFC. She suggests it was her most life changing moment. Cate reinvented herself after a particularly humiliating time – but found her passion. She began writing.
It was this creativity which helped Cate to pen her first novel based on that experience. Seven Signs is a fictional Romance novel. Her role in education then helped her to create a Young Adult novel, Bass Point Boys, which she recreated as Roy.
Cate’s latest book, Blood on the Vine is about to be published. A crime-mystery, Cate says it’s been her biggest challenge. She is also currently working on Paul, a book based on young boy who was bullied by his peers and went on to win a local award. Both books will be out in 2023.
Cate says her writing is contrived from her love of social justice and those without a voice. She also loves creating stories from learning about and watching human behaviour.
Cate can often be seen in her local coffee shop or at her writer’s group, chatting to other authors where she believes words, though not ideal for the writer’s critic – should be written – as life is – without perfection.
Tell me more about your latest book
Blood on the Vine is a crime-mystery and the sequel to Seven Signs.
Based in the Adelaide Hills wine region of Australia, the story focuses on the main characters, Eve and her husband Vic and the challenges they face with both the winery and their personal lives as Eve miscarriages and a murder is committed in the vineyard.
Whilst managing their winery, Seven Signs, Vic finds he has been betrayed by his partner, Chad and as he tries to keep the boutique winery afloat, the local police constable teams up with an ex-journalist to find the killer.
A past lover from Eve’s past catches up with her on an exciting submarine project based in London and when she arrives back home, the couple face new challenges.
New chapters open old wounds as mystery, murder, and romance snake their way through this novel as much as the driveway of the region it is based in.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing this book?
This was the first crime novel I have written and whilst it’s the sequel to Seven Signs, I needed to ensure the romance in the first novel continued, as well as trying to create a continuous mystery-based crime.
It’s taken three years to complete, and the final edit should reveal a novel I am hoping will be sold worldwide and hopefully made into a film.
What is your normal procedure to get your books published?
Gosh, that’s funny but I don’t really have a procedure. I have an idea and I start writing the first draft. When I am halfway through, I find it hard to work on the ending and so I then go back and formalise the plot. I use just a basic spreadsheet to then create each chapter and have a checklist I go through. Each edit (I do about 20) will find small things I need to improve like ensuring each page keeps the reader wanting to read, each of the senses are used where they should be, the characters are brought to life, and it flows well.
After my editing process, I then give it to a few people to read and give feedback, which is where I do a final edit. Only after this, do I send to the printer. I then take it back, read it aloud to myself and edit it again! So, you can see why it takes so long.
How important are the elements of character, setting, and atmosphere to a story, and why?
I believe that the characters make or break your story. Unless they come to life and people can relate to them, the reader will just move onto the next book. So, they need to relate to at last a part of each character and either love or hate them.
The setting is important, because again, it needs to be relatable. I usually write about places I have been personally experienced, so I am able to give a description from a personal point of view.
Ah the atmosphere. Yes, that’s a tough part of writing. As an author to try to build tension, suspense. Romance, mystery, and a whole host of experiences to the reader. It can be tough putting what you have in mind, into words which relate to the reader and allows them to experience you have in mind. I hope I do that, though it is tough.
How many books have you written so far?
Seven Signs – Romance
Bass Point Boys – Young Adult
Roy – Young Adult
I have also written poetry books though they are not in circulation anymore as I have placed all my poems onto a Facebook page for everyone to enjoy for free. I believe they are a gift to me and so I gift them to the world.
What’s the best way to market your books?
That’s a tough question. I have tried to promote them through several social media avenues. I also do author talks at libraries as well as promote them through our local cafes and stores. My Bass Point Boys book was chosen for a local High School study book which is exciting, and I have also recently been interviewed on an author podcast. I try to market as economically as I can as I don’t have a huge income, so it’s slower than I’d like, however it’s also given me space to get organised in preparation for this novel – did I mention it’s my best? Ha-ha
What is your writing routine? When you write, do you plan or outline ahead
I never really had a routine, though I have been so intense on finishing Blood on the Vine for publication that I have been working on it each morning as soon as I wake up. I sit with my breakfast coffee and read, edit, refine.
For most of my books though, I start with an idea and create the first draft, then let it sit before I go back and refine it.
How hard or easy is it to establish and maintain a career in writing?
I’m a technical writer, and I work for myself. I have regular clients, though the work is not regular. I could work more but I have health issues that prevent me from doing too much so I am happy with what I do. It helps.
In terms of being an author, I am yet to make a great deal of money, though I have spoken to lots of authors who have been encouraging. There is a Facebook site called 20 books to $50k and that’s what I am aiming for-20 books. I’ve written three, finishing two more and hope to write three each year for the next 5 years. Whilst I don’t need a wage as such, I hope to write to pay for my next book. I have so many stories and experiences I want to tell.
What is your advice for aspiring writers?
Just start. It doesn’t matter what you write. Just sit and start. I encourage anyone to give it a go. There is so much software these days like Grammarly and Scrivener to help anyone who aspires to write.
I have also written a course based on my experience called Write Your First Novel. Anyone who would like to learn from my experiences can send me an email and I will let them do it for free for a short period. It’s through teachable.com
Visit Author Cate Beresford book links: –
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cateberesfordbooks
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cateb_author/
TikTok-https://www.tiktok.com/@cateberesfordwagner/
Twitter- https://twitter.com/cate_author
Amazon –
Seven Signs
Bass Point Boys
Roy
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