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Thank you Catherine for taking the time to answer some questions for us!  To start, please tell us about the latest project you've worked on.

I have just finished the second volume of my memoirs called AFTER THE FALLS. (Viking, forthcoming in  Nov 2010) It is about my life as a teenager and college student in the 60's.  It has romance , action, (fire and murder) and conflict -- crossed stars in love and investigation by the FBI.

(Visit Catherine Gildiner's website.)

Have you received any awards for your work?

Yes I was nominated for several prizes for my first memoir called TOO CLOSE TO THE FALLS. It was nominated for a Trillium award in Canada and Best first book in England. It won the Different Drummer award in Canada.

Do you also do speaking engagements, or seminars?

Yes all the time.

How has your education, profession or background helped you in your writing career? Or conversely, how has you writing success helped you in your  profession?

I was a psychologist for 25 years in Private practice. It helped me a lot with my writing. In terms of writing my memoirs it helped me to understand that I might as well tell all the awful things about me since everyone is basically the same with the same feelings of anger, rage. loneliness, etc.
 
In terms of content it helped me as well, I have written a novel called SEDUCTION which is a a thriller about Darwin and Freud. My PhD. thesis was on Darwin and Freud so I basically fictionalized it as a novel. It is on the best seller's list in Germany at the moment and was picked by Der Spiegel as Best intellectual thriller.

What kind of other works (books, scripts, poems etc.) have you had published?

Two memoirs and a thriller. Three books in total. Lots of humorous articles for newspapers and magazines.

Is there any aspect to your profession that gets you in touch with your readers directly?

No nothing directly.

What will your next project be?

I am going to be writing a book on heroes that I have seen in therapy. People who have had harrowing childhoods yet they have found a way to make their life go forward.
 
I was inspired to write it when I went back to my high school for a reunion and found that a 'mean'  hyperactive male classmate had won the purple heart  in Vietnam and it was presented to him by the president. I think heroism is defined  as a male trait or a 'testosterone moment' in time when  the man is 'brave' in battle. All that means is for a number of seconds he puts his life on the line. What about people who do it everyday of their lives trying to overcome cruel childhoods? What about people who get beaten by a drunken father everyday but maintain their sanity.  Now THAT is a true battle. I think heroism should be redefined as something that happens over time.  

Who inspires you on a personal or business level?

Nelson Mandela because he never got bitter.

What type of work is the most rewarding or satisfying for you?

Writing is my favourite thing to do in the world.

What can you recommend for writers who are just getting started and are trying to make a name for themselves?
 
Keep writing. Don't give up. Write for small presses or newspapers or whomever will publish you. Eventually you will be seen and picked up by someone.
 
My book TOO CLOSE TO THE FALLS was on the best seller's list for over a year when a publisher that I had previously sent the book to wrote to me a rejection letter that said , "I like the book but we can't take it on because we don't think it will sell."  Thank God it took him over a year to read it!

How did you get started as a writer?

I began writing a psychological advice column for Chatelaine Magazine and realized how much I liked to write.

Which is your favorite book/work published? Is there a favorite?

Middlemarch

What does a typical work day look like for you?

It depends . If I am on a book tour as I am now then I hardly get any writing done. It has been months now that I have been in 'publicity mode'.
 
When I am writing I exercise, I am home by 9:00 in the morning, and I work until 5:00 and I do that 5 days a week. I have an office on the third floor of my house where no one else ever goes which is great.   I never go out for lunch --eat at my desk.  I treat it like a job. I don't write all that time. I answer emails and talk to publishers etc. When I was younger I worked much harder--way too hard. I am 62 now so  I have slowed down to a normal pace.

Have you ever had a mentor, or someone who sparked your passion for writing?

no

Who is your favorite writer/author?

Charles Dickens. He really knows how to create a memorable character in only a few lines.

Finally, a most important question: what was the last song you sang out loud when you were by yourself?  :)

This morning at Yoga I sang 'When you're a Jet' from West Side Story. Everyone told me to be quiet.

Thank you Catherine for answering our questions! We wish you great success with your new book "After The Falls!"