|
Post by catherine daly on Jun 29, 2005 10:16:54 GMT
Colette Caddle, author of too many bestsellers to list here, but whose new book Changing Places has recently hit your shelves, will be on line on Tuesday 5th of July at 8 pm (Irish time) to take your questions.
Hope you can join us then, but if you can't, post your question below, and Colette will answer as many as she can.
|
|
|
Post by Mary on Jun 30, 2005 7:31:02 GMT
It's my son's birthday on the 5th, so I'll harldy make the interview. I'd like to compliment you on all of your books which I've read and enjoyed. Do you still love writing as much as when you started?
Mary
|
|
marie
Full Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by marie on Jun 30, 2005 16:06:40 GMT
Hi Colette,
How long does it usually take you to write the first draft of a novel?
Marie
|
|
|
Post by ccaddle1 on Jul 3, 2005 20:44:38 GMT
Hi Guys! Despite every effort on behalf of Eircom to prevent me from doing this interview, I will be there - please say you will be too!!! Whether it's to discuss me, my books, writing tips, the weather, or the pathetic customer service of the afore mentioned company - I'll be happy to talk. If you can't, mail before and I will answer as best I can - though I made plead the fifth if it gets interesting! Looking forward to hearing from yoiu, Colette C, x
|
|
|
Post by ccaddle1 on Jul 3, 2005 20:50:41 GMT
Hi Mary, thanks for posting. You know, I absolutely hate it, just before I get stuck into a new book. It seems so daunting to be back at the beginning again. But once I get going, I do love it and it's a great feeling when the characters start to come alive and take over. Is it as good as when I first started ? Probably better. To know you have one book in you is great, to know there are several, is a great thrill. Marie, the first draft takes me about 4 months - thats doing approx a 20 hour week (no I'm not lazy, just a busy mother too!) I make a point now of not re-reading and editing as I go as I feel it disrupts the flow. The plus about doing it this way is the story is fresh in my mind and there are less errors to correct. When you write a book over a long period it's very easy to screw up the timing or ages or seasons, believe me I've done it. Thanks for posting! Colette C.
|
|
|
Post by claire on Jul 4, 2005 11:21:17 GMT
Colette I was hoping that there would be a website so that I could look you up. I know nothing about you. Must go and surf the net checking out your books!
|
|
|
Post by SarahW on Jul 4, 2005 11:35:41 GMT
Hi Colette,
Sorry I can't be with you tomorrow night - son's birthday party - but have fun! Just one quick question - your new book, Changing Places was originally called 'The Gallagher Girls'. Why the change? And do you find coming up with titles hard? Best for Changing Places, it's a great read.
Kind regards,
Sarah XXX
|
|
|
Post by Mary on Jul 4, 2005 13:14:00 GMT
Thanks, Colette. I'm a big fan and have read and loved every single book. Keep it up - we need you to entertain us along with the other Irish girls!
Mary
|
|
|
Post by Joan on Jul 5, 2005 3:07:53 GMT
Hi Colette, afraid I won't be here tomorrow either. 5am in Sydney, so just a little bit early for me, especially as it's school holidays, so don't have to get up till 7am instead of 5.45am. Just wanted to tell you though, that a few weeks ago, I was browsing the bookshelves in KMart (I'm a Scot, so good value is important to me, has to be, the number of books I read! ) in the hope they might have some goodies there, when this lone book on the top shelf caught my eye - Colette Caddle, I thought - I'm sure she's one of the writeon girls. Quick look at "Shaken & Stirred" and I thought it would be worth the read. Bonus when I got to the checkout was that it was reduced to $3 - not sure if that's a good thing or not, but there must have been other copies - probably that one got lost somewhere, cos I hadn't seen it before. Anyway, my instincts were right, and I enjoyed the book thoroughly. It even proved useful when watching a tv quiz show - question was which Moroccan city is the (something) square in - Casablanca, Marrakesh or Rabat? There were six contestants and none of them got it right, but even though I can't remember the name of the square, I knew it was Marrakesh, because it had been mentioned in Shaken & Stirred! Not that it got me anything, but there you go, Colette, broadened my education as well as giving me a great deal of reading pleasure. Will look out for your other books - just had a quick search, and although they're obtainable here, there's a long wait for them - would be better ordering them from Poolbeg. Got a long list for Poolbeg at the moment!! Have fun tomorrow!
|
|
|
Post by Shirley on Jul 5, 2005 15:27:47 GMT
Hi Colette, I won't be here tonight as I don't have internet access at home, so I'll leave my q now. Are your books published in other languages and if so, did you have to travel much to promote them? (I love the idea of books by Irish authors being spread all over the world, giving people images of our country!)
|
|
|
Post by susan on Jul 5, 2005 18:47:29 GMT
Hi Colette
Just a quick note to say how much I enjoy your work.
Best wishes
Susan xx
PS We need a website badly!
|
|
|
Post by ccaddle1 on Jul 5, 2005 18:50:31 GMT
Evening all! Decided to get in early and answer the questions already posted.
Firstly Claire Sorry I haven't set up a website yet, it's next on my 'to do' list. You will get any information you need about my books on Amazon.co.uk. Thanks for the question!
SarahW hope the party goes well. Yes, Changing Places was originally called The Gallagher Girls - trust you to spot that! I loved that title but unfortunately the booksellers weren't wild about it. They were concerned it might be linked to the less-than-pure Gallagher brothers! It took me ages to come up with a new title - hope you all like it and think it suits the book.
Joan My books are all available in Oz under the Pocket books imprint. You could try the Simon & Schuster website and see if they can help. I'd check it out now for you only I'm on a very dogy dial-up connectin and I'm terrified if I nip out of this site I'll never get back! Thanks for the interest.
Shirley My books have been translated into German, Dutch, Polish and Russian! Unfortunately I haven't got to travel to any of these places yet, though. They only spend money on travel when you get into very large quantities - here's hoping! Having said that, I'm a bit of a stay-at-home sort. Leaving the kids for longer than 24 hours is a major production for me - sad, but true. It does feel strange thinking of people in these far off places reading about Dublin in a foreign language. Thankfully, my stories are about relationships rather than places and I suppose that's why they translate successfully. Thanks for the question.
|
|
|
Post by ccaddle1 on Jul 5, 2005 18:52:10 GMT
Hi Susan, thanks for stopping by! Appreciate the kind words and yes, yes, yes, promise, I will organise a website!!
|
|
|
Post by claire on Jul 5, 2005 18:56:02 GMT
Hi Colette
i found an interview on Sarah Webbs site about you, had a good read
I didn't know that your books were translated into dutch, I have to go looking for them soon!
|
|
|
Post by ccaddle1 on Jul 5, 2005 18:56:19 GMT
Sitting her armed with a glass of wine and ready for anything!! It's great doing interviews on-line - no worries about clothes, hair or make-up! Come and join me, we can talk about life, the universe and everything - as long as my line doesn't go kaput! Colette C
|
|
|
Post by claire on Jul 5, 2005 18:59:03 GMT
Well then tells us a bit about the kids
I believe one goes to school?? and the other is still small
|
|
|
Post by ccaddle1 on Jul 5, 2005 19:01:49 GMT
yes, Claire! I'd tell you the names if I had copies at hand - they're in one of those many, big brown boxes that are cluttering up the place since I moved. But you will have to look hard because they change the names - don't even ask my permission!! It's amazing too, how much covers differ from country to country. Let me know if you find any!
|
|
|
Post by charlene on Jul 5, 2005 19:04:17 GMT
Hi colette can't belive I'm "chating" with you feel a bit star struck my son just asked are you nervous mam and I said yes of course anyway I'm a big fan I've read RED LETTER DAY TOO LITTLE TOO LATE-on hols and I've CHANGING PLACES to start FOREVER FM- MY FAV TO DATE I would like to ask you who your favourite author is?
|
|
|
Post by ccaddle1 on Jul 5, 2005 19:08:45 GMT
you'll be sorry you asked - my kids are my favourite subject. First there's Peter, he's six and a half (the half is extremely important) going on sixty and he's just finished senior infants. He's very proud of me and goes into the book shops exclaiming loudly 'Mom, there's your books!' If I'm not on the shelf he says 'that's good, Mum, it means people are buying your book and you'll get lots of money! I am especially touched each time when a finished copy of my book comes through the door for the first time as he always gets really excited and says 'well done!' Then there's his brother, Sean, who's nearly 19 months old and affectionately called 'little monster - because he is! This child is into everything and there's a wicked twinkle in his eye. (if you don't believe me, check out the photo in the Herald a couple of weeks ago!) He's the kind of kid that teachers write notes home about and I know some day I'll probably have an angry father of a beautiful daughter telling me just what my son's been up to. In case you haven't guessed, I think they're both wonderful. Although I'm thrilled at my success as an author, I'm so much more proud of my two Caddle productions! See? Told you you'd be sorry you asked!
|
|
|
Post by claire on Jul 5, 2005 19:10:09 GMT
So far I can only find one 'Beter laat dan Nooit' beter late than never would be a translation. It is about a resturant and a girl called Stephanie.
I'm going to check out more when I have a chance
|
|
|
Post by claire on Jul 5, 2005 19:13:35 GMT
They sound wonderful! Sean sounds like my Dylan, he's 6. We say that he is a 'real boy'. His knees are always in bits and he is always thinking of things to get up to. his favorite is going off the slide while lying on the skateboard! His older brother never did such things
|
|
|
Post by ccaddle1 on Jul 5, 2005 19:15:03 GMT
Charlie - hi, how are ya? Don't dare be starstruck - sure it's only me! Just a hassled, flustered mam like the rest of you - apologies singletons(aargh, you get to sleep nights, don't you?) Anyway, Charlie, I adore Joanne Harris - you know the one who wrote Chocolat? And also I love Catherine Alliott, Jill Mansell, and oh, there are others but again, I can't run to my bookcase and check their names 'cos my beloved books are still in boxes (did I tell you I'd just moved?!) I also love my fellow Irish girls but , come on, don't expect me to single out anyone!! They're all marvellous and most of them are keeping several balls in the air all at the same time which amazes me. Thanks for the question, Charlie
|
|
|
Post by ccaddle1 on Jul 5, 2005 19:18:25 GMT
Good woman, Claire, I'll make you my Netherlands agent! Yes, Dylan and Sean sound like soulmates - tell me, have I nothing but heartache ahead - with lots of laughs thrown in, of course! I really have to stop using exclamation marks!! Actually, there's a point, Claire. Have I got any habits in my books that drive you crazy? I know in some books I get irritated if an author uses the same word or expression too much - but then I'm very picky! (There I go again)
|
|
|
Post by charlene on Jul 5, 2005 19:18:28 GMT
Thank's colette, how do you find the time to write you sound like you have your hands full, I also have 2 boys my youngest James is 6 in sept and Cameron is 9 they keep me busy
|
|
|
Post by ccaddle1 on Jul 5, 2005 19:24:04 GMT
My eldest is the best and I could always work when he was around. He was at home with me full-time until he was two and I still wrote a book and a half in that time. Sean, on the other hand - what can I say?? Nothing gets done when he's around, but he's wonderful and I'm very lucky to have him. I never saw myself producing a second at such an ancient age, but I'm glad I did. He's in crech which is how I get anything done but I'm hoping to to keep him home with me next year (he'll be 2 in December). I know he's completely happy in the creche but I can't help feeling I'm missing out a bit. I did try having a nanny at home but it was never going to work. I'd be sitting doodling on the page listening to him play with someone else land feeling jealous! Ah, we're never happy are we??
|
|
|
Post by claire on Jul 5, 2005 19:26:05 GMT
Shame on me Colette but I haven't read any of your books yet. But I know what you mean ... some people seem to find a word or phase and keep throwing it in everywhere and anywhere.
There's one word that pops up a lot when reading, 'angst' which is dutch for fear/ afraid of. I just kept wonderin where it came from. It's not a word I remember growing up with.
So tell how and when did you start writing? What comes first the story or title? Are titles hard to come up with?
|
|
|
Post by charlene on Jul 5, 2005 19:26:26 GMT
I've never noticed any habit's you have I do find every one of your books slightly different which I like they arent all alike,the last one I read Red Letter Day was very good loved the storyline
|
|
|
Post by claire on Jul 5, 2005 19:27:47 GMT
How old is 'ancient' or are we not allowed to ask?
|
|
|
Post by claire on Jul 5, 2005 19:29:04 GMT
Are you sure you want to keep him home with the terrible twos coming??
|
|
|
Post by charlene on Jul 5, 2005 19:33:35 GMT
I think James is still having the terrible 2's sometimes he's hypo and we can't calm him down
|
|