TODAY TUESDAY TALK WELCOMES SUZAN COLLINS DISCUSSING THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE CHATTY CAT SERIES AND HER LATEST WRITING PROJECT…

Today I’m pleased to welcome Suzan Collins the creator of the Chatty Cat series.

Hi Suzan and welcome. Can I start, as always, by asking you a little about yourself?

I live by the sea and enjoy writing fiction as it allows me to make up stories – and eat cake! I also write non-fiction to inform others.

What led to you becoming an author?

I used to manage care homes and there was a gap in training materials so I wrote some open learning workbooks for the staff to complete. When I left management I was offered a four book contract by Jessica Kingsley Publishers and in 2018 a further two book contract…. And now have 16 titles published #nonfiction #fiction #adults #children

What inspired you to write The Chatty Cat series?

Chatty is an actual cat. My cat. Chatty was rescued by the local RSPCA and named Twinkle. A few days of moving in she chatted so much I soon named her Chatty Cat. Social media is great for showing people things and of course within a day or two of Chatty moving in I posted a few photos of her. As the days went on people were asking about her and wanted to see more pics so I set up a FB page for her. I was then contacted by some who are not on FB saying they wanted to keep up to date with and a blog was built. Chatty narrates her own books and as they follow her life they also give valuable info to the children reading her books e.g. how to look after a cat, an introduction to bullying, dementia etc. Book five which is out soon follows Chatty and her furry friends and their adventures and the passing of one of their cat friends. There are some sad chapters in this one but it teaches children about death and that you can talk about it.

My books are written for children and adults read them too!

Chatty Cat: My Purr-fect New Home Book 1
Chatty Cat: Spring into Summer Book 2
Chatty Cat: My Purr-fect Friends Book 3
Chatty Cat: Activity Book Book 4
Chatty Cat: Autumn into Winter Book 5 (coming really soon)

Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suzan-Collins/e/B0037DXY46/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1518448936&sr=1-2-ent

Are you a meticulous planner or do you come up with an idea, begin writing and see where it takes you?

I’m an in-betweener. I have an idea and start writing it to see where it takes me and then devise a plan.

Are you able to tell us a little about what you are working on at the moment?

I’m always working on a few books at a time and usually fiction and nonfiction. Currently I’m revising ‘The Get Writing Buddy’, writing a novel and writing the first children’s book in Izzy Cat’s series (my second rescue cat). Chatty and Izzy are very different not only in size but also in character. Chatty is now confident and laid back whereas Izzy is cheeky and in to everything.

 

In my children’s books I always have an auction for people to bid to have their pet or relative named in my cat series with monies from the auction going to Cats Protection Anglia Coastal (they rescued Izzy Cat). The auction closes on 14th Feb so if any readers wish to buy that special unique present for their loved one here’s the link
https://www.facebook.com/Auction-to-have-your-pet-or-relative-named-in-my-Izzy-Cat-book-1635423019849832

ABOUT SUZAN

Internationally selling author, Suzan Collins, enjoys writing fiction as it allows her to make up stories – and eat cake! She also writes non-fiction to inform others – and eats cake!

To see all books by Suzan Collins and find out more about her, please visit:
Website: http://www.suzancollins.com
Facebook Author page: http://goo.gl/zfiqyv
Twitter: @suzancollins

 

Chatty Cat’s social media: https://www.facebook.com/ChattyCat/
Twitter: @chattycatsuzi
Blog: http://chattycatno1.wordpress.com/