Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .
What drew you to the genre you write?
Watching my mother consume stacks of mystery novels from the library, while drinking steaming cups of hot, black coffee and chain-smoking cigarettes in her easy chair. Maybe I was curious about what could be so riveting inside those book covers, or maybe I was anxious to learn how to spot clues in advance in case my mild-mannered mother ever took a homicidal turn.
How did you come up with your pseudonym?
I use a pen name for only one series, co-authored with my daughter Merida Bass. We chose Ann Belice for our YA science fiction series The Tapestry Tales, combining my middle name (Ann) with her middle name (Belice).
Tell us how you got into writing?
I began creating stories as soon as I could hold a crayon. My siblings and I used cereal boxes, pencils, and taped together sheets of paper to create “movies” we scrolled through the Rice Krispies box. My great-grandfather wrote a local history, and kept prolific journals, so maybe writing is in my DNA.
What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I was the worst shoe salesperson at a K-Mart that is now closed. I was a Sunday school teacher. Giving away my age, I worked briefly in a public library moving the physical card catalog to an electronic system. I worked night shift on a factory floor. My longest-lasting job was as an environmental compliance specialist at a global corporation. I never achieved my dream of making quit-the-day-job money from my writing, so I always wrote while I worked. Now that I’m retired, I get to write full-time.
How many books do you have published?
Seventeen. And a dozen short stories.
Where do you write?
We have a home office, but I get depressed sitting in the basement room with small windows. I work at a sit-stand table in our dining room, with bright windows on either side. I have sensory-sensitivity issues, so I can’t work in coffee shops, although that sounds nice.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Cozy mysteries! Amateur sleuth mysteries. Lighter fiction with predictably happy endings, including sweet romance. I’m in a book club that includes thrillers, and enjoy them. I do like classical literature. Who doesn’t love Jane Austen? And I have read Moby Dick three times.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I have a brown belt in Kung Fu, although I haven’t practiced the martial art in decades.
Who is an author you admire?
There are so many! Instead of naming one, I’ll laud all who struggle with a day job and/or family responsibilities, but still get the writing done. Women fighting against imposter syndrome while creating masterful novels and short stories. The hopeful, smiling faces met at writing conferences who run smack into the realities of publishing, but bravely soldier on, confident their stories need to be told.
Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Join Sisters in Crime. There is so much support and encouragement in this group. Join your local writing group. More importantly, be willing to study your art, go to classes or attend webinars, make changes, and grow. It’s tough when you think you’re finished, but your critique group or editor lets you know another draft or two are needed before you’re done. Keep doing the work!
What is next for you?
My co-author Merida Bass and I plan to release Book Three in our Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries series later this year. I’m working on re-releasing the Rose Creek Mystery series, along with the brand-new Book Four – The Body in the Chuckwagon. Plus a few other projects because I’m a workaholic.
Where can we find you?
On my website at www.catherinedilts.com, on Substack @catherinedilts, Tuxedo Cat Takeover Substack, and on Facebook @CatherineDiltsAuthor.
Now to have some fun . . .
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Can I have all three? I’m a grazer. Breakfast, if I have to choose only one – I’m a breakfast person, for sure.
Fruits or vegetables
Fruits
Sweet or salty snacks
Salty
Ice cream or cake
Ice cream
Cooking or baking
Cooking – I’m gluten-free, so baked goods are difficult
Dining in or dining out
Dining Out is fun, but expensive, so it’s a special treat. We mostly cook meals at home.
City life or country living
Country, definitely! I grew up in small towns.
Beach or mountain
Mountain
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
I like the transitions between seasons, like when spring emerges after a cold winter, or fall begins the cooldown after a hot summer
Extrovert or introvert
Introvert to an almost crippling degree
And even more fun . . .
What is your favorite movie?
The 2016 science fiction movie Arrival, because it deals with both linguistics and time travel, and there are no scary space monsters. Science fiction for a mystery author? I also write a YA sci-fi series with my co-author daughter.
You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
- An electronic, solar-powered device loaded with thousands of books, on which I could also write.
- A survival pack containing fishing gear (I love to fish), fire starter gear, a tent, tools including an ax, location appropriate clothing, and sleeping bag (was that cheating? The pack is one item).
- A dog loyal to me with keen protective instincts. Unless it’s a benign island with no threats. Then I’d like a cat. Can I have both?
Please note the lack of escape gear. Imagine how many stories a person could write while stranded on a deserted island!
My bio:
Catherine Dilts was inspired to write a murder mystery after being tormented by a dreadful co-worker. She took out her homicidal frustration in a fictional format, resulting in her first short story sale. Author of the Rose Creek Mystery series, her short stories frequently appear in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Catherine writes the heartfelt, laugh-out-loud Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries with her co-author and daughter, Merida Bass. They also write the YA science fiction Tapestry Tales series with a talking monkey and young teens determined to save the planet. Catherine lives in Colorado with her husband and a kitty and puppy who believe they’re brothers.