“Quirky, fun and surprising”.
That’s how Cathrine Garnell describes her middle grade books for children. And
when you read what they are about, you’ll see why.
Basil the Bionic Cat is a cross between Inspector Gadget and James Bond
with a cat as the hero.
This book tells the story of the Pilkington family’s much-loved tortoise-shell cat, who inadvertently becomes the subject of his owner, Mr P.’s, latest scientific breakthrough – a super strength serum which holds ‘organic bionic’ properties.
However, when a rival scientist becomes involved with an Eastern European Mafia gang in an attempt to steal Mr P.’s latest inventions, the rest of the Pilkington family are put at risk.
Amber and Suzy, Mr P.’s twin daughters, are kidnapped and used as bargaining material in return for Pilkington Industries’ best kept secrets.
Both the Secret Service and Mr P. are on the trail of the Russian spies, but it is down to Basil and his new found sensory powers to track down the villains’ hideout and help rescue the twins from an unknown fate.
This book tells the story of the Pilkington family’s much-loved tortoise-shell cat, who inadvertently becomes the subject of his owner, Mr P.’s, latest scientific breakthrough – a super strength serum which holds ‘organic bionic’ properties.
However, when a rival scientist becomes involved with an Eastern European Mafia gang in an attempt to steal Mr P.’s latest inventions, the rest of the Pilkington family are put at risk.
Amber and Suzy, Mr P.’s twin daughters, are kidnapped and used as bargaining material in return for Pilkington Industries’ best kept secrets.
Both the Secret Service and Mr P. are on the trail of the Russian spies, but it is down to Basil and his new found sensory powers to track down the villains’ hideout and help rescue the twins from an unknown fate.
Violeticia s a particularly naughty little girl. She has a
total disregard for authority and blatantly flouts the rules by refusing to
learn life's simple lessons.
Then one day, payback comes with a twist ~ Dreamtime Reality. A bump on the head sends Violeticia to a place she never knew existed and one where she definitely doesn't want to be ~ the wretched Isle of Phantas Magorias.
Here the nightmares and monsters are real, and there’s only one way out: learn to be good or else. The clock is ticking, time is running out and not just for Violeticia.
Violeticia has choices to make, but will they be the right ones?
Meet Seymour Froggitt. Dealer in Fine Art and Rare Antiquities, whose sole ambition is to become the world’s first Inter-Dimensional Traveller after discovering the legendary Book of the Gods, revealing the lost secrets of the Arkrashian Empire.
Meet Fluke Spawn. Seymour’s partner in crime and unwitting accomplice, assisting in the search for several special artifacts hidden across time, known as the Gifts of the Gods.
Little do they know that bringing these artifacts together will result in a CATACLYSMIC TIME CATASTROPHE!
The race is on as Tamara’s adventures take her to the very dawn of time, to Ancient Egypt, the Temple of Ta Prohm in Cambodia, the Patagonian Ice Fields, the Druids at Stonehenge and to the Mystical Red Rock, Uluru, in her perilous quest to save the world as we know it.
AMM: Welcome Cathrine
CG: Thanks for having me today, Ann Marie.
AMM: Your books do sound quirky and fun! Have you
always wanted to write for children?
CG: No, I just used to write humorous
anecdotes and short stories. At that
point I had never considered writing a ‘proper’ novel and then one day the idea
for Basil the Bionic Cat just ambushed me and took over. It was a total
surprise to have an entire plot just sitting there waiting to be written and basically
I’ve been busy ever since. I have also
co-authored 3 adult books too, so I don’t think I’m ever going to stay firmly
fixed in the children’s genre, plus I got a really fabulous idea for a Young Adult
novel just the other day, so who knows what genre I might write in the future.
AMM: So you are in
essence a multi-genre author! Was there any one thing or one person who
influenced your writing the most. How?
CG: I can’t think
of anyone or anything that actually influenced me to write. It was just something that I did/do. Being shy as a child, I suppose it was a way
to create a place for just me, a creator of my own worlds without the fear of
the real world invading my space. I
write because I love it, it’s as simple as that. I enjoy the freedom and endless possibilities
that exist when I’m staring at a blank sheet of paper. I just close my eyes and
imagine that nothing is impossible, and on paper, it’s not.
AMM: Where do you get your ideas from?
CG: My ideas just
pop up, sometimes at the most inappropriate times, i.e.: the middle of the
night or while sitting in a meeting when I should be paying attention, but a
rogue thought has other ideas and leads my mind astray! I can be inspired by anything from a single
word uttered in a passing conversation to a visually stunning
landscape/cityscape/seascape. The way
clouds morph overhead as the rays of the sun sculpt them into something new.
Fog rolling and curling deceptively over the road as you drive home from work
on a dark wintery night, that’s always highly inspiring. My cats going through their daily routines
are another one especially for the Bionic Basil novels, there are just so many
things to take from the outside world, it can sometimes be overwhelming and I
can’t carry that many notepads with me – thank heavens for Siri and a camera.
AMM: I agree!!! Do
you prefer to write at home, alone, or in a coffee shop or other public place,
surrounded by people and lots of noise?
CG: I’m a home
alone writer, I like solitude, total quiet; anything else is a complete
distraction for me. My ideal scenario, as I’m sure many other writers out there
would agree, would be a fabulous log cabin with a covered porch next to an
idyllic lake surrounded by nothing but forest.
I know it’s a total cliché but for me it would be heaven.
AMM: I’m the
opposite at times. I can be in a busy, noisy Starbucks, but when I start
writing everything fades to silence. The idea of a log cabin does have a great
appeal though. J What do you do for fun; apart from writing, that is?
CG: I design and
make jewelry. I also paint, and at the moment I’m decorating my dolls
house. It was a gift a few years ago and
has remained pretty much the same since I took delivery of it as I wasn’t sure
how I wanted it to be. However, a couple of months ago inspiration struck like
lightning and the decorating has commenced.
Who knew working in 1/12th scale could be so much fun and at
the end of it I shall have a wonderful spooky/haunted Halloween dolls
house.
AMM: Wow! And you’re
multi-talented as well! So, if you could choose another career, what would it
be?
CG: A Secret Agent (I think I’ve read too many
books) or a Museum Curator (but only if it was the one from the movie: Night at
the Museum - that would be so much fun.)
AMM: LOL. Tell us some fun facts about yourself?
CG: I like to wear wigs. My own hair is very very
long and I find it absolutely hilarious to put on a short wig as no one
recognizes me. My own brother walked right by me one day and just kept going –
it was so funny.
Halloween
is my favourite holiday ever – cue evil laugh – muwahahahaha!
I like
collecting crystals, the real ones – although I am partial to a bit of bling.
Collecting
old books is something else I find fun, especially buying from auction houses.
AMM: Are you working
on anything new right now and do you have any books coming out soon?
CG: Yes and yes. I’m
working on Ozwald Tuttle and the Ordinary
Reality right now and then I’ll move onto Newton Hawk and the Elixir of Life.
My next release is called Kosmic
K9 & BatCat ~ Quartermass and the Pigs which will be followed by Basil’s Balmy Adventure Book II in the
Bionic Basil Series and after that, Agatha
Crispie and the Sleuth Fairy. For more info about the actual publication
dates - check my website for details: News
AMM: And there you have it! As you saw, Cathrine's books are as fun and as surprising as the author herself!
I’ve always loved books and
writing. I wrote my first story at the
tender age of four about a fluffy rabbit called Miff and no, it didn’t get
published! (My mother still has the original text somewhere). However, I have been writing seriously for
the last decade or so. Basil the Bionic
Cat was my first published novel in 2004.
Since then I have been busy writing several different series, including
Tamara’s Time Machine, Kosmic K9 and BatCat, and Vile Violeticia, with lots
more on the way. Check my website for more titles coming soon.
Here are some links where you can
find out more about Cathrine:
Websites: http://cathrinegarnell.wix.com/author
And you can find Cathrine’s books here:
Basil The Bionic Cat:
Tamara’s Time Machine
Vile Violeticia
Thank you so much for hosting me today Ann Marie!
ReplyDeleteCat xx
My pleasure Cathrine!!! Hope you have an awesome day!
ReplyDelete