Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of a number of novels such as Pay It Forward, Second Hand Heart and today’s new release – Don’t Let Me Go.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of the few authors who touches upon subjects many authors don’t – be it transgender issues, life-threatening conditions, abusive partners, alcoholic and drug-taking parents… You get the idea. Catherine doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects and that’s something I like about her.
Over the past year or so I’ve gotten to know Catherine through her blog posts, Twitter and email. I consider her to be a kind, generous and friendly person, and even a friend, despite having never actually met. Through this “Meet The Author” post, I’m hoping you’ll also get to know a little about the author herself.
Please welcome Catherine to the blog!
Right then, let’s jump straight in…
Being a regular visitor to your blog, I know you like to hike. Where’s your favourite place to hike? Is there somewhere you’d like to go, but haven’t been yet?
I have several favorites, places I go again and again. It was my desire to go below the rim of the Grand Canyon that got me into hiking, and so I put the Grand Canyon first on the list. I’ve hiked it all the way down to the river and back three times so far, and I’m going again in very early December. Yosemite is another big favorite, and I’m fortunate, in that it’s less than a half-day drive from my home. And Zion National Park in Utah is probably a fitting third. I’m stopping there for a fourth time on my way to Pike’s Peak this vacation.
I’ll never forget the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or the “Knife Edge” approach to Mt Katahdin, and they were definite high points in my life. But I doubt I’ll ever go back and do them again. Once per lifetime feels like enough.
Lately I’ve had a craving to go trekking in the Everest or Annapurna regions of Nepal. This is not to say I want to climb Mt Everest or Annapurna. Nothing could be further from the truth! I couldn’t if I tried, I’d be a fool to try, and it doesn’t sound like a bit of fun anyway. But I sure would like to see them. Just see and photograph them. From a place where there’s oxygen.
And another item on my bucket list lately is the Atlantic Puffin. I’m just so charmed by those little guys, and I want to meet one in person. (Just close enough for a good view—I’ll totally understand if they don’t care to shake my hand.) Yes, I know a Puffin is a bird, not a hike, but I’d love to go to Newfoundland or Greenland or that Scottish Island or someplace where they’re plentiful and hike among them with my camera.
Have you had any scary moments while hiking or kayaking?
Nothing too terrible. I’ve been fortunate. I think it’s partly luck and partly the fact that I’m a bit compulsive about the planning portion of things. Still, sometimes there are things you just can’t avoid by planning. A small handful of times I’ve gotten lost (or the trail has gotten lost) and that’s always a panicky feeling. But it was always blessedly temporary.
The only scary moment I can remember on the kayak was when I was quite new to the hobby. A big seal accidentally surfaced a few feet from my boat, took one look at me, and dove right underneath the kayak. This blast of bubbles came up to let me know he was right under the boat. They are quite large, some of these seals. Hundreds of pounds. I didn’t think he would eat me or anything, but I had a very instinctive fear of being capsized. But now I’ve been around seals so much that I know they have very good spatial awareness. They don’t go around banging into things. Fortunately.
When did you realise you wanted to become an author?
In my second year of high school. I had a wonderful English and Creative writing teacher named Lenny Horowitz, and he reawakened my love of reading, and then told me I could write. Better yet, he told me so in front of the entire class (who were pretty sure I couldn’t do much of anything). Best of all, he told all my other teachers. So for days, my teachers would all say, “I heard you’re a very good writer.” It was a bad time in my life. I had no talent for athletics, no advantages for dating. I didn’t make friends easily. It seemed every day I was having it brought to my attention that I was bad at something. This was the first big example I can remember of being told I was good at something. It made quite an impression.
Being an author, do you get time to read many books yourself? If so, what kind of books do you go for?
I definitely read. I don’t think you can do your best as an author without reading. But it’s hard. I definitely don’t get time to read as much as I want. Then again, that’s true of almost everybody I know. I don’t read much when I have a novel in progress, so I try to really chew through the books in between. Traveling is always my great chance to read.
I like to read the same sort of books I like to write. I’m not impressed by intricate plots unless I really care a great deal about the characters. I don’t read a lot of genres like mystery or fantasy. I like things set in the real world. I read to learn something new about the human condition, or at least to see humans in a slightly different light. I like books that dig deep and find hope, but without falling into the trap of being artificially sunny.
Where do you get your inspiration from when writing?
In between novels, I try to be a good student of human nature. I get ideas from, more than anything else, the things we won’t say. The fear we won’t admit, the anger we try to bury. The hidden agenda that we may not even know we’re serving. If you pay close attention to people, we are endlessly fascinating creatures. If we all just started telling each other the damn truth about ourselves (in a reasonably polite manner), the world would be a great place to live. But it would be a miserable place to write about. Then I might very well run out of stories.
When I’m actually writing, I seem to get my inspiration from the story itself. It’s almost as though I write the story because I can’t wait to know the story. When it’s really going well, I feel as though I’m revealing what’s going to happen next, rather than making it up. I wish I understood more about the creative process, but anyone who says he does is telling tales (either to you or to himself—or both).
What gave you the inspiration to write Don’t Let Me Go?
This is a classic example of one of my books that truly seemed to come “from the ether” and all at once. My agent asked me to present a synopsis of the next thing I’d be working on, and I lay in bed that night and Grace’s story (originally titled “Our Year of Grace”) just appeared in my head. And in a case like that, it’s very hard to quantify where ideas come from. And yet, there again is the recurring theme of parents who don’t take care of their children, and childless adults who take care of children who are not theirs. So, wherever these ideas are coming from, they are clearly marked by my interest in the human condition. But I never met or knew anybody like Grace. I just asked for a story and she stepped up and handed me this one, bless her little 10-year-old heart.Most people will have heard of the movie adaptation of Pay It Forward. If you could have any of your other books turned into a movie (with you to guide them), which would it be and who would you choose to play the starring roles?
Ah. With me to guide them. That could make quite a difference. That certainly was not the case with Pay It Forward.
You know, I’m keeping fingers crossed that there might be something else in the works, but it’s too soon to know and definitely too soon to say. But it could happen.
I’d love to see Love in the Present Tense made into a movie with Jake Gyllenhaal as Mitch. I’d want someone like Helen Mirren to play Barb, but I just know they’d choose somebody younger. Hollywood is like that. Maybe I could get some interest from a British film company, and maybe they’d show a bit more sense in their casting.
I’d like to see Becoming Chloe as a film, too. I think road stories tend to work well on the screen. But I don’t know who I’d cast, because it would require two very young actors, and I don’t keep up with the up-and-coming stars these days.
Likewise, if it were Chasing Windmills, I don’t have many thoughts about the two young main characters. But I could see someone like Oprah Winfrey (yes, she acts—remember The Color Purple?) as Delilah and William H. Macy as Sebastian’s father.
From your blog to God’s ears!
Finally, is there anything you’d like to ask the readers?
Yes, thank you. You know I have an author blog on my website. And I try to mix it up. Some posts about my activities, some about my views, others about career news. Years ago, when I had my old website, maintained by a professional web designer, people often said they couldn’t find any personal information about me. Hence the blog.
So…my question is…what do you want to know about an author, beyond the books themselves? What would interest you in the format of an author blog?
Thanks! I didn’t know I’d get to ask questions, too.
So there you go, that’s Catherine Ryan Hyde!
Giveaway (Ends midnight on Thursday, 6th October 2011 – UK time – Open to UK and International Readers! – CLOSED!)
To be in with a chance of winning a copy of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s Don’t Let Me Go (released today!), please leave a comment for Catherine (be it either answering her questions above or asking her your own questions). The giveaway is international, so you are eligable as long as the Book Depository deliver to your country. The giveaway ends midnight on Thursday. 6th October 2011 (UK time) and a winner will be chosen and contacted shortly after.
My review of Don’t Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Order your copy of Don’t Let Me Go from the Book Depository.
Visit Catherine Ryan Hyde’s blog.
Many thanks to Catherine for taking part in thie “Meet The Author” post!
I generally like to find out more about the person behind the author – from the kind of books he/she likes to read straight to quirky little writing habits. And … just imagine finding out that your favorite Horror author might have a soft spot for cross-stitch
!
danaan at gmx dot at
Thanks to the introduction to Catherine, a great interview, it was good to get to know a little more about the woman behind the books.
Obviously a woman who loves adventure I’d like to know for which cause Catherine would do a trek?
Thanks for those thoughts, Birgit. I never thought about people being interested in what I was reading. Although I am on Goodreads, but I don’t keep up with it very well. But that’s something I could add to my blog now and then. Thanks!
That’s a very good question, and I think to answer it I’d need to see a list of possible causes. I’m interested in all kinds of equality and making life better for children. If I saw a trek for a cause, and it felt like my cause, I’d know it right away. Interesting idea!
What a terrific interview…! I very much enjoyed getting to know more about her—And I now want to read ALL her books! Wonderful Post, Nikki-Ann.
Yay! I love it when people want to read them all! Thanks. That makes my day.
Hi Nikki and Catherine,
What a fantastic interview, just about reinforces all the comments I made on your review of ‘Don’t Let Me Go’, Nikki.
Catherine, you certainly aren’t afraid to tackle the hard hitting issues of everyday life, are you? Reading your interview responses, it seems as though you live your own life in that same full-on way, never a dull moment!!
My English teacher was one of the biggest influences in my schooling and actively sought to encourage my already massive love of reading. I was always making up stories and several of them won school prizes, although I never actually had the courage to follow through with this passion when I left education.
I love books that make you think about life and can maybe even change your thinking about certain aspects of it.
Hi Yvonne,
Yes, I guess you could say my life has not exactly been sheltered. Fiction that pulls punches is a little too tame for me. Though I always find hope and humor in the situations I write about. I really believe in the resilience of the human spirit.
As to your writing, Harriet Doerr won the Pulitzer for her debut novel (or maybe it was her second, but I don’t think so) in her 70s. So it’s not too late.
What writer would you compare yourself to?
Oh wow!
I would love to hike, I can imagine it’s very rewarding to see some great sites! =)
Please enter me into the giveaway
booksforcompany @ gmail.com
@ Solange, thanks for your question, but wow, that’s a hard question. My publisher compares me to Jodi Picoult. I confess I have never read her, but from what I hear, the comparison doesn’t really hold up. When my first short story collection came out, Publishers Weekly (very big industry mag over here) compared me to Raymond Carver and Joyce Carol Oates, and I was so flattered. And I could see it. Now, I really don’t know. Now I hope I’m unique enough in what I do not to really be closely compared to anyone. If that makes sense.
@ Books for Company, I bet you’d love it. I didn’t start hiking for real until I was almost 50. Maybe give it a try!
I want to know what an author likes to read, what their favourite books are.
Usually I like to find out who the author is…why she/he started writing, where are you from, just who are you and what you like to do or stuff like that.
Sometimes the “about me” section can be a little robotic and generic and say nothing at all.
Great interview and your book sounds really good
Great session!
I think something important beyond knowing about an author’s book is also knowing the sort of things they draw inspiration from..every author is unique and has their own style and it’s fun to know where they draw ideas from which they later sculpt 
So while it’s simple in asking “where do you get ideas from” it’d be nice to get a deeper answer and truly know what made them write their work 
– Sahina
wow .. hike? .. really, I would love to give it a try and it’s a great interview. i would like to know your favorites books and what do you like about them?
and count me in the giveaway. thanks!
I usually want to know something about the author when I like the book. Then I read interviews with that author…
Thank you so much for the chance to win!
Rathouska(dot)jana(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi
I loved Pay It Forward, I read it long before the movie came out and try to do a little of it every opportunity I have.
As to what I like about authors to share? Like many of the others commented I am always curious as to what an author reads and where they are at in their writing process.
I enjoyed the interview – thank you to you both. I’d love to win Don’t Let Me Go
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
It’s always great to have a little background on an author. How they got started & trials and tribulations along the way.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Hi Catherine, I have read several of your books and like them very much. I love hiking in the UK, in the Lake District, and am going on my first trip to the Scottish Countryside soon. Have you been hiking in the UK and if not is it on your list of places to visit? Many thanks.
Lindsay @ The Littlereader Library
I would like to ask Catherine if she ever thought about writing a non-fiction book based on her various travel adventures…maybe a diary of sort? Her writing style is so down to earth, it would be a joy to read and would be travelling with her. Maybe her publishers would fund it
I love the look of puffins as well.
They look like something out of a childrens book rather than a real bird.
I remember seeing a TV documentary about them and how the fledgling are helped by children in Iceland.
It is on the island of Vestmannaeyjar.
Durng the nights in August the puffin chicks emerge from their burrows and glide from the cliffs towards the lights shining in the town below. Children are allowed out on these late summer nights to collect the fledgling puffins which still cannot fly. In the morning they are released out to sea where these strong little swimmers are able to fend for themselves.
Sounds like this is where you should go as apparntly it has the largest colony of Puffins anywhere.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
@ Ana Lucia, I hope you’ve read my About Me page. I start with the books but go on to talk about hiking, my dog, where I’ve traveled, etc. People said they wanted more personal info, so I try to provide it.
@ Sahina, This is the classic author question. People want to know where our ideas spring from. And we never give a satisfactory answer, not because we don’t want to cooperate, but because WE DON’T KNOW! But the closest I get to answering that question is in my blog, especially my photo blogs, where I share my experiences with nature. I hope you’ll give them a look (especially if you’re interested in nature).
@ Blackwolf, I read a lot of Young Adult Fiction. Not fantasy or paranormal but contemporary YA fiction. Because I love any book that feels truly emotionally honest.
@Jeanne, I just had a new interview come out this morning. About my writing process. Hope you like it. It’s at: http://wordswimmer.blogspot.com/2011/10/one-writers-process-catherine-ryan-hyde.html
@ShellyRae you might be inrerested in the above link, too. I mean, when you’re all done with Nikki-Ann’s wonderful blog.
@ Mary Preston, good suggestion. I actually have a nonfiction book making the rounds, for writers, with a lot of info on the kinds of things I had to overcome. Fingers crossed it will be published soon!
@ Lindsay, I have only been to the UK once, and that was just (though it was wonderful) to London for the British Book Awards. But I really want to come back and hike there. And visit for longer, and see the countryside. I would have done it long ago but the plane fare is so darned expensive. And I spend so much of my time writing.
By JoC, I not only thought of it, my agent is shopping it around right now. Fingers crossed for that, too (please)!
@ Carol, Vestmannaeyjar. Hadn’t heard of it, but what a good tip. Yes, I often tell people I think puffins look like cartoon characters. I also think they look a bit like a cross between a penguin and a toucan, and that has met with some agreement.
Thank Nikki-Ann for the giveaway. And I, too, thank Nikki-Ann for all she’s done to help launch this new book! Thanks, my friend!
thanx for the interview!
i would love to know about the author behind the books and amazing ideas. I would love to know about her travels and what goes on inside her head when she is writing.
r.m.haigh at hotmail.co.uk
My question is this, I’ve wrote a few outlines for stories and even attempted to try to write them out, but I always seem to find myself getting tied up in knots and not sure what direction to go in. Then changing something from my outline only to find that it spoils the story, but by that time I’ve lost what ever was in my head as to where the story was going. It’s like bringing all the elemnts together making a roast dinner to find you’ve make a sweet and sour!
I write my outline down, but can never decide on an ending so I jot lots of different ones and think somehow I’ll end up a one fo them!
Any hints on how to make it all blend together. Thanks
@ Rosie Haigh, if you want to know about my travels, you’re in luck! Just head on over to my website at http://www.catherineryanhyde.com and check out my “about me” page, my photo page (It links to my online gallery) and my blog. And you can see more on my YouTube channel as well at: http://www.youtube.com/user/cryanhyde I’m not one to hide my travels from you!
@ Binky The organization is very hard. No magic bullet. But I find it helps newer novelists to start with what they call a “story cycle” or a “novel in short stories.” You can do short pieces about the character and their experiences that add up to a full-length work. And it’s much easier at first, because you only have to keep the individual piece sorted out in your brain as you write.
Hope that helps!