Creative Process FAQ'S

Greetings Creatives,

Since my new novel, The Ascent has launched I have received a number of questions in regard to my writing process that range from the technical to the intuitive. Let me say that following one's intuition is like excavation; we are digging into our inner landscape and presenting it to the world. I have found.the technical aspect to writing (grammar, spelling, rhythm) is slightly easier than developing and managing the intuition. This can be a scary proposition to a creative who paints or writes. In this article I will address frequently asked questions about my writing process and its pitfalls.

Frequently Asked Question:

1) Did you use people you knew to inform your minor characters?

Yes, I was inspired by the language of people I encountered growing up. Most of them were Italian immigrants and spoke with accent. Their English conversation were peppered with Sicilian words, so sounded like a musical composition with sharps and flats. It was really exciting to hear.

2) How did the protagonist of your novels evolve?

Angela (protagonist) is based on my great who immigrated from Sicily in 1913. She had a profound influence on my life, creatively and culturally. She was an individual thinker at a time when women were to adopt their husband's beliefs and ideas. As she grew into early 20th century society, she integrated her sharpened intuition into her views on religion and the political climate.

3) What inspired you to write a trilogy?

I felt I couldn't do Angela justice with just one book because she had such a profound effect on three generations of Americans. I felt the reader had to see the evolution of tradition paradigms from the early to the mid 20th century. Change is slow to occur, so it took more than one book to demonstrate this transformation.

4) Is Angela's views on religion and spirituality based on your beliefs?

I have always felt that there was an unseen element to our life on earth. This goes beyond intuition, although I think the unseen communicates to us through our intuition. Dr. Judith Orloff says, "Intuition is about empowerment, not having to conform to someone else’s notion of who you should be." This is a theme explored throughout both novels and I hope it inspires others to trust their own intuition.

5) Angela passes on her views of the traditional religious and the political paradigms to the following generations. How will this inform the next novel?

Angela's influence will reach beyond her lifetime to subsequent generations. We see this particularly in The Ascent. I am currently at work on the third novel and it is evolving so I can't say exactly how I will present this concept, but we see her intuitive muscle further developed and sharpened in future generations.

I would like to thank everyone who has purchased my novels and encourage my readers to leave a review on amazon. If you would like to purchase the books click here. I am also available to skype in for book club meetings. The video is blow.

Bio

Carmela Cattuti started her writing career as a journalist for the Somerville Journal in Boston, MA. After she finished her graduate work in English Literature from Boston College she began to write creatively and taught a journal writing course at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education As fate would have it, she felt compelled to write her great aunt's story. “Between the Cracks” has gone through several incarnations and will now become a trilogy. Between the Cracks is the first installment and the second novel The Ascent will be published May 1, 2019. To connect with Carmela email her cattutic@gmail.com. Check out her blog at https://www.ccattuticreative.com/carmela-cattuti-books and her facebook page at www.facebook.com/carmelacattuticreative.