Official Interview: Catherine A. Pepe
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Official Interview: Catherine A. Pepe
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1. How did you get your start in writing?
I read a lot and always thought I had some stories I’d like to tell – so I did.
2. How long does it take you to write a book?
The first book I wrote during the pandemic. I didn’t have a lot going on, so just a couple of months. But the later books took me a little longer since there was more going on.
3. Let's discuss your book Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures. Can you give us a short synopsis?
Donny and Mary Grace are the children of Jen and John Miller. They tell Donny and Mary Grace that they’re going to go to Africa for two years, and Donny and Mary Grace are going to live with Jen’s parents in California while they’re gone. Donny is so excited because he loves to go to Grandma’s house and Mary Grace is not as pleased. She is going to miss her friends and all her senior activities at school. After arriving in California, Donny and Mary Grace meet the Grandma Gang and help solve the mystery of who is bullying Donny and Mary Grace.
4. Are the characters modeled after real people?
Yes. Donny is modeled after my brother who had Down syndrome. He was the first generation of Down babies to survive infancy due to the miracle drugs invented during and after WWII. While my mother was in the hospital after giving birth to Donny, she was visited by Dale Evans who had a Down baby girl who did not survive infancy because the drugs that saved Donny’s life were not available.
The Grandma Gang was modeled after people I knew from teaching school.
5. Which character do you relate to the most?
I think… (long pause) Grandma Cathy because her role in the family is to comfort everyone and keep everyone happy and satisfied.
6. How has the book changed since the first draft?
There were at least 50 drafts. It became so long that I split it into three books. The second book Donny and Mary Grace and the Dognappers was just published. The third book, Donny and Mary Grace and the Ugly Marbles, will be sent to the printer by the end of this month.
California Adventures is much tighter due to the many rewrites. Also, there are some subplots that did not survive the rewriting process and may appear in later books.
7. There are a lot of good lessons in the book, bullying for example. Why was it important to teach children about these subjects?
Because bullying hurts children, often children who have already been hurt in their life. I wanted to have a positive influence on their lives. Also, besides stopping the bullying, it is important to try and rehabilitate the bully.
8. Do you have more books in the works?
Yes! The Dognappers was just published. The Ugly Marbles should be at the printer by the end of this month. Donny And Mary Grace go to Camp is a 14-page outline. Donny and Mary Grace and the Special Olympics is in the conceptual stage.
As always, I like to end with fun questions.
9. What was your favorite childhood book?
Oh, I don’t know… probably one of the Nancy Drew books.
10. How do you celebrate after you finish a book?
Go to bed. Catch up on sleep.
11. What is the most valuable piece of advice that you’ve received about writing?
Each story // each of the scenes has four parts: setting up the characters, describing the conflict, describing the conflict resolution, and what lessons would you want readers to take away?
12. What is your favorite time of year and why?
Christmas – oh because all the family gets together, and we can get to see how everyone has grown and changed and how they’re coping with life. Also, I love decorating for the holidays.
—Neil Gaiman
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