Catherine Vaughan

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I am a British Writer. I mostly write poetry and fiction. Bohemian Love is a collection of love poems and Welcome to Wonderland is book 1 of my fiction series. All updates on my writing career are on CatherineVaughan.com. I love sprinkling emojis and using ellipses (though not in my published works!) Walking through parks and looking at squirrels and pets are one of my favourite things to do. I also enjoy going to gigs and museums. And nothing beats a good coffee shop and cosying up to a book.

When and why did you start writing books?

I started writing seriously at age 15. I always longed to belong to a community of artists, painters and poets and it continues to be a dream I am trying to manifest. Writing conveyed a path to a literary life one with a lot of intellectual stimulus and the possibility to work your own hours which also appealed to my spirit.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

Having desired a creative and flexible career being a writer seemed a great fit towards the type of enriching lifestyle I craved. I have been writing since I was 14 with a few years worth of gaps in between. Writing, in particular poems, has been the greatest pursuit of my life and one that I have been committed to despite the tumultuous highs and lows of writing and publishing. As a British writer it has opened a world of opportunity for me from performing poetry in New York to UK literary festivals as well as online for American Libraries.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

In my debut novel Welcome to Wonderland I absolutely adore Florence Clover and Valentina Nucci. Florence is a sweet and gentle soul and a type of femininity that is not embraced as much in the media. She is innocence manifested and I really want her to be a role model for girls out there that you'd don't have to sexualise yourself, that innocence is a virtue and that life can be beautiful everyday. Valentina Nucci is a voluptuous and warm-hearted character. She is in love with life and a very passionate woman. She loves love and represents another type fo traditional femininity that seems almost forbidden. I also love how indulgent she is!

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Bohemian Love my second poetry collection was emotionally agonising to write as I was delving into my own heartbreaks, disappoints and trauma to write it into existence. It was also conceived from a lot of wishes that did not come true which I tried to bring to life through my poems. There was a lot of crying, depression, despair and hopelessness as I wrote it. I was going though a lot and trying to use what I had been through to transform it into art that can connect with millions of people across the world. I sang my way, cried my way and fought to make this book come to life. It was a battle of my heart and mind and it has become my greatest alchemy.

Who is your favourite author and book?

It changes all the time... But for now Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler. I also love how Colin Thubron writes.

What book are you reading right now?

My own novel Welcome to Wonderland.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Great songs inspire my greatest poems. Songs like Whitney Houston's I will always love you, Led Zeppelin's Kashmir and Jimi Hendrix's rendition of All Along the Watchtower.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Going for walks, being in nature, writing in a room scented with orange and geranium from my diffuser. I also love Reality TV and listening to podcasts about celebrities!

Do you have any new books in the works?

Lovers in Paris is a companion book to Bohemian Love. Then I'll have to work on Book 2 of my fiction series.