{"id":30394,"date":"2026-03-27T03:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T10:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=30394"},"modified":"2026-03-27T02:18:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T09:18:51","slug":"qa-with-catharine-bramkamp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/27\/qa-with-catharine-bramkamp\/","title":{"rendered":"Q&A with Catharine Bramkamp"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Q&APlease welcome Catharine Bramkamp<\/a> to our Featured Author Q&A series at Writer\u2019s Fun Zone. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to be considered for an interview, check out our guidelines here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

About Catharine Bramkamp<\/h2>\n

Catharine is a world traveler, poet, and belly dancer.<\/p>\n

In her spare time, she serves as a writing coach and workshop facilitator.<\/p>\n

She has authored 30 fiction, non-fiction, and poetry books.<\/p>\n

She is busy exploring all kinds of art, including outlets in which she has no talent.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s fun.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On to Our Interview!<\/h2>\n

Q. Tell us who you are and what inspires you to write<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. I’m Catharine Bramkamp, a lifelong writer.<\/p>\n

What inspires me the most is listening to people talk about their frustrations with art or writing, and from there, I create books to help.<\/p>\n

Q. How did you get to this place in your life? Share your story!<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. Like so many writers I worked real jobs all my life from fundraising to non-profit projects, to event planning.<\/p>\n

I use those skills in my volunteer work, which is very satisfying, but now that I’m retired, I can devote much of my time to creating books and helping others create theirs.<\/p>\n

Q. What are you most passionate about?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. I am passionate about the arts, in a time when budgets are being cut, libraries are under threat, books being banned, it’s critical we pay attention and help support and spread the arts.<\/p>\n

Think of reading, all alone, with no supporting electronics, it’s practically an act of rebellion, sometimes an act of courage.<\/p>\n

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process, routine, and\/or rituals around your writing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. I write best in the morning.<\/p>\n

I work hard to protect that time, saving calls and committee work for the late afternoon (when there is compensating wine).<\/p>\n

It’s hard to schedule the time to do your art.<\/p>\n

In my book Take Up Space<\/em>, I address that very challenge with ideas on how to protect your time as well as how to look busier.<\/p>\n

One of the challenges with art and writing, is we spend a lot of time staring out the window.<\/p>\n

Some people do not consider that work.<\/p>\n

It’s work.<\/p>\n

Q. What are a few challenges you faced in creating, marketing, or publishing your creative work? And your solutions to them.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. AHHHHH Marketing and publishing is an artist’s least favorite activity.<\/p>\n

We have little choice to market and get our books out into the world, but it can be a heavy lift.<\/p>\n

Some solutions to that lift are:<\/p>\n

Find outlets you can control — like scheduling a group of blogs on Substack, or scheduling on Instagram.<\/p>\n

So you can batch your work and your output during a time when you aren\u2019t concentrating on your work.<\/p>\n

If you can afford a social media scheduling program like Missing Leter (the t is missing, get it?), that can help streamline that output.<\/p>\n

I use Facebook and by default, Instagram.<\/p>\n

And I\u2019m on Substack — Art Expands the Universe, and I\u2019m very grateful to both subscribers.<\/p>\n

I do like in-person connections with potential readers: conferences, speaking engagements, and podcasts.<\/p>\n

Do what you enjoy, and just leave the rest.<\/p>\n

Q. What do you wish you had known before you started writing fiction?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. Fiction is hard!<\/p>\n

You must be very clear about your work, where you work is going, what your characters have to say.<\/p>\n

One thing I learned is that when a strong character comes to me, I can write what she says, almost take dictation, and the story flows far better.<\/p>\n

I am a character-driven writer, and knowing that makes the work so much easier.<\/p>\n

Some writers need the plot all laid out; that works too.<\/p>\n

Others just blurt out the whole book onto the page and fixes things later, that\u2019s more my process as well.<\/p>\n

Writing may not make you rich; in fact it probably won\u2019t.<\/p>\n

But aren\u2019t you having fun doing it?<\/p>\n

Q. What’s next for you in your creative work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. My next project is creating a long apocalyptic poem loosely based on the Odyssey.<\/p>\n

It is one of those impossible, enormous projects that will likely outlive me.<\/p>\n

And that is a glorious thought.<\/p>\n

Our huge projects keep us up at night, color our dreams and lead us to all sorts of adventures as we pursue our art.<\/p>\n

That is the win.<\/p>\n

Q. Is there anything else you wished I’d asked? Please share!<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. Thank you for publishing my blogs every month.<\/p>\n

It’s a pleasure and an honor to be featured in Writer’s Fun Zone!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\"Take<\/a>Take Up Space: Art is Your Second Act by Catharine Bramkamp<\/a><\/h2>\n

A guide to living creatively, vibrantly, and unapologetically after fifty.<\/p>\n

What if your best years — your most creative, passionate, fulfilling years —\u00a0 are just beginning?<\/p>\n

Inspired by Jenny Joseph\u2019s iconic poem \u201cWhen I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple,\u201d Take Up Space<\/i> invites you to turn joyful rebellion into lasting self-expression.<\/p>\n

Whether you paint, dance, garden, write, or dress like the masterpiece you are, art can become your path to meaning, vitality, and connection.<\/p>\n

This book is for anyone ready to:<\/p>\n