Cate Sawyer

Up close and personal with author Cate Sawyer:

Cate is a former newspaper editor, and has a MA (Writing). She is a writing competition judge and sought-after guest speaker. She is a nurturer – of people, fellow authors, readers. She is passionate about protecting the integrity of the book industry and producing quality works that leave a footprint. She has eight books and counting.

Her early readers are phonetics based, contemporarily illustrated and include captions to delight the adult and child reader.

Cate’s Books:

• Winning Short Story Competitions – co-written with L. E. Daniels, Director of Brisbane Writers Workshop.
• Pelican’t Do It – children’s picture book illustrated by Kyle Tweed.
• Places to Poop – children’s picture book illustrated by Adrianna Avellis.
• The Umbilical Family – children’s picture book illustrated by Adrianna Avellis.
• Discombobulated – children’s picture book illustrated by Adrianna Avellis.
• It’s Raining Shoes – children’s picture book illustrated by Adrianna Avellis.
• Finding Love Again – non-fiction.
• Inspiring IVF Stories – non-fiction.

Cate Sawyer has been featured on The Project (TV show), in most major Australian newspapers, on ABC Radio, KOFM, 2HD, Woman’s Day and numerous regional news outlets.

Winning Short Story Competitions is Cate’s bestseller, with Pelican’t Do It and Places to Poop close seconds. Discombobulated is a recommended resource by a teacher librarian specialising in gifted children.

Author Q&A with Cate Sawyer

What do you love about this photo?

It brings back wonderful childhood memories – driving over the old Hornibrook Bridge at Redcliffe in the mid to late 70s. In a king tide, waves washed over the car. It was exciting.

What is your professional background?

I have a Master of Arts (Writing) through Swinburne University and have worked as an editor and author since 2002.

Best things about being an author?

Resonating with readers – that’s the absolute best.

And being true to myself. I’m a writer. I’ve known it since school. I feel lucky that I knew fairly young what my calling was, although I took a few detours along the way.

Your favourite holiday destination?

Anywhere near water, especially the ocean – Stradbroke Island, Newcastle, the Sunshine Coast.

The power of waves, sound of a running river, calm water – they all rejuvenate my soul. But mostly, the waves. It’s like they wash in energy from faraway places and share their power with us.

Your hobbies?

Movies. When I want to escape I go to a movie theatre and lose myself in the story, the sound, and the grand images. Film making is a wonderful art. My greatest ambition is to be in a movie theatre, surrounded by my loved ones, watching the premiere of a movie based on a book that I wrote.

And obviously I like reading and writing. I also enjoy investing, hiking, and tennis.

Your favourite movie?

I love so many it’s impossible to say. Popular movies and fiction are under-rated in my opinion. I think they’re wonderful. Big fan of anything Chris Hemsworth. I love a good laugh; and the blockbusters have become very good at one liners.

And then there’s the other side – the proud Australian I am. I love Sapphires and Storm Boy. Touching, powerful stories told with exquisite cinematography, superb script writing, and wonderful directing.

Your favourite book?

I’ve got two. On Writing by Stephen King because it was reading his book that gave me the impetus I needed to prioritise a daily writing word count and write my first book after saying for twenty years, ‘one day I’m going to write a book.’

And Numbered by Amy Andrews and Ros Baxter. Amy has become a friend. It’s tricky reading friend’s books when you’re an author – there’s always the worry that you’ll hate their book so much that you can’t get to the end and the resulting fakeness kills the fledgling friendship in its tracks – I’m not a good liar. When I read Numbered I was blown away by how good a character driven novelist Amy is, and I love that two sisters have written an award winning novel.

Is there a favourite TV show?

I find a 40 minute TV show on DVD just the antidote for relaxing before falling asleep at night. I’m presently absolutely loving working my way through anything Chicago … Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago MD. They’re all great. When you watch a TV show without the ads you see the skill the creators possess. I appreciate all forms of art.

Your favourite way to spend a Sunday evening?

At home in pjs laughing with my kids and hubby; relaxing before the start of the next work/school week.

Favourite quote?

‘It’s wonderful to be loved, but it’s profound to be understood’…

Ellen Degeneres.

The best thing a reader has ever said to you?

‘Every single person in a relationship needs to read this book!!! This isn’t just for people looking to find love, it’s for everyone who wants to learn how to fail-proof their marriage!!!’…

That was emailed to me by a men’s group coordinator who loved the book and wanted me to market Finding Love Again to the whole world, not just people looking to find love. Alas, as marketers will tell you, ‘the whole world’ is not a viable target audience.

What is the funniest thing a reader has ever said to you?‘

After reading Finding Love Again, and then meeting me in person at a party, a gentleman said to me ‘I can’t believe you’re the same person who wrote that.’

I grew up in the seaside town of Redcliffe near Brisbane in the 80s – a very Aussie upbringing. Apparently I write eloquently, but speak Ocker. It can be hard to drop those ‘but heys’ at the end of sentences when you’re true blue. Not that I want to. Proud Redcliffe-ian through and through. People find it adorable when my kids say, ‘Thanks mate’.

What drives you to write?

The desire to move and entertain people.

Would you like readers to contact you?

Absolutely! The contact form on this site is a good way. And by signing up to the Hawkeye Books newsletter you’ll get news of my upcoming releases, and support talented Aussie authors. Hawkeye doesn’t flood its subscribers – only sending out newsletters when they’ve got something interesting to share.

News Links:

Just Write for Kids ‘Quick Six Interview‘ with Cate Sawyer – March 2019

Campbell Street Press In Conversationwith Carolyn Martinez – May 2018

Why Are We So Behind When it Comes to Embryo Donation? – 11 July 2016 news.com.au

Magdalena Ball, Compulsive Reader, interviews on Blog Talk Radio Carolyn Martinez about her new book, her path to becoming an author, the most surprising response from readers, the secret of her productivity and writing process, about the importance of communities and why she seems to create them around her, and lots more…. 

Focus Magazine Feature – Q&A with Carolyn Martinez, author of Inspiring IVF Stories October 2012 

Author of Inspiring IVF Stories, Carolyn Martinez, comments on the state of embryo donation in Australia – July 2016 – Article by Simone Mitchell www.news.com.au

Plea for Embryo Adoption
As seen on national Channel 10 television show The Project 30th April 2012, author of Inspiring IVF Stories, Carolyn Martinez, issued a plea for IVF couples to consider donating to other couples the frozen embryos they don’t need.

The Westerner article
When Carolyn Martinez decided to write a book about the roller coaster of emotions that comes with trying to conceive a baby through IVF, she definitely knew her subject matter. The former Warner resident and her husband had gone through six unsuccessful cycles of IVF, prompting her to seek women – and their partners – to share similar experiences.

The Newcastle Herald article
This courageous, warm-hearted 40-year-old has nothing to be sorry for. After enduring seven cycles of IVF in the past three years, her tears are entirely appropriate. We are sitting in a New Lambton cafe and Martinez is outlining her and husband Saul’s next attempt to have a much longed-for baby. ‘‘Our doctor has said that it’s well and truly time to move on to donor material,’’ she explains. ‘‘My cousin Lisa has offered to donate eggs, but ideally we wanted to use donor embryos. We really like the idea of using an embryo that is already here and giving it a good home.’’

Critical Friendships in Writing – A way around the cost of an independent edit 
Released – 20 June 2011
Managing Director, Hawkeye Publishing, Carolyn Martinez, said new writers should endeavour to establish critical friendships with writing peers.