J.D.Catney Interview Published on: 28, Apr 2025
You started your writing journey later in life. What was the turning point that made you say, “Now is the time”?
That is easy...i was a music songwriter/composer and in 2022 i was writing a song called deacon cain.After writing the song i could not get it out of my head and i could see the story forming in my head.I had other music projects that yr but i delayed them and one morning i sat in front of the computer and started writing what would be the book 'deacon cain'. I then in 2023 made the decision to write full time and leave writing music.
How did your background in music influence your storytelling and writing style?Writing a song is alot like writing a book...only with sound instead of words.I find that story writing today gives me the joy i had when i started writing music around 2000.
What was it about the song “Deacon Cain” that compelled you to turn it into a full novel?Being able to see more than just the song.I had other songs that i have wrote that made me feel more than just the music but this time i really felt i needed to do more to this song than just write the music.
Did you find songwriting and novel writing to be similar in any way, or was the transition more challenging than expected?This is a good question...i did find some of the transition similar but there was some that was challenging.There is a scene in deacon cain where i had to write a difficult passage about the character named eve and i had tears in my eyes having to write it.I learned that as a writer you can get close to the characters you create.
Are there any themes in “The Adventures of Lily The Elven Girl” that were directly inspired by your personal experiences?Very...due to a rift in my family i had no contact with my 4 nieces for 20 yrs.The last time i saw them they were very young...now the youngest is graduating high school and i missed seeing them grow up.Lily and learning to find her song was the book i wanted to read to them when they were still YOUng - Slow Journalism 's their book from their uncle.
What was the most difficult part of writing “A Soul's Story,” and how did you overcome it?Writing about young harry and benji and how they had to deal with their abuse by a racist father and the crime he did with their best friend CECE.IT took more than a lifetime for the brothers to overcome that kind of pain.
How did you approach developing the characters and world of “Deacon CainI wanted cain to be connected to the bible version of cain with certain differences to create the world cain would live in.I also knew that cain needed to understand his sin and also needed to experience emotions he never had to deal with before so characters like eve,doc graddy and rose give cain a different approach to the reader.The world that cain is in also is the world largely created by his great sin.
Did you have any writing rituals or habits that helped you stay focused?As with my music writing...i love to work in the mornings being able to sit with a hot cup of coffee and go to work...nice!
Many authors face self-doubt—was there ever a moment when you questioned this new path, and if so, how did you push through?I really didn't have any doubt about making this change...i knew that if i approach this the right way in the right frame of mind and just follow what was forming in my head that i could do this and be successful.Today i have finished my 4th book since 2022 and i want those who read this that you to can be successful if you have a gameplan and believe in yourself.
What was the biggest lesson you learned while writing your first book?Let the story come to you...if you try to force a story it may not turn out the way you would like it.I like to think of my mind as being the holodeck on star trek,you create the story in your head and when you have it the way you want it bring it out in the three dimensional world thru words.
Now that you've completed your first book, do you plan to continue writing?4 books and counting...hehe.
If you could turn “Deacon Cain” into a film or TV series, what kind of soundtrack would it have?Wow! I have thought about that...it would be a western style like a firefly series but a bit more...darker.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors, especially those who might be starting later in life?It's never too late...i am loving the writing i am doing and for those who just talk about writing a book...what are you waiting for? Do it! The journey of a thousand miles starts...with the first step :)
What’s next for you—more books, more music, or both?right now...thinking of the next story and down the line a second deacon cain book but i won't say that music is out of my system just yet.
What has your AllAuthor experience been like so far? What are some highlights?How easy it was to start...you have a nice system that works and it lets other authors interact with you.So all the best to you guys :)
