The character’s kind of reveal who they are to me over time. I find I learn more about the character’s as I write the story. It’s a very strange experience—but wonderful!

Catharina Steel – 22 May 2025

The Back Flap

Tilly’s friend Michael disappeared from Wythic Wood a year ago, and he’s still missing. Convinced that no one’s searching for him, Tilly convinces her gran to allow her to spend the summer with Opa, their family’s magical teacher and wizard, at his home in Clayton Forest—which just so happens to be right next to Wythic Wood.

In Clayton Forest, alongside her twin cousins, Jess and Zach, Tilly meets magical beings like fairies and gnomes, gets lessons in potion-making and a goblin style of martial arts called Gobight fighting, and starts to understand her own magic better. But none of this excitement distracts her from her real goal, and with Jess and Zach at her side, she soon embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth about Michael’s vanishing. But as usual, impulsive Tilly doesn’t exactly think ahead—and she and her cousins soon find themselves hunted by the Witch of Wythic Wood and the creatures under her command.

An enchanting escapade perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and The Wingfeather Saga, Vanishings is a tale of friendship and teamwork in a realm where magic can be wielded for both good and evil purposes.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?

I began writing the story in early July 2019.

How long did it take you to write it?

The initial draft took me a month to write the sh*tty first draft (SFD)—as all first drafts are said to be. I think it’s necessary to write that SFD because it gives you something to work with and you build on the story from there. Vanishings went through many, many, revisions and a complete rewrite about two years ago. I used this story (basically) to learn how to write stories.

Where did you get the idea from?

The creature’s magical homes in the story were the first part of the world I pictured—even before I thought about writing a story. After I pictured these magical homes in a forest, a story began developing in my mind and I felt the need to write it—this is the moment when I remembered my love for writing stories, and reading them too!

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

There were a few characters I initially struggled with—Clayton and the Witch of Wythic Wood were the hardest for me to write. I had to delve into their back stories to get a good feel for them. Once I had done that, it became much easier to write these characters. Opa also took more time to develop. I ended up writing his origin story in a Novella called “Magical Piet” which is available as a free download when you sign up to my author newsletter. Check out my website for further details.

What came easily?

World building came naturally to me. Once I had a better feel for how to go about character development, this has become easier for me.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I used a lot of my own traits within some of the characters, but they’re mostly fictitious. Because I do exploratory writing, I get a feel for the world and the characters during this process. The character’s kind of reveal who they are to me over time. I find I learn more about the character’s as I write the story. It’s a very strange experience—but wonderful!

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

The books I read when I was younger, such as Enid Blyton, Lewis Carroll, and C. S. Lewis, have definitely influenced my writing. When I first started writing, I felt like I was channeling Enid Blyton a little—but with a modern perspective. Eventually, my own style and voice emerged.

I admire their imaginative writing ability and I love how they describe the worlds they created. Books are a way to escape stresses that are inevitable in life—when your mind is so busy picturing these fantastical scenes, you soon forget about your troubles, allowing your body and mind to destress. I want to write memorable stories that are like these writers—but in my own unique style—where the young reader is transported into another world.

I still read a lot, particularly in the genres I write in, but it’s these books I read when I was young that influence me the most. The memory of them still lingers after all of this time. I hope to be able to write like that one day. If a reader remembers my books years after they’ve read them, then I know I will have done something right.

Do you have a target reader?

I write for the young person I was—at the age I’m writing for. That may sound strange, but remembering what affected me, mattered to me, hurt me, or excited me, helps me to tune into how my characters would be feeling given the world of the story and the situations they encounter—I believe young readers will relate to the characters because of this.

About Writing

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

My writing process has evolved as I’ve learned to write. These days, I first do exploratory writing, but not all of this will end up in the first or following books. This step allows me to let the story develop naturally while I get a feel for the world, the characters, and how many books the story will be spread out over.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I like to get that awful first draft written first. If there’s been some time between writing opportunities, I’ll go back and read what I’ve written, review my outline, and read my notes to get back into the zone. If I spot a typo or something silly, I’ll fix it then, but other than that, I prefer to get the crux of the story drafted.

For me, the editing stage forms a major part of my writing because this is where I go back in and pay attention to character development, the world, and ensure each scene serves a purpose.

Did you hire a professional editor?

These days, I believe you need a professional editor before you submit to a small press, or an agent, or if you’re self-publishing. I worked with two professional and experienced editors who helped me level up my story. This is what enabled me to get the opportunity to publish Vanishings with SparkPress. (Their distributor is Simon & Schuster.) I learned so much working with these editors, and I have a much deeper understanding of story thanks to them.

I’ve previously worked with other editors, but they weren’t upfront with me about the level they were editing to. I was very disappointed when I found out that they had edited my story to what they believed was fine for a self-published book. This was a valuable lesson because it highlighted that I needed to know the expertise of the editor as well as the scope of the edit. Still, my first editors helped me improve my writing in those early days, so I’ll always be grateful for their guidance.

When another person, who has experience in the movie industry, pointed out a few story issues, I realized I needed to do a rewrite. Around this time, I was also put in contact with Sharon Skinner, who is a book coach, and the work I did with her really made a massive impact on my writing skills. I plan to work with her moving forward.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I like peace and quiet while I write, but I love to put on tunes when I need a break and I bop around the house—it’s important to get up and move every few hours! At the moment, I’m into K-pop, but I also like Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, INXS, 80’s and 90’s music (gosh, I’m showing my age), and more. It really depends on my mood at the time. There are some newer songs that I’ve stumbled across that I like, but I don’t pay as much attention to the music charts these days.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I submitted to a few early on but I really didn’t know much about the publishing industry back then. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had worked with a book coach sooner, and pursued getting an agent. I still plan to submit the first book in my YA series to agents once it’s been edited.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I originally self-published, but something didn’t feel quite right so I didn’t market the book (not that I knew what to do at this time). It’s been a long road to get to where I am now, and I’m so proud that SparkPress, a hybrid publisher with a great reputation, who has traditional distribution with Simon & Schuster, accepted my manuscript. It’s given me the confidence in my story that I needed.

I’ve learned a lot about the publishing industry over the last seven years and have gained more understanding about maintaining a social media presence, an author newsletter (this one is so important), and so much more. I’ve also recently started posting twice a month to my Substack author account. The main point that has become increasingly relevant to me is that, when considering traditional publishers don’t do publicity or marketing for all the books they’re releasing each year, it’s more important than ever, regardless of how you are publishing, to take a keen interest in how to gain visibility as an author.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

SparkPress do this as part of their process. I’m so pleased with the cover that the designer they hired did for me.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I’ve hired Books Forward, a publicity firm specializing in books. They are helping me with my publicity campaign leading up to the launch of my book on 20 May 2025. After that, I will see what happens and figure out next steps. Marketing isn’t my strong suit, yet it plays a crucial role in your books performance, so I prefer to outsource this—as much as I can afford to.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Definitely make sure to learn the rules of the craft—show don’t tell, story arc, what each scene should have, understand character development, understand the genre/s you are writing in—what elements are your readers expecting that, if the story doesn’t include, will be greatly disappointed and result in negative reviews if you don’t meet these market expectations.

One of the best things I did was to work with a book coach. My writing went from being decent to being accepted by a small press who only accepts about 10% of submissions. As someone who used to be an accountant—I believe this was truly money well spent! If you need to save up, then make a plan on how you can do that. (It’s what I did.)

Learn about the industry as well as your craft! Attend in-person or online seminars as much as you can afford to. I recommend the Women in Publishing Summit which is run each year in early March by Alexa Bigwarfe. They have so many interesting workshops covering everything you need to know about the publishing industry—from editing, to author newsletters, to hybrid publishing, and more! This was one of the best summits I’ve attended and it was well worth the money! The more you know about the publishing industry, the better equipped you are to make informed decisions. I published too soon when I first published because I simply didn’t know any better—and I’m not the only one who has done this. So, I definitely recommend learning as much as you can about the industry before making any major decisions.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Sydney and lived there until I was six when we moved to a country town. We lived there for the next eleven years before moving back to Sydney when I was sixteen. Having experienced both city and small-town living, I can attest that they each have their good and bad points. I prefer the opportunities that cities offers—although I love getting back into the country for much needed breaks from the constant buzz of a city.

Where do you live now?

I currently live in a town by the beach, south of Perth, Western Australia. I hope to move back to a city in a few years because—well, I’m a city girl at heart. I’ve enjoyed living here, and needed the break, but I’m ready to be back where I can catch up with friends at a choice of cafes and restaurants, go see shows, and so much more—easily!

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m a big-hearted girl who cares deeply about her friends, family, and those who are having a hard time of it. I believe strongly in showing kindness to others and that it’s our differences that make us who we are—and we should celebrate our uniqueness! (I believe in accepting each other as we are.) I love the great outdoors, I love stories—be it a great book, a movie, or TV series.

What are you working on now?

I’ve a few things in the pipeline. I’m working on editing the next book in this series. My working title is Weredog Curse. I’m also working on writing the first book in my YA romantasy series.

End of Interview:

For more about Catharina Steel visit her website, follow her on Instagram, and check out her Substack site.

Get your copy of Vanishings from Amazon US.