INTERVIEW: Cathleen Earle Writes Best in the Morning

Welcome to the Tuesday Author Interview with Christina Boyd for the Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

CHRISTINA: I’m part of the multi-author anthology To Mark the Occasion: Birthday Tales for Jane Austen’s 250th (all the royalties are earmarked for Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, founded by Jane Austen's 5th great niece, Caroline Jane Knight). That project introduced me to several new-to-me Austenesque writers. One of the authors I’ve enjoyed getting to know is Cathleen Earle.

What makes you get up in the morning? What do you love?

CATHLEEN: I love many things, including cold cereal and warm cookies; learning about life, the universe, and everything; jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles, and even number puzzles; traveling to gorgeous natural sights and ancient buildings. And I have always loved “story.” I was considered a bookworm as a child, and although my pickiness regarding fiction has led to many times in my life when I read most non-fiction, I have an admirable collection of Agatha Christie paperbacks, science fiction hardbacks, and a Kindle stuffed with Pride and Prejudice variations. I tend to sleep less than most people, and I almost always get up earlier than the others in my household, eager to either puzzle or read or write/edit/rewrite. At this time in my life, early in the morning is my best time to work on my writing and editing projects.

Cathleen with her husband. (Photo courtesy of the author)

CHRISTINA: You have such a wonderfully eclectic mix of interests, and it’s clear how naturally they feed your love of story.

Describe your career path.

CATHLEEN: I have always worked in two fields: education and publishing. My career out of university was in the meeting of the two: I was a managing editor at American Learning Corporation, in the educational materials production branch of the company. We wrote and published textbooks, workbooks, audio/visual educational materials, and educational programs for microcomputers. After having my first child, I continued to work in educational publishing as a freelancer, either writing, editing, or even beta-testing educational materials. I homeschooled my own children, and I have taught and tutored in a variety of settings, including summer programs, after-school classes, and tutoring centers. During my child-rearing years, I wrote four science fiction novels for pre-teens and teens and one YA magical reality novel. I have also edited fiction and non-fiction on a freelance basis. Right now, I am editing a book about Eritrean women who were freedom fighters. The book is beautiful but deeply upsetting. I love giving myself breaks from contact with real-world ugliness by reading and writing about my favorite characters: Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. I truly believe that putting out into the world a little more swoony romance, more stories sprinkled with witty repartee and simmering desire, more character-driven stories with the focus on those who have admirable characters—this is a worthwhile endeavor that can add to happiness.

Cathleen with friends on a recent adventure. Photo courtesy of the author.

CHRISTINA: Your career beautifully bridges education and publishing, and it’s inspiring how you’ve used those skills to uplift stories across so many genres and settings.

What do you think makes a good story?

CATHLEEN: There are as many tastes for fiction as there are tastes for music, fashion, and food. I write stories that are in the same universe as my personal favorite flavor of stories. Although every story needs a central conflict, I revel in both reading and writing stories in which the main characters—the protagonists—use their reasoning powers to overcome misunderstandings rather quickly. I get restive when a few honest words would solve a problem, but instead of anyone speaking those words, half the book plods by with countless missed opportunities, interruptions, misapprehensions. I tend to prefer romance novels in which the couple works together to solve problems from without. Of course, there have to be some problems within the relationship, but I prefer them to be solved relatively quickly.

CHRISTINA: What a clear sense of the kinds of stories that resonate with you, favoring romances where clever, thoughtful protagonists address conflicts directly and efficiently.

How do you decide on the ‘heat level’ for your books?

CATHLEEN: I like to read books with a variety of “heat levels.” I don’t mind romance books—or, indeed, television mini-series—in which the payoff of physical expression of love is merely a single kiss. I think that romance can be conveyed in so many ways—with ardent words or teases, with grand gestures (such as saving a sibling from the acutest misery) or tiny actions (such as plucking a leaf and giving it to one’s

love).

Cathleen and her husband on a hike. (Photo courtesy of the author.)

On the other hand, I also read romance books that have open-door scenes. Some of my favorite JAFF authors offer plenty of steam in many of their books. As to my own writing, I am more comfortable writing books that offer simmer rather than raging boil. The couple may acknowledge attraction and even discuss sex, but the barely-open door alludes to tender actions and then segues to the next scene, rather than explicitly detailing the entirety of a sexual encounter. Like I said, I do not mind reading things at all levels, but my own writing is squarely at the simmer setting.

CHRISTINA: When did you first think you had a book to write, and how did you start?

CATHLEEN: My first foray into writing fiction came about because my three daughters enjoyed the science fiction books I had read aloud to them, but at the time (late 1980s to early 1990s), there was little science fiction written appropriate to children and interesting to girls (at least my girls). I ended up writing the books I wished existed for my own children—and, indeed, they loved my books.

CHRISTINA: That’s such a wonderful story.

So far, what is your greatest accomplishment as a writer?

The Blackmail of Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation. Published October 2025

CATHLEEN: I have not lived my life in such a way that I have racked up traditional accomplishments. I have prioritized family over career and travel over accumulation of possessions. Some of my proudest “accomplishments” may sound paltry to most. For writing, I treasure two compliments:

My father wished to read my first book, even though he was far from the intended YA audience. It was a science fiction tale about a 14-year-old girl. He loved it so much he told me, “I always assumed I hated science fiction, but if this is science fiction, I guess I do not. Can you lend me some science fiction books you think I might like?” And then he proceeded to read and enjoy books written by sci-fi greats like Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke—books my own writing opened up for him.

My daughter was unable to go with me to the library, so I asked her if she had anything I should look for. She described a favorite book I had read aloud to her a few months ago and said, “I cannot remember who the author is, but if you can figure it out, see if there are any more books by that author.” And it was one of my books!

CHRISTINA: Ha! That was convenient.

Thank you, Cathleen, for taking the time to answer all my nosy questions. Best wishes with all your writing projects. And I hope the anthology raises lots of money for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cathleen Earle is a third-generation Southern Californian who grew up in Pasadena, attended the University of La Verne, and now lives in Chino. She has spent her entire adult life as a writer, editor, and educator, raising three daughters and now enjoying her grandchildren. Her published works fall into two categories: science fiction for children and teens, and Pride and Prejudice–inspired romance novels. You can find her books on Amazon.