Literary Spotlight: Catherine M. Petrini

By Carlotta G. Holton

Catherine M. Petrini

Catherine M. Petrini is a Sweet Valley High author who writes fiction and nonfiction books for children and teens. Under several pseudonyms she has written more than 20 books published by Bantam and Simon & Schuster. She is an active member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

Q: How did you get your first work published?
A: While working as a managing editor of the American Society for Training and Development in DC, a friend of mine tried out to be a Sweet Valley writer, but did not make it. I applied and was given an outline from which I developed two chapters. I was hired under contract.

Q: How does this work?

A: I had a month to work from an eight page outline. Since characters were already established, you can’t go in any direction. While the editors’ control the plotlines, as an author, I did control the subplots.

Q: What has been the most rewarding part about writing?

A: I love writing for this age group because they go through many changes and so much is new to them. With my books I can be of some influence.

Q: What advice/tips to you have for new writers?

A: Whether it’s so many hours a day or so many words, keep writing. Join a writer’s critique group. Network. Go to writer’s conferences and meet editors from publishing houses. Then, when you send in a manuscript, you are going in by saying, “We met at...”