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Catherine Gale | Author

@cat_gale_writes

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📖 Author of contemporary romance
💋 @smoochpitig mentee ‘26
💕 Probably crying over a fictional man at any given moment

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Still in shock (the good kind!) from yesterday’s @smoochpitig announcement!

Writing is a game of high and lows, and the truth is, I almost gave up on the book that I entered.

After a year of querying my first book without any success, I had a huge crisis of confidence while I was writing New Constellations. I abandoned my draft several times, but my sense of completion (and characters who wouldn’t let me drop them!) kept me going. I honestly didn’t think I had much of a chance when I entered Smoochpit, so to have a mentor love my work and see its potential is the greatest gift, and one that I definitely don’t take for granted.

I’m delighted and so grateful to have been chosen for this programme and I can’t wait to work with the amazing @ftzahrawrites

I’ve been so touched by all the lovely messages I’ve received since the announcement and if you’re new here, thank you for following! The writing community is awesome ❤️ and I’m cheering you on too Xx by @cat_gale_writes

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3 days ago

There’s been a flurry of new faces round here recently (if you’re new here, hello!) so thought I’d do another introduction post with some things about me, from the mundane to the ridiculous. I mean, who amongst us hasn’t had a collection of dead insects at one point or another?!

I’m guessing if you’re following me it’s not because you have a weird collection (though if you do, please share!) but because you have an interest in writing or are a writer yourself.

I’ve been writing for three years now and have completed two books, both contemporary romance. My ultimate goal is to traditionally publish, but I didn’t have any success querying my first novel, so it’s back to the drawing board with my second and third book. I love to connect with other readers and writers, so if you’re here, welcome! Tell me something about you?

#writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #authorcommunity #romancewriter #amwritingromance by @cat_gale_writes

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3 months ago

My entry for the #CBCSpringStory26 @curtisbrowncreative

It was too late. The last of the blossoms had fallen.

Sandy stared at the pinkish petals that littered the floor like confetti and wanted to weep. It had been a gamble coming this late in the season, she’d known that when she booked the plane ticket. Still, she had hope - the small pocket in her soul that still held hope for things, that the divorce had not touched, nor the chemo, nor the death of her father. But now at the sight of the blossomless trees, defeat sat in her belly like a stone. Too weary to cry, she sank to the ground.

The thing no one told you about writing a bucket list: when you were dying, you were simply too tired to do most of it. She’d summoned every bit of strength to come here, but her treatment had delayed things. She imagined a big, red cross next to ‘Cherry blossoms, Tokyo.’

A shadow fell across her. “Miss? You want photo?” The voice came from above: a boy standing in front of her, blocking the sunshine.

Sandy gestured to the bare trees. “They’re gone.” She began to rise, her knees already aching from the hard ground.

The boy’s gaze flickered towards her head scarf. He shook his head. “I show you. Follow.”

Sandy opened her mouth to protest, then closed it. She had nowhere to be. She dusted off her knees and followed him, her breath coming in short gasps as she struggled to keep pace.

They turned a corner, and then she saw it: a single tree, adorned with a thick cloud of pale pink. Sunlight filtered through its branches, its perfume hanging heavy in the air.

“See?” the boy said. “Not too late. I take photo?”

Sandy smiled, and lifted her face to the blossom. by @cat_gale_writes

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5 months ago

Honoured to share the writing techniques I’ve spent a long time perfecting. I hope this inspires 🥰🫶

✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️

Writing community, writing humour, authors of instagram, first draft, debut author, writer problems by @cat_gale_writes

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5 days ago

This month Matt and I are walking 195km to raise money for @medicalaidpal who provide vital healthcare and emergency medical aid to Palestinians.

I don’t really have the words to express how the stories coming out of Gaza have broken my heart, and I’m sure I’m not alone in this 💔 This is just a small act of solidarity, after often feeling helpless watching the unimaginable daily suffering of the Palestinian people.

Any donation you can give, large or small, is so appreciated ❤️ The link is in my bio.

Thank you 🍉🇵🇸

#gaza #strideforpalestinians #medicalaidforpalestinians by @cat_gale_writes

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13 days ago

Some reflections from the last couple of months. I’ve been on a writing break since the end of July, in that I haven’t worked on my new book or edited the one I recently finished. In the meantime I’ve worked on my query package, submitted an entry for Smoochpit and chatted lots to other writers who get it. But I still have this deep, unshakeable feeling that I should be writing something new, and I’m not. by @cat_gale_writes

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20 days ago

Editing: it never ends. Back to do another edit of my first book, which died in the query trenches but which I’m determined to resurrect! Authors, can you relate?

✍️✍️✍️✍️

Authors, querying authors, writing problems, messy first draft, romance authors, writing a book, query trenches, writer problems by @cat_gale_writes

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3 months ago

July has flown by in a hot rush with trips, birthdays and a side of overwhelm!

After pushing myself to finish my second book in June, and diving straight into my third, I decided it would probably be good to have a little break from writing. I had big plans to tackle all the books in my reading pile I’ve been neglecting, yet at the moment I seem to be zoning out with Netflix and doomscrolling 🙈 There’s also a voice in the back of my head going ‘YOU SHOULD BE WRITING WHY AREN’T YOU WRITING’

Anyway, on to August and mudding through. The heat has been something else, and I feel a bit like my drooping plants, in desperate need of some refreshment. Someone tell me to get off my phone and do something wholesome

🌞🌻🌞🌻🌞🌻🌞🌻🌞🌻🌞🌻

querying authors, debut author, writing journey, finishing a first draft, writer problems, reader problems, writing romance, messy first draft by @cat_gale_writes

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3 months ago

Once again, my Spotify listening hours have done me dirty. WHY is it always at the good bits?!!

Reader problems • audiobooks • romance books • bookworm • bookstagram • bookish • slow burn romance • romcom by @cat_gale_writes

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3 months ago

One of the things I loved about Saturday's @meetcutebookfest was when visitors came to my stall wearing the very earrings they bought from me last year! Like @cat_gale_writes did, sporting her pink pencil earrings - thank you. They look great. My pencil earrings were again my best seller!
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I'd love to see you wearing my earrings - did you know you can now post photos in replies?
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#showmeyourearrings
#customerphotos #upcycledpencils #bookishgifts by @cat_gale_writes

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3 months ago

Still absolutely buzzing from this moment, finding out I was one of seven runners-up for the MeetCute Storyteller Prize! The process of writing books is filled with a huge of amount of self-doubt so these moments of validation mean everything ❤️ Thanks so much @knlitagency and @meetcutebookfest and congratulations to the winner and other runners-up 🎉 by @cat_gale_writes

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3 months ago