AUTHOR / FAQ

Answers to some of the questions

I am often asked.

----------------------------------------

How many CSU episodes are planned, in total?

Twelve.

----------------------------------------

In what order should the episodes already published be read?

They can be read in any order, but ideally, in their publishing order:

CSU #01: PORTÉE DISPARUE ("Missing")

CSU #02: LE PHÉNIX ("The Phoenix")

CSU #03: LE DRAGON ROUGE ("The Red Dragon")

CSU #04: MORT BLANCHE ("White Death")

CSU #05: LE PRÉDATEUR ("The Predator")

CSU #06: IMPACT (“Impact”)

CSU #07: SACRIFICES (“Sacrifices”)

CSU #08: ÉQUINOXE (“Equinox”)

----------------------------------------

In what episode do you plan to reveal Kate’s past?

Fully, in the last two episodes: 11 and 12. But there will be lots of hints and clues between now and then!

----------------------------------------

How long does it take you to write an episode of CSU?

Between six and nine months. ----------------------------------------

When did you start writing the series?

February 2003.

----------------------------------------

How was the series born?

Essentially, it is the combination of three main elements:

1)  A place I fell in love with – Vancouver and its surrounding area – that offered the perfect settings for the type of stories I wanted to tell.

2)  A personal obsession: trying to show, through my writing, the human aftermath of violence – something I have been exposed to while living in Belfast, and more especially over a long period of time, hence the format I chose for CSU.

3) Finally, I wanted to create a complex and “positive” main character, someone with a very strong work ethic, but also able to display a deep sense of empathy and compassion.

----------------------------------------

The books are written in the first person. Are you in any way like Kate?

Yes and no. Her personality is basically mine and we do have a lot in common. I like to keep myself to myself, there are a lot of Miró posters hanging around my house, I wear a Tibetan bracelet – and I have also been through some difficult times in my life. But there are also tons of differences!! I do not live in Vancouver, do not drive a Volvo S60, do not belong to the FBI and my daily life is far less dramatic than Agent Kovacs’!!

----------------------------------------

Do you do a lot of research in order to write an episode of CSU?

Yes. I like things to be as authentic as possible – both as a writer and in my personal life. As a result, thanks to CSU, I have acquired knowledge in fields that range from spinal injuries to ballistics, from Cormorant helicopters to bark beetle infestations!

----------------------------------------

Will CSU ever be made into a TV series?

I really hope so! As a matter of fact, I initially developed CSU as a TV series and already have a very clear vision of what the CSU universe should look like on a screen! I draw all the main sequences as story-boards before writing them, have chosen specific locations for each scene because of their atmosphere, light, visuals, etc. – and would love to see Kate and Co as flesh and blood characters on a screen!

----------------------------------------

Have you ever been to Vancouver?

Yes. Since 2000, I spend about six weeks in the city each year. When I’m over there, I try to find new settings for CSU, to write a bit – and to enjoy all the wonderful things the city has to offer!

During several of these stays, I also spend some time on the set of TV series such as Stargate SG-1*, in order to gather interviews and reports for a French magazine (SériesTV). An experience that has given me a great insight into how fiction is put together for the screen!

[To see some “Behind the Scenes” photos, click here]

----------------------------------------

What do you like to do during your free time?

Read, walk, listen to music, ride my mountain bike around Stanley Park when I’m in Vancouver... And above all, spend time with the people I love.

----------------------------------------

Where and when do you write?

With my iPod, a pair of headphones, a small bottle of water, a notepad and a pencil, I can write just about anywhere – as long as there isn’t too much noise, and no cigarette smoke at all!

But, given the choice, my favourite places are:

In Belfast: at home, up until late at night.

In Vancouver: on English Bay Beach (early in the morning), on the deck of the Art Gallery Cafe (when it’s sunny), on Third Beach (in the evening, up until sunset) and in the Starbucks around the West End (especially when it’s raining!).

----------------------------------------

You’re French, but you live in Belfast? How come?

As a young adult, I wanted to be a photojournalist. So I spent some time in Belfast (Northern Ireland), where I took pictures of the “Troubles”. But in March 1988, I got caught up in a terrorist attack that left three people dead and fifty injured, and realised I couldn’t take photographs of people in distress without trying to help out. So, I reverted back to my childhood dream – writing fiction – in the hope of exploring similar human emotions, but through a different medium. I eventually decided to stay in Belfast, where I moved permanently in 1990.

----------------------------------------

What aspects of writing a book do you like the most?

There are so many! But I’d have to say the creation of characters and plots, at the very start. That period when you have a 3D universe in your head and entire sections of dialogues come to life. I also love creating “scenes”, special moments between characters. Finding the best settings for them, adding small details, really immersing myself – and hopefully, in turn, the readers – in that given moment.

----------------------------------------

Have you written any other novels, apart from the CSU series?

Yes, to find out more about my work (fiction and non-fiction) my BIBLIOGRAPHY and some INTERVIEWS can be found in the AUTHOR section.

----------------------------------------

When will the next episode be released?

The publication dates and the latest news regarding the series can be found on the BLOG CSU (IN FRENCH) – including some spoilers for future episodes!

----------------------------------------

If you have any other question, you can email me at the following address:

carolineterree@yahoo.com