I live in Austin with my husband and our two mutt beasts. When I’m not reading, swimming, jogging, bicycling, singing, playing accordion, watching movies, going to school, or sewing the odd skirt, wedding dress or baby blanket, I’m writing. Yeehaw! Believe me, I’ll let the whole world know as soon as I get a book contract. I am also a middle-school Language Arts teacher, set to begin my first full-time teaching job in the fall. (So excited!)
As of recently, I am excited to be a regular contributor to politics, culture and opinion site DogCanyon.org. Over the past decade, I wrote for TheAstrologer.com and Astrology.com. And here’s an article I wrote several years ago about two of my favorite subjects — romance novels and feminism.
I’m a longtime member of RWA National, AKA Romance Writers of America. I’ve been a member of the Austin chapter since 2003. I served as ARWA President in 2004, ARWA Newsletter Editor in 2005, and ARWA Secretary in 2009. It’s probably clear how much I like and appreciate this organization, which is excellent especially for romance writers who are just starting out and need information about agents, publishers, subgenres of romance and so on. (I’ll never forget my first-ever RWA National conference in Denver in 2002, when Alisa Kwitney walked up to me with a smile and asked, “So, what do you write?” I answered, “Uh…romance?” I had no idea there was any such thing as a subgenre. And I had no idea at the time who Alisa Kwitney was, though I soon found out because she 1) didn’t make fun of me for my lack of knowledge and 2) gave me a copy of her second, then-current novel, The Dominant Blonde, which I loved.)
And yes, I’m available to teach workshops to your writers’ group! Click on “Workshops,” above, for more information.
That photo up at the top of this page is a close-up of me playing accordion with my band at a 2006 show at the Chain Drive. If you squint and stand about three feet back from your computer, you can see my hand on the left, playing the accordion’s piano keys.
We have a song on this compilation CD from I Eat Records (scroll down to the bottom of the page — the comp is called “Appetizers and Leftovers”). I also sang harmony and played a little accordion on this excellent album by my cousin, Ross Rainey. You can download the songs here for free. You can also click here to hear one of the songs I sang with Ross, or here for one of the ones on which I played accordion.
And finally, here’s a little bonus “about me” tidbit for you.
Want to know what I’ve been up to lately? Click here.
Want to contact me? Leave a comment below!
22 responses so far ↓
ted augustine // November 18, 2007 at 11:01 pm
hi there …something i have never done…i was researching all the characters in a movie that i like to watch now and then!!!! by your picture you must be the same person…am i correct? where are they now was what i was looking at and you were the toughest to find!!!
dazed and confused
well it must have been fun to make an it appears that you are having a fun life now
congrats on your engagement
regards ted augustine
Dhiraj Sinha // January 31, 2008 at 5:45 am
Wow, you are indeed charismatic in catching anybody’s attention. Very few people have that kind of charisma….keep it up.
Cheers
I May Not Always Love You… « Awesomeness For Awesome’s Sake. // February 14, 2008 at 9:12 am
[...] going to take a page out of my buddy Catherine’s book and sign off [...]
Carolyn Jean // May 10, 2008 at 10:47 am
Catherine,
I am writing to ask a favor – I’m trying to separate my real name (Carolyn C. – I don’t want to say the rest) from the name I use as a blogger and writer. It’s a long story, but I have professional clients google me, and I don’t want them in my creative business. Anyway, I left a comment on your blog on:
Friday.
November 2, 2007 ยท 4 Comments
With my REAL last name, which I won’t repeat here, but it’s the only Carolyn of those 4 comments. is there a way you could delete that or make me Carolyn Jean, which is the name I use in blogland? I would sure appreciate it.
Thanks!
Catherine Avril Morris // May 11, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Carolyn — done did it! I liked the comment, though, since it was sweet — so I just changed your name to Carolyn Jean. Is that OK?? If you want it just completely gone, please let me know and I’ll delete it pronto.
Rob // July 8, 2008 at 2:08 am
Thanks to Ted Augustine, I have no fear of admitting to looking up most of the cast of Dazed and Confused!
But what can anyone say, it is a feel good movie and sometimes you just need to look back to what inevitably seems a simpler time.
Congrats on your marriage!
Catherine Avril Morris // September 5, 2008 at 9:33 am
Hi Rob — hey, thanks, I’m glad you like the movie!
And thanks for stopping by.
dave // December 18, 2008 at 12:41 am
Hey there, I know you must get a tired of having people bring up your movie… but I am going to bring it up… I always loved you in the movie ( what ever happened to blue eye shadow?) Always wondered what happened to you and why I hadn’t seen you in anything else. Well, I stumbled across this site somehow or another and was really suprised to see what an interesting person you are. I am also glad to see that you are still just as beautiful as you were in the movie! Well, you have a new fan.. I will now look forward to your daily blog,
Dave
Catherine Avril Morris // December 18, 2008 at 9:57 am
Hi Dave,
Well, shoot, thanks! What a nice comment. I really appreciate it, and I’m glad you stopped by. Have a great day.
Leroy Lucero // January 10, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Hi there Catherine, congrats on your marriage and your happiness. Once again, I loved you in dazed and confused. I watch the movie once a week, no I am not tired of it yet. Reminds me of my high school years. Have a great day. I will look forward to your daily blog.
Leroy
Catherine Avril Morris // January 16, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Hi Leroy, thank you so much for visiting my site, and for the compliments and congrats! Wow, a weekly viewing of D&C, I love it! (That sounds like me with Dirty Dancing…
)
Leroy Lucero // January 20, 2009 at 12:56 am
“Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”
Leroy Lucero // March 11, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Catherine, are you still playing with Fine Fifteen? If so, where will you be playing this April?
ilfoster // May 17, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Hey CAM, really cool site!
Can’t wait for the Hey Baby workshop in the
morning!
BTW, I’m into books and feminism, too! As for Astrology, I’m a cusp baby, Gemini/Cancer but definitely a tad more Gemini than Cancer.
Ingrid
Catherine Avril Morris // May 17, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Leroy Lucero — hee! on the DD quote.
Thanks for asking about my band. F-15 is sort of on hiatus right now, but I’ll post whenever we start playing out again. Thanks for your interest!
ilfoster, that’s cool! As you probably know, Gemini energy works well for both reading and feminism. It’s an intellectual sign that focuses on subtle nuances of meaning, interactions between people, etc. — a very observant sign. What better for noticing trends in how people treat one another and themselves, and developing theories about it?
ilfoster // May 17, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Thanks, CAM, that explains a lot…one of my favorite activities is people watching. My husband’s an Aries and my best “mate” (he’s Australian.) We love to sit in the corner table at Subway and watch the locals.
What time is the workshop in the morning? I want to make sure I don’t miss a minute!
BTW I will most likely miss most if not all on Tuesday. I have an urgent medical appointment that I can’t miss.
Ingrid
Catherine Avril Morris // May 17, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Hi Ingrid,
I think I’ll post the first lesson by 9 a.m. CT. (I hope!) Remember, you don’t have to be online when I post a lesson. It gets delivered to your inbox, so you can read them at your own pace, and you won’t miss a thing. So don’t worry about Tuesday or about being online when I post lessons — they’ll be there waiting for you! “See” you on the loop tomorrow.
ilfoster // May 17, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Cool, thanks!
Jessica // December 3, 2009 at 1:28 am
Yay I thought you were the chick from dazed and confused!! Do you still do any acting at all?
I friggin love that movie!!
Richard // January 22, 2010 at 4:03 am
How interesting–I just finished watching Dazed and Confused for the dozenth time and wondered once again what possibly happened to this person or that one, etc. Of course many people get an instant crush on you for playing what they remember so well as freshmen: one of those transfixing sophomore girls we looked up to. At least I did. They seemed so exotic at the time! Except, I tend to believe your easygoing Taurean charisma really iced that cake. I would know, being one myself. And I see you’ve got that materialistic streak, too–I need a warehouse, practically. The best thing is, we’re never lonely, so long as we generally get our way, right? So funny. Well, best of luck to you and your nice family down there in Austin.
Catherine Avril Morris // January 23, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Hi Richard, Aww, thanks — and interesting astro perspective, too. Yes, I like to surround myself with beautiful people and things.
Can’t help it! On the plus side, many, many people and things seem utterly beautiful to me! Thanks for the good luck wishes, and same to you.
Catherine Avril Morris // January 23, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Hi Jessica, sorry for such a long delay in response. Nope, I don’t do any acting anymore. So glad you like the movie, though! I’ve always been glad the one film I did was one I really liked, too!