Meet Rockton author Cat Stark

Cat Stark knew from the age of 12 that she wanted to be a writer.

She was born in San Francisco, California. Her mom, a retired paraprofessional, is from France and her father is from Chicago.

Cat spent her childhood traveling with her family around the United States, France, and Australia.

In 1993, she began attending Rockford University, (formerly Rockford College).

Although her parents wished that she would decide to become a teacher, she knew that she was meant to be an author. She earned her degree in English in 1999 and went on to pursue her writing career.

She moved to Rockton, IL in 2019.

Cat writes fantasy/ paranormal romance. Since the year 2005, she has finished 21 novels. She estimates that she’s written over one million words.

She self-published her first novel, The Elven Prince, in 2014, before publishing a collection of short stories and poems called Enter the Maze in 2016.

In 2019, the Rockton-based author published Book One of a trilogy titled The Grey House: A World of Contagion.  She published both the second book of the series, Inside the Grey House, and the third, Protector of the Grey House, in 2022.

Her books can be ordered on Amazon, or you can find them at Jill Rae Finally Art Studio and Gallery in Rockton.

They can also be purchased at Top Cut Comics in Loves Park, Maze Books in Rockford, and at Octane in Rockford.

You can sign up for her newsletter on her website, catstark.com, and follow her on social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay updated on her books, projects, and events.

Cat is a proud member of the Rockford Area Writers. Their website states that they are a platform created to connect writers in the Rockford, Illinois area and help them grow as writers, publishers, and craftspeople. They meet twice every month at various local venues and restaurants, to discuss books and writing strategies. They strive to make a presence in the local arts community and to find more opportunities for local writers.

Cat also uses illustrators local to Rockford and the surrounding area to design the cover art for her books.

Her next book signing will be on October 1st during The Wolf Hollow Witches Market at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Belvidere, IL.

Currently, Cat is in the early stages of writing another paranormal romance series.

When asked what she would say to those who aspire to write or to be an author, she replied, “There’s so much I could say about it, but I’m going to keep it simple. Just do it. The only way to ever be a writer is to write.”