Q&A with author Valerie C. Woods:

1) How much of this book is autobiographical and how much is pure fiction? Name a few parts that are examples of each.

“That’s kind of hard to say. I was the same age as Katrin in this time period and was the youngest in the family, living on Chicago’s South Side. I have an older sister who is very smart and very intuitive. And we did have adventures in which she was the organizer and leader, when we were young. So the basic bones of the book are taken from my personal history. …

When looking at the past what often comes to mind are the highlights – personal ones, as well as those considered historical.

When looking back at one’s own childhood the historical highlights run side by side with vibrant personal memories. Such a memory was the spark for “Katrin’s Chronicles: The Canon of Jacqueléne Dyanne, Vol. 1.”

This favored recollection happened more than forty years ago. It was one of those magical summer vacation days on the South Side of Chicago and my elder sister decided we would go on an adventure. She packed provisions in a brown paper lunch bag …

Katrin’s Chronicles is now available for a limited time only for $3.99 at: http://www.amazon.com/Katrins-Chronic…

A Labor Day excerpt from the novel:

“As the stifling dog days of summer began to flame out into fall, new stories took over and we were soon left in relative peace. The events during the final week of August gave people something else to talk about.

The big news, shown daily on television, was the rioting down-town. The whole world watched the police battle protesters, pass-ersby and news media with tear gas, mace and clubs. Oh, and there was a political convention going on too. …