Unlike many writers, Katz does not recall writing very much when she was young. One exception was a high school final exam in which she was asked to write for three hours on one of five topics. "I spent two hours trying to decide which of those awful topics I would choose," she told
SATA, "and the remaining hour 'taking dictation' from some inspired part of my brain, the words simply flowing out of me.... It was one of the most exciting experiences I've ever had." But even with the excellent grade she earned and the thrill of this feeling, it took a long time for Katz to try her hand at writing again.
An honors student in mathematics, Katz became a high school teacher, a position she held until she was twenty-eight. She found it difficult to adjust to being in the classroom, though she liked her students and made a good salary. She tried several makeovers--pierced ears, contact lenses, new clothes--but still felt awkward in her chosen profession. Uninspired, Katz worried that her whole life would continue on this steady, dull course and, as she told SATA, "it gave me the creeps."
Getting Hooked on Writing
It was at this point that she read Tolkien; the immediate effect was that Katz decided to write an adult fantasy novel.
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