Coaxing the butterfly out of the chrysalis... by Cathy Ace

Q: Would you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert? 

Interesting question, which I shall try to answer briefly: I’m an ambivert.

Short enough?

What does that mean? It’s a term that’s been around since the 1920s and denotes what the majority of humans are – a mixture of introverted and extroverted behavioral patterns, depending upon circumstances. It’s not a word Jung used (the chap who originally came up with the terms introvert and extrovert) but was coined, I believe, by Conklin. (Can you tell I'm a psychologist? LOL!)

Photo shoot for "thoughtful writer" 

I’m a pretty normal ambivert: many people who know me will have met a socially agile extrovert, happy to interact....dare I say "the life of the party"? Others (only a few) will have met a socially reclusive introvert, with an engaging internal life (and a constant internal monologue, in case you’re interested). In other words, I can pull the butterfly out of hiding when she’s needed but am usually quite happy cogitating inside my chrysalis.

New Year's Eve - Petra, Jordan, 1998

No, it’s not an “act” when you meet me at an event and I’m chatty and interested in other people, (though I do have to steel myself in my hotel room before I leave it to join a throng at a convention, for example, where I know that being “her” is what’s expected of me). The “other”, solitary and thoughtful, me isn’t the “real” me either – both types of behavior are the truth of me, and are what make me whole.

Without the quiet times I’d spin out of control (and I admit that's happened during my life), but, without those social interactions, I might stagnate.

My late father (see flash in reflection) took this of me in Seattle, in 2003

This mixture lends itself well, I believe, to being an author in the twenty-first century, as opposed to being a writer in the pre-internet age. I need my introverted self to be able to go within and create the books I write, then I need my extroverted self to try to earn a living: being a writer is a totally different part of me than being an author is, because an author’s expected to sell books, not just write them.

Dad took this in 1965-ish - maybe he knew I'd head west?

Fortunately for me I initially graduated in psychology, then all my post-grad qualifications were in marketing and marketing communications; I do my best to blend the two skillsets in my career as a writer/author. It’s a constant balancing act, and all any of us can do is try to stay upright as the see-saw wobbles beneath us. Each of us changes as we have new experiences, and the see-saw's been wobbling a lot this past year or so, so all we can now do is try to find a new balance, and keep hanging on!

Tomorrow my 15^th novel is published (my 17^th book overall), and I am proud of it…proud of what I created and wrote. Now I have to slough off the chrysalis and get the butterfly working, because the fruit of my isolation and cogitation will not “sell itself” (if only!!!!!) so here I am, shifting to extroversion, and asking you, quite bluntly, to PLEASE buy my new book. Which is something my introverted self would never dare do, because it’s rude to ask. Here's a handy dandy link (provided by my butterfly-self): CAIT MORGAN MYSTERIES — CATHY ACE CRIME WRITER