1.
What do you wish men understood about women?
Actually, they need
to stop worrying about not understanding us and just let us get on with it.
We're fully rounded people, just like them. Not some mystery. I'm not sure I
believe that men and women are really all that different and in my novels I
love to challenge gender stereotypes, giving both men and women roles they are
not “supposed” to do, such as female soldiers (The Lady Soldier) and male
midwives (Secrets at City Hospital).
2.
Do you only work on one book at a time?
Yes, or I'd get confused I
think. Writing a novel is a complex thing and I like spending time in the heads
of my main characters.
3.
Who is your favorite fictional couple?
There are so many
lovely couples in literature; all Jane Austen's couples for a start. But I've
always loved Miss Piggy and Kermit from The Muppets, since being a child. It's
a slightly dysfunctional relationship but the possibility for real romance to
blossom is there. Kermit could do with a
strong woman and he brings out her softer side.
4.
Do you have a favorite quote that sums up how you feel about
life?
“Let other pens dwell
on guilt and misery” – Jane Austen. I'm an optimist.
5.
Do you set daily writing goals? Word count? Number of
chapters? Do you get a chance to write every day?
With two young
children plus work, I don't get time to write daily so I have to make do with
fits and starts when I have the chance. Plane and train journeys are great for
getting writing done. I don't let myself take a book or buy a newspaper and
then I am forced to write.
6. What do
you like better, Twitter or Facebook? Why?
They've both got their good points but I
probably prefer Facebook as most of my friends and a lot of family are on there
and it's a great place to share information and photos.
7.
What are you working on now?
I'm writing a
contemporary romance but after that I'm hoping to tackle the sequel to Mary
Bennet, which will be the story of her sister Kitty. Mary Bennet finishes on a
bit of a cliffhanger as far as her sister Kitty is concerned and so I already
have a dramatic opening to Kitty Bennet's story!
8.
Tell us about your latest release and where we
can find it
Mary
Bennet follows on from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, starting about eight
months after the end of Austen's novel. It tells the story of what happened to
Mary Bennet, the unpromising middle daughter in the Bennet household. Three of
the five sisters are married but Mrs Bennet remains determined to see all five
daughters married. Mary Bennet is available as a paperback from all good
bookshops (ISBN 9781495245091) and also as an
ebook from Amazon Kindle.
No
one who has ever seen me would suppose me a heroine. My situation in life, the
character of my father and mother, indeed my own person and disposition are all
against me.
MARY BENNET
Mrs
Bennet is determined that all five of her daughters must marry. Mary overhears
a conversation between her parents that shatters her already fragile sense of
self-worth. She knows she is the least attractive of the sisters but to hear
that her attempts to overcome this by being intelligent and accomplished are
laughable sends her into a deep depression.
Mary
and her her sister Kitty are sent to Derbyshire so that their elder sister, Mrs
Darcy, can introduce them to suitable young gentlemen. Mary is satisfied to
remain a spinster and is shy with gentleman. But she does decide she should try
and improve herself.
On
the way to Derbyshire she meets a strange gentleman who she considers ill
mannered. However she is intrigued by his knowledgeable conversation about old
buildings.
On
arrival at Pemberley, the home of the Darcy’s, Mary discovers that the stranger
is a Mr Sharnbrook of Kent and also a house guest. Mr Sharnbrook is an amateur
archaeologist and has come to Pemberley to excavate possible burial mounds as
part of his studies. Mary is interested in his work and offers to help him sort
out his notes. Engrossed in the work, her spirits begin to lift.
A
continuation of Pride and Prejudice beginning eight months after the end
of Jane Austen's novel, Mary Bennet tells the story of how the Bennet's
neglected middle daughter tries to overcome the disadvantages of her character
and find happiness.
About the Author
Kate lives in the
Bedfordshire countryside, England, close to the Chiltern Hills.
She developed plans to be a novelist at the age of seven after reading
about the career of prolific children's author Enid Blyton, whose adventure and
mystery story books she read avidly. She taught herself to use her mother's
typewriter to try and make her stories look like "proper books".
Endlessly fascinated by "the past", Kate took a degree in History
before starting a commercial career.
She began
seriously writing in 2001, taking a notebook with her on the train to make best
use of her commute to work. She wrote two historical novel manuscripts before
receiving an offer of publication for the second - a short novel - in 2004 from
DC Thomson. Fateful Deception is a romantic adventure set in the
early 19th century and was shortlisted for the 2005 RNA New Writers Award.
2006 saw the
publication of Perfidy and Perfection, Kate's romantic comedy set in Jane
Austen's England, and the publication of two short novels: Fateful Deception
and The Restless Heart.
Kate also writes in
partnership with author Michelle Styles under the name Jennifer Lindsay.
Jennifer Lindsay's first novel, The Lady Soldier, is a
romantic adventure about a lady who disguises herself as a man in order to
join Wellington's army. It was published in 2005.
The kind of stories
Kate writes are those that she would like to read, and she hopes that others
will find them enjoyable and entertaining too.
Kate is member of the
Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors.
Rachel, thank you for taking part in Kate's tour today with your interesting interview.
ReplyDeleteShaz