June

Author Interview

Kate High

Book Review

Can you walk us through your typical writing day? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you stay productive?

I do most of my thinking while walking Ollie, my small dog. I start work late morning, breaking for lunch, and continue in the afternoon until about 5 pm.

Before starting a new novel there is a longish period - perhaps two months, when I am working out what will happen - how the story will unfold.

Once I begin - I write the first three chapters and the last chapter. The characters and actions might change as I continue with the novel. I always have to change the last chapter to accommodate this.

There is quite a long period of editing. Making sure everything makes sense and that there are a balance of red herrings and actions that will allow the reader to work out who the murderer is.

What inspired the main idea or premise of your current book?

'Small Acts of Deceit,' is my 5th book a thriller it comes out 28th May 2025. It's main protagonist, Mauve, is running away. The police have linked her to two murders.

I love on the road books or films. They do not necessarily need to be thrillers or crime novels. As A child I enjoyed 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain. Later 'On The Road,' Jack Kerouac. A favourite film is 'Little Miss Sunshine,' the 2006 tragicomedy.

I write thrillers and cosy crime, and my favourite authors include Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell, Denise Mina and Ann Cleeves.

The novels I write are fiction, my own experiences as a maker/silversmith and setting up and running an animal welfare charity were useful when writing the first four novels. Clarice, the main protagonist in the Lincolnshire Wolds mystery series, is a ceramicist and she runs an animal charity - rehoming rescue dogs and cats.

How do you develop your characters? Do they evolve organically as the story progresses, or do you plan them in detail beforehand?

I think about the book for a long time before starting. The main protagonists are developed at this point. Most of my thinking is done while I am dog walking.

I start a novel by writing the first three chapters - then the last chapter. I then have a beginning and an end. How I get to the end might change - this necessitates me changing the last chapter. The characters are well formed when I start. I have a definite idea of their mind sets - but they evolve as the story progresses. Even if a character is deeply flawed I try to show something that explains why they as as they are. Something that might, in part, redeem them. I think there is always something of an author in any book.

The most important process in writing is in the editing. It gives opportunity to cut and refine the novel.

Have you faced any unexpected challenges during your career that changed the way you approach writing?

I was a designer /maker in metals for forty years. In my mid-sixties when my hands and wrists became arthritic - I could no longer work with metals. I took a leap of faith to become a writer. The first book came out in paperback two weeks after my 70th birthday. I had originally planned to become a writer in my thirties. Then, life as a designer/maker took my interest. I don't regret having started late in life. In my 70's I am enjoying the writing journey and where it takes me.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers looking to break into the industry?

The advice I would give to an aspiring writer is - don't give up. Writers tend to be sensitive souls, but like other professions they will face rejection. Grow a thick skin and keep going. Always remember it's not personal. The publishing industry is notoriously tough. The publisher is not going to publish an author if they believe that they will lose money on them.

What can your readers expect from you in the near future?

I have had four books published in cosy crime. The fifth novel is a thriller. I hope to go on with more thrillers in the future. I am enjoying exploring different genres.

Kate, thank you for your time today, 'Small Acts of Deceit' came out in March which I am looking forward to reading! Kate has a website which has all my books listed.