Featured Authors: Katy Walters

[Jen Rattie]

Tell us about your latest book.

Lady Henrietta’s Dilemma is the second in the series, Lords of Sussex. Lady Henrietta’s Dilemma is the second in the series, Lords of Sussex. Henrietta harbours an appalling secret, it preys on her mind, and she pleads with him to delay consummation of the marriage.  They have a shocking argument in which she refuses to declare any love for her, and to her anguish, refuses to give up his mistress. However, he too carries a secret that could break Henrietta’s heart, even wreck her life. There is a certain prince who is determined to have her, married or not, but what is his true title? A romance set in the 1815 as the clouds of war gather over Brussels.

Where did the idea for the book come from?

I live in a regency town with Brighton and Bath nearby, so we are surrounded with regency architecture and history. I also have an ancestor who in the regency era, wrote of the history of the time.

Who and what inspire you to write?  

As a child, I would write stories for my younger sister. That love developed, as I continued to write short stories and reams of poetry. I am thinking of publishing the poems at some time.

What has been the most pleasant surprise about writing? How about an unexpected down side?

I think it is when I sit down to write a new novel with only a vague idea of what it is about. I am what is termed a pantser as I never lay out a cold hard plan before writing. All I have is a feeling, a character and some ideas. Therefore, when the characters appear, I am delighted and intrigued, as to what they will come up with next. As the story unfolds, the ideas flow in a more orderly form that is, until one of the characters changes their mind!

The unexpected downside is socializing. I find that when a book flows, it is very difficult to leave it, even for an afternoon with friends. However, I make myself do it ,and come away feeling happy and refreshed.

Do you have any writing rituals?

Yes, a steaming hot cup of coffee and music.  Generally it is classical, as I find the words just dance onto the screen. I actually love Will.I.Am’s music and the Black Eyed Peas and some of the rock music, but that does not conjure up the romance of the Regency era so I keep that for my crime books. For a break, I take Lily, my golden retriever for a walk along the beach or the country lanes. When watching the sun sparkle silver bright on the waves, or see the blossom on the trees, fresh ideas spring up.  

Do you write your books in order?  

Yes.  But sometimes I will branch off to write in a different genre. I sometimes have the urge to write crime or sci-fi, and in so doing thoroughly enjoy it.  

Any favorite writing snacks?

Coffee and dark chocolate in that order, oh and some honey popcorn, hubby buys it and I can’t resist it.

What advice would you give writers who aspire to be published?

Pay attention to the writing techniques. Structure is very important, as is the dramatic arch. Each chapter should be structured;  make sure there is euphony in the narrative, using assonance and consonance, all of which makes for a smooth read. Also the rhythm of the paragraphs is necessary. All of this is important for the reader. There is a lot more, like rounding and deepening the characters, giving texture to the novel with having more than one thread.

Are you working on anything new right now?

Yes, I am excited with it. This is about Lady Phillipa’s Peril.  It starts off with her hoping to marry her childhood sweetheart Lord Hector Thurston, and accompany him to Brussels. However, to her dismay she realizes that she does not have the same excitement with him as when she dances with the young dandies at her first season. Nevertheless, they have been betrothed since childhood, so she intends to marry him. After walking past the new Brighton Pavilion with Lady Venetia, she falls on the promenade.  A handsome officer, Lord Damien Delmare rushes to her aid, and hefts her up in his arms. To her astonishment, her heart races and a sizzle of desire races through her body; ultimately a friendship develops. However, it can never be more than that, as she is determined to marry Lord Hector; she cannot break the heart of her childhood friend……

Who is your favorite character in your current book?  

My favourite character is Phillipa, as she is complex, both wilful and outspoken, but sensitive to the needs of others. She is also searching for something more in her life than an arranged marriage, tea parties and assemblies. She has yet to tell me what that is and how she feels about it or even if she will find it.  Also, she will not reveal if she marries Lord  Hector….so I shall have to write more to find out.

What is your favorite book of all time?

I love books for different reasons and for different themes. My study has wall to wall shelves stacked with books and I treasure them. Now of course, they also hold the  differing kindles, so I cannot really say which is my favourite.

Tell us in one sentence why we should read your book.

‘I love it and I would love to share the themes, the sorrow, love and joy of Henrietta’s life.  

 

About the author:

Thank you for having me here today. My main loves are writing, painting and singing. I began work as a PA but to my joy was spotted by an agent in London and had an exciting career as a singer, meeting and singing with some wonderful people. Singing meant a lot of travelling both in the UK and abroad. At one time, I toured Germany and Turkey singing for the American troops, which was a fantastic experience. But then, my husband and I wanted a family, so I said good-bye to the singing career, although I did the occasional gig. Having children is such a precious time, and I would say to anyone, treasure it, it goes so quickly and before you know it, you’re waving them off to Uni or pursuing their own dreams and their own homes. I have always had a deep interest in psychology for various reasons, and especially the area of neurosis arising from abuse. Later, I was to study how we could use our body, mind and spirit to relieve pain and overcome some life-threatening diseases. One important thing here is, I always told my patients to continue with medical treatment along with the complementary and spiritual methods, for I believe medical research and medication is also a gift from God, Spirit or the Universe, as each of us wishes to name it. I have loved writing from a child and during the years of study, research and treating some wonderful people, whom I called my friends, I would write at night, mainly short stories, and reams of poetry. I wanted to learn how to write self-help books for my clients, so I took creative writing courses at university, which led to writing a novel. So self-help novels turned to fiction but even so, I hope the novels help the reader through their own challenges, as the characters experience love, loss, passion, jealousy, illness, joy and conflict, even the threat of death. At present, I am writing the third book in the series ‘Lady Phillipa’s Peril’ and also putting together some ideas for the self-help book. This has been so enjoyable thank you.

Wattpad | Twitter | Website | Blog  | LinkedIn | Facebook