Welcome
to Kathy Jay, another of our fifteen contenders for this year’s Joan Hessayon
Award.
Congratulations
on graduating the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. Can you tell us when
you first
decided that you wished to become a romantic novelist?
Thank you! When I
was a teenager I read a magazine article about a romantic novelist and decided
that I’d like to write romance too. I sent for guidelines, and still have them.
They’re a reminder that I held on to the dream. Success in a short story
competition got me writing again.
How
many years were you a member of the NWS scheme and did you submit a different
book each year? Which year’s book did you graduate with?
I was a member of
the New Writers’ Scheme for two years. I submitted two different manuscripts. I
graduated with the first book.
How
did you find your publisher?
A few months after
HarperCollins launched HarperImpulse, they announced a competition. That gave me
the push I needed to submit. I was one
of the winners. They offered me a three-book contract and invited me for afternoon
tea at Fortnum and Mason.
Promotion
is a big part of an author’s working life. How did you promote your novel?
HarperImpulse are
fabulous with all things promotion. But I have some catching up to do. I didn’t
have a social media presence as a pre-published author. I now have a website, a
Facebook page, and twitter.
What
has happened to you as an author since that first sale?
I had a revision
letter to work through for What If He’s
The One, followed by edits, and a cover brief. Then there was a proof-read
for the epub, and another for the paperback. I’ve submitted the second book in
my contract, and I’m writing the third.
How
did you celebrate your first book sale?
I opened a bottle
of Prosecco. Nothing beats a glass of fizz when there’s something to celebrate.
About Kathy:
I live in Cheshire
with my family which includes a large dog and a cat. I love the changing seasons.
I like pyjama days and cosy log fires in winter. In summer, my top things are
strawberries and walking on the beautiful beaches in North Wales. I started
writing my first romance on a vintage typewriter – way back when. Writing got
put on hold while I studied for a degree in Drama and French. I’ve been an au
pair, a teaching assistant, an office temp and a bilingual PA. I write fun,
flirty romance for HarperImpulse.
Links:
Thank
you, Kathy and good luck with your writing career.
