Frequently Asked Questions

An integral part of being a writer and publishing your work is that readers want to ask questions, seek clarification or (gasp!) tell me about typos or errors they found. I get lots of e-mail from my readers about all aspects of my work, primarily on The Witches of Eileanan. If you don't find an answer to your question here, please feel free to send me and e-mail.

I was interviewed by Van Ikin for his excellent Science Fiction magazine (edition #41) in addition to answering many questions sent by my readers. I also completed a Q&A piece for my editor in readiness for the publication of Book 4, The Forbidden Land.

General FAQ's

Where do you get your ideas from?

I don't know, they just come. I get ideas all the time, just daydreaming out the window. A poet Robert Browning called it being 'struck by the splendour of a sudden thought'. Once I get a few ideas that seem to fit together, I know I have the beginnings of a novel.

Writing Habits

I have three children aged 10, 7 and 4, and so I write when they are at school or pre-school, which at the moment is three days a week. I often write at night too, when they're asleep. I have a notebook where I jot down ideas, and reminders to myself, and sketch out scenes and character outlines, and sometimes try out different ways of writing a sentence to see which works better (if I'm having trouble writing on the computer, it sometimes helps to write longhand). Usually I write straight on to the computer though. I'm usually quite methodical – I start at the beginning and keep on writing to the end. Unless I get stuck. Then I go ahead of myself and come back to the difficult scene later.

I always edit and rewrite the previous day's work before I begin again, to remind myself what I was thinking.

Why do you write fantasy?

I always loved reading fantasy as a child – I love a good swashbuckling adventure, with magic and adventure and romance - plus it gives me an opportunity to express my deeply felt ideas about the world and humanity, in the form of a good story. I do write other types of books, though they usually have something strange and wonderful in them.

What are your motivations in writing?

To write the most interesting and readable story that I can, populated with vivid characters and with lots of exciting and unpredictable twists and turns.

What is unique about your work?

I have a very vivid imagination coupled with a poet's love of language, and a liking for puzzles and mysteries.

Do you write in other genres or mainstream?

Yes, I write poetry, articles and mainstream fiction as well, most of it under the name Kate Humphrey, which is my maiden name. I also write fantasy for children and young adults.

Do you do much research for your novels?

Yes, I research a lot. It helps make the world come alive, and is a very effective way of overcoming any rough patches in the writing.

What did it feel like when you had your first book published?

Absolutely thrilling!

Do you have any advise for aspiring writers?

Read a lot, write a lot, edit a lot. As much as you can!

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Always. Ever since I was really little, I dreamt of spending my days reading and writing, the two great joys of my life, and often think how lucky I am that I can now do as I've always wanted.

Was it easy to start writing your first book? How did you go about it?

I wrote my first book when I was about seven or eight and so I can't really remember. It was a very long time ago! I don't remember having any difficulty starting any of the many books I've written over the years – finishing is always much more difficult!

Did you read a lot as a child? If so, what kind of books did you read?

The first book I ever read was C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Ever since, I've been a voracious reader, devouring just about every book I could get my hands on. However, I read the dictionary if there was no other book to hand, and by the time I had left primary school had read every single book on the fiction shelves!

Writers I loved as a child

Ursula le Guin, Diana Wynne Jones, Lloyd Alexander, George Macdonald, Susan Cooper, J.R.R Tolkien, Enid Blyton, Patricia Wrightson, Alan Garner, Peter Dickinson, Elizabeth Goudge and Joan Aiken.

Writers I love now

Far too many to name, but some favourite childrens' writers are Phillip Pullman, Eva Ibbotson, Cornelia Funke, Garth Nix, Angie Sage, Sophie Masson, and Geraldine McCaughrean. Some favourite adult writers are Joanne Harris, Tracey Chevalier, Sarah Dunant, Phillipa Gregory, Barbara Kingsolver, Geraldine Brooks, Kim Wilkins, Juliet Marillier, and Elizabeth Knox. If you are a member of Shelfari you can see what Kate has been reading lately...

Which book of your own books is your favorite?

I'm always most attached to the book I've just finished! I think this is universally true of most writers, as it is the work we are the closest to at the time. After that, I love each book for different reasons ...

What makes fantasy as popular as it is today?

Fantasy has always been popular! It's only in modern times that we tend to separate stories that have a fantastical element from stories that do not. Tales of wonder and imagination have been a rich vein running all through the history of literature, from Homer to Shakespeare to Aesop.

How long did it take to get your first novel published?

I sold Dragonclaw before I had finished writing it. I began writing it in my university holidays, and by the time I went back to uni two months later, had a synopsis and a few chapters. I sent these to an agent who liked them and asked me to finish a rough draft, which I managed to do in about four months - with plot outlines for another two books in the series. My draft was very rough – some chapters were incomplete or in note form – but she put them up for auction and I got two strong offers from different publishers. I signed in June, six or seven months after I began writing, and then had to scramble to finish writing the book and write my thesis!

Is there a secret to getting a book published?

Write a good book, and keep on trying.

Would you recommend the life of an author?

Yes, of course I would recommend it! To me it is the greatest of all possible lives. To spend all day making up stories, to think, to dream, to read, to search for the perfect word and phrase, to try and express the inexpressible, in language that will fire the hearts and minds of those that read my words ... to reach out across the void and connect ... I love it!

When you are writing a book are you planning your next book at the same time?

Usually. I often have two or three ideas scurrying around my head at any given time and I have to force myself to focus on the job in hand. By the time I'm doing the final edit on a book, I've invariably started work on the next.

Is it important to be widely read before you write?

Of course. I can't imagine someone who does not love to read even wanting to be a writer ... and they certainly won't be a good one.

Do you ever wish that the worlds you write about were true?

I would like to have magical powers and to have adventures and fly on dragon-back and discover unknown worlds, of course I would. But I'm glad I don't live in those worlds, really. No hot running water...

How do you think up the names for your characters and places?

Baby name books, telephone directories, street names, all over the place...

What are you writing now?

I'm writing a time travel story for 9-12 year olds, set in Scotland. My heroine, an 11 year old girl called Hannah, travels back to the time of Mary, Queen of Scots, with her friends to try and lift a curse that has been cast on her family.