Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Reay.
Hi Katherine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I write historical fiction novels and my latest, THE UNDERCOVER BOOKSHOP, published on October 6th. Right now I’d not at my desk, where every writer probably feels most comfortable, but I’m having a wonderful time traveling to book stores and libraries chatting about the story and the inspirations behind it, primarily Cold War spies and British Classic mystery novels.
As for my own story and how I began, writing is a second career for me. I worked in marketing for many years, but was injured in late 2008 and spent much of the next year recovering and reading. During that time a story came to me, one that needed to be written, so I started my first novel, knowing very little about what I was doing. But when it sold a few years later, I had a new career and have now published thirteen books in the past thirteen years — and I love what I do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been an intense road with a huge learning curve and a pretty intense pace, but it’s been a wonderful journey as well. I shifted from contemporary to historical fiction after seven books and, at first, worried my readers might not enjoy the switch. But historical fiction — primarily stories about spies — have been a natural fit for me and, thank goodness, have resonated with readers.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Since my first historical fiction novel published in 2021, I have written primarily during the Cold War era and have loved the research and the writing that not only brings that period to life, but resonates with readers as being descriptive of many aspects of contemporary life as well. It’s exciting to draw those connections between the past and present and bring history to life in that way.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Everything is changing from the ways books gets published to the ways in which readers access and relate to them. From traditional publishing to self publishing to all the boutique avenues in between to ebooks, audio books and more. It’s really quite remarkable — every aspect of the reading/publishing landscape is changing. It’s an exciting time to be a part of it in many ways.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katherinereay.com
- Instagram: @katherinereay
- Facebook: @katherinereaybooks
- Twitter: @Katherine_reay
