Interview With An Author Featuring Kate Kelly

I had the great pleasure of reading alongside Kate Kelly at Novel Idea in Kingston and I was struck not only by her lovely prose as she read from her debuty novel, A Harsh and Private Beauty, but her longtime passion and dedication to her craft.

Welcome, Kate! Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I became an author because I had to. Lol I have always written prose and poetry and thought in stories but getting published always seemed too daunting an experience. A good friend of mine insisted that I send out a query letter to Inanna and the rest is history, as they say.

What is something unique/quirky about you?
As with every artist, I am quirky but don’t realize it. I have been told though. I am also a slam poet and a singer/songwriter and I like to meditate and play pool.

Tell us something really memorable in your life.
I sailed down the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey and experienced a geographical place where East meets West!

What are some of your pet peeves?
Doing any type of paper work and coffee but no cream.

If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
With my children and my parents eating and drinking everything that’s bad for me and playing music.

What are you passionate about these days?
Writing, playing music, family and self-discovery.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
Listen to lectures on the quantum field or play the guitar.

How to find time to write as a parent?
That is very difficult. I kept my writing to short pieces, locked in the bathroom for privacy, until my last child went off to University. Now my time is my own and the writings are longer.

How would you describe yourself in 5 words or less?
A human seeking to evolve.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Always.

What inspired you to write A Harsh and Private Beauty?
A line in Annie Proulx’s The Shipping News, “How could they know he swallowed glassful after glassful to comprehend a harsh and private beauty.”

What can we expect from you in the future?
Another novel due out next year with Inanna Press called, Meadowland and a third novel very soon.

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?
Ruby Grace in my novel, A Harsh and Private Beauty is loosely based on a real woman I knew, June Whiteman who was a trained vocalist and who broke into the movies in her 70’s.

Where did you come up with the names in the story?
Ruby Grace because we are all precious stones seeking grace. Others through research, because i wanted authenticity, and Lisa and Gary because they are simple and relatable.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
The research and where the characters led me.

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?
Their struggles to find meaning and beauty in life.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
We all have lives that are at times harsh but always beautiful. Live your story well.

What did you edit out of this book?
Not much. My editor Lucianna Ricciutelli from Inanna Press was a wonderful editor and I thank her deeply.

What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?
1.To Kill a Mocking Bird, Harper Lee 2. Pison Wood Bible and all things written by Barbara Kingsolver. 3. Song of Solomen and all things by Tony Morrison. 4. Sons and Lovers and all things by D.H Lawrence. 5. Pride and Prejudice and all things by Jane Austin. 6.Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and most things by James Joyce. 7.Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. 8. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. 9. The Book of Negros by Lawrence Hill. 10. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. 10b) A fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry... and the list goes on and on.....

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
You are on the write track! Lol

Do you believe in writer’s block?
No.

Thank you Kate, for joining me today with this lovely interview and best wishes for all your future creative endeavours!

Kate Kelly is an educator, singer/song writer, poet and novelist. A mother of three, she lives and works in Peterborough. Kate is also a spoken-word artist and has competed nationally in Toronto and Montreal. She can be found on Youtube, performing spoken word and a sample some of her writings are posted on her blog, https://thesoulfulside.com. A Harsh and Private Beauty is her debut novel and can be found at https://www.inanna.ca/product/a-harsh...