Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My stories are inspired by my travels. I love spending time in new places. My first published novella is Juliet’s Journey. I’m currently working on a series of three novellas set in Rome.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
he inspiration for Juliet’s Journey was a two week stay in the village of Baiardo where I worked as a volunteer at cultural association called A.C.L.E. It is a tranquil place in the mountains above San Remo. The art school that I took as my inspiration is actually in Tuscany, in a pretty walled town called Casole d’Elsa. And yes, I did a volunteer stint there as well. The school is called Centro D’Arte Verrocchio and holds classes throughout summer each year.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so, but then I’m probably not the best judge of that!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Maeve Binchy is a great story teller and I love her books. I also enjoy reading what I call ‘travel fiction’. One of my favourites are a collection called ‘Fortunes of War’ by Olivia Manning. Olivia based the novels on her own experiences when as a young wife, at the beginning of World War II, she and her husband were forced to flee form Bucharest, across the Balkans, into Greece, eventually ending up in Egyptl
What are you working on now?
I am working on a series of three contemporary romance novellas set in Rome. An Australian journalist stumbles on an intriguing family mystery and gets more than she bargained for when she decides it would make a great story.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitters seems to be a great way to get the message out. As the indie author community is amazingly supportive, I’ve found many other authors are happy to share the information.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep working– revise, redraft, edit. Then get someone you trust to look at your work. Then find some great beta readers.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you don’t try you fail.
What are you reading now?
The Mighty Dead by Adam Nicholson
What’s next for you as a writer?
A story about two people who first met over twenty years ago and are meet again, by chance. I’ve worked on this as a short story but I want to develope it into a longer format.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Odyssey
Katharine by Anya Seton
The Kappillan of Malta by Nicholas Montsarratt
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Author Websites and Profiles
Kathy Gates Website
Kathy Gates Amazon Profile
Kathy Gates’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account