It’s a real pleasure to welcome Scottish author Kate Blackadder today. Kate is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the author of more than fifty short stories and serials for magazines such as The People’s Friend. Today Kate is here as part of a blog tour for the release of her first full-length novel, Stella’s Christmas Wish. It sounds a delightful holiday read – and I’m saving it for Christmas week especially!
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Kate in real life as well as in cyber-space, and it’s lovely to welcome her here to day. Welcome, Kate, and thanks for dropping in!
Where do you live, Kate? (Let’s pretend I don’t know :) ) I live in ‘the Athens of the North’ also known as Edinburgh!
Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities in the world – and I really enjoyed meeting you there!
Where is your own favourite place in the world? I lived in the very north-west of Scotland when I was a child and love the landscape there. It has occasionally inspired my writing, especially the beach at Oldshoremore.
Being a writer is a great job. What’s the worst job you’ve ever had? It is, isn’t it? I’ve never had a job I hated but I worked in a hotel one summer holiday when I was a student; cleaning a bath in which it was obvious that the guests had washed their Alsatian was not pleasant.
That sounds awful!
What book do you wish you’d written? Crow Lake by Mary Lawson (a distant relative of L M Montgomery). It’s set in rural, poverty-stricken, northern Ontario, Canada and is about what happens to four Morrison children after their parents die in a car crash. The story of their attempts to stay together, and the sacrifices made in that attempt by the oldest, Luke, is told in flashbacks by Kate who was seven at the time of the accident. I love the characters and the setting.
I’ve never read that novel. It’s now on my TBR. It sounds an intriguing read.
What’s your favourite Christmas film? Can I have two? It’s a Wonderful Life – we watch it every Christmas and I cry every time. For a bit of romance and glamour I’d go for The Holiday.
I love both those films!
Who would you invite to your ideal Christmas dinner if you could choose anyone (real, fictional, alive or dead)? George Clooney (not + 1; no explanation needed). Jane Austen (wouldn’t it be fab to tell her that her books are still loved and read, not to mention the spin-offs/films?). Doug McLure (my teenage cowboy crush from The Virginian). Victoria Wood (because she’s Victoria Wood). Bertie Wooster (because he’s a hoot). Alison Janney (I’d love to ask her about behind the scenes at The West Wing). Samuel Pepys
The seating arrangements would be problematic because Samuel was a bit of a ladies’ man (one woman fended him off during a church service by jabbing him with a hat pin) but he lived in fascinating times and I think he’d be great company.
What a fab dinner party that would be!
What’s your happiest childhood memory of Christmas? It’s a memory of more than one Christmas – getting an annual which I always had finished reading before breakfast. I’ve still got them all and have collected others; I have around 350. My favourite is one I got – Princess Annual 1965.
Oh, I love the cover! I used to love getting an annual at Christmas, too. Bunty was one of my favourites.
If you had to marry a fictional character, from film, television, or books, who would it be? I’m quite keen on older man Mr Knightley from Emma! It annoys me when an actor who’s far too young portrays him on film or TV.
What’s the most important lesson life has taught you? There’s a character in The Water-Babies called Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby – it’s good advice, if not always easy to follow.
And finally, please tell us about your latest book, where we can find it, and where we can find your blog/website
Thank you for your interesting questions, Helena.
My first full-length novel, Stella’s Christmas Wish, set in Edinburgh and the Borders, is published by Black and White Publishing at 99p / 99c
Here is the blurb:
One phone call can change everything…
Six days before Christmas, Stella could never have anticipated the impact on her life when the phone rings in her London office.
The phone call is from a friend of the family informing Stella that her grandmother has been hurt in a fall at her home in the Scottish borders and is in hospital. Torn between her responsibilities at work and the need to be with her grandmother she decides she must return to Scotland immediately.
However, on her return to where she grew up, it becomes apparent that her grandmother’s health is not her only concern. Relationships which have lain dormant for years are re-kindled and fresh opportunities present themselves – if she will only dare to take them..
Buy link: Amazon (Universal link)
Social links: Website / Twitter / Facebook
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It’s been great fun getting to know you, Kate. Thanks so much for your thoughtful answers. I’m really looking forward to reading Stella’s Christmas Wish!
If you’ve enjoyed Kate’s interview, or have any questions or comments at all, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you!
Helena Fairfax 
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