Author in the House: Interview with Middle Grade Fantasy Author Kathryn Rossati...

Welcome to my virtual hub! Today I’m featuring middle grade fantasy author, Kathryn Rossati, who is a fellow author-mate with Next Chapter, and also writes time travel tales. We’re definitely kindred spirits! I loved the questions that she sent me to answer for her blog post recently, so I asked Kathryn if she’d like to be a guest on my blog, and answer those same questions. She loved the idea, so without further ado, here are the results of this collaboration. Enjoy…   

Welcome, Kathryn! When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve loved writing down stories since I was very young, as I daydreamed a lot and wanted to keep those daydreamed worlds safe. In terms of writing professionally, as soon as it dawned on me that people actually wrote books for a living, I knew that’s what I wanted to do – so perhaps age eight or nine.

What's your latest book about?

My latest published novel is an upper middle grade time travel story, called Naturally Nic/k. The story focuses on an autistic girl called Nic, who ends up back in time along with two of her bullies, who immediately vanish in the bustle of the Thames Tunnel Fancy Fair. Nic bumps into a young magician, Nikolai, whose brother has gone missing, and decides to team up with him to find out where her bullies and the missing kids from all over London have been disappearing to.

The story is written in dual point of view, with chapters alternating between Nic and Nikolai’s perspectives, and it was great fun to create their individual voices. It’s also the first novel I wrote after receiving my autism diagnosis back in early 2019, and I drafted it at a time when my mental health was really quite low. I’ve very proud of how Naturally Nic/k turned out considering that, and it feels wonderful to have written a character that young autistic people can connect with.

Where do you get your ideas from?

My ideas for books and poems can come from anywhere. Naturally Nic/k was inspired by my husband, who practices card tricks as a hobby, but some of the things that sparked my other books and poetry collections have been turns of phrase, being out in nature, mishearing something, a specific piece of artwork, and other forms of media like TV series and films. Music always fuels my creativity too.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I like to write once all the housework is done for the day, so it’s not cluttering up my mind. (I have ADHD as well as being autistic, so my mind is rather cluttered and busy anyway.) I like a quiet space to write in, though that’s not always possible if my parrot and budgie are playing a game of ‘who can shout the loudest’ – fortunately, I’m used to their shenanigans, so that doesn’t tend to distract me too much (plus I have ear plugs if they or any sounds from outside get too overwhelming). I’m also a fan of having a good cup of tea next to me, though I often forget about it and only remember when it’s gone cold.

What do you hope readers will gain from reading your work?

Escapism, first and foremost. I’m a huge reader myself, and I know the power of settling down with a good book after a stressful or overwhelming day, so my hope is that my books can provide that comfort and enjoyment for someone, if only for a short time.

I also hope that readers will really connect with my characters and the worlds they live in, and particularly in the case of Naturally Nic/k (and a few of my upcoming books), find themselves represented in the narrative.

Who are you favourite authors?

It’s so hard to choose, because there are so many authors whose books I love, but as of this moment, I can think of:

Diana Wynne Jones, whose books cover just about every type of fantasy you might imagine.

Thomas Leeds, who is a spectacular writer and the first author I’ve read who wrote a fantasy adventure trilogy featuring a main protagonist with a brain injury and epilepsy (starting with Jayben and the Golden Torch).

Alan Gibbons, who wrote the amazing Legendeer series which completely blew me away when I read it as a child, and which I still adore now.

Jonathan Stroud, who wrote the excellent Lockwood and Co. series which really got me into paranormal fiction.

Do you have any dreams about where you'd like your writing career to go? (like film adaptations, merchandise, having your book on everyone's shelves?)

It would be lovely to see a stage or screen (either film or series) adaptation of any of my books, but what I would really like is just for more people to discover them.

What's your favourite book/film/song/piece of art?

It’s tough to decide on what my favourite book is, but I’d say Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I love the characters, the world, and just the cosy vibes it gives off while reading. It’s one of those books that I can read again and again and always find something new to love about it.

My favourite film is probably The Mummy (1999) which I’ve loved ever since it came out. I’ve always had a fascination with Ancient Egypt (even though I’ve never delved deep into researching it – not yet, at least), and I love a good adventure with some humour, so those things make a winning combination for me.

For music and songs, I think The Mummers’ Dance by Loreena McKennitt is my favourite; I even had it playing at my wedding! It always makes me think of long treks, adventure, and being swept up in a story, and it’s one of the songs I turn to if I’m having a bad day and need something soothing.

My favourite piece of art is by surrealist artist Max Ernst, and actually has a few different titles as it was renamed a few times: The Angel of Hearth and Home/Fireside Angel/The Triumph of Surrealism. I first came across it when I was researching surrealist painters for my art G.C.S.E. many years ago, and something about it really captured me. The story behind the painting is actually about the chaos of politics (or there abouts), but I didn’t know that until recently. I think the reason why I like it is that there’s this fierceness and confusion surrounding the figure, but also a sense of deep pain. It’s very thought provoking.

Any hobbies or things you love to do?

I’ve been learning to paint with watercolour and gouache for the past two years, which I very much enjoy, and I also love to go for walks in nature. Unfortunately, as I have a dynamic disability (hypermobility spectrum disorder and dysautonomia, for anyone who’s curious), I’m not able to go out for walks as often as I’d like. Fortunately, the house my husband and I rent has a lovely garden and we have a birdfeeder, so I often watch the birds outside. I also like playing computer games, mostly fantasy adventure games like The Legend of Zelda (which I’m a huge fan of).

Any other fun facts you'd like to share about yourself or your writing?  

I have several writing projects in the works this year. I’m currently drafting my first ever fantasy novel aimed at adult readers, self-editing a paranormal upper middle grade book which I’m very excited about, and working on a commission involving the Isle of Wight National Landscape (which means I get to develop my nature writing). I also have a poetry collection due to be published all about nature and wildlife, which I’m looking forward to sharing.

Kathryn Rossati. is an AuDHD and disabled author based on the Isle of Wight, and writes young adult
and middle grade fiction, as well as poetry. She’s also an aspiring artist, focusing on watercolour and gouache. 

Kathryn loves most genres of fiction, with a particular soft-spot for books inspired by mythology and fairy tales, and often incorporates those ideas into her own work. She also enjoys narrative non-fiction about nature, folklore, and history. 

She always looks forward to hearing from readers and fellow writers, so if you're a fan of her books or have questions about writing and publishing, feel free to reach out with questions, feedback or just to say hello.

You can connect with Kathryn Rossati at her website: https://linktr.ee/kathrynrossatiwrites