Portobello Book Blog

I’m very pleased to welcome Kathryn Freeman to take her turn in the spotlight today. Kathryn’s latest book, Search for the Truth, was published by ChocLit on 13th August 2015 and you can order a copy here: Search for the Truth 

Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog, Joanne. It’s an absolute pleasure to be here.

Lovely to have you! First of all, would you tell me a little about yourself?

Well, if you insist..  Career wise I’m a former pharmacist who left Boots to work in the pharmaceutical industry. Twenty years later I left that to write romantic fiction. I have two teenage sons who hate when their friends find out their mother writes romantic fiction. And a husband whose idea of romance is to ask me if I really need a Valentine card (yes) and then buy it from the petrol station on the way home.

What inspired you to start writing?

Reading. I don’t think I’m unusual in this (in many ways, perhaps, but not in this). Not all readers have a desire to write, but us writers love to read. Authors like Nora Roberts (my all time favourite) inspired me because I would read her and think how wonderful to be able to create your own characters, give them a journey and an ending. Then I would read a book where I was dissatisfied with the ending and think how I would have written it instead. Not long after that, I was trying to write my own book  – and realising how flipping hard it is!

Tell me about your journey to publication?

Tortuous! Nothing worthwhile is ever gained easily, so they say, and certainly I think the fact that it took me many years to find a publisher did make it that bit more special when it finally happened (though it was already hugely special!). I started writing a children’s book because I had the idea, and because it was by nature short to write. That bombed but by then I had the bug and wrote my first romance. That bombed too. Three years, several books and more rejections than I like to think of, later I had success with Choc Lit who gave me a two book contract (Too Charming and Do Opposites Attract?).

In a nutshell, what is your latest book about?

Search for the Truth is a love story, though it’s also a glimpse into the pharmaceutical industry (I thought I’d make use of my experience there!). Tess, an undercover journalist, joins Helix pharmaceuticals because she’s convinced their new cancer drug was the cause of her mother’s death. In between trying to dig out the truth on whether the company hid any damning safety data, she has to work for the magnetic, dynamic head of research and development, Jim Knight. He doesn’t know she’s on a mission that could destroy Helix — and she doesn’t realise how hard it will prove to betray him.

Do you have a work in progress just now?

I’m just beginning edits on my next book, out in April. For this I took inspiration not from my career, but from the cardboard cut out of racing car driver Jenson Button that stands next to my desk. When I’m writing I often find myself staring at his sexy face, so I had to write a story about a racing driver, didn’t I? 

What’s your favourite book you’ve read so far this year? Or favourite three if you really can’t choose!

This year has only just started, so I’m going to go for last year. I loved The Liar by Nora Roberts – I’ve never read a book of hers I didn’t love – but also really enjoyed Christina Lauren’s Wild seasons series. Smoking hot!

What are you reading just now?

Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young. I loved the previous books I’ve read by her; Hero, On Dublin Street and Down London Road. In fact she should be up in the answer to my favourite books of 2015!

Tell me about your reading habits:  book or kindle, bed or bath, morning or evening?

I’m a totally converted kindle fan –  it makes it so easy to try so many different authors. As an author though, there is nothing more special than seeing my name on an actual book. I read every evening before I go to bed, without fail, even if it’s for only five minutes.

How can people follow you or connect with you on social media?

I love doodling around on Twitter when I should be writing. You can also find me on Facebook and on my website.

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

And finally, if you could be a character in any book you have read, who would it be and why?

Demelza, so I could get into Ross Poldark’s tight breeches….