Author of A Song for Kitty.
Today, I am pleased to welcome contemporary romance author Angela Cairns to talk to us about A Song for Kitty, her latest novel which will release in August 2023.
Helen: Welcome Angela. I love your Ellie Rose series so I can’t wait to chat to you about your next release, A Song for Kitty. Could you tell us a little about it?
Angela: I’m incredibly excited about my next book A Song for Kitty. It’s a historical fiction set in the years before the First World War – against the backdrop of a tumultuous time where suffragettes fought for the vote, trade unions challenged employers for better pay and conditions and political unrest and war stalked the carefree Edwardian lifestyle.
Lily Matthews, an apprentice seamstress and her neighbour Aiden Donnelly, a talented pianist, are in love. They dream of careers in the Music Hall in London. At a suffragette meeting they encounter London Music Hall star Kitty Marion. Will the charismatic Kitty help them to achieve their dreams or destroy their relationship and put their well-being at risk?
Helen: This sounds so good. I look forward to reading it. Now I know you don’t have your cover yet, but what can you tell us about it?
Angela: I’ve been doing a lot of cover research as historical fiction is a new genre for me. I like the idea of a young woman in Edwardian dress, backed by a music hall scene or London skyline theme – but I will have to wait and see what my cover designer comes up with. I am also delighted with the interior art around the chapter headings.
Helen: I love lilies. This is such a pretty chapter heading and I love the way it resonates with the name of your protagonist. How about the book title, how did you come up with that?
Angela: I wrote the drafts of a Song for Kitty under the title Moonlight on the Water, and only changed the title after a dark night of the soul the evening before I sent my brief to the cover designer. Moonlight on water was a motif that ran through the book and set an ambience, however, a pivotal point in the story is when Aiden writes a song in honour of Kitty Marion, which Lily sings at a suffragette meeting. I ran both titles past my writing group as a mini poll and they unanimously voted for A Song for Kitty which confirmed the change for me.
Helen: I love asking my readers for help. I am a terrible ditherer when it comes to making decisions on covers and titles! So they are a good sanity check. You said historical fiction was a new genre for you. Who inspired you to write this book?
Angela: I wrote A Song for Kitty because my grandmother was born in 1896, she was 106 when she died and so I talked to her a lot about her life growing up. I also have some amazing archives in the form of her photos and some of her beautiful needlework too. This book is not her personal story at all, but the stories she told me, along with my research, gave me the setting and the voice of some of the characters. She was an amazing lady and I wanted to write something in her memory.
Helen: That is so lovely, and it is so wonderful that you were able to talk to your grandmother about her life and experiences. The best kind of research. If I was to ask your main character, Lily, why someone should read your book, what would she say?
Angela: If Lily Matthews could tell you why you should read A Song for Kitty she would say “We made mistakes, Aiden and I, but we were young and had brave, restless hearts. We wanted to be part of the changes that were going on around us and most of all we wanted to be together. But life isn’t always simple, we say things we don’t mean with powerful consequences. This is my story, but more than that it’s the story of how women found their voice.”
Helen: If that doesn’t make you want to read A Song for Kitty, I don’t know what will! Readers- Make sure you sign up to Angela’s newsletter here to find out first when A Song for Kitty releases. As a writer, we all experience self doubt at some point. How do you overcome the imposter syndrome?
Angela: When I’m experiencing doubts about my writing, I hold a lovely quote in my head, “You don’t have to be a Guru to contribute.” I may not be a literary prize winner or a punctuation guru, but someone out there needs to read what I write, so I write anyway.
I also go back to my yoga breathing to centre myself and accept that all is well. It’s alright to be a little scared, scary means we are pushing the boundaries to be our best self.
I’m a writing coach as well as an author so I use lots of techniques to help with imposter syndrome – it’s always good to remember that no-one else has your unique voice and experience to contribute. Your readers might like to download my free eBook – Overcome Your Writing Roadblocks, which is packed with information to make the writing process easier. https://launchmoxie.com/cairns-writing-roadblocks/
Helen: Thank you so much for sharing this writer resource, I think all writers will appreciate the advice. How about Writer’s block? How do you deal with that?
Angela: The dreaded writer’s block! If I’m struggling to get words on the page, then I change up my routine. I write somewhere different like the library or local coffee shop. I change from my laptop to pen and paper, or I dictate. Sometimes I change medium, and dance or paint instead of writing to stimulate creativity in a different way. Failing that, I give myself a break, take some time off and go out to engage my senses looking, listening, touching, and smelling in a detailed, mindful way to get the creative juices flowing.
Helen: Great advice! Most writers are great readers. What is your favourite book?
Angela: My favourite book – well I suppose there are a number, but if I must choose one – I love Joanne Harris’ Chocolat series. I lived in France for six years and she effortlessly takes me back there. I love the sprinkle of magic in all her books too and that the main character Vianne Rocher lives from her generous heart.
Helen: Great choice! It’s been lovely having you on my blog, Angela. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me. Just to finish could share some of your recent reads with us?
Angela: As a writer, I love to read and have read some excellent indie books recently. In women’s fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed Julia Blake’s Perennials trilogy and laughed and cried along with the characters. The books tell the story of how a lonely ugly duckling girl created her style, gathered a found family and weathered all the storms that life can throw. I also love a good crime thriller and enjoyed Wendy H. Jones’ The Killer’s Countdown, set in Dundee, if you love Rebus you’ll enjoy DI Shona McKenzie too. I loved your SoulBreather and DragonBound too, the themes of corruption and political powerbroking in heaven are intriguing and who doesn’t love a wounded hero.
Happy reading, thank you for asking me to talk to your readers, Helen, It’s always fun to chat about books. If your readers would like to sign up to my newsletter then they can download Paradise, prequel novella to the Ellie Rose Series as a gift from me. www.angelacairnsauthor.co.uk/sign-up. A Song for Kitty is due for release in August this year.
About the Author
Hi,
I’m Angela Cairns, Amazon bestselling women’s fiction author of the Ellie Rose Series and historical fiction, A Song for Kitty. I’m a holistic physiotherapist and acupuncturist, author, writing coach and BBC guest broadcaster.
I write stories and books because I can’t help myself. I’m lucky, because at this stage in my Physio career, I can give time to writing fiction.
I write about things that matter to me, everyday life, amazing people, interesting times, and emotions. What could be more exciting and challenging than to convey all that to someone reading a story you’ve created. Recently someone wrote to me to say they had re-read Touch, my first novel, because it moved them, and warmed their heart. It’s humbling, priceless and makes all the hard work worthwhile.
If life is a boat in which we sail – then our stories are the waves which carry us.
Angela
If you’d like to find out more about Angela’s Ellie Rose series then see the interview we did back in February 2022.
You can purchase Touch first book in the Ellie Rose series here:
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather, or my epic fantasy Sentinal series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
Helen Garraway 