TALK: Kate Sermon

#interview #author #ukya

Kate Sermon is a journalist and author living in Devon. She spoke to StoryWorld about her debut crossover novel Dark Sleepers.

Hi Kate! Tell me about Dark Sleepers.

It's a redemptive story, of friendship, and what it means to suddenly grow up. Kezia is fourteen years old when she watches her dad die in a car crash, her grief propells her into the astral realms in search of him. And as it turns out in search of a way to survive. Her friendship with Ben, an equally lonely boy becomes the centre of her story. It's set on Dartmoor. But is also a magical realism book as most of the story takes place in the astral realms.

How did you come up with the idea?

My husband and I took our two boys to Canada, in 2004, in a bid to emigrate and start a new life. While there we ran an Art Gallery and craft shop, it was while I was sat behind the counter, bubbling over with homesickness that Dartmoor floated in, and Kezia appeared full formed in it. I wrote the first chapter behind that desk.

I've always been interested in astral projection and the idea of spirit worlds. I suppose as I too, had my dad die when I was a teenager I could relate to Kezia's painful grief as well.

What’s your writing schedule like? Do you have regular times, places, etc?

When I'm writing a first draft, I write every morning without fail. Usually words are already clammering to be written when I wake up so I don't wait. Most of Dark Sleepers and Dark Minds has been written on a laptop in my bed! If I find I am searching for inspiration I write a haiku or a longer poem to 'loosen the ghosts'.

Editing is different, I hate it - so I tend to procrastinate until my publisher screams at me.

I also use Facebook as a quick concentration break now and again, and to slow my writing down.

Are you writing anything at the moment?

I'm editing the Dark Sleepers sequel, Dark Minds (working title) at the moment. So I'm in procrastination and self-doubt phase! I prefer the freedom of the first draft more, it reflects my wild spirit a tad more I feel.

Find Kate on Facebook, on Twitter, on Goodreads, and on Pinterest. Dark Sleepers is available online.