Author Q & A - Kathryn Croft

You wake up to find the man beside you is dead.
He is not your husband. This is not your bed.

Tara Logan adores her perfect little family: husband, Noah, and two children, teenager Rosie and eleven-year-old Spencer.

But her happiness is shattered when she wakes in her neighbour, Lee Jacobs’ bed, with no memory of how she got there or what happened between them. And worse – he has been stabbed to death.

Convinced she didn’t kill Lee, Tara flees home and stays silent, holding her breath as the investigation grips the neighbourhood.
But as her daughter spirals out of control, and her husband becomes increasingly distant, Tara starts to wonder if someone in her own life knows what really happened that night. And when the police turn their questions towards her, Tara realises she has to find out.

But what will it take to uncover the real story, and can she survive the truth?

A gripping, shocking psychological thriller, with a twist that will take you by surprise.
Will engross fans of Between You and Me, Behind Closed Doors, and The Girl on the Train.

Title:               While You Were Sleeping
Author:           Kathryn Croft
Published By: Bookouture
Date:               Nov 16th 2016
Link:               UK: Amazon  US: Amazon

Author Q & A with Kathryn Croft

Hi Kathryn, welcome to Sincerely Book Angels blog.

What was the inspiration behind this novel?
The idea actually came to me from a poem I read years ago in which a woman wakes up with a head on the pillow beside her. In the poem, the speaker knows that she's responsible for this murder, but I was intrigued by the idea of someone waking up beside a dead body and not knowing how they ended up there.

Did you always want to be a writer?
Yes, I have always loved reading and writing and knew I just had to write a book one day. It took me a long time to finally get there, though!

What other jobs have you had?
Far too many to mention here, but I previously worked in management training and then I was a secondary school English teacher for six years before writing my first novel.

How did it feel when your first novel was published?
It was one of the most exciting moments of my life, especially when I held my first paperback book!

Can you please tell us a little about your publishing story.
For me it was a long road to publication, and after finding my agent quite quickly, my first novel didn't manage to get a publisher so we self-published on Amazon. Somehow it did really well and then we did the same for my second book, before I finally got an amazing publishing deal with Bookouture.

Have you ever had writer's block? If so how did you overcome it?
I haven't had writer's block as such, but I have completely scrapped a book and started again after completing it, and then I did the same with another book after getting halfway through. I just realised I could make them both so much better if I went back to the beginning and reworked them.

What motivates you to keep writing?
I am so passionate about writing and wouldn't want to do anything else. While it's extremely tough at times, the feeling of completing a novel is worth all the hard work. I have a baby now so I am even more motivated to keep writing for him.

Where is your favourite place to write? ( can we have a picture)
I always write in my study, unless it's a warm sunny day and I can go out in the garden. I would love to include a picture but we've just moved house so my study is a bit of a mess at the moment!

Do your characters moods ever affect your mood and vice versa?
I have actually been known to cry at some of the things my characters go through - even though it's all my fault!

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
1. Plan your novel in as much detail as you can, and at the very least try to know exactly how it will end.
2. Never give up. Be prepared for rejection, but don't let it deter you. If your first book doesn't sell then write another and another if writing is your true passion.
3. Write what you would love to read. In order for readers to enjoy your writing, you've got to feel excited about it.

Which authors inspire you?
Nikki French and Sophie Hannah write fantastic psychological thrillers.

What are you reading at the moment?
I'm currently reading When She Was Bad by Tammy Cohen. I am a total thriller addict!

If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits?
This is such a fantastic question! It's a bit hard to say but I love Chandelier by Sia, so perhaps that could work. Readers will probably have some better ideas!

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book?
I think Kate Winslet is an incredible actress so would love to see her playing Tara.

What is your next book about?
Book six is still only a seed of an idea at the moment (as I've just moved house!) but I will keep you posted!

And now think about the books you've read and just give the first one that comes into your head for our quickfire 'Which book round.'

Which book has made you:

Laugh out loud?
Bridget Jones's Diary

Cry your heart out?
The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

Want to read it again?
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Think more?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Wish it would be made into a film?
The Magic Cottage by James Herbert

Shocked?
Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty had such a brilliant twist at the end!

Scared?
Anything by Stephen King


Thank you so much for having me on your blog, and for the fantastic and thought-provoking questions!

It was our pleasure Kathryn, Good luck with the book.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Kathryn Croft is the bestselling author of The Girl With No Past, which spent over four weeks at number one in the Amazon chart. Her other novels, Behind Closed Doors and The Stranger Within, and The Girl You Lost all reached number one in the psychological thriller charts.

Her fifth novel, While You Were Sleeping, will be published on 16th November 2016, and is now available for preorder on Amazon.

After six years teaching secondary school English, Kathryn now writes full time and has a publishing deal with Bookouture.

Having always been an avid reader, Kathryn believes in the power of words to entertain, teach and transform lives. She is also a firm believer in following your dreams and says anything is possible if you work hard enough and never give up!

Kathryn lives in Guildford, Surrey with her husband, baby son and two cats.

www.kathryncroft.com