Twitter: @KClarkwriter
Website: http://kathrynclarkwriter.co.uk/
Agent: Gillie Russell, Aitken Alexander Associates
Published books: YA novel Lightning Ridge on submission
Genre: YA: contemporary realism; speculative fiction; historical; multiple narrators.
MG: contemporary; adventure; magical; historical.
Bio: Kathryn has worked in a wallpaper shop and a call-centre; as an aromatherapist and a researcher. All that time she made up stories in her head, and one day she began to write them down. She has had some success in writing competitions, and several of her stories have been published online and in writing magazines. Kathryn has a degree in English Studies, and an MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa university. She is represented by Gillie Russell at Aitken Alexander.
Kathryn lives in rural Gloucestershire with her husband, two teenagers, two cats, and a border terrier. She has a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and loves reading, running, the sea, and earl grey tea.
Experience: I have an MA in Writing for Young People, a very practical qualification, which gave me lots of experience of editing and critiquing, and an insight into the publishing industry. I was one of three co-editors of the 2016 course anthology Paper Worlds. I regularly edit, critique and proofread for fellow YA and MG writers. It’s important to me to give feedback in a kind and constructive way.
Mentoring style: I am happy to mentor either YA or MG and have experience of both. I’ll do a full read through with edits and comments in track changes, and an email with general thoughts/suggestions. I’d prefer to communicate via email, but a skype chat can be arranged if needed.
Mentee style: I’d like to support someone who may be nervous about putting their work out there, or who hasn’t yet found their writing community.
What kind of novel would you like to work on? An empathetic character and a strong narrative voice are far more important to me than genre. I like books that make me think and have some beauty in them. Contemporary realism, the grittier the better; feminist speculative fiction; issue books, particularly mental health.
Favourite novels: Skellig; The Hate You Give; One; The Lie Tree; The Color Purple; The Knife of Never Letting Go; Everything Everything; The Power; Born Scared; Crongton Knights; Amy Chelsea Stacy Dee; Joe All Alone; The Goldfish Boy; The Handmaid’s Tale; To Kill a Mockingbird; Wonder.
Mentoring package offered: choice of Query package (synopsis, query letter, 1st 3 chapters) or First 10k of manuscript
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