My guest today is popular women’s fiction author Kate Galley. Kate is going to talk to us about her writing journey, and her latest book. So grab yourself a cuppa, get cosy and let’s get chatting to Kate.

Kate Galley is the author of four novels including the Old Girls series. She writes Up-Lit and Book-club fiction full of heart and humour. The older generation are at the centre of her stories and are usually wrapped up in a mystery.

Kate lives with her family in Buckinghamshire and works part time as a mobile hairdresser in the surrounding Chiltern villages.

Welcome to my blog, Kate. Can you tell us about your writing journey

Thanks so much for inviting me onto your blog, Karen! I’ve just finished writing my fifth novel and find it amazing to be saying that. My writing journey began in 2017 when I joined an online writing course. I’ve been a prolific reader for all of my life, but really only got the confidence to think about writing when I was in my forties. Perhaps I’d been waiting for something interesting to say!

The course was a wonderful introduction to the process of writing a novel and also covered how to get an agent and a bit about the publishing industry. What I got most out of my time on that course, though, was the people I met. I really do think that finding your tribe is a great way to keep you motivated. I still talk most days to several writers connected to the course.

I went on to win a mentorship with Amanda Reynolds who is a wonderful thriller writer and she helped me to nail the genre I was writing in. It was this advice that encouraged me to ditch the dark story I’d been labouring over and to follow my heart into an up-lifting story about the older generation. This became my first published novel, The Second Chance Holiday Club – a tale of a sheltered septuagenarian who finds a love letter and confession in her late husband’s effects and travels to the Isle of Wight to hand deliver it to the intended woman.

I then won another mentorship, but this time it was with an agency who were offering representation and it was through my agent that I found my publisher and also my editor who I’m still working with today.

My second book was a rom-com called The Golden Girls’ Road Trip and also has the older generation at its heart.

I followed my editor to Boldwood and in May 2024 my first in the series of ‘Old Girls’ books was published. It tells the story of seventy-one-year-old Gina Knight whose husband leaves her and she goes on to reinvent her life, beginning with a job as companion to elderly Dorthy Reed who has an ulterior motive for employing her. I was delighted to see it reach the top fifty kindle charts in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. That was a lovely ‘pinch me’ moment. The second in the series published in January and sees Gina and Dot in the south of France on another adventure.

My fifth book is a standalone following a group of three who travel to the Shetland Islands to scatter the ashes of an old friend. Shetland wool and knitting is at the heart of the story, but it wouldn’t be me if there wasn’t a mystery in there too!

I’m back with Gina and Dot for my sixth book which sees these friends on another adventure, this time on the beautiful island of Corfu.

When I think back to my time on the beginners writing course, my dream of being able to write a whole novel seemed like a stretch. But here I am embarking on my sixth and I feel incredibly lucky and also a little bit proud of myself.

What an inspiring writing journey, Kate! I’ve read The Old Girl’s Chateau Escape and Old Girls Behaving Badly and thoroughly enjoyed them both.

Kate’s latest book

A BRAND NEW uplifting ‘Golden Girls Behaving Badly’ book club pick from Kate Galley

Two old friends. One unexpected adventure!

When, at the age of 71, Gina Knight’s husband of four decades left her unexpectedly, she thought her life over. Until she met Dorothy Reed – a woman so full of the joie de vivre you’d think she was 21, not nearly 90. Gina would do anything for Dorothy. So, when Dorothy suggests she take on the role of companion for one of Dorothy’s old friends, Gina sees no reason to say no.

Meredith Harper is a successful writer, living in Provence, and needs help looking after her husband, whose health is deteriorating. But when Gina arrives at the grand chateau, it becomes clear that Dorothy has not given Gina the full story. Because Meredith is also writing her memoirs, and Dorothy wants to know the contents before anyone else. So much so, she’s sent Gina to spy.

But what secrets is Meredith keeping? And will Gina be able to find out the truth before her cover’s blown?

Buy Link: Amazon

Something old, something new, something stolen…?

Gina Knight is looking forward to the prospect of retirement with her husband of forty-three years. Until, to her surprise, said husband decides he needs to ‘find himself’ – alone – and disappears to Santa Fe, leaving a Dear John letter in his wake.

Now Gina needs a new role in life, not to mention somewhere to live, so she applies for the position of Companion to elderly Dorothy Reed. At eighty-nine, ‘Dot’ needs someone to help her around the house – or at least, her family seems to think so. Her companion’s first role would be to accompany Dot for a week-long extravagant wedding party.

But when Gina arrives at the large Norfolk estate where the wedding will take place, she quickly discovers Dot has an ulterior motive for hiring her. While the other guests are busy sipping champagne and playing croquet, Dot needs Georgina to help her solve a mystery – about a missing painting, which she believes is hidden somewhere in the house.

Because, after all, who would suspect two old ladies of getting up to mischief?

Buy Link: Amazon

Thanks so much for dropping by to talk to us today, Kate. Wishing you lots of success with your future writing.☺️