Hi all
As a departure from my occasional blogs, I’m offering my very first ‘Interview’ with author Kathy J. Rollinson. Kathy has a fertile imagination and I’m sure you’ll find her and her work highly interesting and entertaining. To say that she is a well-rounded, prolific writer is an understatement…
Me: Now you’re seated in my ‘comfy chair,’ Kathy, please tell us something about yourself.
Kathy: You’ve already mentioned my name, and I was born in Salford, Lancashire, UK and moved
to Wales aged 12. I also lived in Berkshire. I gained A levels and professional awards, and
worked for many years for the National Health Service, filling various positions within
England and Wales. I now live in Spain.
My short stories have appeared in various publications and anthologies, including the award winning ‘Shorts for Autumn,’ awarded by the Writing Magazine in 2012.
Me: When did you realise that you wanted to be an author?
Kathy: I must have been about eight. My first story was about a big yacht, at least 20 ft. long!! I also
remember my first poem was called ‘Pictures in the Fire’ – when we used to have coal fires.
I thought to publish on Amazon after I joined WordPlay Writers’ Forum, assisted by co-
founder Michael Barton.
Me: What process do you need in order to write?
Kathy: I live on my own, so have peace and quiet. Usually, I get up at 5 am, and after going through
my emails, I write for a few hours, leaving the rest of the day free for my other hobbies.
Me: Please share your books with us and a synopsis of each.
Kathy: THE FALLYN TRILOGY: FALLYN AND THE DRAGONS. Allan and twin sister Eileen,
along with two friends, are persuaded by a mysterious figure, Dorius, The Keeper of Dreams,
to enter a medieval dream world. Aware of their visits, they use their thoughts to overcome
problems they encounter, helped by friendly dragons, and go to the aid of King Rudri of
Nashta against his evil brother, Prince Bato.
FALLYN IN THE FORBIDDEN LAND. On the Island of Nashta, the friends are known as
Lord Fallyn, Lady Eila, Lord Merin and Lady Kalla. As problems faced in the real world
often reflected those they faced in the dream world, they use teamwork to overcome
difficulties encountered in both. They meet a race of little people known as Chougans,
who breed colourful, little dragons. Are the Chougans responsible for the red dragons
attacking Nashta?
Third in the series:FALLYN AND THE SEA DRAGONS. The final book concerns the
continuing adventures of the friends. They meet a charismatic, handsome, pirate captain. In
an exciting climax, all dilemmas are resolved in the real and dream worlds.
A TWIST OF FAIRY TALES, is a book for modern, trendy children, 6 – 10 years. Five of
the stories, Little Scarlet Hudson, The Ugly Duckling, Jack and the Beanstalk, Miss Goldie
Locks, and Cinderella, are updated without losing their magic. I wrote four, completely
new fairy tales: Fairies and Unicorns, My Funny Valentine, Shrimp, and Rudolph
the Red-Nose Reindeer. All have a full-page illustration.
‘THE RODE TO JUSTICE’
(John Rode, lst Grade Detective, murder stories.)
Consisting of four stories: Little Josie, Dr. Lister – I presume, Courting Justice, and
The Dancing Queen. John Rode, a middle-aged, widower cop, knows New York like the
back of his hand. He’s known as ‘old blue eyes’ to work colleagues, not because he can
sing, but – ‘if his eyes were any paler – he’d have to carry a white stick.’ In free-time
into Shakespeare, he has a strong sense of justice. In one story, he says, ‘This is a Court
of Law, not a Court of Justice.’
Me: How do you come up with ideas for your stories, Kathy?
Kathy I used to attend an art class and a friend drew a picture of a proud dragon. I wrote a
500 word story for her, and the ‘FALLYN TRILOGY’ grew from there.
‘A TWIST OF FAIRY TALES’ The leader of a group I belong to, part of the U3A,
gave us an exercise to write a modern story based on Little Red Riding Hood and an
altered version appears in the book. My imagination grew wings and I wrote another
eight stories. Re ‘THE RODE TO JUSTICE’ – the idea led from writing murder stories
for the WordPlay Writer’s Forum anthology tales set in New York
Me: What projects are you currently working on?
Kathy: My latest, exciting, project is one devised by the WordPlay Forum. A founder member
called Ian, sadly died a few years ago. He had always said he’d never come across a
main character named Ian, so I, for one, have addressed that situation in my book
‘WHERE LIES MY HEART.’ My character travels to Eritrea, East Africa, a place torn
by wars and famine, with a desire to assist where he can.
Me: What do you expect to accomplish this year?
Kathy: Now that ‘Where Lies my Heart’ is finished, I intend entering the above-mentioned
competition. Here is the synopsis. Against an exotic backdrop in East Africa,
my story charts the life of Ian Cornwall, from boy to man. Since boyhood,
Ian has been drawn to help his fellow man. However he has a flaw – his weakness?
Women. He is, after all, a handsome man. With two disastrous romances behind him,
he travels to Eritrea. Here, he meets a woman he truly loves, only to lose her when
she’s abducted by Jihad rebels. His one regret of not telling her of his love haunts him.
Ian flees with an Eritrean family from the despotic government, only to find their
situation worsening. Fact and fiction inter-weave in a fast-moving plot – from
Birmingham, UK to East Africa, through Eritrea, Sudan, crossing the Red Sea to
Saudi Arabia and Egypt. My story is fast-moving and will, hopefully, thrill its readers!
Me: Please share your links and where to purchase your books, Kathy.
Kathy: Twitter @BoyesKjr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/kathy.rollinson.1
Websites: www.kjrollinsonauthor.weebly.com Click on book covers to go directly
to my author’s page.
http://marsocialauthorbusinessenhancementdragonpost.wordpress.com/
Amazon author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/author/kjrollinson (Details of my
books for purchasing from Amazon, both in soft book and Kindle.)
www.wordplaywritersforum.com Click ‘Our Members’ Publications.’ Click ‘Buy
on Amazon’ at bottom of appropriate book for a direct line.
Me: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Kathy: My videos on You Tube
A big thank you for making me so welcome!
Joy Lennick 
Look forward to hearing more from your ´comfy chair´. The way to go, Ms Lennick!
How lovely to hear about another author. (As I have written just one book, I feel a bit presumptuous classing myself alongside K. J. Rollinson)
I often wonder how authors actually manage to get off the ground. I self-published my debut novel last year, but no-one seems to know it’s there! Before I write the sequel, I am hoping to get some feedback so, to this end, I have put the first three chapters on my website and am asking for comments (both on the content and my writing style).
My novel is about the British aristocracy in the 19th century and is a bit risqué, but tasteful! If you, or any of your followers, would be prepared to help me, please visit http://www.sandraboyle.com