Sum up your book in a few sentences-What is it about?

‘Eye of Athina’ is set on a Greek holiday island in 1994. With the fall of the Berlin wall in ’89 a ripple effect is felt on the islands, with East European mafia money and its influence on the Greek islands. A young female agent is sent by MI6 to investigate the supposed drowning of a fellow agent. During her time there she uncovers gun and drug running and crosses paths with a Romanian hit-man.  Having been born within the city of Athens, she is influenced by a strange bond with the Goddess Athina and blessed with unusual eyes.  Out of this she finds romance!

There’s been quite a bit of speculation about the main character; did she or didn’t she? I’ve already thought of how I might develop that storyline in terms of a twist! I guess you’ll just have to read the book for yourself and see what I’m talking about.

Who are the intended audience?

I didn’t go for any specific audience.  However I’ve had positive feedback from women who have all said they associated themselves with the main female character.

What inspired you to start writing? What inspired the story for your book?

I have always been interested in writing and was told off many times at school for spending more time writing stories than my homework. When I was fifteen I sent comedy scripts to the BBC (Roger tells me he was the youngest person to send them to the BBC at that time!). I had an interview there when I turned sixteen.  The story for Eye of Athina started a few years back when I visited a friend living on this Greek island, mid winter for my sins; I got to know the locals who told me about strange goings on with Russian and Romanian arrivals in the ‘90s, coupled with the drowning of a man who locals reckoned was an English agent. I couldn’t wait to get back and start writing it even though I was in the middle of another story.

How did you go about writing the story?

To have a rough idea, I got the opening line on paper-sorry, the monitor- and from then the story seemed to flow.  What I find exciting is when the story has a life of its own and I wonder where it is taking me.  My other stories do seem to have a strong maverick type of woman as the main character.

What made you look to 2QT publishing?

I belong to the ‘New Writers UK’ and the chair John Baird suggested I try them. I have to say they have been very patient with me, particularly Catherine; she didn’t give up and I learned such a lot from her.

Any advice for anyone contemplating writing/publishing a book?

If it’s what you feel you must do then just do it and surprise yourself! If you are going into it to make money; well you might be lucky, but at the end of the day treat it as a satisfying hobby.  Take the advice of the team and learn from them.

What are you planning on/hoping to do next?

I’m just finishing the story I started before being interrupted by Athina (that woman again!).  Set in 1955 in Manhattan’s Little Italy, it is a cops and mafia story involving Nazi loot from Europe. My research on Google for that period was a joy and I eventually ended up spending a week over there to check my locations. I am a Bogart/ Phillip Marlowe fan so it was fun writing. After discarding two other titles, I’ve called it ‘The Girl on the Bridge’ (that’s Brooklyn Bridge by the way).

Who is your favourite Author?

I think it has to be Patrick O’Brian, author of ‘The Master and Commander’. I’ve read all of his books (and presently reading them again) on Jack Aubrey and even the 21^st which he was halfway through when he sadly died. I’m also a fan of Raymond Chandler’s writing-hence Marlowe of course. You might see his influence in my Manhattan story.

‘Eye of Athina’ is now out on e-Book. You can purchase it online from Amazon Kindle store here

Alternatively, buy it in Paperback from our website here

Author of ‘Being Forgotten’ Katharine Ann Angel has had many recent successes following the publication of her book in just February of this year. Having had years of experience fostering and teaching children, I caught up for a chat with her to find out what it is about her and her book that scored a great review in the Times Ed last month…

So Katharine, first and foremost- congratulations! You’ve had a great month in terms of getting your book out there- I’m sure many of our readers and authors would like to know what has happened since…

After Being Forgotten was published by 2QT in February, I sent out some publicity postcards to various organisations around the country. I also sent one email to the resources editor (Jo Knowsley) at TES asking her to consider reviewing my ‘unusual resource.’ Jo replied, “Very interested.” I sent her a copy that day and two days later she phoned me saying she loved the book and spent the morning reading it at her desk. She later described it in an email as “a lovely thing.”

Can you tell us a bit more about your book in a few words? What inspired you to write it?

The book is primarily eight short stories inspired by my real life experiences of teaching teens, all of whom are permanently excluded from school. Two of the stories are based on teens we fostered. I wanted to give people an insight into their hidden lives and behaviours, but I didn’t want to sensationalise them. Each teen highlights a different problem – for example, ‘Diamondman’ who is a boy called Blake waiting to be tried in court. Then I wrote about Hetty – a rebellious girl who thinks her parents don’t love her, and also Pia, whose life is disasterous but who longs to fit in at mainstream school. In my work I have encountered extreme situations such as dangerous weapons, sexual abuse and murder, but I didn’t focus on those things in Being Forgotten because it is more important that the reader learns that children, teenagers, experience abandonment, isolation, fear, illiteracy and so on, as the norm. They simply accept it.

How would you describe your style of writing?

I aim for an accessible, often chatty style. Being Forgotten was a challenge, because it is aimed at an adult readership, but is from the perspective of young people, so I didn’t want to use overly sophisticated vocabulary. Jo Knowsley (TES) wrote, “The writing is sometimes humorous, often poignant and always non-judgemental.” I love jokes and seeing the funny side of life, so I’m glad Jo picked up the humour in what could be a very miserable subject.

It didn’t all end there though-

Jo’s colleague, Kerra Maddern was at this time, composing a long, political article on SEN. Kerra asked my permission to quote some of Being Forgotten.  However I told her the true version of a story, (only changing names and minor details). In another place, she quoted me. The next day my sister phoned from Somerset to tell me that my name was on the front page of the Telegraph and Daily Mail. These papers had lifted my quote from TES and used it for political debate about poor parenting being a cause of some behavioural problems.

I am not into the blame game. Blaming parents, teachers, social workers or anyone else for the ills of society doesn’t profit anyone. ‘Being Forgotten’ is not about solutions, but about raising awareness of the plight of many youngsters.

What kind of response have you had back from readers of ‘Being forgotten’?

I have had feedback from people who work for social services, teachers, college workers and even a nursery nurse who say that a copy of ‘Being Forgotten’ should be in every staff room. A college worker said, “I used to think very negatively about some of our students. Since reading Being Forgotten, I am more aware that some of them have challenging lives and I am glad they turn up to college. I feel less judgemental.” A social worker who read the book twice said, “On second reading I felt that everyone who works with young people should have a copy.”

What advice would you give to authors out there that are trying to get their book ‘noticed?’

Make advertising material and use it. I made double-sized postcards with the cover of Being Forgotten as the picture, and some reviews on the back. You can ask shops to do book signings although I personally didn’t like doing this. Send short, polite emails to your target audience. Some people are into Twitter and Facebook – anything that allows you to speak about your book. I panicked when the newspaper articles came out and updated my website!

I’m sure this isn’t the last we will hear from you- is there anything you plan on writing next?

I am working on a novel for adults, a comic/mystery story, which highlights the issue of modern day loneliness. I have finished a children’s novel but not sent it anywhere yet. Also two series of stories for teens who struggle with reading – again completed but not sent to a publisher yet. One series for boys is called ‘Gripper. Dog of Vic’. The series for girls is called ‘Dizzy Bezzy’. My son-in-law, Mark Shotter, is a superb cartoonist and is working on illustrations for these. It is all very exciting!

 The eBook of ‘Being Forgotten’ will be available for download very soon, but in the meantime Katharine’s book can be purchased here

Cover also available in green!

Please visit Katharine’s website Katharineangelyolasite.com for more information about the book, and also read a free short story!

You can read the Times Educational Supplement review here http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6210945

Interview by Kate Cousins