Author Interview

Pauline Tait tells Hollie Bruce how she swapped pharmaceuticals for the pen

W riting has always been a passion for Pauline Tait, but it has not been an easy path. “I was a pharmaceutical technician and felt completely underqualified to write”, says the Perthshire author. In the end, it was her husband who encouraged her to take the leap and start writing properly, once their two children had left for university.

“I used to make up stories for my own children and it was then that I came up with the idea for The Fairy in the Kettle series,” Pauline reveals. “Eventually, in 2016, the first title was published. The success and reviews it received encouraged me to continue writing and by that point I had nothing to lose.”

With three children’s books published, with a fourth to come, Pauline then turned her hand to adult fiction with her new novel A Life of Their Own, which focuses on a young mother’s journey as she escapes domestic abuse.

“This was a story I felt needed to be told,” says Pauline. “I wanted to tackle a difficult subject, of which there are many, but this story had been bubbling away in my head for a few years. Hopefully, it might inspire others who are suffering in the same way.”

The novel is set in America, as “the vastness of the country helped me to emphasise that no matter how many miles are put in between the victim and the abuser, the victim never stops looking over their shoulder”, she explains.

So does Pauline find it easier writing adult books than children’s stories? “Both have their challenges,” she says. “The physical act of writing for adults is easier because I am writing in the age-appropriate language. With children’s books I am constantly changing my vocabulary.

“The hardest part about writing an adult novel has been the editing and re-drafting process. It’s the little things, such as checking timelines, that are the most time consuming,” she continues.

Writing from her office at home in Highland Perthshire, she gets her inspiration from the countryside, but also from youngsters. “Their enthusiasm and imaginations are completely inspiring and their love for the characters I have created is what encourages me to write more,” she smiles.

Pauline’s dogs also play a part in her creative process. “If I am struggling with an idea or can’t get a section to flow properly I head out and walk the dogs. Usually by the time I return I’ve sorted it out,” she says.

With three books published in just over a year, Pauline has had a hectic few months.

“I haven’t had a lot of time to dedicate to writing but I have a children’s book ready at the first draft stage and another adult fiction novel I have started so I’ll soon be able to work my way through them after the promotion of A Life of Their Own.

Before she heads off, she reveals a strange quirk: when she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading because: “I can’t read a book at the same time as I’m writing which is totally frustrating!”

And when she’s not reading or writing she’s making the most of her time: “Gardening, baking, travelling...any of these and I am happy.”

● A Life of Their Own by Pauline Tait is published by Silverwood Books, £9.99.