Kate Hardy
Margaret James talks to the prolific Mills & Boon novelist to find out how she keeps romance blooming
Romantic novelist Kate Hardy recently celebrated the publication of her 100th novel for Mills & Boon, an outstanding achievement for an author contracted to this mega-selling publisher whose titles are read and adored all over the world. When I spoke to Kate, it soon became obvious she was destined to be a writer. ‘While I was very young, my mum used to make up stories for me,’ she explains. ‘Although I’m the only one in my family to be published, I think that if my mum had lived longer we’d have been a writing team. I’ve always written, starting as soon as I could hold a pencil. I wrote stories about ponies, outer space or ghosts in little notebooks, and for my sixth birthday I asked my parents to buy me a proper typewriter.’
The publication of novel number 100 must have been a very significant milestone for Kate. How did she celebrate? ‘Bubbles for the family on acceptance,’ she says. ‘But I also organised a launch party at my local Waterstone’s for publication day, and I commissioned a silver and tanzanite pendant to commemorate it. Readers of Tempted by her
Fake Fiancé will understand why.’
How does Kate organise her heavy workload and manage to meet her constant deadlines without losing her enjoyment of the writing process? Does she plan every book meticulously? Or does she just start writing and hope her characters will show her the way? ‘I’m a flexible planner,’ she says. ‘I’ve tried “writing into the mist”, and every time I’ve ended up spending a couple of weeks playing online word games while nothing actually gets written. So nowadays
I write an outline for my editor detailing the hero’s and heroine’s conflicts, their backgrounds, and summarising the plot. All this usually runs to about two sides of single-spaced A4, and before I start writing we agree any changes. But, having said that, if a scene which works better comes up while I’m writing the novel, I’ll change my plans.
‘I might be out somewhere when something sparks off an idea,’ she adds. ‘My handwriting is notoriously tiny and hard to read, so these days I send myself an email or a note on my phone.
‘As for the titles of my novels: I never get to keep these. Sometimes, they reference the characters, sometimes it’s the situation, and sometimes it’s the concept. The concept of Behind the Film Star’s Smile, for example, is Notting Hill meets Marley & Me. How I wish they’d let me keep my own working title of Me and You and a Dog named Baloo!’
Kate has written many titles for the hugely popular
Mills & Boon series of medical romances. Does she have a medical background herself?
‘My late mother was a nurse, so I picked up my interest in medicine from her,’ she says. ‘I never wanted to be a nurse or a doctor, but Mum definitely inspired me to write about medicine, and before I was published by Mills & Boon I spent several years working as a freelance health journalist, mainly writing about women’s health and babies.’
Mills & Boon novels might be escapist, feel-good fiction, but Kate feels they tend to reflect society, too. ‘So, reading vintage titles can give readers a great feel for the social history of any given era,’ she says. ‘Since I’ve been writing for Mills & Boon, characters have become more diverse in respect of their backgrounds, health conditions and sexuality. Today, the main characters might not necessarily get married, because the important thing is that their stories have happy endings which work for them.
‘As is the case with all romance writers, Mills & Boon authors need to believe in true love. These novels are shorter than most mainstream romantic fiction, so for this publisher there is a need to write concisely, to focus on the emotions, and learn not to mind when editors insist on cuts.
‘My writing and other routines have changed a lot over the years. Pre-kids, I used to write in the evenings after work. While my children were small, I’d write between the school runs and whenever I could squeeze in some time during the holidays. Since they’ve gone to university and/ or started work, I walk the dogs first thing, and then I get down to work.
‘During lockdown, I rediscovered cross stitch, and I’ve recently branched out into blackwork. Post lockdown, I’ve gone back to the gym, so on weekdays I have Zumba, step, and dance fitness class. Friday morning is ballet class for adult beginners, and it’s the best mental health thing ever.
‘If my word count is up to date and the weather’s nice, I might skive off and meet friends for lunch, or do some hands-on research. I’m a huge fan of live music and theatre. Basically, I’m happiest when I’m busy and fitting a lot into life.
‘What’s next up for me? I probably need a new goal. The book of my heart is a retelling of a certain Shakespeare play. I’ve been trying to talk my senior editor into commissioning this for years, but she just laughs. Maybe it’s time I finished writing it and published it myself?’