Katherine Reay
Author Interview - Katherine Reay
Author of The London House
Discovering a family secret sets one woman on the journey of a lifetime — through the history of Britain’s WWII spy network and glamorous 1930s Paris — in an effort to understand her past, save her family, and shape her future.
Caroline Payne thinks it’s just another day at work when she receives a call from Mat Hammond, an old college friend and historian. But, it’s not a social call. Mat has uncovered a dark and scandalous family secret Caroline knows nothing about: In WWII, her British great-aunt betrayed family and country to marry her German lover.
In search of answers, Caroline flies to the family house in London. Through diaries and letters, she discovers her grandmother and great-aunt were known as the “Waite sisters”. Popular and witty, they came of age during the interwar years, in a time of peace and luxury filled with dances, jazz clubs and romance. The buoyant tone of the letters, however, soon gives way to darker revelations as the sisters grow apart and one leaves home to join the glittering fashion scene of Paris—all amid the rumblings of a coming world war.
Each letter brings more questions. Was Caroline's great-aunt actually a traitor and a Nazi collaborator or is there a far more complex truth buried in the past? Together Caroline and Mat uncover stories of spies and secrets, love and heartbreak, and the events of one fateful evening in 1941that changed everything.
Author Interview - Katherine Reay
Author I draw inspiration from: C.S. Lewis is and always will be a favorite influence of mine. That said, so many authors get mixed up in my foundation as I read across all genres, it's hard to say. Austen, of course... As my backlist can attest. ;)
Author Interview - Katherine Reay | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book: A super comfortable chair in my living room if a hammock isn't available -- and, living in Chicago, hammock season is fairly short.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: Count Rostov from A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Author Interview - Katherine Reay | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: The day the idea for Dear Mr. Knightley came to me, I began to think it was possible. I may have wanted it before, but I also wanted to be an Air Force fighter pilot...
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: I love hardback for the sheer luxury of it. The book feels wonderful in your hands. That said, paperbacks are easier and travel much better.
The last book I read: A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I just finished it. It was unlike anything I've ever read and, while it is not at times an easy read, I thoroughly enjoyed this close and personal insight into history.
Author Interview - Katherine Reay | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer: The vast majority of one of my books is created on my computer. However, when writing the letters and diary entries for The London House, I started on paper and found the hand-paper-pen-connection brought the voices and tones to life better than starting at the computer.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: Juliet Ashton from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Author Interview - Katherine Reay | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a: A superhero -- I wouldn't be a larger-than-life superhero, but a small one who simply helped make life better for one person at a time.
Favorite decade in fashion history: When writing The London House, I fell in love with the fashions of 1930s Paris. Schiaparelli was innovative and crazy creative, but also in step with the times. I had such fun placing Caroline Waite within her workroom and salon.
Place I’d most like to travel: At present, Italy. My daughter is there for the year and I'd love to see her and the country through her eyes.
My signature drink: A "Half and Half" because I cannot say "Arnold Palmer." It's like I have marbles in mouth and the name won't come out correctly.
Favorite artist: Henry Moore -- He's a British sculptor from early twentieth century and I actually met him once when I was very young.
Number one on my bucket list: I don't have a bucket list -- perhaps I should create one. But, as for things in my bucket, they tend to be cleaning products.
Anything else you'd like to add: Thank you for inviting me here. It has been a delight to share The London House with you. This novel is my first foray into historical fiction and I loved every minute -- so much so my next book will stay within the genre.
Find more from the author:
Instagram: @katherinereay
Twitter: @Katherine_reay
Facebook: @katherinereaybooks
Author Bio: Katherine Reay is the national bestselling and award-winning author of several novels and one full length non-fiction work. Her upcoming novel, THE LONDON HOUSE, will release 11/02/2021. Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University and is a wife, mother, rehabbing runner, former marketer, and avid chocolate consumer. She lives outside Chicago, IL.
You can meet her at www.katherinereay.com or on Facebook: KatherineReayBooks, Twitter: @katherine_reay or Instagram: @katherinereay.
