Kate Foster (writer)

Kate Foster (born 1974 or 1975) is a Scottish writer. She was a journalist for 25 years before publishing her first novel at the age of 48. [1]

Foster won the Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect award in 2020 (when the festival took place online).[2][3] Her first novel, The Maiden, won her the 2023 Scottish Crime Debut of the Year [4] and was longlisted for the 2024 Women's Prize for Fiction.[5] Foster describes it as "a feminist retelling of a 17th century Edinburgh murder",[1] and it concerns the murder of Lord James Forrester by Lady Christian Nimmo in Corstorphine in 1679.[6]

Her second novel, The King's Witches, was included by The Herald in "the 10 best new historical fictions" in May 2024.[7] It is set in the context of Anne of Denmark's betrothal to James VI and the North Berwick witch trials of 1590.[8][9]

In January 2024 the publisher Mantle signed a deal for The King's Witches and Foster's next two novels, to be published in 2025 and 2026.[8] It was reported that the 2025 title was to be The Reawakening, but Foster said in June 2024 that it will be The Mourning Necklace.[9] It will tell the story of Maggie Dickson, known as "hauf-hingit Maggie", who survived a botched execution by hanging in 1724.[10]

Personal life

Foster grew up in Corstorphine,[6] and lives in Edinburgh with her two children.[11]

She has said that she enjoys reading crime, historical and modern fiction, singling out Sarah Perry, Hannah Kent, Sarah Waters, and City of Vengeance by D. V. Bishop.[6]

Selected publications

  • Foster, Kate (2023). The Maiden. London: Mantle. ISBN 9781529091724.
  • Foster, Kate (20 June 2024). The King's Witches. London: Mantle. ISBN 9781529091786.
  • The Mourning Necklace (previously announced as The Reawakening), work in progress as of June 2024[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Author: Kate Foster". Scottish Book Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2024. I became a debut author at the age of 48
  2. ^ McGinley, Shane (2 September 2024). "Why Pitch Perfect is a bloody good start for any debut author". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 October 2024. 2020 Pitch Perfect winner Kate Foster
  3. ^ "Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect Session Seeks Aspiring Writers". Bloody Scotland. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Winners Revealed for the McIlvanney Prize 2023 and the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize". Bloody Scotland. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Announcing the 2024 Women's Prize for Fiction longlist!". Women's Prize. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Forbes, Ellie (26 July 2023). "Bloody Scotland: Kate Foster on The Maiden". Scottish Field. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  7. ^ "10 of the best new historical fiction novels to read right now". The Herald. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b Fraser, Katie (23 January 2024). "Mantle signs three 'beautifully realised' novels from Kate Foster". The Bookseller. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Foster, Kate (5 June 2024). "The King's Witches by Kate Foster". Books from Scotland. Retrieved 17 October 2024. my third novel, The Mourning Necklace ... I have almost written the entire first draft in five months
  10. ^ MacPherson, Hamish (30 August 2020). "Back in the Day: The legend of Half-hangit Maggie Dickson". The National. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Kate Foster". Curtis Brown. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
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