Interview by Lou with Author, Catherine Yardley
Welcome to Bookmarks and Stages, Catherine. Thank you very much for the opportunity to interview you about your book, The Light is Hottest, hopes and dreams, the creative industry and more for my slot on the Rachel’s Random Resources blog tour.
“Thank you! I am honoured to be included.”
Catherine Yardley is the author of Ember and Where The Light is Hottest. She’s also the editor-in-chief of Frost Magazine and a freelance writer who’s featured in The Bookseller, Mslexia, Metro, Huffpost, Writing Magazine and Writers’ and Artists’ amongst others.
Where The Light is Hottest
Natasha Jones has everything – a successful acting career, an Oscar, a wonderful husband and beautiful kids. But what does she have to go through to get there? From humble beginnings in a small town, Natasha’s path to stardom is paved with setbacks, heartaches and moments of doubt.
In the glittering world of fame and fortune, where dreams are spun from starlight and ambition fuels the relentless pursuit of success, one woman’s journey stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Beneath the facade of glamour lies a story of unwavering determination and unyielding courage.
Where the Light is the Hottest is a gripping tale of ambition, perseverance and the enduring power of hope. Through Natasha’s journey, we are reminded that the road to success is rarely smooth, but for those who dare to chase their dreams, the rewards are beyond measure.
Without further ado, let’s begin with the first question…
- Who or what inspired you to write books?
My main inspiration to write books was all of the amazing books I read growing up. Enid Blyton and Beatrix Potter. Then Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I never thought I would be talented enough to write a book. I am glad I decided to be stubborn and go for it! Lots of things inspire me. Real life, my real life experiences and things I read about. I am interested in people and I love telling stories.
- Your novel, ‘Where the Light is Hottest’, is set in the acting world. You were/are an actor yourself. Many actors write within all sorts of genres.
What made you choose to use your knowledge and experience to write a novel for readers to gain that insider’s perspective in fictional form?
I previously wrote a non fiction book, How To Become a Successful Actor: Your Essential Guide to Becoming an Actorpreneur. I wanted to write a novel and the easiest way was to use my own experiences. Writing fiction is a beautiful thing because you can take things that happened, and then write about them in a fictional way. Pablo Picasso said that art is the lie that helps us understand the truth. I can create a true-to-life experience of the acting world better through fiction than real life, which might not be quite so interesting!
- Natasha, the main character, is ambitious, has setbacks and accomplishments and builds resilience. How much of Natasha’s life reflect your own experiences and in what way?
Natasha is more ambitious than me. I paused my acting career after sustaining a really bad injury on a film set. Natasha would have kept on going. Natasha comes from Scotland like me, and studied acting. A lot of the stuff in the book happened to me in a way or was things I saw or heard. I never did nudity because I am a bit of a prude, but Natasha ends up doing that on her own terms. She is stronger than me in many ways. She is incredibly resilient. I love that about her. Natasha is also loyal and a good friend. I am too. Friendship is everything.
- Where the Light is Hottest is about going after your dreams. Natasha has real resilience and determination to do this. Have you got dreams you pursue, if so, what are they and how do you go about chasing them?
That’s a good question. I do have dreams and I go after them relentlessly. Natasha and I have that in common. My dreams are more writing based these days. Based around book deals and things I want my books to achieve. I recently wrote for The Sunday Times which was always on my list of dream publications. I would still love to write, produce and act. It’s just hard to fit it all in.
- How important do you think it is to promote such strong, positive yet emotive stories set around the acting world and what do you hope readers will take away from this?
I think a lot of people think that books set in the acting world are not relatable, but it is a job like any other. It can be tedious and boring. The actual work is not glamorous at all. I think people will get whisked away into a different world, but it is more of a realistic look. It is not Jackie Collins, which I love. It’s glamorous but Natasha is just a normal person trying to make her way in the world. Most people are too scared to go after their dreams. They are more scared to be successful than they are to fail. I think it is important to promote these strong, positive stories that resonate with people to show that you can be terrified and brave at the same time.
- Do you, as an actor and an author feel the challenges within the creative industry affects you in any way and how do you overcome them?
Definitely. They are two incredibly hard professions. Maybe even the hardest. There is no clear path and no guarantees. The challenges are vast but the highs are like nothing else. The privilege of telling stories is huge. I love it. These professions are more of a calling. You have to be like Natasha and relentlessly go after your dreams and take failure well.
- Do you feel there is any sort of bridge between acting and writing novels where one helps to do the other?
I think all writers should take acting lessons. Being an actor is a fantastic skill. You learn that everything about a person tells you something about them. From how they hold themselves, how they speak, and how they dress. There are a lot of actors who write, and it is obvious that the skills can cross well. Writing as an actor is also a brilliant idea. Making your own projects will help you stand out.
- How do you feel when there are unfavourable comments about actors who also happen to choose to write books and how do you overcome the negativity and keep going?
I am lucky that I have not had much negativity. I brush most things off to be honest. I am happy with myself and my life. My dad would always joke when we were growing up that if we were making fun of him then at least we were leaving someone else alone. I think of that a lot now. How there are a lot of people who want to be negative and take their pain out on other people. It is rarely personal, and at least they are leaving someone else alone!
- Have you any plans for writing more books or are there any acting jobs you can tell us about that are on the horizon?
There are a lot more books coming. I am very excited about it. There are some other projects coming too. Not much I can talk about, but I am feeling very privileged and happy at the moment. Hard work pays off eventually. In the creative industries it just takes a lot longer!
You can follow Catherine Yardley on these links for social media and her website:
@catherineby.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/frostmag
https://www.threads.net/@frostmag
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063463605581
https://www.tiktok.com/@balavage
Website: https://catherinebalavageyardley.com/
Bookmarks and Stages by Lou 