Author spotlight: Kate Bonham

16 January 2020

For ARR2020 in March we will be featuring more than 90 romance authors across five cities. If you live in (or near) Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or Adelaide, come along and meet local authors, as well as our international guests—Darynda Jones and Susan Donovan.

Today we are spotlighting Kate Bonham. She will be attending ARR2020 in Sydney.

How old were you when you first started writing romance?

I’ve written romance for a long time, probably since I was in my early teens, but a different kind of romance! I’ve always loved telling stories, and making up romantic twists, so I think the first full novel I wrote was when I was 15 but it’s still unpublished.

Who was the first romance author to catch your interest?

I had a few, but the ones that resonate are JR Ward, and also Janet Evanovich.

Have you written genres other than romance (or are you thinking about it)?

I write paranormal romance and dark romance, and under a pen name I write romantic comedy. I am thinking of branching out into the fairly new sub-genre of academy, but it’ll be more thriller than romance. I’d love to write a cosy mystery or maybe a thriller.

Choose one of your books to turn into a movie—who would you cast in the lead roles?

This is hard!! I’d love to see my dark romance, Mine, Forever, turned into a movie. I think it would be perfect! Stars would be Margot Robbie and Jai Courtney. I actually based the characters off their looks.

What is the hardest part of creating a story?

I don’t really struggle with creation of the story, but the hardest part of the process is juggling family life and my nine-to-five so I can find the time to write! I do love it though, so it doesn’t usually take that long to get my book written.

What is your favourite place to write?

Usually in my office, but sometimes I get distracted. If I didn’t get cramps in my legs, I’d write in my bed, surrounded by pillows and donuts.

Have any of your characters been inspired by real-life people?

All of them! Every character has been inspired by someone or parts of someone. I would never create a character fully on one person, but a mixture—always.

What was the last romance you read and loved (and why did you love it)?

There are two books I last read and loved so I’ll say both of them because they are two very different kind of romances. XO by Melissa Jane and Styx & Stones by Carmen Jenner (both Aussie authors!)

Tell us about your latest release in 100 words or less

I’ll tell you about my WIP, Havoc, because that’ll be out in January. It’s a dark romance, mafia based, and is about a woman who has been wronged by her family. She returns with vengeance on her mind. I can’t wait to release this baby, it’s a passion project of mine for sure.