An Interview with Kate Forsyth
Interview conducted c. early 2010s
Introduction
Kate Forsyth is a bestselling and award-winning author whose work spans historical fantasy, mythic retellings, and epic adventure. Best known for The Witches of Eileanan series and later works such as Bitter Greens, her fiction draws deeply on folklore, fairy tales, and historical research, blending the fantastical with emotionally grounded storytelling.
This interview was conducted during a period when Forsyth was reflecting on long-form narrative craft, discipline, and the balance between imagination and structure. The conversation explores idea generation, planning methods, research practices, and the routines that support sustained creative output across complex novels.
Forsyth’s responses reveal a methodical yet imaginative approach to storytelling. She emphasizes preparation, research, and clarity of narrative shape while allowing theme and meaning to emerge organically from the act of telling the story itself.
This interview is preserved as part of the Better Storytelling Archive, documenting the voices and working methods of contemporary genre creators.
KateForsyth_Interview
The Interview
Life as a Writer
How did you get into writing?
I have always wanted to be a writer, for as long as I can remember. I began writing stories and poems as soon as I could hold a pencil and wrote my first novel when I was seven. I’ve been working on one novel or another ever since. I began publishing poems, stories, and articles in my late teens and early twenties and worked as a journalist through most of my twenties. My first novel was published when I was thirty, and I’ve been a full-time writer ever since.
When did you first realize that you have what it takes to be a writer?
I suppose when my first novel was published. I’d always believed it was my destiny to write, but I still experience doubts and fears. I now see those as part of the creative process—and perhaps a prompt to keep stretching myself creatively.
Premise
Where do you get your ideas from?
The world is brimming with story ideas. Everything that interests you, worries you, or nags at you can become a story, if you learn to recognize it.
How do you develop your ideas into a story?
I like the basic planning tool of Who, What, Where, When, and Why. It contains everything you need to begin building a story.
Genre
What kind of stories do you enjoy working with?
I draw inspiration from the past—old stories, beliefs, and superstitions—so my books tend to blend the historical and the fantastical. Some are grounded in the real world, others in imaginary realms, but all are filled with history, suspense, romance, and adventure.
What genres would you like to explore in the future?
Many of my current ideas lean more historical than fantastical, but new ideas arrive every day.
Structure
Do you work from an outline?
I always have a strong sense of the story’s shape before I begin. I don’t usually do a chapter-by-chapter outline, and if I do, it’s very brief. I can’t start writing until I know my beginning, middle, and end, along with a few key scenes.
Plot
How do you build your story?
I think and daydream about it, write notes, and begin my research. Slowly the story takes shape. Once I understand the arc and my characters, I start writing from the beginning and work methodically toward the end, revising and reshaping along the way.
Character
For you, what makes a great hero?
A character who feels vivid and believable, someone full of energy who grows and changes through experience.
If one of your characters were to describe you, what would they say?
That I am a control freak.
Setting
How much time do you spend researching the setting for your stories?
A great deal of time. Research makes all the difference—it helps conceive the story and makes it ring true. I love research; it’s simply reading with a purpose.
What settings would you like to explore in the future?
I have ideas set in Cornwall, Germany, France, and Spain.
Theme
Do you like to know the purpose of your story before you sit down to write it?
I am more interested in the story itself. Theme grows naturally out of telling the story.
Dialogue
Do you have any favorite lines from your stories?
Absolutely. Dialogue adds sparkle, humor, and energy. A favorite exchange from Bitter Greens captures that sense of play and wit.
Writing Process
Do you have a routine?
I have a strong routine and dislike having it disturbed. My day begins with quiet thinking, followed by a walk by the ocean, then focused writing through the late morning and afternoon. Evenings may include additional work, especially near the end of a novel.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
Because I’m disciplined, I rarely experience it. If I’m unsure how to proceed, I work it out on the page or take a walk to let my subconscious solve the problem. There’s always something useful to do.
Story Development
How do you go about fixing a story?
I make lists of what needs to be done and then do them.
How do you know when to stop?
I know my ending before I begin and keep a close eye on word count. I constantly ask whether a scene is necessary before writing it.
Words of Advice
What words of advice would you give to new writers?
Be bold. Have courage. Take joy in your writing.
Final Thoughts
What’s the best thing you’ve ever written?
Bitter Greens. It was technically challenging and a risk, but one that paid off.
What are you working on now?
I’ve just completed a historical novel called The Wild Girl, which tells the story of Dortchen Wild and her relationship with Wilhelm Grimm, set against the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars.
Closing
This interview captures Kate Forsyth at a point where deep research, disciplined routine, and mythic imagination converge. Her reflections emphasize preparation, structure, and respect for story, while allowing creativity and meaning to emerge organically through the writing process.
Presented here as part of the Better Storytelling Archive, this conversation preserves a thoughtful perspective on storytelling as both craft and calling.