What makes your heart pound? - Katy who
What makes your heart pound?
That's the question I always ask all around the world,because we're not just united by airplanes,trains or the fact we're all on the same planet and see the same moon when we look up to the sky at night. We're all linked by our passions.
Therefore,and that being said,I decided to interview Katy,an amazing writer and photographer from England nowadays travelling upon her dreams up on a van about her passions and,of course,what it is like to live in the u.k.
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1 - Who are you?
My name is Katy and I work under the pseudonym "Katy Who", an accidental name that has become a part of my identity online. I am a 23-year old writer, photographer, adventurer, dog-lover and book-collector from Lancashire in England.
2 - How did you discover that photographing and writing were your passions?
I think they were my passions before I even knew they were. Growing up, I wanted to be many things, including a vet, an actress, a singer, a police detective and so many other things. It was only a little later in life, in my mid-to-late teens, that I discovered that the little poems I wrote, the stories that lived in my head and the narratives I created with a camera were talents. Once I realised that, it felt natural to pursue them. Even through all of this, I never really expected to be able to forge a career from writing or photography, and up until about 18 months ago, I was still intending to study for a PhD, and then to research and lecture in universities. Fate had other ideas and I found myself unable to secure funding to study for another three years, and then I was unable to secure a full-time job using the skills I'd learned from my English Literature bachelors and masters degrees. Those set-backs opened up opportunities I would never have seen if I had been successful in the routes I originally planned for myself.
3 - I believe you're writing a fantasy novel. How did you find out that genre was the perfect one for you?
I am! I mainly read fantasy novels, or novels with a magical or fantastical theme within them. It's a genre I love to read about and that translates to the subjects I like to write about, too. My subjects are always whimsical, I love to write about daring adventures and windswept landscapes, I am fascinated by the many forms magic can take within literature and writing within a world where anything and everything is possible is completely addictive. I read and I write for the same purpose: to escape reality and nurture my imagination. The fantasy genre, for me, is the ideal place to exist both as a reader and a writer. That isn't to say however that I won't venture away from that genre for some of my novels... I already have a solid idea for a contemporary adventure-romance YA novel, and I'd love to break into the historical genre as well. I've always thought that one day I'd write a story about a trailblazing viking or maybe rewrite an old film like Calamity Jane but give it a modern, feminist twist.
4 - How do you do deal with writer's block?
This is an interesting one, as of course writer's block happens to the best of us. However, one of my all-time favourite authors, Philip Pullman, once said: "Habit has written more books than talent ever has". That has resonated with me ever since I read it. It means that the simple act of sitting down to write, even for 15 minutes or an hour, every single day, is the best way to combat writer's block. If your brain is in the habit of producing words, then it will continue to find those words, even when you think you're struggling. I often find that writing something entirely different from my Work In Progress (WIP) novel, whether it's a poem or a little character study, helps my brain reengage with the creative process needed to continue my work. If that doesn't work, I get away from my desk, I head out for a walk in nature, and then I come back and read a book by an author I admire.
5 - What inspires you?
Nature, folklore, fairy tales, adventure/travel, dusty bookshops, open roads, Pinterest boards filled with gorgeous pictures, mythology, birdsong, movie soundtracks, traditional celtic music, and so many other things!
6 - So, I know that you live in England. Does the country you live in inspire you in some way? If so, which/how?
I do! Home is the northwest of England (or, it was. I'm currently down south converting a big old van into a campervan with my boyfriend and we'll be living in that, all over the UK and Europe for the next few years!). The UK has always inspired me greatly though, more so than anywhere else actually. The diversity of landscapes here is just absolutely stunning. There are thick forests, rugged coastlines dotted with lighthouses, sky-reaching mountains and glittering lakes. Scotland, especially, inspires me greatly. When I settle in a home of my own, there is nowhere else I can imagine myself living. Also, the UK has some fascinating history, heritage and folklore. You can wander around a lake in North Wales where King Arthur's sword, Excalibur, is supposed to be. There is a body of water in Derbyshire that is said to be home to a mischievous mermaid or "water-nymph". The Isle of Skye in Scotland is home to both the Fairy Pools and the Fairy Glen. And there are mystical stone circles just about everywhere, that are steeped in mystery and surrounded by tales of the druids. There really is a landscape or a historical monument to capture the imagination of anyone.
7 - Speaking of England,I have some readers which are really curious about living there or in the uk in general. Therefore,I'd like to ask you: what's it like?
As you can probably tell, I really love living in the UK in general. There is so much to see here, so many adventures to have. I have yet to visit many of the Scottish Isles, or any of the East Coast of England, and I've lived here my whole life. I would recommend it wholeheartedly! But, and this is quite a big problem at the moment, Brexit is proving challenging for many of us. Until that is resolved, it is hard to say whether the UK would be the best place to live for everyone. :-( Hopefully it can be resolved and the UK can remain a lovely, friendly and desirable place for people from all walks of life!
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Thanks,Katy!
What about you? What makes your heart pound? Where are you from? :)
