YA Contemporary
Date Published: 10-24-2023
Publisher: Creative James Media
Josh and Elliot have been living in the shadows of their inner demons for far too long.
Josh McBride was the angry, emotionally avoidant one, while Elliot was the invisible, anxious, carer. When they ended up in Cruxby together and discovered their family’s history, that all had to change. Except, old habits were hard to break.
If life had dealt them a different hand, they could have reached their potential. Elliot should have been a confident performer and Josh should have been able to perform in his courses to go on to joinery school.
But this isn’t some fairy tale, and Josh can’t stay in class, let alone an exam. He believes he’s stupid and that’s all there is to it. Elliot has a chance in the talent show if his audition goes well, but the anxiousness from his past creeps in from every angle.
Will these two be able to rise above their pasts and create their own destinies, or will their demons win in the end?
Interview with Kate S. Martin
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
I have written two books and it is like choosing your favourite child! But if pushed, I would say my debut novel Are you Okay, Elliot Hart? is my favourite. Simply because it made me realise that I can do this. I can write a novel!
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
I wrote a sequel! And it came out in October 2023. It’s called What about You, Josh McBride? And looks at the final year of high school for two teenage boys, Elliot and Josh.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
These two books definitely have connections as it follows the lives of Elliot and Josh, looking at some of the challenges they face and how you try to move forward when the past has given you lots of demons to face.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
I knew that I wanted it to have Josh’s name in as the first book had Elliot’s in. I decided on What about You, Josh Mcbride? Because no one had ever really asked whether he was okay and it was time to put more focus on the angry teenager in the classroom.
How long did it take you to write this book?
I usually write quite a short first draft in a year and then edit/improve it for a few months. So, probably just under 18 months.
What does the title mean?
It simply means that we need to ask everyone if they are okay, even the ones who are difficult to approach.
What did you learn when writing the book?
I learnt a lot about dyslexia as it looks into Josh’s struggles at school. I spoke to a lot of teenagers with dyslexia which not only helped my story but also helped me have more understanding of the neurodiverse pupils in my classroom.
What surprised you the most?
My favourite part about writing is when the characters start to act in a way you hadn’t planned – it always surprises me! I remember one character flirting with another character in this book that I didn’t see coming!
Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?
Now that would be telling! You’ll have to read the book.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
It was easy to get into Elliot’s head as I based it on some of my own frustrations and worries. Elliot is a young carer and I know what it is like to see someone you love in pain on a daily basis. I also found it easy to get into Josh’s head. I assume that’s twenty years of teaching experience! I’ve come across lots of Elliots and Joshs in my career. Both my books allowed me to give teenagers a voice, especially ones who have fought a battle before arriving at the school gates.
About the Author
Kate grew up in a small town in Lancashire, England with her mum, dad and two older brothers. A bit of a tomboy, she loved nothing more than going out for adventures with her brothers, as long as she was back before dark. She studied English at Reading University and gained a teaching qualification at Manchester. Nowadays, Kate spends her days teaching English at a local high school in Cheshire and her evenings are spent writing stories close to her heart. She believes teenage years can be particularly difficult and wants to create stories that show empathy and hope for her readers. She lives with her husband, two children and Jessie, the Miniature Schnauzer.
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