Home Grown Talent

“You can struggle with a manuscript for years, and eventually it’s finished because you’ve found the answers you were looking for. Then your novel goes out into the world and it becomes a mystery again”. Award-winning local author Katie Ward discusses the journey to writing her second novel, Pathways, and supporting emerging writers here in Suffolk. Pathways is a novel about Cara, a dedicated neuroscientist with a research post at Cambridge; and Heather, her almost-stepdaughter, who goes to Las Vegas without a plan and doesn’t commit to anything; a book exploring neuroscience, philosophy, connections, and unexpectedly, love. A creative writing teacher at the University of Suffolk, Katie also leads the Wolsey Writers: providing local peer support, inspiration and tips to writers writing in all genres with all levels of experience. Chaired by Emma Shercliff who founded Laxfield Literary Associates in Suffolk in 2020 and was shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards 2024.