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What inspired you to write your first book? I’ve always wanted to write a book. I penned my first when I was 11, no idea what happened to it, but I do remember elements of it are in Strings. The story isn’t the same in the sense of it being about a rock band, or fame but the Amber part was. Losing my mum 4 years ago made me realize life is short and it was about time I did what I really wanted to do before it was too late. Sometimes there isn’t a tomorrow.
How did you come up with the title? The name changed 4 times until I decided on Strings. There are lots of different events in the book that are surrounded by being tied to something, or a form of Strings being involved. Amber said ‘No Strings attached.’ Guitars have Strings, the boys signing a contract which ties them into something. I just thought it was a perfect name.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? It didn’t start of that way. As the story unfolded I began to see a message. Everything has a price. If something is worth the fight, you fight hard for it. And, that even boys in bands can fall in love. There is a stigma attached to being a ‘Rock Star’ that it’s all sex, drugs and groupies. I know a lot of bands and it really is not the case for all. I know lots of people in bands who are in committed relationships, they gig and they go home. Of course, I am not saying it doesn’t happen, we all know it does. My main one is the power of friendship. True friends can conquer anything together. And, so can true love but you have to be willing to take the bad as well as the good. And, that fame isn’t what people think it is, it can be a very lonely place. Famous people are human to and they had bad times and money doesn’t buy you everything. Money was no good to Melissa when Luke went missing, it was useless.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? I think every writer thinks they could have done it better or changed this or that. I did that for a long time, and eventually you just have to let it be. Once I was finally able to sit back and say ‘Yes. It’s ready’ It was time to let it go. I could change things, but I have no desire to do it.
What's the best thing you enjoy about writing? Creating people and building a world all of my own.
Do you have any advice for other writers? Be brave. Write what is in your heart and soul. Be at peace that your book won’t be liked by everyone and not to take it too much to heart. It’s a big world out there and everyone has different taste. Be grateful for those who do like it and support you. Focus on that and don’t let it knock your confidence.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? Yes. Thank you. You’re all Awesome for giving my book a chance. It means a lot to me.
Which Character/s did you create first? Melissa and Beth were always in my mind, and they never changed. Well, apart from Melissa whos name change twice before I settled on Melissa. She was Stephanie at one stage. Names always seem to be important to me they have to be just right. Then Luke was created, who was actually Dean at the very start.
How important is music to you? Music is a massive passion of mine. I love finding new bands and going to gigs.
What are you working on at the moment? The sequel to Strings, and planning the third and last one.
Kat Green Bio:
Kat Green was born Nov 1979 into a military family, and moved around a lot during her childhood. This shaped her into the person she is today. At ease with meeting new people and adapting to new surroundings. Her family roots are from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Kat now lives with her husband and son on the south coast of England, Portsmouth. She doesn't pretend to be the best, and is still growing as a writer and having fun along the way. She loves books and has a busy imagination. Her love for music plays a big part in her first novel, Strings, and she can be found mainly at gigs around the UK. In 2010 she lost her mother to blood cancer and it was time to put her words on a page and stop worrying about what people might say, 'Life is too short and precious to waste' is her motto. Writing is her passion and her escape. If you like what she does, she says 'Thank you!' For those who don't,
she says 'Thanks for giving her a chance.'
Strings Blurb
The rise of the Black Eagles was meteoric, from band practice in the garage to global stars almost overnight. And Melissa Webb, the beautiful girlfriend of the front man, appeared to have it all. But when Luke Black disappears without a trace and Melissa wakes up in a hospital bed after a savage attack, her perfect world is shattered and their lives are plunged into a potentially deadly crisis. Where is Luke, and can he be found before it is too late?
Spotlight:
Melissa was also a big part of his plans. It surprised him when he thought about it, because with past girlfriends, his focus had never been diverted from his musical goals. More than once, this was the reason that his relationships ended. It wasn’t selfishness on his part, or at least he didn’t think it was. It was just that he’d never been with someone who he had pictured in his long-term plans. But she was in all of them now. He’d always found the thought of spending your life with one person a bit scary – never being close to another person or having that exciting feeling of a new relationship. But she’d changed all that. It may have been only a month, but he knew she was the one he wanted to be with. The fact that his friends seemed to like her too was a bonus; there had been one or two girls in the past who hadn’t fitted in – usually too wrapped up in themselves to bother getting to know his mates. They were the people he spent most of his time with, and he was nothing without them – they were like family. Melissa had just slotted into the role of being his girlfriend so effortlessly, and vice versa. It just seemed natural. His plans for his future and the band’s therefore naturally included her – it was as though she was their fifth member, even though she didn’t sing or play an instrument. He trusted her and valued her opinion, so it meant a lot to him that she approved of what they did.
He was still awake, his thoughts flying around in his head. He decided that he needed to hear her voice, to settle him down and put that tiny bit of doubt out of his mind. So he dialled her number.
‘Are you worrying?’ She sounded sleepy when she answered.
‘A little – everyone’s asleep, but I can’t shut off.’
‘Can you get to me?’
‘Of course, babe. I’ll be there in half an hour.’ He knew he should be sleeping, but there was only one place he wanted to be right now. He called a taxi, leaving a note for his sleeping band mates to pick him up from her house in the morning. He just hoped they could be trusted to get up on time.
Book Soundtrack:
Arctic Monkeys – I wanna be yours
Paramore – Anklebiters
Green Day – Do you know your enemy
Muse – Hysteria
Tonight Alive – Come Home
Marcus Foster – I was Broken
Sam Bradley – Passport
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