NK Chats To…Kay Seeley

Hello Kay. Thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your latest book, Troubled Times for Tilly and what inspired it?

Troubled Times for Tilly is a follow up to my first book, The Water Gypsy. Lots of readers asked me what happened to the little boy, Joey, and I wanted to know what happened to him too, so that was the beginning of Troubled Times for Tilly. It’s about Joey growing up straddled between two different worlds and not belonging in either of them.

Troubled Times for Tilly is part of The Water Gypsy Books. What are the challenges of writing a novel when it is part of a series?

The main problem is deciding how much of the first book to include. Obviously, the characters are the same, so their backstory is important, but I don’t want to include any spoilers for people who haven’t read the first book, nor do I want it to feel repetitive for readers who have. It’s a fine balance.

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals?

I don’t write every day. I tend to write in the morning and draft the next part of the novel in the afternoon. I often draft by hand and type up the next day. I don’t have a typical writing day.

What’s your favourite word and why?

Insight – the reorganisation of perceptions so that what was once seen as separate elements are suddenly seen as connected and relating to one another to form a whole. To my mind that’s what storytelling is all about – giving people insight into things they never considered to be connected.

From idea to finished final draft, how long does a writing project usually take you?

I write slowly so each book takes a year. I only write one book a year.

How do you approach the research and editing stages? When do you know when you’ve done enough of both?

I love research and finding out about things, so I probably do too much. For example, in Troubled Times for Tilly Joey is a Naval Cadet so I visited The Royal Naval College in Greenwich (part of which is now Greenwich University) to get a fee of the atmosphere of the place. I learned snippets of information that go into the book. As for editing – it’s never enough.

If you could witness an historical event, where would you go?

Queen Victoria’s Coronation. It must have been quite a spectacle.

Kay’s Writing Space

Which fictional character would you like to meet and why?

Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind. All my heroes have some of his disarming charm and devastating good looks.

What are you currently working on?

I’m between books at the moment, but I have a few ideas for another Water Gypsy book. It’s early days yet, but – watch this space.

What book have you read (that you didn’t write) that you’d like to forget just so you could rediscover it?

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towels. Beautiful writing that carries you along. Fantastic book.

Would You Rather –

Have the ability to move things with your mind or read minds?

Read minds and know what people are really thinking.

Sing or dance to your favourite song for the rest of your life?

Sing – Dancing is too energetic.

Have money or power?

Money is power.

Have an endless summer or winter?

Summer.

Drink tea or coffee?

Tea.

See the movie or read the book first?

Read the book.

Read a Paperback or eBook? –

Paperback.

Would you rather have magical powers here on earth or live in a magical place without powers?

Magical powers here on earth.

*****

About Troubled Times for Tilly – 

A gripping saga of courage, resilience and fractured dreams, set in Victorian London.

Life on the river has never been easy for Tilly and Sam, but through hard work and determination, they’ve built a home filled with love. Joey, Tilly’s eldest son, has lived between two worlds—cherished as her child but granted privileges, denied to her other children, through his wealthy birth father’s family. It’s a fine balance that has always held… until an incident at a glittering Celebration Ball shatters the fragile harmony.

Tilly fears the consequences, especially when her spirited, headstrong daughter Martha is involved. Martha has ideas of her own. How will she fare when she faces Joey’s entitled friends and their easy lives?

Disaster strikes Sam’s business, shaking the family’s foundation. Tilly’s worst fears come to life when Joey’s affluent relatives start making plans to reclaim him. Tilly is torn between fighting for her son and respecting his dreams.

As old wounds reopen and new temptations arise, Tilly must summon all her strength to keep her family together. But will love and loyalty be enough, or will the promise of wealth and comfort lure her children away forever?

A Powerful follow-up to The Water Gypsy.  Perfect for fans of Anna Jacobs and Dilly Court.

Troubled Times for Tilly was released by Enterprise Books on 16th May 2025. Click to buy on Amazon. 

*****

About Kay Seeley –

Kay Seeley is a talented storyteller and bestselling author. Her short stories have been published in women’s magazines and short-listed in competitions. Her novels had been finalists in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. She lives in London and loves its history. Her stories are well researched and beautifully written with compelling characters where love triumphs over adversity.  Kay writes stories that will capture your heart and leave you wanting more. Often heart-wrenching but always satisfyingly uplifting, her books are perfect for fans of Anna Jacobs, Lesley Pearse and Josephine Cox.

Kay is a Member of The Alliance of Indie Authors and The Society of Women Writers and Journalists.

All her novels are available for Kindle, in paperback, audio and in Large Print. 

Say hello to Kay via her website, Facebook, X and Instagram. 

*****

Win a copy of Troubled Times for Tilly by Kay Seeley.

We are giving away three paperback copies of Troubled Times for Tilly by Kay Seeley.

All you have to do to enter is click on this link.

Open to UK only.

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.