Cathy Hayward, author and independent bookshop owner, on what writing and books mean to her

“I feel enormously privileged that I can now make my living from writing – writing my own books, selling other people’s books and helping other writers to write their own books.”

Cathy Hayward, author of two novels, including her latest, The Last Daughter of Highdown Hall, tells us about what she writes and why.

Q. Cathy, where are you on your writing journey and what are you currently writing?

My second novel The Last Daughter of Highdown Hall comes out on 1 May 2026 and my third, The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage, is published on 15 July 2026, so it’s a busy writing year for me. I’m currently about 20,000 words into a fourth novel. But as always seems to happen, I was on a long train journey recently and came up with an idea for a fifth book and am now really excited about it and want to write that instead. I write book club fiction – stories about family secrets and mother/ daughter relationships, which are often quite dark.  

Q. You are a published author, own Brighton’s Kemptown Bookshop, and run an established writing course, the Creative Writing Programme. What does writing mean to you?

I feel enormously privileged that I can now make my living from writing – writing my own books, selling other people’s books and helping other writers to write their own books. My three different jobs bring such joy. 

Writing for me is an escape and a way to process life. I had a complex relationship with my late mother and we didn’t speak for the last four years of her life. I wrote a lot about that in my debut novel. My second novel continues this theme and also explores the relationship I have with my teenage daughters. My third novel is inspired by the post-natal depression I experienced after my third child. And the idea I’ve just had is about an incident that almost happened when my children were very small. If you write about domestic life as I do, then there are inspirations all around you. Even when writing is hard – and it so often is – I still feel so lucky that it’s a huge part of my life. I always wanted to be a writer and suddenly I am!

Q. You've attended many of our events and taken the hotseat. What's your favourite part of a RWC evening?

I love the icebreaker at the beginning. Like many writers I’m a bit of an introvert and find social occasions can be awkward. But having a set exercise to do removes all that awkwardness. It’s a brilliant way to get us talking to each other about our writing. I also like hearing from other writers about where they are in their journeys. 

Q. If you could pinpoint one thing you've learned from attending RWC events, what would it be?

I wish I’d learned how to write as fast as Amanda Prowse! But one thing she said resonated with me and has stuck with me. It was about always living in your characters’ heads. So now, when I’m out and about doing something I think about how my character would react to what’s going on, what she would be carrying in her handbag or pockets, what she’d be buying in the supermarket, what books she’d be reading, whether she’d be a Zara, Reiss or Chanel kind of girl. It’s a really helpful way of getting deeper inside your character’s mind. So thank you Amanda (and RWC) for that tip. 

Q. Why do writers need the company of other writers?

Writing is a solitary activity. We spend hours alone writing about people who only live in our heads. It’s really a form of madness. By getting together with other people who do the same, you feel part of a community and a little bit saner as you can moan about the difficulties and celebrate the successes. I often write alone in the early hours of the morning at home. But when I write in the company of other writers (either in Kemptown Bookshop’s 5am Writing Club or in the library) I always find it really motivational. And it keeps me going knowing that everyone is focusing on their own project.

Cathy runs the The Creative Writing Programme that hosts courses across the South East. She says, “Whether you want to write a novel, poetry, short story or memoir, our part-time, two-year degree-level programmes make that aspiration a reality. Our courses help you to understand the craft of writing and provide the support and structure to get your writing on the page.” 

Courses are open for enrollment in September. Click here for more information.