Ahead of July's South Coast Readers & Writers Festival, After the Forest author Kell Woods shares her favourite books and writing routines with SCWC's Elizabeth Heffernan.

What is your latest writing project?

I have always loved the fairy tale The Little Mermaid – it's so sad and beautiful. The idea of combining it with Cinderella and re-telling it in a real historical place and time – mid-18th century France – was very appealing.  

What do you love about it? Are there any challenges?

Even though I'm writing fantasy, I like to make the world of the story as realistic and historically detailed as possible – I think it makes it easier for readers to lose themselves. This, of course, means a lot of research. I love it, but it’s also challenging, particularly when the books and articles I need are often written in a different language.  

What is your earliest reading memory?

I had an early reader book called Bad Bear. It was about a naughty bear who did all sorts of naughty things. It was very repetitive – Who’s been kicking my doll? Bad bear! Who hit the ducks with a loaf of bread? Bad Bear! 

My poor parents must have read it to me over and over again and I would always say the ‘Bad Bear!’ part in a very serious voice.   

Which book made you want to be a writer?

It’s hard to know – as a little kid I read and wrote a lot. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be an author. 

What book do you reread?

I’ve read Wuthering Heights every decade of my life – it's funny how my responses to it have changed with my age.  

Which book could you never read again?

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. It’s wonderful, but so very sad.  

Name a book you discovered later in life.

Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. I got all the way to the end before I realised that the movie Cruel Intentions is a re-telling! This story seems weirdly familiar, I thought to myself... 

What are you currently reading?

The Briar Book of the Dead by Angela Slatter.  

What's your comfort read?

Anything by Maeve Binchy.  

What's on your desk?

My desk is usually fairly tidy. Apart from the obvious things like my computer and printer, it currently holds, in no particular order, a thesaurus, a cup of tea, a pile of research books, a vase of flowers and feathers, a collection of stones, sea shells, acorns and other little treasures from my wanderings, an oil burner, a dictionary of superstition, and two cats – my beloved black cat Moona, whose ashes sit in a little wooden box, and my kitten Juniper, who is very much alive and curled up in her basket.   

Tell us about your writing routine.

My routine varies, but a standard day would have a morning session, with several cups of tea, then an afternoon break, and then an afternoon/evening session. I keep a spreadsheet with the hours I’ve done each day and a running total for the week and month to keep me accountable, too. Otherwise it’s too easy to get distracted!  

The South Coast Readers and Writers Festival is coming to Thirroul on 13-14 July 2024. The line-up features more than 40 stellar award-winning authors, talented new voices, acclaimed poets, broadcasters and thinkers. With 22 sessions to choose from, the weekend promises to be filled with captivating stories, thought-provoking discussions and inspiring conversations. Book your tickets now: https://southcoastwriters.org/festival