Following Kate Foster’s bestselling and award-winning debut, The Maiden, is her next novel, The King’s Witches. She tells BooksfromScotland her experience of ‘the difficult second novel.’

The King’s Witches
By Kate Foster
Published by Mantle

If I had to describe the defining moment of writing my first novel, The Maiden, it would be tucked up on my sofa in mid-pandemic lockdown, totally unsure of the changing world outside but creating a whole new world on the page and finding peace and joy in the process.

Writing The Maiden gave me comfort and control over my own imaginative world at a time of uncertainty, so I was utterly thrilled to get a two-book deal and excited to begin book two.

But the defining moment of writing that book, The King’s Witches, is completely different. By then, The Maiden was making its way out into the world, and it was becoming a bestseller. I was juggling author success (a lifelong dream!) with my full-time career as a journalist, two teenagers, a bulging diary, public talks, signings, and a house move.

As my deadline for delivery of The King’s Witches loomed, my defining moment was ignoring the manuscript altogether, putting my laptop away whilst trying to manage my changing life. And that was not a single moment; there were many of them.

Now, with The King’s Witches making its own way into the world, I will happily admit it has not been the easiest of deliveries. There are many problems a writer faces whilst attempting book two.

You have years to write your debut novel. You can take as long as you like, and change your mind over and over again. But if you are serious about a career in writing, you realistically only have about a year and a half to write your second one.

The Maiden was not an easy write, but it was a fast one. As soon as I had decided to go for it and try a full manuscript, the story came rushing at me. The characters (most of them) emerged fully-fledged. It was a giddy, invigorating ride of a write that I think is reflected in the story.

My dream, I suppose, had been to see it in a bookshop. But The Maiden also went on be longlisted, shortlisted and win awards, and I still can’t believe it. I have been utterly fortunate, and I am hugely humbled by the fact so many readers have enjoyed it. It has been a life-changing privilege.

But that meant writing a second book that might live up to expectations was not just a struggle. It was a fight.

I had a very clear vision for The King’s Witches and was determined to deliver that. I absolutely love books about historic witch trials and have read some remarkable, inspiring novels like The Familiars, The Mercies and Cunning Women. I wanted to put my own twist on a story about Britain’s cruel past and go back to its origins, the North Berwick Witch Trials.

I suppose that was the thread that got me through. Having that very clear vision of why that story was important to me and why the characters, some of whom are based on real people, matter.

Being a novelist has also helped me develop my journalism. Publishing The Maiden helped me understand what it is like to be interviewed, to see at first-hand how other industries and professions work: to learn skills like sales and marketing, PR, SEO, and public speaking. These skills were all being developed with The Maiden, yet still The King’s Witches was struggling.

The break came, as all my writing breaks come, with an intense few days where all I did was write. I did not cook proper meals, I did not really go out, I did not really speak to anyone. It was short and unpleasant but ultimately gave me a push through to the end of a manuscript. Once I had done that, shutting out the world and the voices and other people’s expectations, the story flowed.

My novels centre on the inner lives of women. They are generally first-person deep-dives. I have learned I can only achieve this by cancelling the noise and tuning into myself.

Fortunately, my third novel, The Mourning Necklace, has been a relatively straightforward experience. It is inspired by the incredible true story of Maggie Dickson, who survived her own execution in 18^th Century Edinburgh. I have almost written the entire first draft in five months. I was able to spot mistakes early and not go down rabbit-holes, I kept the plot lines simple and clear, and I let myself simply enjoy the experience, and letting it all just flow. For what could be a better privilege than bringing a story to life.

So yes, the ‘difficult second novel’ syndrome is real. Most writers experience it. But when I hold my second novel in my hand, I am so glad I eventually opened my laptop and powered through it.

The King’s Witches by Kate Foster is published by Mantle, priced £16.99.