Featured Official Interview: Ruby Knight

Post by **kandscreeley** » 13 Jun 2025, 09:50

Today's Chat with Sarah features Ruby Knight author of High Clowder Cats, which will be book of the month in July 2025. Get your copies now, so you can get in on the discussion.

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1. What do you do when you aren't writing?

I am a teacher. I started writing because I wanted to write books for advanced young readers and I found it hard to find quality books in this category. To be clear, though, High Clowder Cats is not a book for children. It is primarily aimed at young adults and adults.

2. What does your writing process look like?

I would like to say that I plan meticulously from the start, but unfortunately, that's not true! I find out what is going to happen as I write. I heard another author say that they wanted to go back to the book they were reading to find out what happened and then realised that it was the book they were writing. That made me feel better – it's not just me who writes like this!

3. Let's discuss your book High Clowder Cats. Why cats?

It was either going to be cats or dogs – I think they are the animals humans relate to most closely – but cats just seem so much smarter! Having the cats anthropomorphised makes some of the difficult themes a bit easier to access. The reader does have to sometimes suspend disbelief at all the things that the cats can do!

4. Which character is your favorite? Which was hardest to write?

The main character from High Clowder Cats, Bushytail, will always be my favorite. He was the one who began it all. He tries so hard to do the right thing. I think the villain, Brokenear, was the hardest. He had to be evil enough that Bushytail could fight for justice, but I also didn't want a one-sided character.

5. Along with Bushytail, there are Stealth, Barrel, and Brave. How did you come up with their names?

The cats in this world are generally named for their physical attributes, although sometimes for their characteristics. Stealth is stealthy, Barrel is rotund and Brave is well – Brave. It seemed right to me that cats wouldn't over-complicate names.

6. What was the most difficult part of the writing process?

I enjoy all of the writing process – even the editing. It was very exciting to work with the editor and I can't thank her enough for her invaluable advice. (I should have known it was a good sign when her name was Kitty!) The hardest part was the very final proofreads.

7. Is there a message that you wanted readers to take away from the book?

I didn't particularly write it with a message in mind, but readers certainly take messages away from it. The three rules come from my own personal coping strategies in life – be still, see what is and find your balance. They work for me.

8. What's next for you? Any more books in the works?

There certainly is! Book two – Dark Clowder Cats – is out already. Books three and four – Tree Clowder Cats and River Clowder Cats - are in the pipeline. However, you might have to wait for a while for the next book to come out. I like to take my time to make sure the whole process from start to finish is done well. The priority has to be making the best possible product.

I like to end with lighter questions.

9. What is your favorite way to start the day?

I like to drink coffee. Even though I live in Melbourne, Australia I prefer American coffee. I lived in New York for a year and would always go past the coffee cart in the morning and get coffee and a cream cheese bagel.

10. If you could be any animal, which would you want to be and why?

Not a cat! In real life, wild cats have a very hard life and die young. I have been donating books to charities that are raising money to have wild cats de-sexed and cared for. My cats are definitely fantasy fiction.

11. What makes you grateful?

I am grateful to all my readers who have continued to buy and review the book over the years. I know it is rare for an indie release to sell as well as High Clowder Cats has and I am sure it is largely due to the wonderful reviewers who went to the trouble of posting reviews early on.

12. What is something you aren't good at but wish you were?

I sometimes wish I had been a scientist. I love all learning and have a particular interest in mathematics. When I was young, I don't think I really believed that girls could grow up to do things like science and maths. Thank goodness times have changed!

Naomi Rebecca 1 · Post by **Naomi Rebecca 1** » 16 Jun 2025, 02:14

Definitely, I will read this book.

Yasmin Rajak · Post by **Yasmin Rajak** » Yesterday, 05:14

The author seems relatable and very deserving of her success!

Clarisse Kanduki · Post by **Clarisse Kanduki** » Yesterday, 08:17

Definitely, this book is interested to read

Fidel Oketch · Post by **Fidel Oketch** » Today, 03:38

i must admit that throughout reading this book that the author deserved every bit of success that came her way looking at all the viable efforts that she had put in place from the very start

Zara Weston · Post by **Zara Weston** » Today, 04:19

Wow — great insights! I love how you highlighted the strengths (like the vivid world‑building and character depth) while also noting areas that felt less polished (typos or pacing dips). It makes your review feel balanced and trustworthy. I’ll definitely add this one to my TBR list — thanks for sharing!