Hi, I'm Kate!
I live in the outer Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, with my wonderfully patient husband, and I am excited to release my debut novel, Private Morey's Jacket in August 2025.
Private Morey's Jacket is a story that’s incredibly close to my heart. The idea first came to me after watching Red Dog — and crying my eyes out! I knew I wanted to write a story where the (SPOILER ALERT) dog would live. Morey is based on my sweet dog Murray, who passed away in early 2025 at the ripe old age of 14. His spirit lives on in every page.
I've always had a deep love of history, especially stories from World War II. Much of that passion came from the years I spent commuting with my dad, who would share all the fascinating stories he had read about. It gave us something special to bond over and gave me endless inspiration for my writing. And, as the youngest child I often find myself asking the question -”But what if..?”
Many long weekends and holidays were spent visiting my in-laws' property in rural Victoria, where I fell head over heels for the peaceful, wide open, country lifestyle. I knew right away that Donald would be the perfect setting for my little book.
I handwrote the first draft of Private Morey's Jacket over many summer camping trips, scribbling away whenever I could find a quiet moment. I finished the story during the COVID lockdowns in 2020 and spent the next year editing it with my dad over Google Docs. It was such a rewarding project for us to work on together, and a great way to beat the boredom of those long, strange months.
The story has grown and changed over the years, and for a long time, I wasn’t sure if I would ever publish it. That changed after meeting a new friend at work who is both a traditional and self-published author. She encouraged and supported me every step of the way, and I’m forever grateful.
I am thrilled with the final result, and I hope readers can fall in love with Morey — and that Murray’s memory can live on forever through these pages.
Thank you so much for visiting!