Kia is the best-selling author of three courtroom dramas. This summer, she teamed up with Castle Hill Bookshop in Richmond to raise funds for the Trussell Trust. Born in Tower Hamlets in East London, she now she splits her time between London and Richmond in the Yorkshire Dales.
How do I spend my days?
I spend most of my days writing, but I rarely have an entire day to focus on just that. Authors can no longer shut themselves away in a creaky old house to write in quiet solitude. They have to be out in the world, so on any given day I might be recording a podcast, writing a magazine article, speaking at a literary festival or recording a TV interview – all while trying to hit my word count! I do try to get out for a walk because it’s all too easy to spend the entire day at my desk.
Friday nights out – cocktails or chill?
It depends on where I am. I moved to Richmond from London three years ago and currently split my time between them. In Richmond, Friday nights are usually chilled out. My partner, Peter, and I may watch a good movie (I love horror but he hates it) and order a cheeky takeaway. In London, I’m usually catching up with friends.
Saturday morning, Parkrun or papers?
A lazy morning with the papers, trying not to get Hobnobs in the bed. I’ve always been very get-up-and-go, so Peter had to initiate me into the pleasures of a slow morning. Now, we do the crossword and catch up with The Film Review. If we’re feeling extravagant, we’ll head out for breakfast. Duncans Tearoom was a favourite until it closed down last year. The Little Drummer Boy has been a good alternative.
Feeding time
I have five sisters and every single one of them is an excellent cook, which makes it all the more tragic that I’m not. It’s partly my fault. I grew up in a traditional household and refused to learn to cook as a way of asserting my feminist values. Thankfully, Peter likes to cook. Access to quality local produce helps: warm bread from The Angel’s Share Bakery, fresh veggies from Neeps & Tatties and cheese from the Wensleydale Creamery. What a luxury.
Retail therapy?
For me, retail therapy equals books! My local bookshop, Castle Hill, is tiny but I’ve still managed to spend hundreds in there. If I venture into the Dales, I’ll usually visit Westwood Books, which stocks 70,000 titles across two floors. As a child, I relied on my local library for access to books, so being able to buy my own still feels like a privilege.
Saturday night perfection?
A nice meal out with friends, preferably al fresco on a balmy day. The Black Bull in Moulton has a nice garden, perfect for when the weather behaves (and a wood fire inside for when it doesn’t). This past year, I’ve really missed my friends. The shared language of in-jokes, catchphrases, shorthand and portmanteaus that often develops naturally really makes you feel part of something.
Sunday relaxation?
Theoretically, Sundays are for relaxing but I’m often playing catchup on all the things that fell by the wayside during the working week. This is often the boring life admin that adults can’t avoid. If the weather is good, Peter and I may head into the Dales. My favourite view can be found at the top of Malham Cove. The peaks of Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough are impressive too.
Hopes for the year ahead
My third novel, Next of Kin, is out in September so I’m really looking forward to that. All my profits from the book will go to food bank charity the Trussell Trust when ordered via my website (kiaabdullah.com) or Castle Hill Bookshop (01748 824 243). This is my way of giving back after benefiting from free school meals as a child. I also hope to finish my fourth novel and start to travel again as life returns to normal.
