Photo by Charlie Hopkinson
Katie Ward is an author in Suffolk whose debut novel, Girl Reading, is published by Virago (UK) and Scribner (US). The Times called Girl Reading ‘a real wow of a first novel,’ and it was Book of the Week on The Oprah Blog.
In 2013 Katie received the Clarissa Luard Award from Hilary Mantel, an award given to a writer under the age of 35.
Before writing fulltime, Katie worked in the public and voluntary sectors, including at a women’s refuge, and for a Member of Parliament. She took a career break to write her novel after coming across an article about a book of portraits of women and girls reading.
Katie loves art, philosophy, and Shakespeare. She has travelled to some interesting places, survived breast cancer and runs a bit; she also supports ECP’s campaign to #MakeAllWomenSafe.
Katie started Wolsey Writers at New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, in 2015.
She has a husband and a cat.