20 questions for… author Kate Sawyer

 

Seize the day or hit snooze?

Hit snooze.

 

What motivates you in the morning?

I think I’m motivated because if I get stuff done, I’ll be able to afford more time relaxing and doing the things I love, such as spending time with family and friends, reading, eating out and gardening. I do get a kick from completing tasks though – I love ticking off a to-do list.

 

What would your dream weekend involve?

Saturday cuddles with my daughter, brunch with croissants and good coffee, time in the sun with friends and family – ideally near water or, if warm enough, in the water – maybe a market or a bit of browsing in nice homewares shops, reading to my daughter then, with her in bed (haha – this definitely is a ‘dream’), I’d have time to have a bath and get ready for dinner out, ideally somewhere with a tasting menu and paired wines or just really great fresh pasta, then burning the midnight oil chatting over a cocktail. Then on Sunday, a huge lay-in then papers, coffee, eggs and orange juice, a long walk in nature and maybe an art gallery, then a roast for lunch at a pub and home to watch a film or a good drama with an easy tea, like cheese and crackers, in front of a fire (I know I’m mixing up my weather here...but imagine this is a typical British summer weekend!). I’d end by writing a quick to-do list of the week to avoid Monday-morning anxiety, and then early to bed, in fresh sheets and soft pyjamas to spend time with a good book and a cup of camomile tea before lights out.

 

What do you think is your finest quality?

Probably my ability to just go for it. It has its downsides, as sometimes I do things too quickly or make mistakes. But the few times I’ve spent too long trying to decide whether to go for it or not, I’ve missed opportunities. Ideally, I’d find a balance, but I think daring to risk a mistake is generally a better quality than analysing something so much that you become fearful of making one.

 

What was the greatest day of your life?

Although it was a frightening day, and I was sky-high on all the drugs the anaesthetist could give and me still be conscious, the day my daughter was born by emergency-c section was definitely the most extraordinary and, strangely, wonderful day of my life. Second to that was probably a day I spent on a beach in Croatia drinking wine with my best friend until the sunset.

 

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