An Interview with Kindle Storyteller Finalist Kirstie Watson.
Discover the Kindle Storyteller Award Finalists! Day 2/5.
We continue our series of interviews with the five incredible finalists for the Kindle Storyteller Award 2025, celebrating the very best of independent writing in the UK.
Today, we chat with Kirstie Watson, author of the magical children’s chapter book, Tales of The Witch’s Cat: Escape From Petopia. Kirstie opens up about the emotional toll and ultimate reward of the self-publishing journey, why character heart matters most, and the single piece of advice every aspiring KDP author needs to hear.
For all independent authors, this is an essential read on overcoming self-doubt and finding validation in your writing career.
The Spark, The Magic, and The £20,000 Question.
Can you summarise your shortlisted book in three words or a single, compelling sentence? Kirstie Watson: Mischief, magical, mayhem.
Every book starts with a spark. What was the single moment, image, or idea that first compelled you to write this particular story?
A missing-dog post on a local Facebook group had me wondering what The Witch’s Cat would do if he ever lost his new best friend, Puppy. That sense of panic became the pivotal moment that set the story in motion.
The Kindle Storyteller Award is heavily influenced by reader feedback. What is the one thing readers consistently tell you they love or find most memorable about your novel?
Readers seem to love the character of The Witch’s Cat. Many of them have grown up with him through my original picture-book series, so they’re already familiar with his mischievous charm. But in the chapter books, they get to know him on a deeper level, and they seem to enjoy the sibling-like bond he shares with Puppy. I think what makes him so memorable is that he’s far from perfect. He often gets things wrong (especially when it comes to magic), but his heart is always in the right place. He’s curious, caring, and never gives up, and I think children really relate to that.
What was the most challenging scene, chapter, or character to write, and why?
The trickiest chapter was the one where Cat, Puppy and The Lovely Witch first arrive in Enchanter, which is a busy, bustling magical place. For this age group, it’s always a fine balance between action and description. Too much description and you risk losing their attention fast, too little and the world doesn’t come alive. I rewrote that chapter several times, trimming and reworking until I felt I’d captured the magic and unique vibe of Enchanter without slowing the pace.
The Self-Publishing Hustle.
The Kindle Storyteller Award celebrates independent publishing. What is the biggest advantage of publishing your work through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), and how has being shortlisted changed your view of your writing career?
KDP makes it so easy to share your work with the world. It’s allowed me to test new ideas, reach readers globally, and keep creative control, while Amazon handles the printing, distribution, and customer service. That freedom lets me focus on what I love most: writing and creating.
But I’ll be honest, there have been times when I’ve questioned whether I could keep going. Self-publishing can be lonely; you’re writing, editing, marketing, and running the business all on your own. The children’s book market is especially tough. At times, I’ve felt like I’m shouting into the void, but then a message from a parent or a photo of a child holding my book pops into my inbox, and it reminds me exactly why I do it.
I’m not very good at celebrating my own successes... But being shortlisted made me stop and realise: wow, I’m a real author! It’s given me a huge boost of confidence to keep going and to think even bigger for what comes next.
What part of the self-publishing process was the most eye-opening or the one where you invested the most time/effort?
Marketing is definitely the part I underestimated most in the beginning. Writing and publishing the book felt easy by comparison! I soon learned to approach it like a business, investing both time and money, and thinking strategically... It’s where I now spend most of my time, and it’s taught me the value of perseverance and of showing up consistently, even when results take time.
If you could give one piece of specific, practical advice to a writer just starting out on the KDP journey, what would it be?
Back yourself. There will undoubtedly be setbacks, slow sales, and moments of self-doubt along the way, but that’s all part of self-publishing. Believe in your story, invest in your book as professionally as you can, and keep learning as you go. Trust your instincts, keep showing up, and never stop backing yourself.
The Writer’s Life.
Describe your ideal writing setup in one paragraph.
I’m definitely a home-office writer! I have a little garden studio filled with beautiful children’s books, plants, and twinkly fairy lights — it’s my happy place. I usually start with a cup of coffee, an empty notebook, and absolute quiet. I fall somewhere between a plotter and a pantser: I usually have a good sense of where the story’s heading before I start, but it never feels fully decided until I’m on the journey with my characters.
What is your greatest strength as a writer, and what is your recurring “writing sin”?
I never really grew up — and it’s come in really handy as a children’s author! I still see the world with the same curiosity and imagination I had as a child, and I think that definitely helps me write stories that resonate with my readers. My writing sin? I always get carried away and write far too many words, so trimming back during edits is always the hardest part!
If your book had a three-song soundtrack, which songs would you pick to represent the beginning, middle, and end?
I’m really not much of a music person! Shocking, I know! I have to be in the mood to listen to music, and I never know who artists are or which songs they sang. So, I genuinely can’t think of a soundtrack for this book, BUT I can imagine some magical, twinkly, cheerful tune for the beginning. The middle would bring in an upbeat, Halloween-style tune, and the ending would build to something triumphant and joyful.
What can your new and existing readers look forward to next?
Book three in the Tales of The Witch’s Cat series is already underway! All I’ll say for now is that it involves a mysterious magic storybook, a few familiar fairytales, and plenty more chaos and magic from Cat and Puppy. I’ve also got a Witch’s Cat Christmas picture book in the works and a new story in my Petal & Nettle fairy series.
Kirstie Watson is a finalist for the Kindle Storyteller Award 2025 for her book, Tales of The Witch’s Cat: Escape From Petopia.
When The Lovely Witch ZINGED us away to Enchanter – the most magical place in the world – Puppy and I were beyond excited! It would be the PERFECT place to finish brewing our secret potion! (shhh! I’ll tell you all about that later!)
But everything went horribly wrong when Puppy suddenly vanished – with only a mysterious note left in her place!
There was only one thing for it – a daring rescue mission! Armed with The Lovely Witch’s magic wand (okay, I may have “borrowed” it... again) and joined by a new friend, I follow a trail that leads us to Petopia. Getting there was one thing, but will I find Puppy and will we ever get out?
Join us in our latest exciting misadventure as we face magical mishaps and old enemies in our race to escape from Petopia… before it’s too late.
With black and white illustrations and packed with laughs, friendship, and adventure throughout, this funny chapter book is the must-read second instalment in the fantastically funny Tales of The Witch’s Cat series.
Perfect for ages 6-9, this magical adventure story is ideal for both confident and reluctant readers, and is sure to bring some magic to your bedtime stories. The perfect follow-on read for lovers of The Witch’s Cat picture books and ideal for fans of Winnie the Witch and Isadora Moon.
If you wish to follow Kirstie, send her congratulations and best of luck, you can do here:
Stay tuned as each day this week we will be dropping the next shortlisted author!
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