Signing for new book reunites debut novelist with old teacher

Kay Longden met book lovers at the Interiors shop in Mexborough as she launched her fantasy novel A Piece of the Jigsaw under the name Katy Booth.

The author, of Wentworth, wrote the book during lockdown, having been inspired by the folklore she picked up during family holidays to Cornwall.

She said: “The signing was very well attended.

“I was amazed at how many people came to support me, including John Fordham, my former English teacher from Mexborough Grammar School.

“He bought a copy of my book and said that he was going to go through it with his red pen.

“I haven’t seen him since I left school in 1969 — he was an inspirational teacher.

“It was a whole new experience for me.”

Kay and her granddaughter Phoebe Blunt (pictured with Kay) ran a raffle alongside the book signing, raising £52 for Millhouse Animal Sanctuary.

She will be signing again this Saturday between noon and 4pm, with another raffle for the charity.