"I've always been into writing and reading. Words are my life. I've always had stories running around in my head ... I spent a lot of nights on my own so thought it was time to get the stories out of my head and on to paper. Once the kids went to bed I'd start writing until about midnight.''
She entered the story in David Reiter's writing competition but it was disqualified because it was over the word limit.
However, the publisher picked it up and helped her get published. She only had to pay for editing of the book.
The book is an adventure featuring everyday places local people will recognise and people she has been involved with including her children, friends and acquaintances.
It features some of her personal battles and challenges, including her adult daughter going off to university and issues involved with life and love.
"It's about many of the struggles of life. The characters just came to life as I wrote about them ... there are a lot of life experiences.''
None of her family knew she was writing the book until it was published. She sent a copy to her daughter Rachel, 23.
Kathy says her daughter "freaked'' when she saw the book.
"She woke her partner saying `Mum's written a book and I'm in it'. They just had no idea. It was so exciting,'' she says.
She is also very excited about meeting the publisher at the book launch to be held at the Rotorua Library on Thursday, September 6. The launch will start at 12.30pm and Kathy will be reading parts of the book.
In the meantime she is about to have another book published about a young man struggling with his sexuality.
About Write My Face:
This is a story about a teacher who has just finished a relationship and gone off to study in the bush where she steps back into the past as she meets a former student.
It follows her journey of personal development as she puts the past behind her and makes a new life and new loves. It is set in the bush around Rotorua and Murupara.