Katie Munnik – författare

Scotland, 1940In a house on the east coast, Jane faces motherhood alone. With her husband away at war, there is no one to protect her from small town suspicions and she must learn to keep her secrets to herself. Three decades later her daughter Felicity leaves their life behind for Montreal, glad to flee the unknowns that have plagued her so far. But her personal battles are nothing compared to the unrest here, where a commune in rural Quebec and a child of her own might be her saviours.The child grows up to be Pidge, a woman surprised to find that she will inherit her grandmother's Scottish house, yet curious about the ingredients that make up a family's history. Amidst the flying feathers of the wild goose that stalks the kitchen, Pidge will find unexpected answers to the questions that have beset these women through the years.The Heart Beats in Secret is a powerful story of three women and the secrets and bonds that have defined them. It explores the wilderness of the heart, the secrets concealed with every beat and the many ways it is possible to be a mother.

*WATERSTONES WELSH BOOK OF THE MONTH*Paris, 1891 Laura is living on the streets, far from the American Prairies where she was born. When rescued by the entrancing aerialists, Ena and Auguste Gaudron, she soon finds herself ensconced in the family hot air balloon business, and offered the chance to learn how to fly.Cardiff, 1896 The Gaudrons accept an invitation to be part of the Cardiff Fine Art, Industrial and Maritime Exhibition, presenting a daring show of balloon ascents and parachute descents.Then late one night, a young girl, Grace, knocks on the Gaudrons’ door. She is desperate to fly, whatever the cost.As Grace’s dreams begin to take wing, can Laura be the one to keep her grounded? Or will both girls risk it all for one dazzling moment of flight?‘A heady and stylish read that had me swept away from the first page. Munnik has captured a fascinating world of daring with both beauty and heart’ MAHSUDA SNAITH‘Vivid and meticulous, Katie Munnik’s The Aerialists captures the tangled desires of people living on the thin air of their own daring – a glorious vision of a time, a place, a welter of human manipulations and hopes, and ultimately, their tragic effects. A really fine read’ JOAN BARFOOT‘Based on a true story, this rich novel will capture your imagination’ BEST magazine

The Pieces We Keep is a collection of short stories told by vivid voices. Some voices are familiar: characters from scripture, history, folklore, myth and legend; others spring from the world around us and speak a modern tongue. Together, they direct our gaze to life’s small details – taking down the Christmas lights, swimming on a summer’s day, remembering the names of wild flowers, looking back and looking forward. The familiar becomes strange and the overlooked beautiful as Katie Munnik calls us to consider anew why stories matter.The book charts the changing cycles and seasons of the year, reflecting the liturgical patterns of the church and all the weathers of our hearts.‘Katie Munnik is an excellent storyteller … Her stories are flesh and blood, like the Christian and Jewish scriptures. They bring those big stories to life, while opening up new insights and perspectives.’– Donald Smith, Director, the Scottish International Storytelling FestivalKatie Munnik is a Canadian writer based in Cardiff. Her work has appeared in Wild Goose anthologies as well as in magazines and journals. She has worked with congregations and communities in the UK and Canada, always asking questions and sharing stories. Her debut novel, The Heart Beats in Secret, will be published by the Borough Press (HarperCollins) in spring 2019.