Kate Saunders author page

Kate Saunders biography

Kate Saunders (1960–2023) was a British author, journalist, and actress, celebrated for her contributions to both adult and children’s literature. Born Katharine Mary Saunders on 4 May 1960 in London, she was the eldest of six children in a family steeped in journalism and public relations. Educated at Camden School for Girls, she later trained with the Anna Scher Theatre School, embarking on a career in acting before transitioning to writing.

Saunders’s literary debut came with The Prodigal Father (1986), which earned her the Betty Trask Award. Her diverse writing portfolio includes novels such as Storm in the Citadel (1989), Night Shall Overtake Us (1993), and the Laetitia Rodd mystery series, beginning with The Secrets of Wishtide (2016). She co-authored the non-fiction work Catholics and Sex (1992) with Peter Stanford, which was adapted into a Channel 4 television series.

In the realm of children’s literature, Saunders is perhaps best known for Five Children on the Western Front (2014), a sequel to E. Nesbit’s classic, which won the Costa Children’s Book Award and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Her other notable children’s books include Beswitched (2010), Magicalamity (2011), The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop (2012), and The Land of Neverendings (2017), the latter also receiving a Carnegie Medal shortlist nomination. Her Belfry Witches series was adapted into a BBC television programme.

Beyond her writing, Saunders contributed to various newspapers and magazines, including The Sunday Times, Sunday Express, Daily Telegraph, and Cosmopolitan. She was a regular voice on BBC Radio 4 programmes such as Woman’s Hour and Start the Week, and appeared on the inaugural episode of Have I Got News for You. In 1990, she served as a judge for the Booker Prize.

Despite personal challenges, including a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and the loss of her son, Saunders remained a prolific writer. Her final novel, A Drop of Golden Sun, was published posthumously in 2024. Kate Saunders passed away from cancer on 21 April 2023 at the age of 62, leaving behind a legacy of literary works that continue to resonate with readers of all ages.