Get ready to learn more about the book The Night Knight in this discussion with sapphic author C H Clepitt.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz The Night Knight about C H Clepitt, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Knight category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write The Night Knight?
I loved writing My Dream Woman so much that I wanted to make it a series. Andi and Dee had already had their happy ending, but Bella needed some space to find her own story. By centralising a new character I was able to keep the series fresh and explore the world from a new perspective.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
I identify with Andi. She tries to be strong and in charge to make everyone else feel safe whilst secretly being a complete mess!
How did you come up with the title for your book?
In book one, Andi discovered she was a Dream Warrior. This time we are following the story from Bella’s perspective, where she is saved by a warrior, a knight. I thought the Night Knight was a fun play on words.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
I wrote a sequel, Wide Awake. It this time follows Craig, a retired police officer struggling to adapt to retirement, having his daughter live with him and being thrown into a world of dreams that he never knew existed.
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
I have two! Cass, my wonky ninja – a cat with 3 1/2 legs who likes to help by inexplicably shutting the lid of my laptop when I least expect it, and Colin, a 12 week old lop eared house rabbit. He likes to sit on the sofa next to me and occasionally steal my snacks. They are way more popular on social media than I am and have their own clothing range on Teemill…
What animal or object best represents you as an author or your writing style?
Probably a spaniel. Full of energy, fun but with a strong work ethic. That’s the writing style – I am personally less full of energy and more in need of a nap…
When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?
When I write the process is fully immersive, I’m in the world, in the characters’ heads, I’m there. I write from scene to scene, so I don’t need to set the mood, the mood happens as I’m writing. It’s like when you’re reading a good book and the world around you disappears and you’re just there, except I’m writing it, it unfolds in front of me.
Do you feel bad putting your characters through the wringer?
Nah! Haha! When things happen they are to enable us to move forward. Bad things need to happen to move the characters to their happy ending. Authors work in mysterious ways, the characters need to trust that!
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
Growing up I never really liked reading. I am visually impaired and reading was much harder for me, made me tired and I never really identified with any of the books. The books they made us study at school were all long dead white male authors, and I didn’t like any of the female characters I was reading. I now realise that was because the authors didn’t like them! When I started my Masters I studied women writers, and suddenly I was able to identify with characters. Reading Virginia Woolf made me realise I could write too. Representation is so important and I almost feel a responsibility as a Disabled, queer, non-binary person to tell my stories too.
Do you only read books in one genre or do you genre hop?
I hop all over the place! Please feel free to recommend me books you love, I’m always looking for new stories! At the moment I’m going through a graphic novel phase and going through the Spiderverse!
