The sea features heavily in Margate writer Catherine Law’s latest novel, The First Dance, despite being born in land-locked Harrow in Middlesex.

Catherine had always been drawn to Thanet, visiting friends here for more than twenty-five years until the area felt like a second home.

In 2014, she decided to move to Margate and her writing became inspired by Kent’s historic roots and the coastline – which Catherine says is the perfect cure for writer’s block.

The First Dance is her fifth novel and will be published on 22 March.

A romantic tale set during the 1920s and 1930s, the story follows the main character Alexa as she travels from her home on the cliffs of Cornwall to the ‘drowning’ city of Venice to uncover the secret – connected to the infamous sinking of the Titanic – that lies at the heart of her family.

Catherine says her novels are classic romantic love stories, with a darker side, set during the first half of twentieth century and inspired by the extraordinary things ordinary people do in times of crisis, often featuring events of both World Wars.

Her previous novel Map of Stars, which was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists Association Historical Romantic Novel award 2017, takes place in Kent during the Second World War, and was triggered by a story about the discovery in a chimney of a mummified carrier pigeon complete with its unread war-time message.

Catherine will be appearing at the Margate Bookie Lit Fest on May 7, alongside fellow members of local writing group Thanet Writers.

Waterstones at Westwood Cross will be hosting a launch/signing with Catherine for The First Dance on Saturday, April 14, from midday to 2pm.