Exclusive Live Interview with Cathy Hayward: A Journey Through Writing, Mystery, and Community.

We’re excited to share the highlights of a memorable event that took place last Friday: The Writing Community Chat Show featured an exclusive live interview with acclaimed author Cathy Hayward, streamed live for our Substack subscribers.In this engaging three-part conversation, we explored Cathy’s fascinating journey as a writer, discussed her gripping release, The Girl in the Midnight Maze, and connected with our audience through an interactive Q&A session. Cathy’s career is a testament to reinvention and resilience.Beginning as a journalist for niche trade magazines, she brought stories to life on topics ranging from accounting to port logistics. But it was the birth of her third child and a life-changing decision to leave London for Brighton that marked the first major shift in her path. As a freelance PR and founder of Magenta Associates, Cathy thrived, but her creativity truly blossomed when she embarked on a two-year creative writing course in 2016. In her own words, this course transformed “random thoughts and scribbles” into what would eventually become her debut novel, The Girl in the Maze. Spurred on by the 2020 lockdown, Cathy finished the novel, submitted it to the Agora Books Lost the Plot Work in Progress prize—and won.Now, with a reissued version titled The Girl in the Midnight Maze and multiple new works underway, Cathy has fully embraced a life immersed in books and storytelling.The Interview: What We CoveredPart 1 - The Road to Writing Cathy shared her path from journalist to PR agency owner, and ultimately, to author. She recounted how personal loss, a creative writing course, and a global pandemic sparked her evolution into a novelist. Part 2 - What’s the Story? We delved into Cathy’s latest book, The Girl in the Midnight Maze. This deeply moving tale explores three generations of women entangled in family trauma and the struggle to connect across time and tragedy. Cathy shared the inspirations behind the book and the challenges she faced in bringing Emma Bowen’s story to life.Part 3 - Community Questions As always, we brought our community into the conversation. Alongside our staple questions, Cathy answered burning queries submitted during the live show.  A Glimpse Into The Girl in the Midnight Maze Here’s a preview of Cathy’s newest release: Emma Bowen has never had a close relationship with her mother. After her mother’s death, a series of letters reveals secrets spanning generations—secrets that may explain the emotional distance between them. Emma’s journey to uncover her family’s past is as haunting as it is enlightening. Traversing time and tragedy, The Girl in the Midnight Maze is a story of motherhood, legacy, and the search for understanding.The interview was a heartfelt and inspiring event, filled with insights from an author whose career is a masterclass in perseverance and creativity. Not a Subscriber Yet? Join now to unlock access to exclusive content like this interview and many more perks.Join our Substack to get exclusive access to live shows here: https://substack.com/@thewccs?utm_source=user-menuWatch the interview on our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/live/70kLE1pupHEWe have spent 3 years using StreamYard. You can see how much we love its features, and how we can make it look great for live streaming. We are huge fans and they are constantly improving their service. Check it out with our link, and we could earn from referrals!https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4835638006775808Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support.Connect With The Community🏆 Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) The WCCS is more than a show; it’s a masterclass in the craft and business of storytelling. Join 380+ interviews with NYT Bestsellers, Indie Icons, and Celebrities.📺 Watch the Full Shows: The Writing Community Chat Show | 360+ Author Interviews, Writing Tips & Creative Chaos.✍️ The Stories Behind the Stories And Great Writing Articles: WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack🚀 Support the Mission With Tips And Donations: PayPal.MeTogether as one, we get it done! The Writing Community Chat Show is a proud supporter of indie authors and creative persistence.