Book Extract: Where The Light is Hottest by Catherine Yardley
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Catherine Yardley to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Where The Light is Hottest.
Natasha Jones has everything – a successful acting career, an Oscar, a wonderful husband and beautiful kids. But what does she have to go through to get there? From humble beginnings in a small town, Natasha’s path to stardom is paved with setbacks, heartaches and moments of doubt.
In the glittering world of fame and fortune, where dreams are spun from starlight and ambition fuels the relentless pursuit of success, one woman’s journey stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Beneath the facade of glamour lies a story of unwavering determination and unyielding courage.
Where the Light is the Hottest is a gripping tale of ambition, perseverance and the enduring power of hope. Through Natasha’s journey, we are reminded that the road to success is rarely smooth, but for those who dare to chase their dreams, the rewards are beyond measure.
There’s a chance below to win a copy of Where The Light is Hottest but first, Catherine has kindly shared an extract with us today. We hope you all enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
Where The Light is Hottest follows Natasha from small town Scotland to big time Hollywood. The scene below has her at an audition. I did so may of these when I was an actor. A lot of the time you are in and out in minutes. Other times you audition multiple times and either get the part, or fall at the last hurdle. It is a tough industry but the highs are like nothing else. I worked in the film industry as an actor, producer, casting director and director for years so I know my stuff. I hope you all enjoy following Natasha on her journey.
Then
‘Just fill in the form and then come back for a picture. There are pens over there.’
The receptionist is the typical London receptionist; posh, twenty-something with hair that is expensive; in this case, highlighted with honey-coloured hues. She is probably also an actor. Or, less likely, an aspiring casting director. She takes a Polaroid picture of me and gives me some forms to fill in, then I walk into a room of people who look just like me. They are my height and around my weight. They have the same eye and hair colour. They all even have the same accent.
Occasionally it got to me, this sense of how insignificant my life really is. How there are so many others just like me. But it is fleeting because I know I have something else. It is not just talent. It is not even just a willingness to work hard and chase opportunity. It is the belief that one day all the rejection will pay off. That if I just keep at it, something, somehow, will give. I had one film under my belt, why not more?
I hand the form back and then I go through my lines, but I did not have to wait long until the casting assistant calls my name. I smile and stand up.
‘We’re ready for you,’ the casting assistant, a bubbly brunette with a mega-watt smile tells me.
I follow her into the room. There are another two people there, the camera operator and the casting director, Greg. Greg is known by every actor in the business. He casts most of the commercials and a good amount of television too. I am desperate to impress him. So desperate, in fact, that I can feel the nerves in every part of my body.
I have to pull myself together. I look down to hide my throat as I swallow the build-up of saliva in my mouth. When I look back up, I give him my biggest smile and concentrate on the matter at hand.
‘On the X to mark your ident. Name, age and agent to camera. After that, you can go straight into the scene.’
Greg is polite and kind. I step onto the X, move ever so slightly to where the light is hottest and then I begin.
‘Natasha Jones, twenty-two. Agent is Wilson & Lewis.’
Do the nerves show? Can they tell how desperate I am? I hope not. I get on with the audition. We go through the scene a few different times. I am auditioning to play a kick-ass secret agent in a movie that is filming in London and America. I cannot even imagine going to America. It is the dream.
We do one scene and then I pull my hair back and put a blazer on. Greg looks impressed and thanks me for doing so. We do the other scene. My American accent has been perfected with a ton of practice and an accent coach. I emptied out my savings for the coach. I haven’t been paid for the film I did yet so money is low.
‘Thank you, Natasha. That was perfect.’
I smile. Perfect.
‘Thank you, Greg.’ I look at the casting assistant and give her a smile and a nod then I walk out. I feel positive. I really want this part. I say goodbye to the receptionist and cross my fingers as I walk out into the London streets and, even though, I can barely afford it, I head to Fortnum’s. I walk all the way. I feel the hot buzz coming from Piccadilly. I see people on the Shaftesbury Memorial fountain, like they always are. The bright Piccadilly lights are loud and brash and I love them. I take in London life as I walk, loving the little pockets that are so different; an entire world in one city. I walk past the huge, glorious Waterstones and I make a note to go in after and buy a book.
I feel lucky to live here, even though I can barely afford it. For the first time since I made that shitty film, I feel happy.
*****end of extract*****
About Catherine Yardley –
Catherine Yardley is the author of Ember and Where The Light is Hottest.
She’s also the editor-in-chief of Frost Magazine and a freelance writer who’s featured in The Bookseller, Mslexia, Metro, Huffpost, Writing Magazine and Writers’ and Artists’ amongst others.
She lives in London with her husband and children.
Say hello to Catherine via her website, Instagram, Threads, Twitter (X), BlueSky, Facebook and TikTok.
Where The Light is Hottest was released by Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers on 27th February 2025. Click to buy on Amazon and Waterstones.
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Win a Paperback copy of Where The Light is Hottest by Catherine Yardley (UK Only)
Do you live in the UK? If so, would you like the chance to win a copy of Where The Light is Hottest by Catherine Yardley? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
All you have to do to enter is click on this link.
This competition is open to the UK.
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by 
I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.
I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.
I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.
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