Welcome to the world of Catherine Gale, where stories of family, faith and finding strength through life’s unexpected turns come to life.

Catherine is a retired librarian with a degree in French and European Literature. She lives in Ipswich, Suffolk with her husband Colin, and has one grown up son, a circle of wonderful friends, and more hobbies than she can possibly keep up with.

Her debut novel Ill Conceived is a moving family drama set in the 1990s exploring relationships, mental health, bereavement and faith. She is now working on Scattered Lives, a connected story set in the present day.

Catherine writes about ordinary lives touched by extraordinary challenges and the quiet courage that carries people through.

Cover of the novel "Ill Conceived" by Catherine Gale, featuring a small stuffed lamb toy inside a woven basket on a textured surface with colored stripes above. The subtitle asks if she has found the boy she lost eighteen years ago.

Awarded the Highly Recommended Award by the Open Book Awards 2026. 

Gold medal badge with black text reading "Open Book Awards Winner" and a purple circle in the center with white text "Highly Recommended" and a white star.