About Me

I’m an Irish novelist, born in Carrickfergus. Writing historical fiction is what I love best, though I have also explored contemporary themes. I’ve been living in northern Tuscany since 2006, between the Apuan Alps and the Tyrrhenian Sea, with my Italian husband, my cat Iris and two kittens she’s made her own; my two sons have flown the nest. I write under three names, depending on theme: my own name, Katie Hutton and Kate Zarrelli.

The Maiden of Florence, my first novel as Katherine Mezzacappa, was published by Fairlight Books in April 2024, with the paperback to follow in April 2025. In January 2025 Histria Fiction will publish The Ballad of Mary Kearney. As Katie Hutton I have four novels with Bonnier Zaffre: The Gypsy Bride, The Gypsy’s Daughter, Annie of Ainsworth’s Mill and The Maid of Lindal Hall.

With Romaunce Books, as Kate Zarrelli I have published three contemporary novellas:
Tuscan Enchantment, The Casanova Papers and Coincidentally in Venice.
My short fiction has appeared in a wide range of magazines, on paper, on-line and in anthologies; links to the latter appear under the short fiction tab. I also work as a manuscript assessor for The Literary Consultancy and on the New Writers Scheme of the Romantic Novelists Association, as I love helping nurture new writers. I am also a reviewer for the Historical Novel Society’s quarterly journal (you can read my reviews here: historicalnovelsociety.org/reviewer/katherine-mezzacappa). I was one
of the organisers of the Society’s 2022 and 2024 UK conferences and am project lead for the 2026 conference, to be held in Maynooth, Co Kildare. I’m on the committee of the Irish Writers Union, and am a member of the Irish Writers Centre, Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann, The Society of Authors, The Historical Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association. I am a reader and judge for a number of fiction prizes.

I’m represented by Annette Green Authors’ Agency:
www.annettegreenagency.co.uk/katherine-mezzacappa