What is the title of your latest release?
THE PARIS MATCH
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
This book follows Layla Bailey, a recent divorcée who has been invited to her former sister-in-law’s destination wedding in Paris. She is understandably nervous to be there, and even more so when an accidental slip of the tongue gives the bride a case of cold feet. So now, Layla needs to try to repair her mistake…under the watchful, demanding eye of the very handsome, very mysterious, very taciturn best man.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Paris is a city that I truly love, and for several years I thought about writing a book there—but I always felt a bit of fear about trying to represent a place I and so many other people love so passionately. When the idea for this book came to me, though, I knew it was time!
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Absolutely, yes! Layla and I have some things in common (organized, plans-driven, a bit reserved), but are different enough in terms of life experiences and interests that we would probably have tons to talk about. And if we could do that at a café in Paris? Perfect.
What are three words that describe your hero?
Isolated, Complicated, Loyal
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I always do a lot of research when I write, so I’m always learning one thing or another. For this book, I learned some new things about Paris and its buildings for sure, but I suppose the most memorable stuff I learned was related to some of the medicine-related research I did for the book, much of which connected to Griffin and his past.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit as I go, which often makes for a slow process!
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I think “foodie” here suggests something a bit more highbrow than like, bagged candy! Let’s keep the theme Parisian: when I’m in Paris, I absolutely love a perfect, airy, rich chocolate mousse.
Describe your writing space/office!
I am lucky to have a dedicated office space in my house, and there I’m surrounded by favorite books (and some copies of my own books!), as well as photographs and artwork that I love, some of it sent to me by readers. But a lot of times, I end up writing in other places, wherever I can steal a little time…and sometimes, I write on the couch so I can have my dog right beside me.
Who is an author you admire?
There are truly so many. An author I admire who is so active and visible in the romance space right now is Kennedy Ryan. She has built her career so carefully, so deliberately, and with such a commitment to her values, to the craft, and to her readers. She always tells a beautiful story that makes you feel things, and that’s what I love so much about romance.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Another “too many to count!” question. I think my life is always being changed by books—not just the first time I read any book, but also as I live my life and something I read in a book comes back to me, affecting me in a new way. I can say that the romance book that changed my life was Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me, because it was the first genre romance I read, and that’s what eventually led me to writing my own romances.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
I think the “call” for me kind of came in pieces…I remember my agent calling to tell me an editor was interested, and then I remember having the call with that editor, who is still my editor today. I think what I remember most from that call was how understood I felt during it—that she understood what I loved about the genre, what I was trying to do within it, what I hoped readers would find in my books. I got off that call and thought it’d be a dream to work with her.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Romance! All subgenres, really, but especially contemporary and historical. I do read a lot outside of the genre, often poetry and nonfiction about whatever thing I’m interested in at the moment.
What’s your favorite movie?
Oh, this is a tough question! I have to admit I’m not a huge movie-watcher, but I do gravitate toward period pieces. I love the 2005 Pride and Prejudice; I love the most recent adaptation of Far From the Madding Crowd.
What is your favorite season?
Fall, for all sorts of reasons. Love the feeling of a crisp morning, the leaves changing, the cozy, at-home feeling. Love the promise of a brand new school year.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Quietly, with not a lot of fuss, and a cake my husband has made for me.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I’ve loved watching The Diplomat on Netflix—I’ve admired so many shows Keri Russell has done, and she and all of the cast are so excellent in this!
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I’m sure that the appropriate answer to say given the book I have coming out is French! But the truth is, I am pretty partial to Italian/Mediterranean flavors, and gravitate toward those when I’m cooking at home.
What do you do when you have free time?
Lately, I’ve not had much of this, so when I do have it, I am often looking for quiet time—walks with my dog, reading, working on embroidery.
What can readers expect from you next?
I’ve just started working on something new, so it’s probably a little too soon to say…but it’s a romance, with a big plot and a beach.
A woman tests the limits of her so-called amicable divorce when she flies to Paris for the destination wedding of her former sister-in-law, only to butt heads with the deliciously gruff best man, in a poignant and romantic novel from Kate Clayborn.
Physician Layla Bailey has spent over a year telling herself she's moved on from a painful but amicable divorce from her college sweetheart. Staying friends with her ex seemed like the mature thing to do, but when Layla is invited to her former sister-in-law’s destination wedding in Paris—where Layla once spent her own romantic honeymoon—she knows her commitment to maturity might be her worst enemy…especially since her ex isn’t attending alone.
The only thing that could make the week more difficult is getting through it without the distraction of the wedding.... But when what Layla thought was a harmless conversation about the choices of her younger self leads to the bride getting cold feet, Layla finds herself facing down the groom’s mysterious, taciturn best man, Griffin, who will do anything to make sure this wedding happens.
Since she broke it, Griff demands she help him fix it. Going along with his plan to alleviate the engaged couple's doubts seems like Layla’s best chance at maintaining a good relationship with a family she once called her own. But as she learns more about the past heartbreak that’s driving Griff to help his friend, she gets closer and closer to confronting the true depth of her own pain…while finding herself more and more willing to risk it all again for Griff.
Fiction Family Life | Romance Contemporary [ Berkley, On Sale: April 7, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593819371 / eISBN: 9780593819388 ]
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KATE CLAYBORN lives in Virginia, where she’s lucky enough to spend her days reading and talking about all kinds of great books. At home she’s either writing, thinking about writing, or—during long walks around her fabulous neighborhood—making her handsome husband and sweet-faced dog listen to her talk about writing.
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