Katherine Mezzacappa is Irish but now lives in Carrara in Italy, between the Apuan Alps and the Tyrrhenian Sea. As Katie Hutton, she has published The Gypsy Bride, The Gypsy’s Daughter, Annie of Ainsworth’s Mill and The Maid of Lindal Hall with Bonnier Zaffre. Writing as Katherine Mezzacappa, her Renaissance #MeToo (based on historical events), The Maiden of Florence, was published by Fairlight in April 2024 and in Italian translation by Piemme. The Maiden of Florence was shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award in2025. Also writing as Katherine Mezzacappa, The Ballad of Mary Kearney, set in 18c Ireland was published by Histria (January 2025) followed by Lucie Dumas with Stairwell (2026).

Katherine’s historical short fiction has been published by Aspects of History, Forever Endeavour, Erotic Review Magazine, The Copperfield Review, Turnpike Magazine, Asymmetry Magazine, Yours, My Weekly, the Henshaw Press and others.

Katherine is a member of The Irish Writers Centre, The Irish Writers Union (where she is a committee member), The Historical Novel Society (for which she reviews, and for which she is one of the organisers of the 2026 European Conference, in Maynooth, Co Kildare) and the Romantic Novelists Association. Katherine also works as a manuscript assessor for The Literary Consultancy and the RNA New Writers Scheme. She has a first degree in History of Art (UEA), an M.Litt. in English Literature (Durham) and a Masters in Creative Writing (Canterbury Christ Church). Katherine works as a manuscript assessor at The Literary Consultancy (London) and for the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She is also a reader for a number of literary prizes.

The Irish Writers Centre awarded Katherine a residency at Cill Rialaig, Co. Kerry in October 2019, to work on The Maiden of Florence. In 2022 Katherine had another residency, from the Danish Centre for Writers and Translators, at Hald Hovedgård, Viborg, to work Lucie Dumas. She has also been awarded a residency by the Latvian Writers House, Ventspils, in May 2026.