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Making a debut

I think we all have our favourite writers. Authors that we turn to, sure of what to expect whether in story or style, and who fill us with a sense of excitement and anticipation when they bring out a new book.

But it's also nice to find someone new, to discover something fresh and to feel a sense of other avenues opening up!

Of course trying someone new brings an element of risk, particularly if that writer is releasing their first book. Then we're dependent on the appeal of the title, an enticing blurb and attractive cover design, and recommendations, of course, whether by trusted names or an enthusiastic friend or bookseller.

We've discovered some real gems recently. 'Lessons in Chemistry' was one of my particular farvourites. And during lockdown we discovered Suffolk writer Kate Sawyer with her incredible debut novel 'The Stranding'.

A survey by the publishing trade journal The Bookseller this week (with reports and comments in the national press) revealed just how tough it can be for authors to release their first book.

Kate's first book was released during lockdown. She quickly realised that without a launch party or even bookshops, she needed to take action of her own to make sure her novel was noticed. She contacted booksellers and influencers personally offering them advance copies. She was very present on social media, and she generated stories about herself for media attention.

Having read the book and seen her commitment to it, we were pleased to support her with a Zoom event in 2021 and thrilled for her when she was shortlisted for the Costa first novel prize. 

Now it's just a few days before the publication of Kate's second novel and she's achieved rave reviews from some big names which, if you haven't yet read 'The Stranding' may surely make you curious about this emerging talent?

Bestselling novelist, radio presenter (and Strictly 'superfan'), the wonderful Marian Keyes, says of Kate's book "Intriguing, gripping, moving - this deserves to be HUGE". And when I quoted her on social media this weekend, she responded with a further endorsement in her inimitable way: "Oh beCRIPES I LOVED This Family by Kate Sawyer".

It's a privilege and a pleasure to be able to support writers at the beginning of their careers, and so interesting to hear their stories at these meet-the-author events (which are also great value for money!) so I hope you'll come along to find out more on Thursday 11 May. All the details are below, get your ticket now!

Thank you for reading.

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE RELEASE OF 'THIS FAMILY'

Kate Sawyer
in conversation


Thursday 11 May, 7.30pm
Woodbridge Library


Tickets £16.50 include a copy of 'This Family' (RRP£16.99).
One further ticket can be purchased for £10 without the book.
For more details and to buy your ticket, go to www.moreaboutbooks.com


When Kate introduced us to her debut novel, Costa-shortlisted ‘The Stranding’, on Zoom during lockdown she was a big hit. Her warm, engaging and entertaining conversation was a tonic and we were all intrigued by her story of how this book came into being.

Now Kate will be launching her new book ‘This Family’ with us, in person, in this special evening event.

 
She’ll tell us about the inspiration behind the book which through one day, and a chorus of characters, unpeels layers of life through 40 years of memories. There’ll also be details about Kate’s experiences of publishing in lockdown, her podcast talking to writers about writing, and what family means to her. It's sure to be a fascinating and entertaining evening!

You can read more about 'This Family' in the article in the EADT here, or my interview with Kate about 'The Stranding' here
 
Thursday 11 May, 7.30pm
Woodbridge Library


Tickets £16.50 include a copy of 'This Family' (RRP£16.99).
One further ticket can be purchased for £10 without the book.
For more details and to buy your ticket, go to www.moreaboutbooks.com

NOVEL OF THE WEEK
Greek Lessons
by Han Kang

This South Korean writer won the International Booker Prize for 'The Vegetarian'. It's a novel I've had recommended to me but hadn't got round to reading, so I was eager to try this, her latest novel in English. 

The book has been translated by Deborah Smith and Emily Yea Won and celebrates language, cultural differences and human connection.

A young woman attends Greek language classes in Seoul, but cannot speak. Her teacher finds her mesmerising and intriguing, though he is losing his sight.

They are both consumed by the pain of their current circumstances. She has lost her mother and the custody of her nine-year-old son all within a few months. He is caught between the two cultures and languages of his upbringing in Korea and Germany.

It's a fascinating, mysterious and bewitching book which deserves to be read slowly and thoughtfully. It would make a great book group read as there's so much here to unpick and discuss. I think I might try 'The Vegetarian' now!

For recommended non-fiction titles, take a look here.

NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE WEEK
Why Politics Fails
by Ben Ansell

I confess that I haven't yet finished this book but I didn't want to delay in sharing it with you. I'm reading it slowly and carefully because I'll be talking to the author at the Felixstowe Book Festival in June, and there's a lot of information to digest. But it's interesting stuff!

A professor at Oxford, he urges us, and instructs us on how to make politics work better!

We may be feeling particularly disillusioned with politics and politicians at present, but Ben Ansell argues that in fact we're the problem - our collective goals result in five political 'traps'.

The blurb succinctly sums these up: "Democracy: we all want a say in how we're governed, but it's impossible to have any true 'will of the people'. Equality: we want to be treated equally, but equal rights and equal outcomes undermine each other. Solidarity: we want a safety net when times are tough, but often we care about solidarity only when we need it ourselves. Security: we want protecting from harm, but not if it undermines our freedoms. Prosperity: we want to be richer tomorrow, but what makes us richer in the short run makes us poorer over the long haul."

It is very readable and he draws on examples from Ancient Greek through to Brexit. It's a complicated and complex issue but I am persevering in the hope of reaching and understanding his ultimate claim that we can escape the political traps of our imperfect world. Join me at Felixstowe in June and we'll be able to quiz Ben further!

For recommended non-fiction titles, take a look here.

CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK
My Dad is a Tree
by Jon Agee

I've become a fan of this author-illustrator. His stories are beautifully simple, aimed at very young children, but are also quirky and fun.

This time a little girl is in the garden with her dad and starts pretending to be a tree. When asked why, she answers: "Because a tree gets to stay outside all day long!"

It's easy to be a tree, she tells her dad and urges him to try it. His arms are the branches, his body is a trunk and his legs are roots.

If he keeps nice and still, the animals and birds will get used to him, Madeleine says, but if the weather changes, or it starts to get dark, a tree doesn't move. Dad has to stay put.

Madeleine's dad finds being a tree challenging at times but he keeps at it, until eventually when night falls and an owl flies into a real tree nearby, Madeleine says they can go indoors to bed. She concedes "Dad, you're right. We definitely are not trees. But that's OK. We got to stay outside all day long!"

A wonderfully novel idea, beautifully told. I loved it!

Read about more recommended children's books here.

NOTE THE DATE!
Browsers Bookshop Book Group

at St John's Hall, Woodbridge

Monday 22 May 8pm 
talking about...

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny

Reviewers say this is one of the funniest books you'll ever read, a comic masterpiece - will this tale of a middle-class marriage make us laugh? What makes a good comic novel? Which reviewers' comments do we trust?!
Buy your copy from Browsers Bookshop Woodbridge with the book group discount and read along. Everyone is welcome to join the meeting and there'll be details nearer the date. Please note that it's not our usual last Monday of the month because of the Bank Holiday, but we've still got four weeks to get the book read!
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VISIT MY WEBSITES

catherinelarner.com for details of my journalism and an archive of my published articles, past and present.
moreaboutbooks.com on books and authors with recommendations, reviews, conversations, broadcasts and events.
www.catherinelarner.com
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Copyright © 2023 Catherine Larner, All rights reserved.


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