tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36711128474069957982024-03-13T00:50:26.423+00:00Carys BrayCaryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-89917261228790845812016-07-01T17:35:00.000+01:002016-07-01T17:35:43.730+01:00Goodbye blogging
This blog has been dying a slow death over a number of months and I've finally decided to pull the plug on it. I don't want to maintain it as a vehicle for self-promotion, only writing anything when I finish a book or am about to do an event - I end up doing more than enough of that on Facebook. And I'm not really interested in writing about my life any more. So that's it. I'll be keeping my Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-48087773443103251872016-03-01T21:07:00.001+00:002016-03-09T08:55:11.817+00:00A few more reviews
Sweet Home was reissued on Thursday last week. There were some lovely reviews, including one in the Independent by Stuart Kelly and another in the Guardian by Jane Housham. Plus, very kind reviews from Vlogger Lauren Whitehead and Bloggers Janet Emson, Alix Long and Josie Barton.
A big thank you to those who took the time to read and review the stories. I really Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-82045103437013836082016-02-12T12:35:00.001+00:002016-02-12T12:36:19.503+00:00January Reading
I enjoyed everything I read in January.
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler - I had read some less than favourable reviews of this novel, but I thought it was marvellous and loved every moment of it. When the first section concluded and I read the familiar opening line of the second section, I felt like cheering. Tyler writes families so wonderfully - Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-17058934625503055452016-02-09T12:12:00.002+00:002016-02-09T12:12:33.659+00:00Reviews of Sweet Home
Here are a couple of really lovely reviews of Sweet Home. A big thank you to Kitty G and Elena Reads Books.
Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-12752525045408843672016-02-03T10:51:00.003+00:002016-02-03T10:51:54.175+00:00Win a copy of Sweet Home
If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Sweet Home I'm giving one away on my Facebook page. Click here and make a comment under the photograph. I'm happy to send it anywhere in the world. Good luck!
Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-21082950214945813772016-01-23T12:19:00.002+00:002016-01-23T12:19:27.562+00:00New Cover
Here's the cover of The Museum of You. There are lots of little details from the book hidden in the art work. I love it.
Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-69596829193686202182015-12-29T19:48:00.000+00:002015-12-29T22:03:00.217+00:00Proofs
I received a proof of my new novel a few days ago. I think they've done a lovely job. I like the peep-hole bits on the cover (there's probably a technical name for them, but I don't know it) - they fit with the idea of not seeing the whole picture.
Earlier this month I turned 40. I remember embarking on a Creative Writing MA five years ago and quietly, secretly hoping that by the time I Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-7610051875524593182015-12-27T16:14:00.001+00:002015-12-27T16:52:52.587+00:002015 books
In 2015 I decided to steer clear of Goodreads (the temptation to wallow in one star reviews was too great!) so I kept a visual record of my reading (or, in some cases, re-reading). I wasn't especially diligent in keeping up with it, so there are definitely some books missing (I'll add them if/when I remember what's missing), but, for now, here's what my 2015 looked like in books.
&Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-36058890313170898402015-10-28T22:27:00.003+00:002015-10-28T22:28:41.831+00:00Novel 2
Novel 2 has made its way from my desk to the desk of my editor. Phew!
It's a book about first love, possessions, parenting, allotments and the joy of Biscoff spread, and it will be published in June 2016.
Now I can finally start to catch up on my reading list, which is currently about two feet high...
Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-15924332038007416442015-10-08T11:36:00.001+01:002015-10-08T11:54:36.042+01:00The Preston Family
My daughter Libby died when she was a baby. Here she is with my husband. He is holding her moments after a final, failed attempt at resuscitation. It is the saddest photo I own.
Libby had a mitochondrial disease. I'd never heard of such a thing until she was born.
After Libby died someone told me about The Children's Mitochondrial Disease Network. This was in 1999, in the days of dial-up Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-89183182466637932312015-10-06T10:33:00.002+01:002015-10-06T10:33:29.783+01:00Book Giveaway
I've been busy trying to finish off book 2 but on Friday I'll be enjoying the treat of chairing an event at Cheltenham with writers Claire Fuller and Sarah Leipciger. Their debut novels, Our Endless Numbered Days and The Mountain Can Wait, are excellent and I can't wait to find out more about them. It will be the first time I've chaired an event - I was so excited to do it that I went out and Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-2939970423772564542015-08-15T13:05:00.000+01:002015-08-15T13:05:05.914+01:00Richard and Judy Book Club
The Richard and Judy Book Club is spotlighting A Song for Issy Bradley at the moment which means that some bonus content will be released on their website in the coming days.
Here are a few links:
A piece I wrote about grief.
An author Q & A.
A podcast interview with Richard and Judy.
Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-5348585510839575022015-07-21T00:30:00.000+01:002015-07-21T00:30:00.265+01:00Interview with Anne Goodwin
I'm surfacing from a few busy weeks to talk about Anne Godwin's debut Sugar and Snails which will be published on 23rd July in paperback and ebook. I spoke to Anne about writing and the inspiration behind her novel.
When
did you know that you wanted to write?
I’ve been making up stories for as
long as I can remember, telling them to my sister or writing them Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-46400515850599088922015-07-04T22:55:00.003+01:002015-07-04T22:58:14.989+01:00Some Reading
I don't get to read very much at the moment, which is a real shame, but I have read two fantastic books recently. Firstly, The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon. What a charming and beautifully written novel. The characters were memorable, the prose insightful, the descriptions deft - I was enchanted; I didn't want it to end.
Secondly, The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman, a novelCaryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-762476609759043262015-07-02T21:06:00.005+01:002015-07-03T21:56:46.147+01:00Desmond Elliott
Warmest congratulations to Claire Fuller who won the Desmond Elliott Prize last night, for her novel Our Endless Numbered Days.
It's strange attending prize a prize ceremony and waiting for the announcement. The wait is really nerve-racking, but once the announcement has been made the rest of the evening is actually quite fun. And, in this case of this particular prize, not Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-91442224159854209762015-06-29T21:10:00.000+01:002015-06-29T21:10:57.026+01:00Growing things
I'm in the middle of growing my second novel. I'm writing about allotments, and weeds, and sowing and reaping, which means that the time I spend at our allotment essentially counts as research. This makes me happy.
The fact that I'm writing about something I know (in this case allotments) doesn't make the novel autobiographical. I'm also writing about things I don't know - being a single Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-1604618508261052612015-06-19T10:01:00.005+01:002015-09-30T19:45:46.208+01:00Authors' Club First Novel Award
On Wednesday evening it was the Authors' Club First Novel Award reception at the National Liberal Club. I won - something that doesn't feel real, but there is photographic evidence, so I suppose it must be true. I hadn't prepared anything to say, so I just grinned like a doofus and said thank you. It was a lovely day.
Earlier, in the afternoon, Emma Healey, Claire Fuller and Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-26004903482077762392015-06-15T16:09:00.002+01:002015-06-15T16:23:03.202+01:00A year since publication
This week it has been a year since A Song for Issy Bradley was published. It's been an amazing twelve months, easily the most interesting and exciting time of my life (cue the Dirty Dancing soundtrack).
To celebrate I'm doing an Issy Bradley themed giveaway. In addition to a signed hardback and audiobook I'm also giving away a copy of my short story collection Sweet Home and some items Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-58198914736131017942015-05-28T20:45:00.000+01:002015-05-28T21:02:28.204+01:00New Books
There was a brief window between finishing my PhD and getting properly stuck into the first draft of novel 2 when I had time to read and enjoy some of the proofs I had been sent. Here are some brand-spanking new books that you'll be sure to enjoy when they are published in the coming weeks.
If you like suspenseful, frightening novels, you'll love Ruth Ware's In a Dark Dark Wood. Nora hasn't Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-85908348236372811912015-05-15T16:56:00.001+01:002016-01-25T13:16:27.861+00:00Desmond Elliott Prize
I'm thrilled to discover that A Song for Issy Bradley has been shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize, alongside Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey and Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller.
It's especially exciting to have my novel shortlisted with two books that I loved as a reader - I liked them so much that I've lent my copies to friends. Here's a piece about the shortlist Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-34342797440597496452015-05-14T17:35:00.002+01:002015-05-14T17:51:25.066+01:00Richard and Judy Summer Book Club
I've been in London again, this week. I went to Heathrow airport where I signed somewhere in the region of 300 copies of A Song for Issy Bradley, which has been selected for the Richard and Judy Summer Book Club. &Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-30636536538707039882015-05-01T19:16:00.002+01:002015-05-01T22:04:00.546+01:00London and Lumb Bank
I've been looking forward to this week for ages. On Tuesday I went to London and met my editors, my new publicist and my agent. I went to the British Museum, alone (which meant moaning children weren't trailing after me) - hooray!
And I ate an ice cream that was almost as long as my forearm.
In the evening I went to the Desmond Elliott longlist party. The Desmond Elliott Prize is, Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-79100084133121095992015-04-22T16:04:00.001+01:002015-04-22T16:37:02.628+01:00Easter Holiday
Having completed my PhD revisions, I decided that the Easter holiday should be spent pulling my socks up and getting on with the first draft of novel 2. I set myself a goal of 700 words per day, which doesn't sound like much, but is actually quite a lot for me because I tend to edit as I go. I considered banning myself from editing, but I couldn't cope with that and decided I was allowed to do Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-8651961455927093322015-04-02T23:07:00.000+01:002015-04-02T23:07:23.720+01:00The Desmond Elliott Longlist
Some lovely news today - A Song for Issy Bradley has been longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize.
I've read several of the books on the longlist and am in extremely good company (Elizabeth is Missing and Chop Chop were on the Costa shortlist, too - I highly recommend both!).
The judges said this about A Song for Issy Bradley: "Wit flashes in a score of brilliant one-liners, points up the Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671112847406995798.post-57214224922728156442015-03-30T09:50:00.002+01:002015-03-30T09:50:32.691+01:00Audiobooks
I received eight copies of the American edition of the A Song for Issy Bradley audiobook at the weekend. I'll be giving most of them away. If you'd like to win a copy, keep an eye on Twitter and/or Facebook in the coming weeks.
Caryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742938391561952220noreply@blogger.com0