Sarah Rayner's Blog
May 3, 2012
In June I will be joining bestselling crime author Elizabeth Haynes and host Craig Melvin on The Big Book Group Tour.
Elizabeth Haynes' first novel, Into The Darkest Corner, was the winner of the Amazon UK Best Book of 2011 and is a current pick for the Channel 4 TV Book Club.
As well as offering the chance to interact with myself and Elizabeth, this evening event will be a joyful celebration of literature and a coming together of people from all walks of life bonded by their love of books. It promises to be fun in a plethera of ways:
• Suggestions of new and interesting books to read
• A Rough Guide to book critiquing
• The Big Book Group Quiz
• Hot Reads for book groups and their families
• A chance to steal the show with a spot of flash fiction.
VENUES ARE:
7.30pm 1st June, Winchester Discovery Centre
Jewry Street Winchester, SO23 8RX
01962 873603
7.30pm 14th June, Cranleigh Arts Centre
High Street, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8AS
01483 278000
7.30pm 15th June, New Milton Forest Arts
Old Milton Road, New Milton, Hants BH25 6DS
01425 612393
7.30pm 19th June, Brighton Pavilion Theatre
New Road, The Lanes, Brighton BN1 1UG
01273 709709 (this event will be wih Glen Duncan rather than Elizabeth)
20th June, Borehamwood Ark
Hertswood Lower School, Borehamwood, Herts WD6 1TS
0208 238 7265
Book now by calling the box offices listed above.
Elizabeth Haynes' first novel, Into The Darkest Corner, was the winner of the Amazon UK Best Book of 2011 and is a current pick for the Channel 4 TV Book Club.
As well as offering the chance to interact with myself and Elizabeth, this evening event will be a joyful celebration of literature and a coming together of people from all walks of life bonded by their love of books. It promises to be fun in a plethera of ways:
• Suggestions of new and interesting books to read
• A Rough Guide to book critiquing
• The Big Book Group Quiz
• Hot Reads for book groups and their families
• A chance to steal the show with a spot of flash fiction.
VENUES ARE:
7.30pm 1st June, Winchester Discovery Centre
Jewry Street Winchester, SO23 8RX
01962 873603
7.30pm 14th June, Cranleigh Arts Centre
High Street, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8AS
01483 278000
7.30pm 15th June, New Milton Forest Arts
Old Milton Road, New Milton, Hants BH25 6DS
01425 612393
7.30pm 19th June, Brighton Pavilion Theatre
New Road, The Lanes, Brighton BN1 1UG
01273 709709 (this event will be wih Glen Duncan rather than Elizabeth)
20th June, Borehamwood Ark
Hertswood Lower School, Borehamwood, Herts WD6 1TS
0208 238 7265
Book now by calling the box offices listed above.
April 29, 2012
To mark the launch of the Mass Market Paperback of The Two Week Wait at the start of July, I'm joining the Big Book Group tour in June.
Details to follow - watch this space!
Details to follow - watch this space!
March 12, 2012
Hi folks, I thought I'd add some questions for book groups. First up One Moment, One Morning...
1.For the person who chose the book: What made you suggest it to the group?
2.Do the characters Lou, Anna and Karen seem real and believable? How do they change throughout the course of the story? Who was your favourite, and why? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
3.Talk about the secondary characters – Simon, Steve and Lou’s mother, and Karen’s children, Molly and Luke. Were they important to the story? Did any stand out for you? Were there any who you didn’t like, and why?
4.What did you think about the structure? All the events take place in a week. What did you think of the use of flashbacks and multiple perspectives?
5.What was more important, the characters or plot? Was the plot moved forward by decisions of the characters, or were the characters at the mercy of the plot?
6. The title of One Moment suggests that there are pivotal moments when lives can change course forever. Have you had any such pivotal experiences?
7.What did you think about setting the book in Brighton? How did it enhance or take away from the story? Was the description of the local community good?
8.What about the language/style? Was the language appropriate to the story? Was it more poetic or vernacular? (You might like to have each member read a favourite passage out loud. It’s best to warn them ahead of time so they'll be prepared.)
9.What specific themes did you notice? Did you think there was anything particular Sarah Rayner is trying to get across to the reader overall? In what ways do the events in the book reveal evidence of Sarah Rayner’s world view?
10. Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?
11. Are you glad you read One Moment, One Morning? What do you think will be your lasting impression? Would you recommend it, and did it make you want to read more work by the author?
1.For the person who chose the book: What made you suggest it to the group?
2.Do the characters Lou, Anna and Karen seem real and believable? How do they change throughout the course of the story? Who was your favourite, and why? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
3.Talk about the secondary characters – Simon, Steve and Lou’s mother, and Karen’s children, Molly and Luke. Were they important to the story? Did any stand out for you? Were there any who you didn’t like, and why?
4.What did you think about the structure? All the events take place in a week. What did you think of the use of flashbacks and multiple perspectives?
5.What was more important, the characters or plot? Was the plot moved forward by decisions of the characters, or were the characters at the mercy of the plot?
6. The title of One Moment suggests that there are pivotal moments when lives can change course forever. Have you had any such pivotal experiences?
7.What did you think about setting the book in Brighton? How did it enhance or take away from the story? Was the description of the local community good?
8.What about the language/style? Was the language appropriate to the story? Was it more poetic or vernacular? (You might like to have each member read a favourite passage out loud. It’s best to warn them ahead of time so they'll be prepared.)
9.What specific themes did you notice? Did you think there was anything particular Sarah Rayner is trying to get across to the reader overall? In what ways do the events in the book reveal evidence of Sarah Rayner’s world view?
10. Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?
11. Are you glad you read One Moment, One Morning? What do you think will be your lasting impression? Would you recommend it, and did it make you want to read more work by the author?
February 8, 2012
Hi folks, just to let you know of a few author events I have coming up to celebrate the launch of my fourth novel, The Two Week Wait.
* Richmond Waterstones, 16 Feb, 7:30pm
* Leeds Waterstones, 23 Feb, 7.00pm
* Haywards Heath Waterstones, 25 Feb 2-4.30pm
This month it is available exclusively through Waterstones. From 1st March it is out everywhere.
Be lovely to meet you, and look forward to reading reviews and hearing what you thought of my book.
* Richmond Waterstones, 16 Feb, 7:30pm
* Leeds Waterstones, 23 Feb, 7.00pm
* Haywards Heath Waterstones, 25 Feb 2-4.30pm
This month it is available exclusively through Waterstones. From 1st March it is out everywhere.
Be lovely to meet you, and look forward to reading reviews and hearing what you thought of my book.
December 1, 2011
Hi folks
Just to let you know I'll be doing some author events to launch the new book in February. It's on exclusive at Waterstone's that month, so I'll be appearing in
Brighton Feb 2 @ 19.00 hours
Richmond, Surrey Feb 16 @ 19.30 hours)
Leeds - Feb 23 @19.00 hours
Hampstead - tbc
and more. Check my author page on Facebook or www.thecreativepumpkin.com for regular updates - it's getting exciting now!
Just to let you know I'll be doing some author events to launch the new book in February. It's on exclusive at Waterstone's that month, so I'll be appearing in
Brighton Feb 2 @ 19.00 hours
Richmond, Surrey Feb 16 @ 19.30 hours)
Leeds - Feb 23 @19.00 hours
Hampstead - tbc
and more. Check my author page on Facebook or www.thecreativepumpkin.com for regular updates - it's getting exciting now!
October 14, 2011
What if the thing you most longed for was resting on a two week wait?
After a health scare, Brighton-based Lou is forced to confront the fact that her time to have a baby is running out. She can't imagine a future without children, but her partner doesn't seem to feel the same way, and she's not sure whether she could go it alone.
Meanwhile, up in Yorkshire, Cath is longing to start a family with her husband Rich. No one would be happier to have a child than Rich, but Cath is infertile.
Could these two strangers help one another out?
Combining deft exploration of raw emotions with the joy and resilience of friendship, The Two Week Wait is a memorable, moving page-turner about two very different women, each yearning to create a family of her own.
After a health scare, Brighton-based Lou is forced to confront the fact that her time to have a baby is running out. She can't imagine a future without children, but her partner doesn't seem to feel the same way, and she's not sure whether she could go it alone.
Meanwhile, up in Yorkshire, Cath is longing to start a family with her husband Rich. No one would be happier to have a child than Rich, but Cath is infertile.
Could these two strangers help one another out?
Combining deft exploration of raw emotions with the joy and resilience of friendship, The Two Week Wait is a memorable, moving page-turner about two very different women, each yearning to create a family of her own.
