via Dysfunctional Families in Contemporary Fiction
Dysfunctional Families in Contemporary Fiction
Dysfunctional Families in Contemporary Fiction – Saturday 28th April – 12:30 Fountain Fine Art Gallery
Helen Lewis and Sara Gethin talk about creating dysfunctional fictional families
Helen Lewis, author of ‘The House with Old Furniture’ and Sara Gethin, author of ‘Not Thomas’, discuss creating the implosive fictional families at the centre of their debut novels, what comes first, character or plot and working with the Welsh women’s publisher, Honno Press.
Sara Gethin is the pen name of Llanelli writer Wendy White. Her debut novel ‘Not Thomas’, written in the voice of a neglected five-year-old child, was shortlisted for the Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize in 2017. She has also written four children’s books as Wendy White, the first of which – ‘Welsh Cakes and Custard’– won the Tir nan-Og Award in 2014.
‘Not Thomas’, the debut novel by Sara Gethin, is a story of child neglect, love and hope told in the voice of five-year-old Tomos
Shortlisted for The Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize 2017
“Heart-wrenching, captivating and beautiful…a poignant portrayal of a hostile world depicted through the eyes of a child.” Caroline Busher, Irish Times bestselling author
Teuluoedd camweithredol yn ffuglen gyfoes
Bydd Helen Lewis a Sara Gethin yn trafod creu teuluoedd camweithredol mewn ffuglen – Dydd Sadwrn 28ain Ebrill-12.30 Oriel y Ffynnon.
Bydd Helen Lewis, awdur ‘The House with Old Furniture’ a Sara Gethin, awdur ‘Not Thomas’ yn trafod y teuluoedd sydd yng nghanol eu nofelau a beth sy’n dod yn gyntaf y cymeriad neu’r plot.
Sara Gethin yw enw llenyddol Wendy White o Lanelli. Rhoddwyd ei nofel gyntaf. ‘Not Thomas’ ar restr fer Not the Booker Prize y Guardian yn 2017. Ysgrifennwyd y nofel yn llais plenty pum mlwydd oed, Tomos, a gafodd ei esgeuluso. Mae hi hefyd wedi ysgrifennu pedwar llyfr i blant ac enillodd y cyntaf ohonynt- ‘Welsh Cakes and Custard’- wobr Tir nan-Og yn 2014.
This is such an intriguing subject matter. I worked for 18 months at a battered women’s shelter and worked as a child advocate and intake processor. I heard such a wide variety of stories. . . I think people may interview social workers to add some authenticity to their books. I feel bringing in personal information of your own distant family members may also add dimension. I would never use my own family, though. My personal feelings are it can ruin relationship between members and ruin memories, too. Smiles, Robin 💐
I agree, it’s safer if it’s kept in fiction. Thanks Robin 🙂
Thanks so much for the introduction to Wendy and her book. I’m definitely adding this – up my alley. ❤
Thanks Debby ❤
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Wonderful collection, Christoph. There’s a lot of combined knowledge in the post. Well done. Hugs all around.