The House at the Edge of Night was published in the UK exactly a week ago, and now that I am back at home in Italy I thought I would tell you a little about it...
On Monday 16th May, ahead of publication, my publishers and I hosted a book launch at Lutyens & Rubinstein bookshop in Notting Hill. We served Italian food and sweets, Italian drinks and generally had a very happy evening celebrating the end of almost three years of work on the book. I made a short speech, and what I spoke about was community, and how as a writer you begin a book alone at your desk but end it surrounded by others, without whom the book could never have been completed. A sentiment which I think is appropriate for a beautiful independent bookshop like this, which is all about creating connections between readers and writers. So I thought, since most people who read this blog are also part of that community of readers, near and far, for whose support I am eternally grateful, that it was worth sharing what I said here too:
On Monday 16th May, ahead of publication, my publishers and I hosted a book launch at Lutyens & Rubinstein bookshop in Notting Hill. We served Italian food and sweets, Italian drinks and generally had a very happy evening celebrating the end of almost three years of work on the book. I made a short speech, and what I spoke about was community, and how as a writer you begin a book alone at your desk but end it surrounded by others, without whom the book could never have been completed. A sentiment which I think is appropriate for a beautiful independent bookshop like this, which is all about creating connections between readers and writers. So I thought, since most people who read this blog are also part of that community of readers, near and far, for whose support I am eternally grateful, that it was worth sharing what I said here too:
I spoke first about where the book began, for me, which was in many ways with the 2008 financial crisis. That event was the first global historical event of my adult life, and in the years that followed it made a profound impression on me, but I didn't see many writers of my generation writing about it. Toni Morrison once said, 'If there's a book you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.' It's a quote I love, and it explains where many books come from - from an absence, a gap in the bookshelf - including The House at the Edge of Night. Eventually, when I didn't find the book I wanted to read, I began to think about how I could write about that event, and in particular about what it was like to be young, and to live in a small town at the edge of Europe, in its aftermath. But as I began to research the book, the story turned into something quite different. Initially, I had wanted to find out what had led us to this point. But as I read more about the 20th century, I found that it was full of such moments when small places had been at the mercy of the European history beyond their shores, and that there was a much bigger story here to be told. That story, about one tiny place in particular, the island of Castellamare, over 95 years and four generations, became The House at the Edge of Night.
In many ways, the launch is only the beginning of the hard work. Publication is a long journey. To give you an idea, the book will be launched separately in the US on July 12th, and then it will be published in various different countries at different points throughout the autumn and winter, just in time for the English language paperback publication in the spring! So as a writer, there are many moments when you get the chance to present your work or share it with readers, and also many moments when your job is just to work alone, getting on with the next one. But nevertheless, the first publication in your home country is an important moment, the day that the book officially goes into the hands of readers to be read, appraised and (you hope!) loved.
If you want to hear more about the origins of the book, I also did a short interview for BBC Radio Jersey, which you can listen to here (from 01:42:00) and which I think gives a good ten-minute summary: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03sysqm
And if you want to read some of the book, it's currently The Pool's Bedtime Bookclub read, which means you can read the first five chapters here: https://www.the-pool.com/arts-culture/bedtime-bookclub/2016/21/catherine-banner-the-house-at-the-edge-of-night
Thanks, as ever, for your support for the book, and for being part of that generous community of readers without whom writers' work would be meaningless.
All the best,
Catherine
In many ways, the launch is only the beginning of the hard work. Publication is a long journey. To give you an idea, the book will be launched separately in the US on July 12th, and then it will be published in various different countries at different points throughout the autumn and winter, just in time for the English language paperback publication in the spring! So as a writer, there are many moments when you get the chance to present your work or share it with readers, and also many moments when your job is just to work alone, getting on with the next one. But nevertheless, the first publication in your home country is an important moment, the day that the book officially goes into the hands of readers to be read, appraised and (you hope!) loved.
If you want to hear more about the origins of the book, I also did a short interview for BBC Radio Jersey, which you can listen to here (from 01:42:00) and which I think gives a good ten-minute summary: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03sysqm
And if you want to read some of the book, it's currently The Pool's Bedtime Bookclub read, which means you can read the first five chapters here: https://www.the-pool.com/arts-culture/bedtime-bookclub/2016/21/catherine-banner-the-house-at-the-edge-of-night
Thanks, as ever, for your support for the book, and for being part of that generous community of readers without whom writers' work would be meaningless.
All the best,
Catherine
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