#cate sampson

[sydenhamcommunitylibrary]

Two Free Creative Writing Workshops

with

Cate Sampson, author of ‘Carnaby’

At Sydenham Library

Tuesday November 17th

And

Tuesday November 24th

6pm – 7pm

Do come along whether you are just starting to write fiction or are already working on a novel or short story.

Cate Sampson is the author of four crime novels for adults and two for young adults. Her first young adult crime novel, Carnaby, was described by The Times as ‘Tense, funny and gripping.’

The venue for the classes is Sydenham Library, 210 Sydenham Road, SE26 5SE. Just turn up and find us in the IT suite.

[splinteredlight]

You have 3 children?! - said everyone ever (in China)

At first I didn’t pay any attention. It was scarcely more than the rustle of leaves disturbed by the wind as we passed, a murmur of voices that rose briefly behind us and died away. Then I realized what they were saying. ‘Three…there are three of them… three children….’

When I moved to Beijing six years ago with one five year old, one toddler, and one babe-in-arms, I soon became aware that the very existence of my son and two daughters touched a raw nerve of longing among many Chinese with whom we came into contact.

Wherever I go with my son and daughters, the question is always the same: ‘Are they all yours?’ When I say yes, the response is always the same: a disbelieving laugh, and the words, ‘You’re lucky.’

Sometimes people ask where we are from and then, after a moment’s thought, they ask, ‘Don’t they restrict births in your country?’ as though that’s what governments naturally do.

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[splinteredlight]

The Writing Process

I used to be a journalist, but writing fiction is very different – you have no facts to form the framework of your story. Everything that exists on the page comes from your head, and it doesn’t work if your head is cluttered. I can write in anonymous places – on trains, at airports, in hotel rooms – but it’s most difficult in my own home, where there are so many other things I ought to be doing.

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