Debut Authors Talk About Their Work

The Observer catches up with six authors, about the moment they’ve been waiting for (some for longer than others) the publication of their first novel. Here’s a sample, from writer Carole Cadwalladr.

[N]obody asks to have a novelist in the family. In particular, nobody asks to have a novelist who writes about dysfunctional families in the family. (And I won’t even begin to describe what it’s like having your dad read your novel – your dad who, according to family legend, or at least my mother, last read a novel in 1962 and therefore doesn’t understand the concept of made-up things being printed in books.)

But they’ve been champs. (My dad’s verdict? ‘Very enjoyable. I mean I don’t think it’s going to win the Booker … ‘) and they’ve defended my decision to have written it.