Carys Bray's Blog

This blog has been dying a slow death over a number of months and I've finally decided to pull the plug on it. I don't want to maintain it as a vehicle for self-promotion, only writing anything when I finish a book or am about to do an event - I end up doing more than enough of that on Facebook. And I'm not really interested in writing about my life any more. So that's it. I'll be keeping my

Sweet Home was reissued on Thursday last week. There were some lovely reviews, including one in the Independent by Stuart Kelly and another in the Guardian by Jane Housham. Plus, very kind reviews from Vlogger Lauren Whitehead and Bloggers Janet Emson, Alix Long and Josie Barton.

A big thank you to those who took the time to read and review the stories. I really appreciate it. 
  

I enjoyed everything I read in January.

       


A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler - I had read some less than favourable reviews of this novel, but I thought it was marvellous and loved every moment of it. When the first section concluded and I read the familiar opening line of the second section, I felt like cheering. Tyler writes families so wonderfully - every little irritation, every

Here are a couple of really lovely reviews of Sweet Home. A big thank you to Kitty G and Elena Reads Books.

If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Sweet Home I'm giving one away on my Facebook page. Click here and make a comment under the photograph. I'm happy to send it anywhere in the world. Good luck!

Here's the cover of The Museum of You. There are lots of little details from the book hidden in the art work. I love it. 

I received a proof of my new novel a few days ago. I think they've done a lovely job. I like the peep-hole bits on the cover (there's probably a technical name for them, but I don't know it) - they fit with the idea of not seeing the whole picture.



Earlier this month I turned 40. I remember embarking on a Creative Writing MA five years ago and quietly, secretly hoping that by the time I

In 2015 I decided to steer clear of Goodreads (the temptation to wallow in one star reviews was too great!) so I kept a visual record of my reading (or, in some cases, re-reading). I wasn't especially diligent in keeping up with it, so there are definitely some books missing (I'll add them if/when I remember what's missing), but, for now, here's what my 2015 looked like in books. 

Novel 2 has made its way from my desk to the desk of my editor. Phew!

It's a book about first love, possessions, parenting, allotments and the joy of Biscoff spread, and it will be published in June 2016.




Now I can finally start to catch up on my reading list, which is currently about two feet high...

My daughter Libby died when she was a baby. Here she is with my husband. He is holding her moments after a final, failed attempt at resuscitation. It is the saddest photo I own.




Libby had a mitochondrial disease. I'd never heard of such a thing until she was born.

After Libby died someone told me about The Children's Mitochondrial Disease Network. This was in 1999, in the days of dial-up