Contemporary Women’s Fiction

In a special event to celebrate International Women’s Day, teacher of English and debut novelist, Dr Christy Edwall, was in conversation with the poet, prose writer and dramatist Catherine Smith and with novelist and bookshop owner Cathy Hayward. We hear from two of the students who attended.

There was no better way to commemorate International Women’s Day at Lancing than with the Women’s Fiction event. We were so privileged to host Catherine Smith, Cathy Howard, and our own Dr Christy Edwall, for an evening bursting with excitement and literary energy. The conversation led to each writer reading an extract of their work to the audience. Catherine Smith read from her published poetry, which contemplates the worlds that we access when we have dreams (or nightmares). The listener was greatly amused by her account of taking a history exam and realising that you, in fact, know nothing. Cathy Howard, novelist and owner of the Kemptown Bookshop, read from two parts of her contemporary novel The Girl in the Maze. I was glad to be able to purchase a copy for myself afterwards, being so curious to read the rest!

Dr Edwall’s debut novel History Keeps Me Awake at Night was published in February by Granta. Having finished it the night before the event, I so enjoyed hearing Dr Edwall read from the very beginning, and from the part in which the main character (and narrator), Margit, meets a spiritual medium called Mother Pacifica. As I had suspected, there is certainly something wonderful about the chance to hear a writer convey the meaning of their own work out loud. The event was encouraging and enlightening for those of us at Lancing who love to write – a group among which I am glad to count myself.

Hannah Cleallsmith, Lower Sixth

The Women in Fiction event was a delightful evening: it was abundantly full of witty and insightful conversation. Having three women on the panel with such a range of literary experience was so interesting and listening to their stories gave me useful insight into the life of a female writer. The experiences of all three writers had me listening in complete awe and full of admiration. Their relaxed dynamic made the evening so easy-going and enjoyable – the atmosphere was one of comradeship and mutual understanding. I loved hearing from Dr Edwall about her new book. I am so grateful to have her as my English teacher and to hear her speaking about her writing career was nothing short of an absolute inspiration. Having three talented female writers speaking to students at the College was a privilege. They taught us all something new about the literary world and the determination, grit and sheer authenticity required to be successful. The message they collectively gave encourages one to persevere, observe and be resilient, a mantra that is transferable to all walks of life. The highlight of the evening for me was hearing excerpts from their own work. Cathy Howard’s novel The Girl in the Maze sounded so intriguing I bought a copy afterwards to read. In line with International Women’s Day, the evening showcased the power of female creativity and the ambition it takes to compete in the literary landscape.

Poppy Sutcliffe, Upper Sixth