Tonight 7-8pm When God Was a Rabbit webchat with Sarah WInman

Hello, I'm here!

Looking forward to answering your questions about When God Was a Rabbit and anything else...

Sarah

effblinder

ooh am excited about hearing Sarah's thoughts from 7 tonight.

I wanted to ask about Sarah's own family because the family relationships in the book are so strong (I actually felt quite jealous of the really lovely family - blood-related and not - that was depicted in the house by the sea)

What was your family like, Sarah? Do you feel like they influenced your portrayal of Elly's family?

Did you have a rabbit?

Hello effblinder
I did have a rabbit when I was a very small child and it was a belgian hare and I named it after me. It went missing. That hurt.... My family were close and we had lots of friends who were part of our family. At the time they seemed pretty conventional, but I guess looking back, they exhibited their own moments of eccentricity. Time allows such perspective. What I have presented in When God was a Rabbit is an idyll - a homage to the family.

sneetch

Hi Sarah, loved the book. There's quite a lot of magic in the book - but your attitude to it seems equivocal, tied up with god and fate and so on. Is magic something you believe in?

Hi sneetch.
I believe in mystery, whatever form it comes in. I like to think that the inexplicable exists in our world, that somehow there is room for a kind of magic, whatever that might be.

GeraldineGransnet

Ha...sorry Sarah, I'm jetlagged and half asleep. I meant to ask you when I kicked us off - there's quite a lot of abuse in the book, sort of under the radar. Why did you want to write about abuse, and was it difficult to handle it sensitively? (which I think you do, by the way!)

Hi Geraldine
I wanted to write about abuse, about violence because it is, unfortunately part of life. But, more importantly, I wanted to write about it in a way that didn't impede the narrative; to allow it to exist without comment really, and to see the consequence later. I wanted readers to come to their own conclusion as to the extent of the abuse rather than writing explicitly about it - There is too much in newspapers for me to think that it necessarily works in the books I wish to write.

annie19

Hi Sarah, welcome to gransnet!

Just wanted to say that Arthur was my
Favourite character. Did you enjoy writing him?

Would you ever write your own memoirs like he did?

Hi annie19
If my life ends up as raunchy and as colourful as Arthur's, then I'll happily pen a memoir. However, I feel I'm way behind that rascal. Yes, I loved writing about him. He has elements of my grandfather Tom, a natural storyteller who seemed to embellish the most mundane story. My grandfather wasn't gay but he had an acceptance and a wisdom that stays with me today. He was lovely - like Arthur.

getmehrt

Hi Sarah, You used to be an actor, I think (perhaps still are!) Are there similarities between acting and writing? Which do you prefer?

Hi getmehrt
Both mediums are about storytelling and so they cross over perfectly. Acting and being around scripts taught me how to write. Also, having my own words changed my relationship with acting. I am still acting although haven't had the time to commit to it the last 14 months or so. When I feel well into another book, then I would love to go back to it, if I am still wanted! Being on set with other actors, seeing their magic is a wonderful thing. Sitting at home, quiet, being led into a world that you had never considered is magical too.

Harry123

There are several gay characters in the book - an unusual amount. Why did you want to write about being gay?

Hi Harry123
I suppose my perspective feels a little different. I didn't write about characters being gay with a desire to talk or explore their sexuality, they just are gay. My life is full of different people who inspire me on many levels - their sexuality simply exists - and so what I wanted to present was that. A family of acceptance and lack of commentary over difference.

tigerticker

Hi Sarah,

There have been several posts on Gransnet about whether you should persist with a book you've started - and I wondered what you as a writer thought about that? Do you feel once you've started a book you owe it to the author to finish it? Or are you not bothered about abandoning books half way through?

Hi tigerticker
I think it's lovely to think about the author that way - about the work they've put into a book - but also, life's too short! If you don't like something, then leave it - at least you tried - go find something that inspires, makes you feel passionate or angry. However, don't give up too early. Sometimes plots and characters take a while to embrace.

putaspellonyou

Do you ever have days when you just don't feel like writing? What makes you sit down at your computer (or your notebook or whatever?!)

Hello putaspellonyou
Yes of course! There are days when writing feels like a job and you don't want to go to work. However, you need to get the story to a place where you just can't leave it - where you are so in love with it that there will always be a moment of intrigue to guide you through the negative voices.

GeraldineGransnet

I had another question...a couple of people on this forum have suggested earlier that Arthur should be played by Simon Callow. I wondered if that fitted your picture of him too?

Hi Geraldine
Mmmm. I actually think he's too young. I would have said Ian McKellen.