Come and chat to Costa Prize winner Nathan Filer about THE SHOCK OF THE FALL on Tue 24 June, 9-10pm

[TillyBookClub]

Nathan Filer's extraordinary debut, The Shock of the Fall, beat off strong competition to scoop the 2013 Costa prize, and has been described as the literary equivalent of Silver Linings Playbook.

Filer was a mental health nurse when he enrolled on a Creative Writing MA, and the result is a sharp, engaging and enlightening novel about (among other things), living with schizophrenia. Matthew, the narrator, is an astonishingly convincing character who is dark, funny and articulate. He also believes he can talk to his dead brother. He pieces together his family's story, including a shocking accident and the aftermath of grief and isolation, whilst slowly coming to a coherent understanding of the events. Matthew is an outstanding creation, with an entirely authentic voice, and a haunting presence that lingers after the book has ended.

You can find out more at our book of the month page and you can follow Nathan on Twitter @nathanfiler

HarperCollins have 50 free copies to give to Mumsnetters – to claim yours please go to our book of the month page and fill in your details. We'll post here when all the copies have gone.

We are delighted that Nathan will be joining us to discuss The Shock of the Fall, his inspiration and his writing life on Tuesday 24 June, 9-10pm. So please feel free to discuss the book here throughout the month, pop up any advance questions and we hope to see you here on 24 June.

[Andrews55]

Thank you so much for my copy of the book. Once I started reading, I found it difficult to put down. A stunning piece of writing on a very tough and painful subject. I will be recommending this book to my family, friends and neighbours!

[Mignonette]

Thank you so much Nathan

[Dunlurking]

Thank you very much for doing this webchat. I've now had a chance to read your Guardian article as well as the Writers' and Artists' yearbook articles. Brilliant both!

[NathanFiler]

@TillyBookClub

We've got to wrap it up there - a completely fascinating and brilliant discussion, thank you to everyone for all their comments.

Nathan, you have been such a pro at this, and so thoughtful and honest with your answers. Thank you very very much for all your time and energy. Good luck with your next project. I am fully expecting to see a pic of you clutching that golden faced Bafta statuette in the very near future...

And many thanks again for a wonderful book. It definitely deserves a place on the older children's bookshelf, above the Nesbit and Milne. And Flat Stanley.

Thanks Tilly. Thanks everyone. It has been a real pleasure.

Goodnight :)

[TillyBookClub]

We've got to wrap it up there - a completely fascinating and brilliant discussion, thank you to everyone for all their comments.

Nathan, you have been such a pro at this, and so thoughtful and honest with your answers. Thank you very very much for all your time and energy. Good luck with your next project. I am fully expecting to see a pic of you clutching that golden faced Bafta statuette in the very near future...

And many thanks again for a wonderful book. It definitely deserves a place on the older children's bookshelf, above the Nesbit and Milne. And Flat Stanley.

[NathanFiler]

@RachelMumsnet

Another question (if I may): you won the Costa with your first ever novel - what an amazing achievement but does that now put huge pressure on you for your next novel? We do a 'debut author bookclub' slot on Mumsnet and I often think we should do a 'second novel bookclub' slot as it must be so much harder for writers to get interest in their second novels (hope that isn't too depressing a question!)

Ha. What's that symbol you use on here? Is it a biscuit?

[NathanFiler]

@NathanFiler

[quote NathanFiler]
[quote bookworm31]
Hi Nathan, absolutely loved your book.

My question is how important was it that Matthew undergoes a kind of catharsis at the end of the novel? Do you think this idea of a memorial is important in tackling grief? How important do you think writing and keeping a memoir is to someone in such a situation?

This is a very good question. I think memorial (in its many forms) can be hugely important, and clearly it is for Matthew, who after ten years had still never had the chance to say goodbye.

All the time I was writing the novel I never knew how I would end it. So when Annabelle mentioned the memorial she had for her mother I had a bit of a eureka moment. I'm so pleased that I got to write it. It felt important to me, anyway.[/quote]

Oh, and I think the act of writing can be so very helpful too. For all of us, really. I keep a gratitude diary and would advice anyone to do so...[/quote]

advise, even (I'm getting tired now... sorry)

[Mignonette]

I am now taking a career break although I have to keep up with CPD. I have worked across acute, subs, forensic and community. Bit of a jack of all trades :)

[NathanFiler]

@NathanFiler

[quote bookworm31]
Hi Nathan, absolutely loved your book.

My question is how important was it that Matthew undergoes a kind of catharsis at the end of the novel? Do you think this idea of a memorial is important in tackling grief? How important do you think writing and keeping a memoir is to someone in such a situation?

This is a very good question. I think memorial (in its many forms) can be hugely important, and clearly it is for Matthew, who after ten years had still never had the chance to say goodbye.

All the time I was writing the novel I never knew how I would end it. So when Annabelle mentioned the memorial she had for her mother I had a bit of a eureka moment. I'm so pleased that I got to write it. It felt important to me, anyway.[/quote]

Oh, and I think the act of writing can be so very helpful too. For all of us, really. I keep a gratitude diary and would advice anyone to do so...

[Mignonette]

Yes I read that article- boy did it speak the truth.

I agree with your comments about acute units. The Nurses on the last one I worked on tended to leave the therapeutic activities to the OT's and Physios which was such a shame because when you think about it, small group work is pretty cost effective. And it reduces the need for unnecessary prn medication. At least it did on our unit.

Maybe one day (when we get a decent budget and you have some time - wishful thinking) you could try to devise a creative writing 'syllabus' for different units to use with your professional knowledge informing the development.

We'd love that.

[NathanFiler]

@bookworm31

Hi Nathan, absolutely loved your book.

My question is how important was it that Matthew undergoes a kind of catharsis at the end of the novel? Do you think this idea of a memorial is important in tackling grief? How important do you think writing and keeping a memoir is to someone in such a situation?

This is a very good question. I think memorial (in its many forms) can be hugely important, and clearly it is for Matthew, who after ten years had still never had the chance to say goodbye.

All the time I was writing the novel I never knew how I would end it. So when Annabelle mentioned the memorial she had for her mother I had a bit of a eureka moment. I'm so pleased that I got to write it. It felt important to me, anyway.

[NathanFiler]

@NathanFiler

[quote Mignonette]
I had a lot of service users who were extremely well read and took charge of the books available on the unit and creative writing has always been a very popular choice of activity for people who are well enough to participate.

Did you ever engage in this with your clients/service users?

Hi there,

I get asked that quite often and its a regret of mine that I didn't really. I was working on acute wards, and broadly speaking I don't think we did enough therapeutic work at all. So much of acute nursing seems to be about medication management.

Of course there are huge issues with resources, and right now things are moving in the wrong direction. I've written a bit more about this here: www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/25/nathan-filer-mental-health-care-where-did-it-go-wrong[/quote]

What area do you work in?

[NathanFiler]

@Mignonette

I had a lot of service users who were extremely well read and took charge of the books available on the unit and creative writing has always been a very popular choice of activity for people who are well enough to participate.

Did you ever engage in this with your clients/service users?

Hi there,

I get asked that quite often and its a regret of mine that I didn't really. I was working on acute wards, and broadly speaking I don't think we did enough therapeutic work at all. So much of acute nursing seems to be about medication management.

Of course there are huge issues with resources, and right now things are moving in the wrong direction. I've written a bit more about this here: www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/25/nathan-filer-mental-health-care-where-did-it-go-wrong

[NathanFiler]

@Dunlurking

Totally agree with RachelMumsnet that this should be considered a YA novel as well, AND be on the GCSE syllabus!

Start the movement ...

[NathanFiler]

@TillyBookClub

I like your answer very much - prescribing is the last thing you want, like you say! Perhaps loads of copies of Heaney/Hughes edited The RattleBag would be good, or a similarly mixed up collection of poems from all areas, so you could take your pick.

Do you spend more time writing fiction than poetry now? Or do you still write across all genres fairly equally?

I love the rattlebag! I stole it from a friend and never returned it (oops).

I haven't written poetry in a long time. I don't think I was ever especially good at it. What I did was a cross with stand-up. It was performance poetry. It was a very big part of my life for a long time, and I had so much fun touring the country and doing gigs. But I don't miss it. I'm getting old. It's nice to work on the page now :)

I've really enjoyed the few bits of journalism I've done. And am enjoying the screenplay very much.

For me, it's fun to work across lots of genres.

Mostly I want to win a BAFTA ;)

[RachelMumsnet]

Another question (if I may): you won the Costa with your first ever novel - what an amazing achievement but does that now put huge pressure on you for your next novel? We do a 'debut author bookclub' slot on Mumsnet and I often think we should do a 'second novel bookclub' slot as it must be so much harder for writers to get interest in their second novels (hope that isn't too depressing a question!)

[bookworm31]

Hi Nathan, absolutely loved your book.

My question is how important was it that Matthew undergoes a kind of catharsis at the end of the novel? Do you think this idea of a memorial is important in tackling grief? How important do you think writing and keeping a memoir is to someone in such a situation?

[Mignonette]

I had a lot of service users who were extremely well read and took charge of the books available on the unit and creative writing has always been a very popular choice of activity for people who are well enough to participate.

Did you ever engage in this with your clients/service users?

[WipsGlitter]

Hi, coming to this v late. I've read a bit of the book. I have two sons, one has Down's syndrome. I'm reluctant to read more....

[NathanFiler]

@RachelMumsnet

Hi Nathan, thanks so much for joining us tonight. Congratulations on such a thought-provoking but also entertaining novel. One question: When I first read it I immediately wanted to hand it on to my 15 year old son. Like you said earlier, I;m at the stage where it's quite hard to recommend any books to him at the moment and was delighted cos I thought I'd finally found a book that would speak to him (the last one I succeeded in was Pigeon English - do you know this?) Then I wondered whether it was a bit dark for him? What are your thoughts on this? Is this a book (as with Serious Incident) that is for teens and adults? Could it be on the GCSE syllabus? What are your thoughts on this?

Hi Rachel,

I always hoped it might have a cross-over appeal - those books like curious incident that can be enjoyed by adults and young adults alike. I was a little surprised that the publisher never pushed it in this way, but they've been generally great, so, you know... choose your battles I guess. Certainly many young people who have read it have really engaged with it and I would LOVE to see it on a syllabus, of course. Probably slightly older than GCSE. But I think it's very much a story that 16 or 17 year olds relate to...

[Dunlurking]

Totally agree with RachelMumsnet that this should be considered a YA novel as well, AND be on the GCSE syllabus!

[TillyBookClub]

I like your answer very much - prescribing is the last thing you want, like you say! Perhaps loads of copies of Heaney/Hughes edited The RattleBag would be good, or a similarly mixed up collection of poems from all areas, so you could take your pick.

Do you spend more time writing fiction than poetry now? Or do you still write across all genres fairly equally?

[RachelMumsnet]

Hi Nathan, thanks so much for joining us tonight. Congratulations on such a thought-provoking but also entertaining novel. One question: When I first read it I immediately wanted to hand it on to my 15 year old son. Like you said earlier, I;m at the stage where it's quite hard to recommend any books to him at the moment and was delighted cos I thought I'd finally found a book that would speak to him (the last one I succeeded in was Pigeon English - do you know this?) Then I wondered whether it was a bit dark for him? Is this a book (as with Serious Incident) that is for teens and adults? Could it be on the GCSE syllabus? What are your thoughts on this?

[NathanFiler]

@carriemumsnet

Only half way through - sorry - and enjoying so far but desperately trying not to read all comments in case of spoilers! My question: who encouraged you as a writer and did you start writing hoping/believing you'd get published, or do you start off just seeing if you could do it/ or for enjoyment?

I don't think there are any spoilers so far...

I'm lucky to have a supportive family, but there are no writers in our ranks. But my dad very kindly gave me a loan to enroll on a creative writing MA. That was probably the most important year in the life of my novel (the writing of it, anyway).

I did always hope to get published. And the truth is there was a lot of time when I didn't especially enjoy the writing process at all. Writing is such hard work and always there was the fear that nobody would ever read it.

But something kept me at the keyboard. Matthew was a great character to write and his story felt important to me.

[Dunlurking]

I loved reading Matthew's comments on drug freebies. (I still have a seroxat, and a cipramil Sigg bottle )