Come and chat to the phenomenal SARAH WATERS, Booker-nominated author of The Paying Guests, The Night Watch and Fingersmith (among others) on Tuesday 29 September, 9-10pm

[TillyMumsnetBookClub]

August's author, Sarah Waters, is simply incomparable. She is a writer who can deliver pulse-racing, page-turning blockbusters that also become contenders for the Man Booker Prize. Her historical accuracy and mastery of atmosphere places her reader directly in the scene, whether it be a Victorian asylum or a London bomb shelter.

Her new novel, The Paying Guests, conjures a shifting, uneasy post-WWI London, where men and servants are thin on the ground, and attitudes to class and gender are in a state of flux. Impoverished aristocrat Frances and her widowed mother are forced to take in lodgers to pay the bills in their crumbling Camberwell mansion. But when the young married couple arrive, a simmering tension begins to brew between Frances, Mrs Barber and her husband, pulling everyone towards a passionate and devastating crime.

As previous Mumsnet guest Rachel Joyce put it, the story is "so evocative and compelling that all the time I was reading, I had a feeling it was me who had done something terrible, instead of her characters".
Many Mumsnetters have already given their approval: "One of her best yet. Very Waters-ish…I was completely utterly gripped." (FrancesHB).

Virago have 50 copies of The Paying Guests to give to Mumsnetters: to claim your copy please fill in your details on the book of the month page. We’ll post on the thread when all the copies have gone. If you’re not lucky enough to bag one of those, you can always get a Kindle version here or paperback here.

We are delighted that Sarah will be joining us on Tuesday 29 September, 9-10pm to discuss The Paying Guests, her many award-winning novels and her writing career. Please feel free to discuss the book here throughout the month and then come and meet Sarah on the night, and ask her a question or simply tell her what you thought of the book. Look forward to seeing you on the 29th…

@TillyMumsnetBookClub

I'm going to sneak in another question: when I read your post about academia giving you discipline, I wondered if you could quickly describe your writing day for us: where you write, your hours and what you write with, and how many edits you usually do...

When I read your books they seem particularly effortless, so perfectly formed and easy in their skin, if that makes sense.

Thank you. These days I start work by 8.30am, and just keep going until I run out of steam - usually by 4 or 5. But then I can do some reading, or some other form of research; I don't consider myself really clocked off until 6. But that's not always writing - there's a lot of emailing etc too. And many small breaks to make tea and gaze at the cat (see above). And I write in my study - a lovely airy room at the top of my house. And edits - yes, tons and tons.

Thank you for answering my questions. I am inspired to read your other novels now. I think these webchats are really excellent and I have enjoyed reading your answers to all the questions.

@BearAusten

Thank you for answering my questions. Poor Edith. Horrendous really. I don't like the sound of Every Woman?s Problems Solved Inside. Do you sleep well?

I like your comment of 'just read it and enjoy it'.

How did you become a judge for the Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books?

We 'reinvent the past all the time' only to indirectly comment on our own times and self?

I haven't had a good night's sleep for two years. Damn the peri-menopause!

I was invited to be a judge - I really enjoyed it.

Yes, we're always reinventing the past in line with the present, I think.

Thankyou Sarah for coming online and answering all our questions. I'm looking forward to your next book and enjoyed my first Mumsnet book chat

Sadly we’ve come to the end of our hour – it has been a fascinating evening and I wish we had more time… Many thanks to everyone for making it so enjoyable and asking such interesting questions. Apologies if there’s anyone whose question we didn’t have time for – you can find many answers to FAQs on Sarah’s website

Sarah, not only are you celebrated here as many Mumsnetters perfect writer but you have been a perfect guest. Thank you very very much indeed for answering so many questions, and with such energy and clarity. It has been such a pleasure to hear about your working process and your own favourite books. Good luck with the 1950s project and we can’t wait to read it when it is published.

Congratulations once more on a brilliant book and many thanks again.

@Sapeke

Hello I loved the Night Watch and the Little Stranger, which I read twice. Do you have favourite among your books?

Like a good mother, I couldn't choose between them - I like them all in different ways. (But I am particularly fond of The PGs.)

Not sure if Incan sneak in a final question but here it is...
What do you do for inspiration if you are ever experiencing writers block?

@TillyMumsnetBookClub

Sadly we?ve come to the end of our hour ? it has been a fascinating evening and I wish we had more time? Many thanks to everyone for making it so enjoyable and asking such interesting questions. Apologies if there?s anyone whose question we didn?t have time for ? you can find many answers to FAQs on Sarah?s website

Sarah, not only are you celebrated here as many Mumsnetters perfect writer but you have been a perfect guest. Thank you very very much indeed for answering so many questions, and with such energy and clarity. It has been such a pleasure to hear about your working process and your own favourite books. Good luck with the 1950s project and we can?t wait to read it when it is published.

Congratulations once more on a brilliant book and many thanks again.

Thank you! Sorry I didn't get to every single question. Good bye! xx

Thanks so much Sarah and Mumsnet. I loved reading all the questions and responses-so much food for thought!

Brilliant webchat - big thanks to Sarah and Mumsnet :)

Thoroughly enjoyed this web chat so thanks to MN and Sarah. Looking forward to reading Affinity and Tipping the Velvet.

Many thanks to Sarah and to Mumsnet for the fascinating webchat. I'm going to have a look for some of Sarah's recommended authors at the library over the weekend.

What a lovely web chat. Sorry I wasn't here to see it live but Sarah was every bit as good as we can have hoped.

Fantastic, Sarah answered loads and loads of our Qs! V interesting. Thank you very much!

And thanks to MN for organising it!