Lies and Loyalties

‘Rachel Billington has created an utterly gripping page-turner.’ Spectator

Rachel Billington’s new book, Lies and Loyalties, was published on April 3, 2008. It is about a family of four brothers and one sister, an MP, a QC, a Catholic priest, a brother who suffers from mental problems and his wife who at the beginning of the novel is resident in Her Majesty’s Prison Holloway.

Other Writing

The Man who tried to Kill his Wife with a Goose
Christmas Eve started early for Lawrence. Daisy, given special permission to club till midnight, arrived ba… Read more
Dancemoon
‘We’re dancing to the moon,’ said Arthur, moving, it has to be admitted, a little stiffly like the old man… Read more
Friendship
It can start in all sorts of strange places: in a pram, up a climbing frame, over a desk, in hospital, unde… Read more

Writing is like Riding a Bicycle

Writing is like riding a bicycle. You never forget how. Over the years you learn how to do skids and wheelies and jump wild distances. But how long will an audience be interested in a trick cyclist?

I write for readers and that’s because I’ve always been obsessive about reading. In my slothful teenage years, I could get through three novels a day: Rosamund Lehman, Ian Fleming or Dostoevsky.

I had my first novel published when I was twenty seven. Eighteen novels later, I’m still creating new faces, new voices. I have to impersonate each one – even the killers.

Maybe writing is more like being an actor than riding a bicycle. Or maybe it’s like an actor riding a bicycle with a pen in her hand and her head in the clouds. RB

Events

10th May 2008

WC Writers Association Annual Lunch

Location: Bristol

RB attends as President of the West Country Writers Association

29th May 2008

Visit: HMP/YOI Parc, Bridgend

Location: Wales, UK

Talk about Lies and Loyalties and creative writing session. In conjunction with English PEN and the Hay Festival.