‘Beholden’ to readers
Author surprised, gratified at how popular her books have become
For author Lesley Crewe, it’s all about those small moments.
Things like cups of tea savoured in the late afternoon, family meals, feeding the cat, driving home from Halifax on a Monday morning in the family van talking to a nosy reporter …
Well, maybe not the last example, but for Crewe, talking to media during the annual frenzy of launching a book is beginning to qualify as yet another small moment in her life as a bestselling author.
Although she didn’t have her first book published until she was 50, Crewe has made up for lost Lesley Crewe will be promoting her 10th book, “Beholden,” with a reading at the Confederation Centre Library in Charlottetown Oct. 19.
time by having 10 published in the last 13 years.
Crewe launched her 10th book, “Beholden,” in September.
“Beholden” takes places between the 1920s and 1970s in Sydney and St. Peter’s. It’s a story about four characters, redemption, loyalty and how secrets can reverberate over years.
“‘Beholden’ — it’s an old-fashioned word and I think most of us are beholden to each other. You’re beholden to people all through your life, good or bad.
“Like all my books, it’s about family and friends and it’s always about this nest of wonderful women that get you through your life. Past tragedies don’t have to stay that way … it’s about love, the usual ingredient in all my books.”
Crewe has been involved in a book tour across Nova Scotia, and will visit other Atlantic provinces and Ontario later this fall. She’ll do a reading at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19 at the Confederation Centre Library in Charlottetown.
She says she’s surprised at how popular her books have become.
“I would show up at a bookstore and there would be lineups waiting for me,” said Crewe. “And the places were packed — I was a little overwhelmed to tell the truth. My readers are very kind. One lady showed up — she’s 90, she emailed me — and I answered her back and we had this lovely little chat and who was there, the first one in line? She got her elderly daughter-in-law to drive her from Bridgewater to come and meet me — how do you put a price on that? She was so sweet and so excited — 90 years old … I have very loving and loyal fans.”
Crewe believes the reason why her books are so popular is that readers can relate to them.
“It’s the ordinary moments in your life that are important,” she said.
“Your whole life is just made up of ordinary moments — it’s not very often we get big celebrations like weddings, babies and whatever. Most of your life is just made up of drinking cups of tea, reading a book and listening to the rain. You may wonder where your whole life went and it’s always just that — it’s just being together and being with your family and that’s the most important thing of all.”