Cathy Rentzenbrink - Memoirist & Novelist

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Writing my first book, The Last Act of Love, which is about the death of my brother. It was so hard to wrestle all the events and emotions on to the page and I’m still not quite sure how I managed it.

2. What motivates you to do what you do?

Writing books rather accidentally led me into teaching and mentoring other writers and I do feel that is my true calling. I love helping other people get to grips with telling their story and I am very motivated by seeing people build their commitment and acquire skills and make progress. It is very beautiful being alongside as someone grows into their abilities.

3. What do you owe your mother?

She taught me to read and write long before I went to school and always spoke to me honestly about life. And she chose a good man to be my father! I think it is a great gift to a woman to have a supportive and empowering dad.

4. Which women inspire you and why?

Maya Angelou, Hilary Mantel, Virginia Woolf. I’m inspired by writers who have known hardship, struggle, and pain and keep writing.

5. What are you reading?

Coward by Tim Clare, a fascinating book about anxiety.

6. What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?

I think publishing is less sexist than most other industries though I still feel constantly aware that as a woman there is often an anxiety about saying anything at all. I always remember making a joke at a man’s expense when I was about 16 and him saying, ‘You should learn to shut your mouth.’ I never have, but often feel the fear of being seen as too vocal, too intelligent, too clever for my own good etc. I think I might have been burnt at the stake if I’d lived a few centuries earlier.

7. How can the world be made a better place for women?

Services for children also benefit women. I think it is a great shame that Sure Start centres closed down.

8. Describe your perfect day?

I’d wake up with the light and go running around Pendennis Point and then swim in the sea. Perhaps I’d eat a delicious and garlicy lunch with my family and laugh at my son’s jokes. He is twelve and I am loving the way he is growing into his sense of humour. Maybe later on I could read a whole book in the bath, which is one of my big treats and then go to bed early. And I’d have no technology all day and enjoy the clarity and peace I feel when I leave my phone off and focus on nature and the flesh and blood people and animals in my life. Actually, I do mostly do all these things on weekends unless I am working so that feels good.

9. We've noticed there really aren't many (if any) statues of women around Cornwall - who would you like to see remembered?

I’m not sure I’m that keen on statues of people. I like the rook sculpture for Daphne du Maurier in Fowey.

10. Give us a tip?

Stop expecting it to be easy and slow down and enjoy the process.

“Cathy Rentzenbrink is an acclaimed memoirist whose books include The Last Act of Love and Dear Reader. In 2021 she published her first novel Everyone is Still Alive and she has a book about how to write a memoir called Write It All Down. Cathy regularly chairs literary events, interviews authors, reviews books, runs creative writing courses and speaks and writes on life, death, love, and literature. Despite being shortlisted for various prizes, the only thing Cathy has ever won is the Snaith and District Ladies’ Darts Championship when she was 17. She is now sadly out of practice.”