News

The Good Mother Q&A with Journalist Melissa Doyle

Journalist Melissa Doyle interviews Rae about the story origins of The Good Mother. Rae shares anecdotes of what it was like to live and work in Northern Ireland during the ‘Troubles', and together they delve into all things research and writing. If you want to get an insight into the inspiration for and writing of The Good Mother, as well as some of Rae’s experiences as an aid worker in 1997, click here to watch the interview.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW

SBS Book Trailer - The Good Mother

Watch the book trailer that appeared on SBS Australia

A woman sitting on the floor with open notebooks and postcards or photographs scattered around her, next to a white wall and hardwood floor.

North Shore Times

Author Rae Cairns is one determined woman, dealing with Northern Irish paramilitary groups, a debilitating disease and an indifferent publishing industry on her journey into print, writes Greg Flynn

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Book cover of 'The Good Mother' by Rae Cairns, featuring a silhouette of a woman walking against a dog starry background, with green and pink text, on a green background.

Booktopia

Ten Terrifying Questions with Rae Cairns

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A table with a book titled 'The Good Mother' by Rae Cairns, a cup of coffee with latte art, a black pen, and a white envelope.

HarperCollins Guest Blog

Rae Cairns: How far should a mother go to protect her child?

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Crime Club membership card featuring Rae Cairns' photo, a handprint graphic, and information about her book "The Good Mother."

QBD Crime Club

Debut author Rae Cairns chats to QBD Crime Club host Victoria Carthew about her new novel, The Good Mother, her writing process and more in this intimate interview.

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Front page of the Sunday newspaper, dated April 3, 2022, priced at $3.50, featuring a story about Rae Cairns with a photo of a woman with curly dark hair, smiling, wearing a black blazer over a striped top, outdoors with a sunset in the background.

Herald Sun - Rae keeps eyes on the prize

What if you never give up? It took author Rae Cairns seven years to uncover an answer to this question with a story set in the Troubles of Northern Ireland

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Promotional graphic for ABC Radio featuring Rick Whittle, a woman with dark curly hair, and the book titled "The Good Mother" by Rae Cairns.

ABC Radio - Book Chat

Listen below

ABC Radio - Book Chat with Rick Whittle and Rae Cairns
Cover of The Sydney Morning Herald's booklist section, dated May 27, 2022, featuring a portrait of Rae Cairns, author of The Good Mother, smiling and wearing a black blazer and striped shirt.

Sydney Morning Herald

The Booklist - 27th May 2022

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People on the cover of People magazine, with several book covers over the magazine. The magazine's date is April 11, 2022.

WHO Weekly Magazine

11 April 2022

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ABC Nightlife with Indira Naidoo

Rae Cairns discusses her novel The Good Mother with host Indira Naidoo

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Cover of The Sunday Telegraph newspaper featuring a smiling woman with dark curly hair, wearing a black blazer and striped shirt, sitting at a desk, with the headline 'A question of inspiration'.

The Sunday Telegraph - Insider - A question of inspiration

27 March 2022

“One ‘what if’ from my own life wouldn’t leave me alone. For 18 years it lurked.”

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Cover page of a list titled 'The most anticipated books of 2022,' featuring book covers from authors like Jessica Au, Dervla McTernan, Leila Motley, Hannah Gadsby, Robert Lukins, and Ashley Goldberg, with a quote about reading in 2022 at the bottom.

Sydney Morning Herald - The most anticipated books of 2022

December 2021

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A promotional graphic for book reviews features the cover of 'The Good Mother' by Rae Cairns, and a photograph of Rae Cairns smiling with curly black hair, wearing a black blazer. The graphic includes the logo of BookLover Book Reviews at the top and mentions an interview and giveaway.

Booklover Book Reviews

Interview with author Rae Cairns

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Book titled 'The Good Mother' by Rae Cairns on a wooden surface next to a typewriter, with a green background and the words 'Just Published' and 'Welcomes Rae Cairns' at the top.

Just Published with Jodi Gibson

Rae chats with Jodi Gibson about The Good Mother including her path to publication and some writing tips.

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A media release announcement from HarperCollins Publishers Australia featuring a book titled 'The Good Mother' by Rae Cairns, with a picture of the author, a woman with curly dark hair smiling.

HarperCollins acquires Ned Kelly shortlisted thriller from an electric new Australian voice

HarperCollins Publishers Australia is thrilled to announce it has acquired world rights to The Good Mother, the debut novel from Ned Kelly Award shortlisted author Rae Cairns, via Jeanne Ryckmans of Cameron’s Management. HarperCollins will publish The Good Mother in April 2022, and a second novel from Cairns in 2023.

FULL MEDIA RELEASE
Book cover of 'The Good Mother' by Rae Cairns, a photo of the author with curly black hair smiling, and logos for ACWA, The Ned Kelly Awards, and Booktopia.

The Good Mother shortlisted 2021 NED KELLY AWARDS

The Good Mother has been shortlisted for Best Debut Crime Novel in the 2021 Ned Kelly Awards.

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Cover of The Sunday Telegraph featuring 'insider books' section with the headline 'Mother of All Choices,' a photo of Mercedes Maguire, and a brief description about her debut book.

The Sunday Telegraph

Interview with Mercedes Maguire - January 2021.
”A pacy, plot-driven thriller that stands up against some of the best in the genre.”

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Book cover of 'The Good Mother' by Rae Cairns featuring a silhouette of a woman walking down a foggy, green, wooded path, with the title in large pink letters and quotes praising the story.

The Good Mother is now an audiobook

On June 1st 2021, Bolinda Publishing released the audiobook of The Good Mother, narrated by Edwina Wren. The audiobook is available from all good audiobook retailers and can also be borrowed through the Borrowbox library app.

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Document titled 'Rae Cairns Community Recognition Statement' issued by the Parliament of New South Wales, related to the Legislative Assembly Hansard from October 2021.

NSW Parliament Community Recognition Statement

Rae Cairns was commended by the Member for Davidson, Mr Jonathan O’Dea for her commitment to youth as both a youth worker and author.

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Text overlay on black background stating "The Doctor will see you Cairns" with a partial graphic of a woman in white and purple.

Dr Noir Interview

Listen to the UK’s expert on crime fiction, Dr Noir, interview Rae Cairns about The Good Mother

WATCH INTERVIEW
Logo for The Viewpoints Podcast featuring a pair of headphones over three books with the text 'The Viewpoints Podcast with Henry Grossek'.

The Viewpoints Podcast Interview

Henry Grossek interviews Rae about her debut book, The Good Mother. This conversation was originally broadcast on 3SER's 97.7FM Casey Radio.

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Podcast cover titled "Talking... Aussie Books" with a teal background, red text for the title, and black text indicating it's a podcast by Claudine Tinellis.

Talking Aussie Books Podcast

Interview with Claudine Tinellis - March 2021

Minimalist line art illustration of a woman's face against a purple circle with the text 'writes4women' in a curved fashion.

Writes4Women Podcast

Rae talks with Writes4Women host Pamela Cook about the release of her debut novel The Good Mother. Rae opens up about her pathway to publication and why she has never given up on her writing or her book. Listen below, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A woman with curly brown hair smiling in an office space, with a computer monitor, a cup, an electronic device, and a vase with peacock feathers in the background.

Author Stalker interview with Rae Cairns

“I could not put this book down. It is a five star read. As I read her words, it was like I was watching the movie version in my head.”

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Events and Interviews

I’m always happy to consider speaking engagements, interviews and appearances, with book groups, book bloggers or journalists. I’m based in Sydney, Australia but am happy to converse via Zoom. For book clubs, please contact me through the contact page. For all other enquiries please contact me via my agent Jeanne Ryckmans from Cameron’s management.

EVENT AND INTERVIEW ENQUIRIES

Downloadable Headshots

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Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with curly hair, wearing a blazer and seated on a chair against a dark background.
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High Resolution

 
 
 
 
 

Photo credit for images of Rae Cairns to David Perryman