About Me
I'm Ruth Saberton, the bestselling author of over 30 novels, including 2010's Richard and Judy championed breakthrough Katy Carter Wants a Hero, The Letter (2018 - Winston Graham Prize Shortlisted) and Oyster Shore (winner of the Gorsedh Kernow's Holyer an Gof Award 2022). My latest book, The First and Last Summer, was published in October 2025 and celebrates friendship, family bonds and second chances at love and life. I've been published by Orion, Harper Collins, Pan Macmillan and Little Black Dress, both under my own name and pen names.
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​​​​​Although I was born in London I’m now lucky enough to live in Cornwall and this beautiful part of the world is a constant source of inspiration for my writing. It's a character in its own right, and the perfect setting for novels. It's hard not to find stories when myths, legends and the past are all around me.
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In the past I have been a columnist for The Western Morning News, have written features for Visit Cornwall and been featured in newspapers, magazines and radio talking about my writing and how setting, Cornwall especially, is so central to my work. I love speaking at festivals and in the past have been a guest speaker at the Du Maurier Festival in Fowey and the Looe Festival of Words. I also teach writing workshops and and enjoy radio and television. You may have seen me on Vanessa, the BBC news and (embarrassingly) Sun, Sea and A&E - which is still doing the rounds almost twenty years on...
I’ve always loved reading and as an asthmatic child I spent lots of time lost in books and living vicariously through them. Although I lived in London, I was pony mad and inhabited a strange 1950s world of Majors, elephant ear jodhpurs and hunting, thanks to a box full of Pullein-Thompson pony books donated by a kindly neighbour whose daughter had grown out of horses (whatever that meant!) I knew early on that I wanted to be a writer. I filled endless notebooks with stories about ponies and forced my poor family to read them. When I was 14 I discovered Jilly Cooper, Shirley Conran and Jackie Collins and my career path was set - I was going to write big fat block busters.​ I filled two arch folders with my bodice ripper (now hidden in my office, never to venture out) before going on to write shorter contemporary novels. It was at this time that I began my impressive collection of rejection letters. All authors have them.
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While I worked on penning a bestseller, I needed a day job. I'd read English Literature at Southampton University and since I loved reading and writing it seemed a good idea to share this passion with others and become a teacher. I taught English and Media in a variety of secondary schools - from inner city London to leafy Bucks to Cornwall to the Cayman Islands and I loved my time in the classroom. Teaching all my students was a privilege; they inspired me and made me laugh - as well as cry some days! If you want a little window into my time in pedagogy, reading Katy Carter Wants a Hero and Katy Carter Keeps a Secret may help! Although I left teaching ten years ago to write full time, I still give talks in schools and drive my nephews and nieces mad lecturing them about Shakespeare.
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​When I’m not writing I love riding my horse. He's my best friend and very good at helping me untangle plot knots and come up with new ideas. I enjoying meeting up with my friends, listening to podcasts while walking, and spending time with my partner. I also enjoy boating and am lucky enough to live on the river. Many of my novels are set around the Fowey River and the timeless nature of the turning tides, and the stories they have witnessed, always bring me new ideas.
I love to talk to my readers so pop over to my Facebook author page, check out my Instagram, or email me at admin@ruthsaberton.com​
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If you would like me to be a guest on a Podcast you host (years of battling a tough teen audience honed my performance in terms of public speaking!) or suggest one I might feature on, please get in touch with my admin team admin@ruthsaberton.com . I also love radio, have enjoyed television and speaking at literary fairs and festivals.
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