Ryan and Karen Crear - Owners of the independent book publishing company, Crear Publishing.
Here they tell us about their weekends.
Do you ever have to work weekends?
Yes, we often meet with authors or potential clients on weekends, as many of them have day jobs during the week. It’s never really a hardship though, because we genuinely love what we do and enjoy spending time with authors, hearing their ideas and helping them bring their stories to life.
Weekends are also when many book launches, signings and literary events take place, so we’re often out meeting readers and supporting our authors. It’s a great way to stay connected with the indie book community and see first-hand what readers are enjoying. And really, any job that involves talking about books at the weekend can’t be all bad.
Are most weekends the same?
Absolutely not. Most weekends are completely different from one another. We could find ourselves anywhere across the North East meeting some incredibly talented people, so we tend to take a relaxed approach and go with the flow rather than sticking to a rigid plan.
Do you find it hard to switch off?
Not really, although a lovely glass of red wine certainly helps. We do try to make time away from work so we can properly switch off, recharge and come back refreshed.
What do you do at a weekend which you can’t fit in through the week?
Mostly the dreaded housework and grocery shopping. Like most people, those are the things that somehow never quite fit into the working week.
Big night out or a night in the house?
Definitely a big night out. We enjoy kicking our heels up whenever we can, especially if there’s live music playing in one of the local pubs.
Do you watch or play sport at a weekend?
Ryan: I’m a huge rugby fan. Unfortunately, bad knees have put an end to playing, but I still watch whenever I get the chance, usually on catch-up or by squeezing in the highlights when time allows. During rugby season this tends to make Karen something of a rugby widow.
Karen: I’m afraid sport isn’t really my thing. While Ryan is happily watching rugby, I’m far more likely to be curled up with a good book or scary horror movie instead. It works out quite well for both of us really.
Where do you like to eat out at a weekend?
When we get the opportunity, we usually head to our local Italian, which is Ryan’s favourite.
You can’t really go wrong with good pasta, good wine and a relaxed atmosphere.
If we venture a little further afield, we often go into Durham for Thai food, which is Karen’s favourite.
How important is the weekend to you?
It’s very important to us because it’s often the only time we can properly catch up with family.
Often, that means getting together for a braai, a South African BBQ, sharing good food, having a chat and enjoying time with the people we love. It’s simple, but those moments are special.
What’s the best thing about weekends?
The best thing is the chance for a little lie-in, something that’s quite rare during the week. It’s also nice when the work phone rings a bit less, giving us a chance to slow down and relax.
Of a weekend, you’ll usually find me most happy…?
Karen: With my nose in a good book, a big bag of Flamin’ Hot Monster Munch and a bar of Dairy Milk close by. That’s my perfect way to relax and switch off for a while.
Ryan: You’ll usually find me with my feet up watching rugby, whether it’s a live match, a replay or just the highlights. The great thing about rugby is that there’s always a game somewhere in the world, whether it’s in the northern or southern hemisphere.
www.crearpublishing.com
