JS Raynor

John Stephen Raynor (born 11 August 1944 in Oldham, Lancashire) is a British novelist who resides in Sale, Cheshire, England. Registered blind for over 30 years and publishes as JS Raynor.

Raynor made his debut in 2005 with A Comfortable Death, a novel based in part on the childhood experiences of his wife who was born in the Philippines. This was followed by The Gaudi Facade, his second novel in 2009.

Raynor has also published short stories under the pen-name Christopher Carr, two of which have been broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester

Works

• A Comfortable Death (2005)

In the land of Ferdinand Marcos you quickly learn to be tough". These are the first words on the back cover of A Comfortable Death, a novel inspired by real life in the Philippines over Marcos’ regime.

John Raynor, the author of the book, fell in love with the country and particularly with one of its inhabitants, who is now his wife. He then started collecting experiences to tell the story of a young girl turning into a woman, through many tough moments and hard decisions.

In a very simple prose, Raynor tells the story of Lisa, whose destiny seems to be decided since her birth. A blessed girl, whose beauty hits anyone who looks at her; over the course of events, she turns a militant, a housekeeper, a nurse. She never forgets values as honesty and love which she has been taught as a child. With a pending promise of avenging her grandmother in her hearth, she commits herself to keep her dignity of woman alive.

A comfortable death is a tough and absorbing novel, a proud and bright picture of the Philippines of the last century, made credible not only by research but also by the author’s personal experiences.

• The Gaudi Facade (2009)

External links

• JS Raynor Official website
• Authors Den
• 1
• Manchester evening news' review 2