A: I don’t know! I’d sent some short stories to a publisher, and I also sent off a letter saying I’d started a novel, but I hadn’t - and had no intention of doing so. I’d decided that a novel would take far too long to write. However, the publishers wrote back, and although they claimed to like my short stories, what they were really interested in was my imaginary novel. It was the biggest “Oh my God” moment of my life. I berated myself for my lie, asking myself how I always ended up in such tricky situations. I thought the best thing would be simply to ignore it, and hope I never met the people from the publishers, but then - another watershed moment, obviously the year for them - I decided to give it a go.

I had nothing planned; I had no characters, I had no plot. However – although I had never noticed up until that point - I wasn’t entirely without material. My life had been packed full of pain and disasters (an absolute must if you’re planning to write): alcoholism, depression, disastrous relationships with men, a rigid Catholic upbringing, frizzy hair, freckles, being a Virgo, being the eldest child, always feeling like an outsider… The list was a long one. And I must say, while none of it had been particularly pleasant to live through, it came in fairly handy once I had embarked on my book (it wasn’t remotely autobiographical, but used quite a few of my emotions).

Q: Many of your novels deal with issues like depression and addiction and you have been very open about your own time in rehab for alcoholism, do your own issues inspire your novels in any way?

A: Yes, clearly, Rachel’s Holiday was inspired by my own experience in rehab. Funnily enough it’s not remotely autobiographical, and Rachel is very different to me. And all my novels touch on some serious issues, and I’m very in touch with my dark side, so it’s definitely an inspiration.

Q: What has been the response from readers to your novels?

A: I am touched by the things my readers say – when I meet them at readings, or when they email, it seems that the novels mean a great deal to them: they laugh and cry, and, above all, identify with the characters, and it was a comfort for them to read about such a person because it made them feel they weren’t the only person who thought that way.

Q: What is something your readers would be surprised to know about you?

A: Because I write a monthly newsletter, I feel that my readers know a lot about me, and it would be hard to surprise them at this stage!

Q: Do you have a favorite book or author? What kinds of books do you read for enjoyment?

A: That’s impossible to answer, there are too many wonderful writers out there and what I like varies according to my mood. Generally I tend to like comedy and I like crime. Because I’m prone to obsession, I admit I get “things” for writers where I become mildly fixated by them and want to read them and only them. Recently I got a “thing” for Alexander McCall Smith and read absolutely everything he has ever written and wanted to move in and live with him, keeping him company as he did his work, like a small pet. Then I got a “thing” for Michael Connelly. At some stage I had a “thing” for Dennis Lehane until I met him when I had a mouthful of cheese and crackers and made a bit of a show of myself gushing all over him and sending cracker-spray in his direction, so now I don’t like to think of Dennis Lehane any longer because all I feel is shame. At the moment I’m going through a mild “thing” for Ian Rankin (a recurring “thing.”) Also Kate Atkinson, Elinor Lipman, Laurie Graham. PG Wodehouse and Val McDermid are favorites.

Q: If you were to give a fledgling writer some advice, what would that be?

A: Firstly, stop talking about it and start writing it – word by word. Formally set aside time to write – respect your book enough not to try to fit it in, in bitty gaps, around the rest of your life. Better still, try to write at the same time every day – this seems to trigger the subconscious into readiness. Don’t be surprised if your first efforts are shockingly bad – indeed, expect to marvel at the gap between what you want to say in your head and how it appears on the page. But persevere; chances are it will improve. Beware of setting yourself up as the ‘new’ Sophie Kinsella or the ‘new’ someone else: it’s always cringingly obvious. Instead write in your own unique voice and be proud of it. Write what you know – and if you don’t know it, be prepared to research it. Finally – enjoy it! If you enjoy writing it, chances are that people will enjoy reading it.

Q: Besides reading and writing, what are some of the other passions in your life?

A: Most recently, I have started hill walking. On a couple of recent holidays, I’ve ended up walking, and realized I love being out in the open air. I’ve even realized that I don’t have to wait for good weather (a long wait in Ireland), as long as I have the right clothes. So I aim to walk in the hills outside Dublin every two weeks.

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone, past or present, who would it be, and why?

A: Aung San Suu Kyi because she’s brave, and has been under house arrest by the military regime in Burma for years.

Interview Date: May 2007
Profile and questions compiled by Jessica B., Morrison Regional Library