Michael Hughes
Michael has always loved the theatre; his father was an aficionado; so although Michael had an idea that he wanted to write, he saw acting as a more accessible career. “I was excited by acting at…
Debut Round-up, September and October, 2016
Red Dirt. E.M. Reapy. Head Zeus. Whenever I think I’ve found my debut of the year, another, even better novel comes along. And it’s happened again. Such was the originality, scope, and sheer skill evoked between…
Helen Sedgwick
A scientist, Helen has always been passionate about astronomy. Her father is an astrophysicist. As a child, she loved reading, but was not interested in writing. Brought up in England, she spent her summers near Dublin…
RB Kelly
Daughter of a scientist, Rachael Kelly grew up loving science fiction, and she has always written. “I wrote my first book at 8 years old, and I finished three or four novels when I was in…
Paul McVeigh
One of 7 children, Paul grew up in abject poverty at the height of Belfast’s troubles. After university he set up a theatre company, creating plays and giving new context to existing ones. Then, moving to…
Tony Doherty
When he was ten years old, Tony wrote a story that won his family’s respect. He became a voracious reader as a teenager, loving the books of Walter Macken. In the early nineties, Tony was instrumental…
Jill Dawson
SOME years ago the writer Jill Dawson discovered the novels of Patricia Highsmith and became somewhat obsessed. She read The Talented Mr Ripley first, then started discussing Highsmith, and exchanging novels with her sister. “The novels…
EM Reapy
IN 2011, when Elizabeth Reapy set off for Australia, she was seething with anger. A child of the ’80s who had previously only known good times, she could no longer stand living in recession-fuelled Ireland; she…
Shirley-Anne McMillan
Shirley-Anne started writing as a teenager, penning song lyrics and poetry. And when she became a teacher, working in Integrated Schools, she turned her hand to children’s stories and picture books. But her debut is YA…
Colette Dartford
Raised in London by Irish parents, Colette spent all her childhood holidays in County Wexford. After taking her primary degree Colette worked, but stopped when she had her daughter, at 25. Later, after her return to…
Cat Hogan
Cat has always loved books. And, when she was a child, her imagination was stirred by her father. “He had worked in the Merchant Navy, and then he joined Irish Lights. He would tell the four…
Lia Mills at the WCLF.
Summer is literary festival season in Ireland, a chance for readers to meet writers and for books to be rediscovered. I was thrilled to be invited back to my favourite festival – the West Cork Literary…