What crime novel would you most like to have written?
REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier. I love its tension and atmosphere and that so much more is going on than we are being told. Manderley is such a creepy place but also beautiful; I love when a setting is as much a part of the narrative as the people.
What fictional character would you most like to have been?
Jane Eyre. She is so sure of herself despite her crappy childhood. I love her strength.
Who do you read for guilty pleasures?
I read so much for work (reviews) as well as for pleasure that I don’t have time to waste on silly books. I read THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY when it came out and enjoyed it. Does that count?!
Most satisfying writing moment?
When the writing is all going along well and the world is the fictional world I’m in (as opposed to my real world of laundry woman/Tesco shopper/dinner maker).
The best Irish crime novel is …?
I loved THE BLUE TANGO by Eoin McNamee, based on the murder of Patricia Curran, a judge's daughter stabbed to death in 1952. A very compelling read.
What Irish crime novel would make a great movie?
Tana French’s IN THE WOODS – we need a nicely dark movie about Dublin crime, with a love story as side plot.
Worst / best thing about being a writer?
Worst: lack of income. Best: travel – this year alone writing has brought me to Croatia, Arkansas, London, Nebraska, Waterford, Dingle ...
The pitch for your next book is …?
21-year-old Irish woman in love with a 51-year-old Scottish man gets into difficulties in the Scottish Highlands. There’s sex, lies and paperweights.
Who are you reading right now?
Sarah Hall’s short fiction collection THE BEAUTIFUL INDIFFERENCE. That girl can write.
God appears and says you can only write OR read. Which would it be?
That’s a horrible question!! Read. I could write my own stuff in my head but it would be death not to be able to read other people’s work.
The three best words to describe your own writing are …?
Sensual, black, lyrical.
Nuala Ní Chonchúir’s MOTHER AMERICA is published by New Island.
1 comment:
Loved the freshness of this interview - thanks, Declan and Nuala.
Post a Comment