Some Secrets I Want to Share ...

I spent this morning answering questions for an interview with a top blogger who has interviewed well over 4000 writers, but more on that interview at a later date.
But some of the questions, Fiona put to me had me really thinking not just about my novel but also my sequel which is at present with my publisher's, (Tirgearr) editor.

So below are some secrets about my novel, My Husband's Sin for your enjoyment.

Fun Facts About My Debut Novel

1. The scene in the novel where Sally recalls childhood memories of time spent in the Zoo is based on truth. My children loved going to Dublin Zoo, we held a family season ticket, and on one of the trips, they chased a mouse from one enclosure to another with other children joining them. They ignored all the wonderful animals around us and loved the mouse. 
2. The solicitor, Philip Sherman's love for Ginger Nut biscuits are indeed my own favourites.  
   
3. I was inspired while attending a funeral to write my book. I was standing by the graveside when the thought of family secrets first crept in to my head.
4. The working title for my novel was A Thorn in My Side, but when my writing friend, Marie O'Halloran was reading the manuscript, she said "There's your title", pointing to the words that Lillian Taylor signs off with in her letter. 

Here are the links for you to get your copy: 

http://amzn.to/2hgYqfw 

http://amzn.to/2xYuV5i 

http://marieohalloran.blogspot.ie/ 

Mixing it up a little!

Although I've posted about my writing, it has mainly to do with my books or short stories, so this time I have decided to share another aspect to my writing life, play-writing.
Often through the years, I have written short stories that lent themselves to being a good plot for a play. I didn't know how to go about planning and scripting a play, but that didn't stop me, I shared my views with some writing friends and hey presto, I was soon writing plays.
My first play, a short 15 minute story was my introduction to seeing my work on stage. It was titled Something about Her and I entered it in to the Claremorris Fringe Festival for short work. To my delight it was chosen and it got shown along with others in the festival. I was thrilled to say the least. I got the bug for seeing my words come alive on stage and it was addictive to say the least.

Blessed is he among women!!

Then an opportunity came up to be mentored for a year by director and playwright, John Sheehy of CallBack Theatre, (http://callbacktheatre.com/ ). A chance not to be missed, I signed up along with Marie O'Halloran (http://marieohalloran.blogspot.co.uk/ )  and Mary Anne Bartlett and Mary Angland  (https://maryangland.wordpress.com/ ) 
We had a ball, meeting monthly at first and then weekly as our years mentoring came close to finishing. Each of us worked on our own individual plays. By sharing and reading each others work and listening to John's advice, we enjoyed the experience no end. The year ended on our four plays having a two night rehearsed readings open to the public at Friars Gate Theatre in Co. Limerick. My play was titled Forgive Me Father. The other plays being Coffee Break, Who won the War, and All Grown Up. Both nights had full houses, once more the buzz of seeing your words alive was thrilling.
The following year, under John's mentor-ship, we decided to tackle the task of writing one play by the four of us. Not an easy thing to make work as we had such individual styles in writing. It was time consuming but we were comitted to the project. A lot of editing, rewriting, talking, cups of tea and coffee, laughter, and misunderstandings. But all worth it as our play, Catching The Train, was performed in Friars Gate Theatre, directed by Mandy Donworth. It played to a full house for two nights.
I have since gone on to see The Bench, a 15 min play, be a part of the Kanturk Arts Festival theatre night. I hope to see another, Too Late, be read in the same arts festival in March of this year.
I would strongly encourage you to try other writing projects, even if they are outside your comfort zone. It opens up your mind and self to new ways of thinking when new characters and plots come knocking at the usual 2 or 3 in the morning, while you try to sleep.

More than one style of Hangover!

Most of us have endured a hangover of the alcohol type or maybe even a chocolate binge headache at some stage. Reading my friends Blogspot about a word hangover she suffered it got me thinking can one have a driving hangover? You know the way you are on the road driving so much which I have been lately. I made three trips to Dublin from my home town (which is a round trip of 300 miles each time) in one week, not including in between shorter trips and so when you get to bed you can’t stretch your legs? The backs of my knees were aching; I couldn’t straighten my legs without being in agony. The same applied to my arms, in particular my elbows, from holding the steering wheel.

I was exhausted to say the least and like Marie in her blog post, she was longing to get the written word going again, I felt the need to drive the following day although my body begged to differ with my mind. Are we suckers for punishment? Maybe I need to learn my limits and live by them. So when you binge on whatever causes you to suffer the following day remember you are just having a hangover!

Check out Marie’s word hangover at the link below,

http://marieohalloran.blogspot.ie/2013/05/do-you-ever-suffer-word-hangovers.html