Sample Q&A
On the novel and its themes
The town of Rathfin in On The Way Out feels almost like a character itself — was that intentional?
What drew you to write about small-town life and community dynamics?
How important is the sense of place in your storytelling?
Do you see Rathfin as representative of real Irish towns you’ve known, or is it more symbolic?
The novel explores loyalty, change, and second chances — are these themes that resonate personally for you?
Writing later in life
You went back to college in your mid to late 50s — what prompted that decision?
How did that experience influence your writing or confidence as a novelist?
Why a debut novel now, after many years in various forms of writing?
Do you think age brings a different kind of insight or patience to fiction writing?
Have your life experiences shaped your characters or the way you tell stories?
On ageing and perspective
How has growing older influenced the way you write or the themes you explore?
Do you feel Irish society talks enough about ageing, change, and reinvention?
In your novel, some characters struggle with letting go of the past — is that something you relate to personally?
On Career and Transition
You spent many years in journalism — what made you step away from mainstream media?
Do you ever miss journalism, or does fiction now fulfil that storytelling instinct?
What lessons from journalism have you carried into fiction writing?
From Short Stories to the Novel
Your first published work was Second Chance and Other Stories. How did that experience prepare you — or not — for writing a full novel?
What felt different about tackling a novel-length story after writing shorter pieces?
Did you find the discipline or rhythm of novel writing more demanding than short fiction?
Are the skills transferable, or are they really two very different kinds of storytelling?
Do you see yourself returning to short stories in the future, or has the novel captured your imagination for now?
Were any of the themes or characters in On The Way Out first explored in your short fiction?
Roots and Sense of Place
You’re from Ballinrobe — how is the town doing these days?
Does your hometown still shape your imagination or sense of story?
Mayo seems to be something of a creative hotspot lately — Sally Rooney, Colin Barrett and others. Is there something in the air?
hat is it about the west of Ireland that produces such strong voices in fiction?
On Writing, Process and Community
Tell us a bit about your writing process — are you a planner, or do you discover as you go?
What was the most challenging part of writing On The Way Out?
You’re involved in local writing groups — what’s your take on the importance of creative community?
How do those groups or exchanges feed your own work?
What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting to write later in life?
Looking ahead
Do you see yourself writing more fiction? Is another novel underway?
Has the success of On The Way Out changed how you think about your future as a writer?
