What is your writing process like?
Poetry - ideas and lines come out of the blue and if I fail to quickly jot down those words, they can disappear just as fast as they appeared. With prose, there is a much longer incubation period. I see it as "thought fermentation." I can carry ideas and characters around in my head for long periods without their feet ever touching down. Those thoughts continue to meander around in my mind - dropping by every now and again to let me know they haven't gone away. Once the ideas grow stronger, they insist on spilling out, so I sit down and write furiously for days and weeks at a time. My latest book refused to sit on the sidelines though, and once I started to write, I found it difficult to stop. Even when it was finished, part of me felt like continuing.
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
It literally means nothing to me. I have never experienced the frustration of sitting down and staring at a blank page or computer screen. I dearly hope this will always be the case. At the moment I am planning a thriller series. A few years ago I had no idea if I would ever write a series, but now it is nipping at my heels to see the light of day!
How long have you been writing, or when did you start?
I began writing when I was around ten years old and attending Primary school in Ireland. The teacher would give us a subject about which to write and I could automatically start writing without barely having to stop until it was finished. At first, I felt proud when the teacher singled out my writing, but that was short-lived. As soon as we had a break or class was finished and we left to walk home, other boys who were jealous of the attention I received would start physically fighting with me. It did not deter me though. It taught me two things; firstly, how to fight, and secondly, that I would not give up writing just because there were those who did not like what I was doing.
What advice would you give writers working on their first book?
Free up your mind and focus on transferring your thoughts and ideas to paper or screen. Full stop. From reading writers' own comments, I know that too many are worried about what readers will think, or if they are making mistakes - even thinking about how many book sales they can achieve. None of that matters when you start writing. You must be your own champion. Believe in yourself. There will be plenty of time when it is written for editing and marketing. You will never satisfy all of the readers all of the time.
How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?
I am currently halfway finished with my fourth book. My favorite is still my first book; "The Big Yank - Memoir of a Boy Growing Up Irish". It is also a reader's favorite, judging by comments not only in Amazon reviews but also made to me in emails, at book signings, etc. I grew up in rural Ireland under quite harsh conditions and I was amazed at the cross-section of readers in the U.S. who felt a kinship with my life in Ireland.
What was your hardest scene to write, and why?
In my latest book, I describe the death of my estranged parent. Even though it took place more than thirty years ago, it resurfaced as if it was thirty days ago. The wounds which I had believed to have been fully healed showed me the exact opposite. I am anxious to hear readers' interpretations and feelings on that particular chapter. It was extremely difficult to re-live and I wonder how it will come across to the reader.