Sheila O'Flanagan - Excluisve Interview
By: Niamh, November 10
Total star-struck moment for us here in Beautycouture.ie HQ, as we get to chat to one of our fav authors of all time the amazing Sheila O’Flanagan! We can remember devouring her books in school! Here she fills us in on her nomination for the Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year in the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2011, her advice for budding writers out there and her secret crush on Rafa Nadal
Sheila are you excited to be nominated Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year in the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2011?
‘It’s wonderful to know that your work has been recognised. Am in a bit of a tizzy about what to wear to the dinner though!’
How did you get into writing?
‘I’ve always loved reading, ever since I was very small and my mum told me stories. I love making up stories myself and when I was at school, I was the kind of person who always had her essay written in time. Being a published writer is really just an extension of my love of the written word. But how I broke into publishing was to send a manuscript of a book I was working on to an Irish publisher. They liked the characters but told me that the story was a bit young for them. However they said that if I could bring the same characters to another, more grown-up story, they’d be interested in publishing it, so that’s what I did.’
What is it you love about writing?
‘I love creating characters and situations to put them in. But I also love the versatility of the English language and how many ways there are of expressing ideas and emotions. On a more mundane level – the fact that I don’t have to commute to work is a big plus!’
Beautycouture.ie are absolutely massive fans of your books! Where does the inspiration for your stories come from?
‘Thank you for saying that. It’s always lovely to know that people are fans! My inspiration comes from day-to-day living, from situations that we find ourselves in or that we hear about. One of my most successful novels, Isobel’s Wedding, was about a bridezilla whose wedding was called off with a few days to go. I was inspired to write that because a few girls I knew were getting married and had been totally taken over by the whole wedding-day thing. And I kept wondering how they’d react if it was called off. Stand By Me was another really successful book for me and that is set in recessionary Ireland where a developer disappears, leaving his wife to face the music. I think that resonated with a lot of people (although possibly because it seems like it’s only in fiction that the developer loses his house!).’
Why do you think the Irish are so successful when it comes to writing?
‘We have a long tradition of story-telling and I think modern writers are simply continuing that tradition. When Irish people tell stories they really empathise with the characters in them and that brings a unique warmth and understanding to our writing.’
There are a lot of successful Irish women authors out there, how did you manage to get yourself noticed in the beginning?
‘I just wrote the books and hoped for the best to be honest!’
Who is your favourite author?
‘I don’t have one favourite author. I think anyone who writes appreciates different qualities from different authors. Because I write a lot of books that deal with relationships, I tend not to read too many authors who write in a similar genre. I like crime and thriller books by people like Lee Child, Michael Connolly and Jeffrey Deaver. PD James writes beautiful novels which are notioinally crime fiction but are in reality much more literary than the usual thriller. I’m a big fan of Phillipa Gregory’s historical novels. Sophie Kinsell’s books make me laugh out loud, although the undisputed king of elegant, comic writing has to be the late PG Wodehouse.’
What is your everyday, staple beauty product you’d never leave home without putting on?
‘Lip salve. But having said that I wouldn’t walk outside the door without at least some tinted moisturiser and a spritz of Jo Malone either.’
Heels or flats?
‘Flats during the day, heels at night.’
Best bargain ever?
‘I bought a Louise Kennedy suede jacket about 15 years ago in the sales. It’s still going strong.’
Any secret celebrity crushes?
‘I’m more of a sports star crush person. Rafa Nadal does it for me!’
Any advice for writers budding out there?
‘It won’t get written by thinking about it. Sit down in front of the laptop, take a deep breath, and start. Also, don’t try to set yourself impossible targets. A few hundred words a day at the beginning will ease you in to it.’
What did you want to be when you grew up?
‘A writer. But I would have also loved to be an astronaut.’
Have you voted for your favourite in the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards? If not, its your last chance as voting closes on midnight 13th November.
Every person who votes will be in with a chance to win one of five €100 National Book Token vouchers. Check out their website for more
