1. Please tell us about your book.
My book WISH is the first book in a new middle-grade fantasy series about a young girl called Cara who embarks on a quest into the Otherworld to find her father. The old folklore stories her family told Cara warned of a great darkness threatening the earthly realm, and she can’t help wondering if she herself is dark. Because after a silly argument, Cara wished her father gone—and then he went on a mountain hike and vanished. Her world further tumbles when she begins to question whether her family is keeping secrets. Then after a close encounter with a living, breathing fairy she realizes the old stories are all true. Her father was searching for the door to the Otherworld to find an ancient treasure and stop a great evil from entering their realm. Now, it’s a race against time to find the door and break the curse, while she battles the darkness that threatens her inner and outer world. On one level the book is an entertaining adventure. On a deeper level, it helps children process big feelings, and learn coping skills to regulate and calm their system when they feel overwhelmed. Children can gain tools through this book that can help them in times of stress and challenge.
2. What is your creative process like?
I have a deep affinity with Ireland and I am lucky enough to live near the sea in South Dublin. So I research a lot of folklore stories or local environmental stories and spend time walking the dog and thinking it over before I sit down and write anything. As my story develops I find myself daydreaming about it and scenes will often come to me in images. So, I always make a note of them. I am a planner. So I outline before starting to write and then see where it takes me. I don’t have a strict schedule, but I do tend to work on the book a few hours most days in one form or another. One thing I learned from writing this first book is that real writing begins during revisions! Getting feedback from professionals along the way is invaluable and helps develop and polish the manuscript.
3. What inspires your work?
I am really inspired by myth, folklore, and legend, and by nature. This series was inspired by the landscape in West Cork, Ireland where I have a holiday home. It is rich in local folklore. As a psychotherapist, I have had the benefit of learning from many clients over the years. Drawing on my client work helps me a lot when developing characters and their motivations. The influence of the work of Carl Jung in terms of symbols can be seen in this book too. There are common symbols that have meaning and communicate something to us on a deeper level.
4. What’s on your reading list currently?
I am currently reading The Last Windwitch by Jennifer Adam. This is a beautifully written magical story. After this, I am excited to read The Girl who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill.
5. What is your message for young writers and readers?
For me, writing has been therapeutic. It has helped me express and process feelings that are difficult to verbalise. Always write for passion and pleasure. Don’t worry too much about grammar. Editors can help with that! For readers, it is important to find the right type of book for you. This can take a bit of time but do persist. There is something magical about immersing yourself in a different world. It also helps to read in your genre when you are writing.
6. Where can we find out more about your work (including social media accounts, author site, etc.)?
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