I did two lovely radio interviews yesterday which brought everything that’s happened since publication of The Girl Who Came Home (was it really only seven weeks ago?), to a lovely, chatty, conclusion.
The first was with the brilliant Barbara Scully on her weekly show The Hen House on Dublin South FM. I first met Barbara in 2009 when we both attended an Inkwell Writing workshop one Saturday morning in February. Barbara is now a regular panelist on TV3’s Midday Show, has her own radio show and writes a fantastic blog called From My Kitchen Table. It was so lovely to chat to Barbara for an hour about growing up in Yorkshire, and my post-school years and early career, and then to talk about writing THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME and the journey from being a rejected to a self-published to a traditionally published author! You can listen to the podcast here.
My second interview came much later in the day (for me, at least!) when I spoke to Book Club Girl on Air in New York. We got right into the story behind The Girl Who Came Home, my fascination with Titanic, why I chose to write this particular account of the Titanic disaster and how I research my novels. I also gave a little insight into my second novel, Daughters of the Flowers. Although it was 10.30pm by the time we finished recording, I could happily have chatted for much longer. The podcast of the conversation is available here.
Crossing from Ireland to America in my interviews yesterday (which also happened to be the last I have currently scheduled to promote The Girl Who Came Home) seemed somehow fitting in terms of both my journey as an author and my character, Maggie’s journey in the novel.
I hope you enjoy listening to these shows and finding out more about me and my writing.
Rachel, if I may presume to address you,what a wonderful successful future you have as an author…the front graphics of your book caught my eye and all things Titanic interest me..however had I realized that you were English and living in the isles I probably would have passed..but thank goodness I didn’t notice as being too taken up with the subject matter…being an American old lady and so use to our systems I do not enjoy the usual minute detail that Europeans tend to write with..however you are indeed the exception to the rule…you have a perfect balance of detail and interaction with your characters..not too much repetition of explaining situations or wasted words…I always knew seamus was there and didn’t need to be reminded of him and you didn’t anymore than necessary..the mix of novel and history were just seamless..you made me hurt and tear up with the drama, but that is the way life is and that is most likely the way it did happen..on our driving journey to goose bay labrador from Indiana,usa we swung by nova scotia to visit the cemetery of the few lost titanic souls resting there and indeed it is still heart wrentching to stand at their graves…i love all things English and have been thru more of England and the isles than what I probably should admit to..i never tire of tradition, something we americans only talk about..and now I have a super great English/irish author to follow..many of the other authors can and should listen and learn from you…I bet “the girl who came home” put a smile on the “great bards” spiritual face…!!!!
LOVED the book. I laughed, I cried. Excellent.
I greatly enjoyed your first book. I look forward to following your future works. I am an avid reader and love that I have found a new author that will captivate my mind will the vivid mental images and sounds of different places and times. Thank you for a wonderful experience.