This month we got to chat to Ireland’s current Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde.
TPP: What inspired you to tell the story from the perspective of an alien?
PF: Strangely, I never thought of Aria as an alien. In most ways, she is just like us, though she lives in a more evolved society. I wanted to tell the story of a girl who finds out that everything she’s been told about humans is a lie.
TPP: Would you like to live on Planet Terros?
PF: I’d like to visit it! I would be fascinated to see the advances science has made in a thousand years. I don’t think I could live there though, given that they see no reason to write more books!
TPP: How did you get into the mindset of someone from another planet?
PF: It wasn’t difficult to see things from Aria’s perspective. I think we’ve all felt like ‘aliens’ at one time, or many times, in our lives. She feels awkward with her peers, she is homesick, and she can’t understand the evil that she comes up against.
TPP: How long have you been writing?
PF: I’ve been writing since I was 10 years old. I entered a writing competition in a local newspaper and discovered that I liked making things up!
TPP: Why did you want to become a writer?
PF: I loved reading – I still do. Ireland’s first Laureate na nÓg, Siobhán Parkinson, often says writing is advanced reading, and I agree with her. When I was teaching I read a lot of children’s books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I started to daydream about writing one. Once I started, I knew I didn’t want to do anything else.
TPP: Can you remember the first book you ever read and loved?
PF: It was probably an Enid Blyton. I remember reading a Famous Five story and loving it. They were stranded on an island. It was the idea of children living independently that caught my attention – building huts to live in and growing their own food. Interestingly, there was a similar theme in Pippi Longstocking which I also loved! I think all children yearn to be grown up so those books that show that children can live independently are very attractive.
TPP: Who are your favourite authors?
PF: Too many to list! I love Philip Pullman, Katherine Rundell, David Almond and Frank Cottrell Boyce and I’ve been reading their books for ages. In Ireland, I’ve always loved Eoin Colfer’s books. Recently, I’ve become a big fan of Clara Kumagai. I’m a big fan of both Niamh Sharkey and Mary Murphy when it comes to picture books. Is brea liom Myra Zepf agus Saidhbh Devlin agus leabhair Áine Ní Ghlinn. For fantasy, I read Sinéad Ó hArt and Eve Mc Donnell and I adore Sam Thompson’s books. I read a lot of historical fiction, Hilary Mantel is a big favourite and in children’s books Nicola Pierce and Sarah Webb. I could continue to list people here. We are so lucky to have so many brilliant authors in Ireland.
TPP: What would you be if you weren’t an author?
PF: I have been a teacher and a festival director, and I enjoyed both jobs, but I think if I were starting over and I couldn’t be a writer I would love to have presented television programmes. I really enjoy interviewing people and hearing about their lives. As a writer, I sometimes get asked to interview other authors and I find it fascinating. Last year I interviewed the amazing David Almond. I could have talked to him all day. There’s a lovely point in an interview, if it’s going well, where you forget about the audience and feel like you are just chatting to the interviewee.
TPP: What is your favourite book of all time?
PF: Do I have one? Some books stay with you for longer and maybe that’s a sign that it is a favourite book. I will never forget reading The Secret Garden for the first time and The Hobbit. I think it was my love of The Hobbit that made me want to write. It is certainly why I write fantasy! I think the whole concept of a favourite book is difficult if you are a voracious reader, as I am. Every book leaves a mark on you, though obviously some more than others. In my mind, my favourite books will be the next one…I’m always looking for a brilliant read!
TPP: Aside from reading and writing, do you have any hobbies?
PF: I like to swim. I love to cook and bake, if I get time. I love the theatre and go to see as many plays as I can. I also love music and have been to some great concerts.
TPP: What is your favourite part about being an author?
PF: I love writing. I love making stuff up. It’s still a thrill to create something. Ever so often, there’s a moment where you are totally in the zone. The real world falls away and you lose track of time. You’re living with your characters in their world and it is bliss! Or you wake up in the morning and you realise you know the answer to a plot point that was bothering you all week. That’s also a great feeling. I love meeting the children that I write for and chatting with them. They never fail to inspire me.
TPP: What is your number one tip for aspiring writers?
PF: Persevere! Writing is not easy and getting published is even more difficult. But writers get published every other day. It isn’t impossible. And enjoy writing. Put your heart and soul on the page, then let it go – you can’t control what happens next.
