Laois crime fiction readers flock to talk from leading writers

COMPELLING bestselling crime writers Catherine Ryan Howard from Cork and Catherine Kirwan from Waterford were in conversation with Laois’s own bestselling author of the Inishowen Mysteries series and There Came A-Tapping, Andrea Carter in Portlaoise Library recently as part of the Leaves Festival.

The event was a huge success, attracting over 70 avid crime fiction readers who were delighted with the opportunity to meet the three authors, ask them questions, get writing tips from the esteemed novelists, and to get books signed, which were available from The Bookmark at the event.

The evening of 6 November began with county librarian Bernie Foran introducing the three authors to the audience. During her introduction, Ms Foran thanked the authors and the audience for attending and she welcomed everyone to Portlaoise Library for the Leaves Festival event.

Ms Foran went on to tell the large number of book enthusiasts about the three writers’ backgrounds, about the books that they have written to date and told the gathering that all three authors have their next books either completed or well in progress before handing the mic to Andrea Carter to chat with her fellow authors and friends.

Beginning, Andrea jokingly said while looking at the three bottles of Ballygowan water on the table for the writers: “My sixth book in the Inishowen Mysteries titled Death Writes is based on a writer being interviewed in front of an audience - at a writing festival - something similar to this - and he drops dead on the stage having been murdered by poison! so don’t be surprised what could happen here tonight.” This got a great laugh from the audience and helped to settle everyone into the moment.

Andrea said that the crime writers in Ireland are like a big family and that they all know each other fairly well. She said that because both authors are named Catherine that she would refer to Catherine Ryan Howard as CRH and Catherine Kirwan as CK1 for the purposes of the interview. It didn’t go unnoticed that CK1 is also a perfume! Again, everyone had a laugh.

During the interview, Andrea asked both novelists several questions regarding their writing styles, what inspires their writing and how they create their characters while giving them both time to answer for the crowd who were deeply engrossed in the interview from the beginning until the end.

It also came to light that Catherine Kirwan has four books published and is on her fifth and Catherine Ryan Howard has eight books published and is on her ninth. Andrea has seven books published and is currently completing her eighth.

Catherine Kirwan is a lawyer, and her latest book is titled The Seventh Body. Catherine Ryan Howard is a full-time writer, and her latest book is titled Burn After Reading - both of their latest books are inspired by real-life events.

Andrea said that she shies away from violence in her books and asked the authors if there is something that they won’t write about. In response, Catherine Kirwan said that she wouldn’t write about a child being hurt in any way. Catherine Ryan Howard agreed and said that she wouldn’t write about children being hurt either.

When Andrea asked both writers if they have a favourite method of killing their characters (which again got a good laugh from the audience) Catherine Kirwan said - a claw-hammer to the back of the head, while Catherine Ryan Howard said - blunt force trauma.

Methods of murdering characters became a hot topic for a while before the questions were opened up to the audience.

It appeared that there were some emerging writers in the audience as questions about getting published, editors and agents were asked and answered.

Several people took advantage of the opportunity of buying books and having them signed by the three super-talented authors and chatted with them after the event.