Author Q&A - with Lisa McInerney

Nadene spoke to Lisa McInerney, award-winning author of The Glorious Heresies and The Blood Miracles and contributing editor for The Stinging Fly literary magazine, about her work, changes in the book industry, and what exactly that lovable rogue, Ryan Cusack* would’ve gotten up to during lockdown.

What have you been reading lately?

Lots of short story submissions for The Stinging Fly's special Galway issue, which I'm guest editing. It's due to be published this winter. Most of the reading I do these days is for work, sometimes in terms of reading submitted short stories, sometimes just being lucky enough to read advance copies of novels. I think the last thing I read entirely off my own bat was the graphic novel Sabrina by Nick Drnaso, at the start of lockdown. It's a two year old book; I'm very behind the times!

Are you working on anything new?

I've just turned in the second draft of my third novel to my editor, actually. It's called The Rules of Revelation and it'll be published next summer, I think.

Is The Rules of Revelation continuing on from The Blood Miracles?

Yup, The Rules of Revelation will be the last book in the set. I won't say 'trilogy', because they're all stand-alone; you don't have to read them in order (though, of course, it's probably the best way to read them). Revelation is in terms of structure and tone much closer to Heresies than Miracles. Revelation is another polyphonic story, with some of the characters new or taking centre stage for the first time, and though it's about trauma and gender, it's full of mischief and heart. Miracles is a much tighter book, a portrait of one character for whom the stakes are extremely high. Because Revelation is going to be the final book in the set, I had to find the right place to leave all of the characters. That was difficult! They've been companions for years now. I'm actually a small bit gutted to be leaving them. 

In what ways do you think things are changing for the book industry, and for authors in particular? For instance, are events like online literary festivals and digital author readings the way of the future?

I took part in this year's Cúirt festival, which was held online, and Sasha deBuyl-Pisco (the director) and her team did an amazing job. In so many ways it felt like a "real" festival, especially because of the good will from readers and the sense of occasion that created. People were taking the laptop out into the garden, pouring a glass of wine and settling in to attend readings; it was so lovely to see. It was special, but honestly, I think I'd much rather take part in "real life" literary festivals. I like meeting people! I like atmosphere! I think we'll have to wait and see what happens, though, and whether we keep any of the solutions we came up with during lockdown. It's nice to get out there and chat with people, especially as writing can otherwise be such a solitary career.

As for broader trends, well. It's so hard to tell, and we've had so many predictions in the past few years about new ways of telling stories, some of which stuck, some of which didn't! So long as people keep buying books and talking about books and getting excited about books, we'll be OK.

What’s your favourite thing about the library?

It was a hugely important resource for me, especially when I was growing up, and then when I was a young, broke parent. I spent most of my childhood in my local library, checking out the same books over and over again. It felt like a space just for me, very accepting, very calming. A second home. I know libraries offer so much more now, and have really come into their own as a community resource. But for me, it was always about the books. Just being around books, in a space dedicated to books, made me happy, as a kid and as an adult.

How does the public library support authors like yourself?

They're doing a mighty job. Everything from hosting reading groups, to staff sharing their love of books, to making room available for events and launches, is not only helpful to writers and publishers, but heartening too. I can't think of any other space where a writer is more likely to feel like what they do makes a difference. 

Use of eBooks has increased in a big way since lockdown. What’s your stance?

eBooks! I can absolutely see their uses and advantages but I'm not personally a fan. A book can be such a beautiful object to hold. I have read a few eBooks on my phone, back in the day when I was working in an office. It was really very convenient. But yeah, I definitely prefer a physical book, even though they gather dust and take up loads of space. The other thing is that I spend all day on screens, writing, so the last thing I want to do when I'm reading is look at another screen.

Bonus fan question: How do you think Ryan Cusack* would have coped in lockdown?

Ha! With the amount of enemies that lad’s made, he’d love not having to leave the house. Anyway, he’s a dad now, so he’d be running around after a toddler and occasionally sitting down to make songs on his computer. I can’t see him baking bread or anything, though. 

*character from Heresies and Blood Miracles

***Author Photo taken by Bríd O’Donovan

The Glorious Heresies and The Blood Miracles are available to borrow from your local branch.

Click here to borrow The Glorious Heresies audiobook on Borrowbox.

We all do stupid things when we’re kids.

Ryan Cusack has grown up faster than most – being the oldest of six with a dead mum and an alcoholic dad will do that for you. And nobody says Ryan’s stupid. Not even behind his back.

It’s the people around him who are the problem. The gangland boss using his dad as a ‘cleaner’. The neighbour who says she’s trying to help but maybe wants something more than that. The prostitute searching for the man she never knew she’d miss until he disappeared without trace one night . . .

 

The only one on Ryan’s side is his girlfriend Karine. If he blows that, he’s all alone.

But the truth is, you don’t know your own strength till you need it.