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Hi,
Just wanted to introduce myself. I was born in Waterford, raised in Wexford and have lived most of my life in Dublin, except for two stints in England -- two years in London 1993- 1995; and another two in Cheshire, near Manchester, 1997-1999.

I write big novels that interweave past and present, real life and fiction, locations in Ireland and abroad and characters “that could never be described as ordinary” (IRISH TIMES). My books takes women's lives seriously, treating themes like the struggle between the female desire for freedom and belonging, within plots that are full of emotional twists and surprises.

The bestselling Lovers' Hollow (“A Haunting Tale… a gripping story…brilliant.”: EVENING HERALD) rotates around a mysterious murder during the Irish Civil War and its consequences across four generations of women and the men they loved.

Mylatest novel, A Dance in Time, (“Wild, gamey…Maeve Binchy meets John McGahern”: IRISH INDEPENDENT) breaths life into famous literary characters, including WB Yeats, Maud Gonne and her daughter Iseult, Ezra Pound and Frances Stuart. It ranges from New Mexico and California to London, and first world war France to deepest Wicklow, where the protagonist stands accused of murdering the father she always detested. Rather than fight for her freedom, she disappears into her strange connection with Iseult Gonne, drawing patterns and echoes between their two lives, all of which leads to unimagined consequences for herself and the two people she most loves.

I have been married for twenty-two years and have two children, aged 21 and 19. I had a million day jobs in the past, including teacher, university lecturer, aerobics instructor and freelance journalist. Until recently I worked at Font Literary Agency (which I founded) but when I was diagnosed with breast cancer last May, I decided that from now on, I would write full time.

I am working on a series of three linked books at the moment, while also beginning to blog, which I love.

That's me...!

Look forward to meeting you.
Great to meet you Orna, maybe we can do an interview with you in the future. I love the sound of your books and will be looking for them when in Dublin in a few weeks time. It's not easy getting Irish writers in book shops here in Holland and I prefer to buy them in a shop than buy on the net.

hope we can chat in the future
Thanks Claire. Do you write yourself or are you a reader?
I love your blog, Orna! Welcome to the site!
Dear Orna,

I have met you at a couple of readers' days (one in town and one in Deans Grange) and I want to congratulate you on your decision to write full time, and wish you every success in your journey with breast cancer. Let's hope you leave if far behind you very soon.

It will be good to have you about on the site, now that you have more time. How are you finding writing full time?

Megan
(10-31-2008 07:34 AM)Shirley Wrote: [ -> ]I love your blog, Orna! Welcome to the site!

Many thanks Shirley.
(10-31-2008 07:44 AM)Megan Wrote: [ -> ]Dear Orna,

I have met you at a couple of readers' days (one in town and one in Deans Grange) and I want to congratulate you on your decision to write full time, and wish you every success in your journey with breast cancer. Let's hope you leave if far behind you very soon.

It will be good to have you about on the site, now that you have more time. How are you finding writing full time?

Megan

Hi Megan, of course I remember you. Thanks for the good wishes. So far, because of a lack of energy, I haven't really found that I've that much more time to write but once I've finished with the chemo that should change. I miss the interaction with other writers that Font used to give but this feels like the right thing at the right time.

How's your own writing going?

really nice to "talk" to you again.
Hi Orna and welcome to the site...I also would like to wish you every sucess in this chapter of your life!

x
I'm a reader Orna, no way is there a writer in me!
Hi Orna,

My own writing is going very well thanks. I've learnt a lot over the last few years. My latest novel is with an agent in London (I signed with them in 2007) and they are very pleased with it so fingers crossed it sells.
Now I am writing my first novel for children and it's great fun! I love children's books and it's a dream to be writing my own one.

Are you working on another adult novel? I know chemo must be very hard and hope your writing is great safe 'haven' in which to find refuge.

Megan
(10-31-2008 09:56 AM)Jacqui Wrote: [ -> ]Hi Orna and welcome to the site...I also would like to wish you every sucess in this chapter of your life!
Thanks so much Jacqui
x
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