Irish Book Week: Galway Author Catherine Doyle On the Reads That Shaped Her
Galway native and author Catherine Doyle has been writing books for children and young adults for 15 years. Inspired by Irish mythology and culture, her stories have seen young people around the world fall in love with the magic, wonder and thrill of fantasy and romance.
Catherine's own life has become something of an adventure, or a “wild ride,” as she calls it. She's seen her work become international bestsellers around the world, translated into over thirty languages and even landing on the New York Times' bestseller list.
This month, Catherine is an ambassador for Irish Book Week, celebrating Irish authors, illustrators, independent bookshops and readers across the country. We caught up with Catherine to chat about the week ahead, and the books that have shaped her life so far.
Hi Catherine! How did your journey as an author begin?
I always had a grá for writing, but it didn't feel like a legitimate career path at any point growing up. It was just this nebulous star that didn't feel achievable. I did an undergrad in psychology in NUIG, and I was starting a masters in health psychology when I had this stark realisation that my life was veering into a direction that I had no passion for.
So I pivoted, did a bunch of creative writing courses, and went back to NUIG to do a masters in publishing. When it came time to write my thesis, which was on marketing young adult books, I started writing my first novel.
What is it about children's fiction and YA that you're drawn to?
I think children's books are brimming with hope. It's a place I go to wake up that side of wonder and whimsy in me that I never want to stray too far from. It's where I find courage, hope and a pure outlook on the world. Also, I think children's books at their best are very funny, and humour is so important to me. It's threaded through every single thing I write.
With YA, it's similar, but you also get to delve into darker themes. It can be an allegory for what's going on in the world at the moment, but also escapist and fun and a little bit romantic.
Are you writing anything at the moment?
I'm currently launching my first ever picture book, with the incredible Irish illustrator Paddy Doyle! I actually stalked him online for years and then went to my publisher and said, "Can we please ask Paddy to do a picture book with me?"
It's called The Starmaker, and it's a story celebrating the importance of friendship. We're launching it during Irish Book Week. We'll be doing an event in Halfway Up the Stairs in Wicklow on Wednesday 21st, and then on Thursday we'll launch it in Charlie Byrne's.
I'm also working on something else...but I can't tell you about it just yet!
Talk to us about Irish Book Week.
In Ireland, we are so blessed to have some of the best creative voices in the world. For such a small country, we're doing a lot on the global stage. So it's important to put a week by where we really celebrate those stories, and the bookshops that need our support.
There'll be lots of wonderful events, opportunities to hear from authors, and ways to support our marvellous, beloved independent bookshops. It's a celebration of our culture of storytelling, and a really nice thing to be a part of.
What's a book that enchanted you as a child?
The first time I remember that feeling of my heart skittering in my chest was The Chronicles of Narnia. I couldn't get over the sense of wonder and magic. I used to sleep with them under my pillow and I would wake up early at dawn's light just to read more. It was a precious feeling.
I also remember being in a Galway library and the gold hardback cover of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer catching my eye. It was my first experience of an Irish protagonist who was spunky and exciting and funny and magical and aspirational, and it opened my eyes to this idea that we can be anything.
What about your teen years – what excited you then?
I remember loving Darren Shan books – he was my first foray into supernatural fiction. And then in my late teens, Twilight. What could I do but be sucked into it? That book made me swoon, that swoon feeling of first love, something that I now try to instil in all of the YA books I write. We have Stephenie Meyer to thank for that! It was quite formative.
Is there a book that defines the period of your life when you were studying for your undergrad?
I don't think I was reading anything at all! I was reading dense psychological texts on the science of human behaviour, which is very interesting, but my reading for pleasure took a back seat for those few years.
I think that's probably why I realised, as I came to the end of that course, that it wasn't for me. I didn't feel like my usual fun, sparky self.
How did you rekindle your love of reading?
It was the masters in publishing that steeped me in books again. I was discovering writers I wouldn't have naturally gravitated towards, and it was like coming up for air.
I read a lot of Patrick Ness. And I remember reading a book called Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. It's this huge exposition of good versus evil and appearances versus reality. I felt like it was feeding my soul.
Quite soon after I discovered Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, and I loved it so much. It's about this strong female character that you could follow anywhere, she holds down the entire series. At that time I met two people who are now my closest friends at an agency party. One of them, we were waxing lyrical to each other about Throne of Glass. And then she said, “Come meet my brother. He's from California.” And I married him!
Later, when I published my book Twin Crowns with Katherine Webber, Sarah J. Maas gave us the quote for the cover. That was an incredible, full circle moment.
What are you reading nowadays?
I just read My Friends by Fredrik Backman, and I cried every nine pages! It's this beautiful multi-narrative, multi-decade story about four friends who come from nothing. It is just like the most incredible book I've read in so long.
I'm currently reading the second book in Rachel Gillig's The Knight and the Moth series. It's kind of like gothic, religious fantasy. A hard pitch – but it works!
I'm also loving Sister Wake by Dave Rudden. He's probably one of the most talented Irish authors of the modern day. This is his adult debut, set in a fantastical world inspired by Ireland, and it's about fighting off the chains of colonialism, but he does it so elegantly. It's a great story.
Is there a book you'd recommend to everyone?
It's not one I'd recommend to children, but A Bigger Life by Louise O'Neill. It's her new memoir, and I would recommend it to every single one of my friends. It's about dating radically, finding out what you want as a woman in your thirties, and it is extraordinary. I'm pushing it on all the women in my life.
Also, I love poetry. At times in life that I've found myself at a crossroads, it'll always be a poem that helps to direct me. Anything by Mary Oliver, or Seamus Heaney. He speaks to the soul of Irish people, you can't go wrong.
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