Joining me today to talk about her author influences is Jennifer Gilmour. Her debut novel, Isolation Junction, is a fictional account of one woman’s escape from her abusive relationship but draws on real-life experiences.

Which authors/books did you like to read as a child?
I loved the Goosebumps books by R.L.Stine especially the ones in which you could alter the plot line and ending, I used to re read them and change the way it would flow. As I went into high school I then became a fan of JK Rowling and the Harry Potter series and still thoroughly enjoy them now. My love for fiction then came in my teens when I started with Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison and continued to love the series.
Were you good at English at school? Did you like it?
Yes English was one of my strong subjects at school, both literacy and language and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Other strong subjects were art and drama and I think that flourishes through me as a creative person and it is where I am most happy as well.
What genres do you like to read? Have they had an impact on the genre you write?
As you may tell already I like fantasy and fiction. My love for fiction came in my teens and this certainly had an impact and is where I started to write.  I have three fictional novels which are unfinished from my teens and two fantasy novels. I found fantasy more challenging but fun to play with even more with my vivid imagination.
If you were to write a different genre what would it be and why?
I would like to write fantasy but I think this would be a very committed challenge to take and I admire those who have written in this genre. I do like to lose myself in my own world and I have a very active imagination, I guess for me it’s where to start- I have actually written for years but Isolation Junction got finished because it has more of a passionate purpose for me.
Did any author’s work encourage you to pick up your pen and write and if so who, what and why?
When I decided to start writing my debut novel and I was determined to finish this one, I watched a dramatised documentary about J K Rowling and how she was determined to get her novel published.  A few months later I watched the biographical film Miss Potter about Beatrix Potter. Both of these had an influence on me and that’s because they didn’t give up, JK Rowling because of finance and other personal factors and Beatrix for carrying on despite what others thought.
Are there any authors who, as soon as they publish a new book, you have to get it?
JK Rowling because I have followed her Harry Potter series as I have mentioned before. I’m also eager to get any books by Sháá Wasmund MBE who is an inspiration with her knowledge and motivation, this shows through in her self- help books for small businesses and entrepreneurs as well as her passionate online presence.
Which books have you read that have made you think ’Wow, I wish I had written that’ and what was it about the book?
I really enjoyed The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and I read it and wondered how on earth she handled the time changes within it and the response from the characters along with not confusing the reader. My novel has dabbled with the time frames and I felt more confident in going down this path because I had read this particular novel a few times over.
Have any of your plots/characters been influenced by real life events/ people? (Be careful, I don’t want you getting sued!)
My debut novel is in fact based on true events of my own personal experiences and other women’s. In this case it was highly influenced with my own emotions and feelings and I believe my frustration also comes through of this hidden behaviour.
A huge thank you Jennifer for taking part.

Jennifer’s debut novel Isolation Junction is out now!

About Jennifer Gilmour

Born in the North East, Jennifer is a young, married mum with three children. She is  an entrepreneur, running a family business from home and has a large readership of other young mums in business for her blog posts.

From an early age Jennifer has had a passion for writing and has been gathering ideas and plot lines from her teenage years. A passionate advocate for women in abusive relationships, she has amalgamated and fictionalised other survivors experiences alongside her own to write her first novel detailing the journey of a young woman from the despair of an emotionally abusive and unhappy marriage to develop the confidence to challenge and change her life and to love again. She hopes that in reading her debut novel, she will raise awareness of this often hidden and unseen behaviour and empower women in abusive relationships to seek help for themselves and find the confidence to change their lives.

Connect With Jennifer

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Website – jennifergilmour.com

I am super excited today (and I must be as I never say ‘super’ anything!) to be joined by Caimh McDonnell, author of the fantastically funny Dublin Trilogy, today. Caimh has allowed me to pester him with questions about the authors and books that have influenced him and his writing. Enjoy!

Which authors/books did you like to read as a child?

The first author whose work I absolutely fell in love with was Terry Pratchett. While his early works were really an affectionate pastiche of the fantasy genre, the Discworld series developed into so much more than that. I’ve been looking forward to the moment when my nephew is old enough and I get to give him his very first Terry Pratchett book.

Were you good at English at school? Did you like it?

My handwriting has always been so phenomenally bad that as a child I was repeatedly tested for dyslexia and other forms of learning difficulties. I didn’t have anything but educators still kept putting me in the ‘pass stream’ as every time I got given an essay question to complete, nobody could read the answer. Essentially, the ‘pass stream’ in Ireland at the time meant you didn’t go to university. Thankfully, my mother is a formidable woman and she constantly battled to get me put back into the top stream. I ended up getting a degree in electronic engineering as there was no essay questions involved in it. While at university, I got to sit down in front of a PC with a word processing facility for the first time and suddenly people were able to read what I was writing.

What genres do you like to read? Have they had an impact on the genre you write?

Typically most of the novels I like to read either fall into the crime or sci-fi genres. Having said that, quite a lot of the ‘reading’ I do is actually audiobooks. I can often spend 16 or so hours in a week driving to gigs and I fill that time by devouring audiobooks. I think the influence of that can be seen very clearly in my writing. I write to be read out loud and I believe dialogue is usually the best way of conveying information. I have also read hundreds of TV and film scripts as I’m completely self-taught as a TV writer. People have said that dialogue is my biggest strength as a writer and I guess if you’ve spent as much time as I have forensically examining the work
of Aaron Sorkin, that’s no great surprise – not that I’m anywhere close to his level.

If you were to write a different genre what would it be and why?

Almost certainly sci-fi. I’ve written quite a few short stories and I think that form works brilliantly for the sci-fi genre. I like taking a weird idea and having fun with it. I do have a couple of very odd sci-fi concepts that I do intend to try and turn into novels somewhere down the line but probably not for a couple of years.

Did any author’s work encourage you to pick up your pen and write and if so who, what and why?

As I mentioned, Terry Pratchett was a massive influence on me. I also remember reading Michael Marshall Smith’s classic ‘Only Forward’ and it completely blowing my socks off. As soon as I discovered the work of Christopher Brookmyre, I rocketed through everything he had ever written and I’ve been a devout fan ever since. I think you can see the massive influence he has had on my work. Some reviewers have been kind enough to compare my debut novel to him and that has been really humbling as he is a big hero of mine.

Are there any authors who, as soon as they publish a new book, you have to get it?

Christopher Brookmyre obviously and until his tragic passing, Terry Pratchett. To be honest, I’ve not read Sir Terry’s last book yet – I think a part of me doesn’t want there to be no more Terry Pratchett books left in the world that I haven’t read. I’ve oddly met quite a few people who have done the same. It might be the most beloved unread book on the planet.

Mark Billingham is a firm favourite and I would also add Dennis Lehane to that list. I saw the film ‘The Drop’, which is based on his short story of the same name a couple of years ago. I was breaking up a long drive to a gig and I only went to it as I’d missed the film I meant to go and see, best traffic jam ever! I was so impressed I googled the author and I couldn’t believe that he’d written so many other books that Hollywood had already turned into films. The only thing that surprises me about the genius of Dennis Lehane is that more people don’t know who he is.

Which books have you read that have made you think ’Wow, I wish I had written that’ and what was it about the book?

Dennis Lehane’s ‘Gone Baby Gone’ pulls off an incredible ending that I think is one of the very best in the history of crime fiction. It is a great book all the way up until that point but, without giving any spoilers, I remember being caught wonderfully off-guard by the ending.

Also, Don Winslow’s ‘The Power of the Dog’ is a tremendous read in general but there is a scene in it describing someone being trapped in a skyscraper in an earthquake that is the most visceral piece of writing I think I’ve ever read. My last flat was on the 14th floor, if we hadn’t moved already, we would have to move now. Incredible writing.

Have any of your plots/characters been influenced by real life events/people? (Be
careful, I don’t want you getting sued!)

There is a character in my debut novel called Bunny McGarry who kind of steals the show. Several people have asked me if he is based on Brendan Gleeson, the very fine Irish actor. Oddly, while Brendan would be incredible in the role for the movie (and please somebody, make the movie!) the truth is that the only reason the character of Bunny is a big broad shouldered man as described, is because it was changed very late in the process as I was worried the person who provided the inspiration for the character was far to recognisable to people who knew him.

I will also admit that the character of Phil Nellis in my books is heavily based on my friend and fellow comedian Phil Ellis. In fact, I did it specifically to annoy him.

A huge thank you Caimh for taking part.

The first two books in The Dublin Trilogy are out now. If you haven’t read them yet, you are missing out! You can read my review of A Man With One Of Those Faces HERE and The Day That Never Comes HERE.

About Caimh McDonnell

Caimh McDonnell is an award-winning stand-up comedian, author and writer of televisual treats.

His writing credits include The Sarah Millican Television Programme, A League of Their Own, Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You. He also works as a children’s TV writer and was BAFTA nominated for the animated series ‘Pet Squad’ which he created. He was also a winner in the BBC’s Northern Laffs sitcom writing competition.

During his time on the British stand-up circuit, Caimh has firmly established himself as the white-haired Irishman whose name nobody can pronounce. He has brought the funny worldwide, doing stand-up tours of the Far East, the Middle East and Near East (Norwich).

Connect with Caimh

Website: www.whitehairedirishman.com

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