A published author of three books for adults and two for children, Roisin has also written numerous articles for journals and newspapers. She worked as an advertising copywriter for a number of years, and brings a vast amount of experience to the editing team.
Warm, funny, varied, Irish, real.
2. What was your inspiration for Semi-Sweet? How about the personality of each of the characters and the characters themselves?
My inspiration was my love of baking. Hannah Robinson is probably mostly me; Adam is the male friend I'd like to have; Nora is based on someone I know (and wish I didn't); Geraldine and Stephen are amalgams of lots of my friends' parents; Vivienne, God help her, is all made up!
3. Where does all the magic happen? For example, do you have any special spots that you can just plop down and write?
Well, I write at the kitchen table, which is pretty ordinary, but my house is in a lovely quiet cul de sac where the loudest noise comes from the birds on my neighbour's trees...it's the ideal setting for a writer.
4. When did you first began writing?
In 2001, in San Francisco. I moved over there for a year to write my first book.
5. What is your favorite cupcake flavor?
Coffee and walnut....although strangely I'm not a big coffee drinker, prefer tea.
6. Do you travel with your writing, for ideas?
I travel when I can, usually to writers' retreats as I find I usually write loads there. I've been to retreats in France, Spain and Newfoundland - although my favourite retreat is right here in Ireland, the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in County Monaghan. Whenever I'm stuck for an idea I sneak up there for a week. Works every time.
7. If there was no possible way to write, what would be your next career pick?
A baker. Failing that, a florist. Failing that, I'd like to paint murals in children's rooms and children's hospital wards.
8. What is the one question you are sick of answering in all of your interviews?
Where do your ideas come from? I have no idea but thank God they're still coming!
-I don't know-I guess whatever comes to my mind that the blog readers might like....
9. What do you feel like doing when you have writer's block?
Going to Monaghan - see number 6 above - or if I can't do that, a little shopping usually helps to unblock me!
10. What was the best compliment and toughest criticism given to your work?
I suppose the compliment would be getting to the number one spot in the Irish bestseller list with The Last Week of May. As to the toughest criticism, I'm lucky in that I've never got a bad review but some might be a little lackluster and say nothing much. That's about as bad as it's got, touch wood.
11. Do you have any advice to aspiring writers?
I think all I can advise is just find the time and sit down and do it. If it's in you, you need to let it out. If you can write, it'll come out the way it's supposed to.
12. Finally...The question everybody hates......What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
Gosh, so many I can't settle on one....I'm always putting my foot in it! Talk first, think later, that's me!
Thank you so much for doing an interview with Bookish Delights! We hope you visit again for more of your books!
Check out Roisin's Sites:
Roisin's Book: Semi-Sweet
Hannah Robinson is just about to open the doors to her new shop Cupcakes on the Corner when out of the blue her boyfriend Patrick announces that he's leaving her for another woman. Faced with starting a business on her own, Hannah begins to wonder if her life-long dream has just turned into a nightmare. So her best friend Adam sets his birthday as a deadline - seven months to make her shop a success, or walk away from it all. And as Hannah immerses herself in her new business, she soon discovers that she's too busy to think about Patrick and his now pregnant girlfriend ...or to notice an increasingly regular customer who has recently developed a sweet tooth for all things cupcake. But while Hannah is slowly piecing her life back together, family friend Alice's is falling apart. Her husband Tom's drinking is getting out of control and things are about to get a whole lot worse. As the seven-month milestone approaches, Hannah must decide her future. And while she's figuring out what's reallyimportant, it becomes clear to everyone that happiness in life, and in love, is all in the making. (Via Goodreads)
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