What crime novel would you most like to have written?
Val McDermid’s A PLACE OF EXECUTION.
What fictional character would you most like to have been?
Ariadne Oliver.
Who do you read for guilty pleasures?
I don’t believe in guilty pleasures! Any reading is better than no reading. Yes, even books with many types of colours in their titles. But give me a decent psychological thriller with well drawn characters and a killer twist and I’m in heaven.
Most satisfying writing moment?
Any time a reader tells me they didn’t guess the ending of my novel, I’m over the moon. I wanted to write a ‘whodunnit’ and I’m delighted if people tell me they were surprised at the end.
If you could recommend one Irish crime novel, what would it be?
Tana French’s IN THE WOODS.
What Irish crime novel would make a great movie?
It’s not technically a crime novel, but FROM OUT OF THE CITY by John Kelly would make a terrific high concept thriller.
Worst / best thing about being a writer?
The best thing is having a reader tell you they enjoyed the book. I find it amazing to think that this document which I slaved over for years is now out in the world and people are enjoying it. The worst thing was having to let the book go to the printers. I could have toyed with it for another five years and I still wouldn’t have been happy with it. They had to wrestle the proof from me in the end.
The pitch for your next book is …?
The second in the Sgt Claire Boyle series.
Who are you reading right now?
Louise Millar.
God appears and says you can only write OR read. Which would it be?
Read.
The three best words to describe your own writing are …?
Slowly getting there.
Sinead Crowley’s CAN ANYBODY HELP ME? is published by Quercus.
