Justine McGrath

I believe an obsessive love of reading often leads to a desire to write. I spent hours alone as a child, reading everything from Enid Blyton to Roald Dahl. When I left Zambia to go to boarding school at the tender age of 9, I discovered I could bring joy to my school friends by telling them stories. Oh how I wish it came as easily to me now, as it did then!

I quashed my desire to write for too long. Who was I to think I could write a book? That mistaken belief still saddens me, because I wish I had started writing at 20 instead of 35.

Eventually, as every writer will tell you, you don’t have a choice. You must write.

I started with my father’s life story. I was lucky. He had led an incredible life, both as a highly regarded rugby player for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions, during the 1940s and 50s, and as a surgeon who spent 35 years in Zambia. I decided to write the book after talking to my Dad about his life, and the aptly named: ‘Conversations with my Father: Jack Kyle” was born. It was a joy from beginning to end. I learnt so much from the editing process. Now I am writing my first fictional novel and I feel I have gone back to the start. The best advice I ever received was to read Ira Glass’ “Nobody tells this to beginners.”

http://thebookclubcafe.com/

 

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