Ask the Author: Maria McDonald
Answered Questions (3)
Maria McDonald
Just finished 'When all is said' by Anne Griffin. Am amazing read
Maria McDonald
Hi Lissa, I have to admit I am enjoying writing pure fiction. When writing Charlie Mac I was conscious that it was semi-biographical and that the background historical events of the time were imperative to the story. Charlie Mac was written primarily for my family so that they could appreciate everything their great-grandparents went through during the partition of Ireland. Because of that, it was very factual at times and there was little opportunity for 'poetic license' so to speak.
With my latest endeavour, the characters are completely fictional and I am enjoying getting into their hearts and minds and bringing them to life. The working title is 'Riverdale House' and it is set in Belfast during the same time period as Charlie Mac but it is a completely different book. Writing pure fiction gives so much more scope to explore, to breathe life, and death, into your characters. My once fictitious character from Charlie Mac has now become real to me and I want to do her justice.
With my latest endeavour, the characters are completely fictional and I am enjoying getting into their hearts and minds and bringing them to life. The working title is 'Riverdale House' and it is set in Belfast during the same time period as Charlie Mac but it is a completely different book. Writing pure fiction gives so much more scope to explore, to breathe life, and death, into your characters. My once fictitious character from Charlie Mac has now become real to me and I want to do her justice.
Maria McDonald
'Charlie Mac' is loosely based on the life of my great-grandfather Charlie McMullen. Some years ago, my aunt Sue talked to me about researching the family tree. That took a few years and unearthed some previously unknown facts. I have always been interested in history and two years ago I took an online course with Trinity College about the ordinary people who lived through the turbulent years of Home Rule and the partition of Ireland, The War of Independence and the Civil War. I was fascinated with this period of history and how it affected families in every part of Ireland.
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