Goodreads asked Shane Harrison:

How do you get inspired to write?

Shane Harrison The short answer is: life. Whenever I step outside the door, all the images that crowd me suggest a story of some sort. Over the last couple of years I've been writing a lot of non-fiction. The places I visit, from my home town of Bray to further afield in Dublin, in Ireland or overseas, have so many facets of interest that I am compelled to write about them. Sometimes this is simply an account of me moving around in the environment, and of course this leads to me tunnelling into the history of a particular place or artefact. These might often resonate with previous experiences, with my personal dreams and memories and all the varied histories that have been important to me. And stories are always happening. A chance meeting, an observed event, an overheard conversation; each or all of these can combine to create a story in my head. It is not lack of inspiration that bedevils me, but too much at times. I jot down written notes and visual sketches. Some of these come to fruition as stories, non-fiction accounts or paintings. Sometimes all three. I look forward to post-covid days when I can explore again. In the meantime, there's plenty of interest in my hometown, looking out my back door, or within my memories and imagination. The recent launch of my third collection, Kings on the Roof, has sent some of these stories out into the world where hopefully they will lodge in some readers minds. There will be more to follow.

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