Interview With Author Fiona Graham
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Chancer is my first novel, and I’m thrilled to say it’s already won an award – the Bronze Medal for Comedy Fiction at the Readers’ International Book Awards 2023. My writing background is in screenwriting, but I have always wanted to write a novel, and when I finally tackled the challenge, I loved writing the book! Before The Chancer, I wrote and produced the award-winning feature film ‘Songs for Amy’, starring Sean Maguire and set in Ireland and New York. ‘Songs for Amy’ was released in cinemas in 2014 and won the Jury Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking’ .
I live in county Galway, in the west of Ireland, with my husband and daughter and two dogs, Skye and Guinness. Originally from Glasgow, I moved to a place where it rains just as much as my hometown. I have now lived in Ireland for most of my adult life and draw inspiration from the people, culture and wild landscapes of the West, and I am lucky to have grown up with the humour of the Scots and the Irish.
When not writing, I enjoy live music, travelling (but not airports), the great outdoors, family life, the sea, socialising, most Gins, chatting (especially combined with Gin), observing peoples’ quirks, reading books and writing to-do lists and then losing them. I don’t enjoy clowns, the dark, cellophane or mental arithmetic, or dangling my toes in the water near sharks.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novel is called The Chancer and I have to confess that my husband thought of the title. Maybe he named it after himself? The book was inspired by the idea of following an unrealistic dream set against the backdrop of the film business. I was able to draw on my experiences in the film business and contrast that with the rural life of the west of Ireland. I set the book in 1989 because if a farmer’s son in the west of Ireland declared he wanted to be a Hollywood star, everyone would laugh, but if the story had been set in today’s world, most would probably encourage an ambitious dream. Also, it was lovely to take a nostalgic trip back to the late 80s.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When making the film, we were constantly having to rewrite for different reasons (schedules, locations etc) and so I got used to having to re-write scenes sitting in the boot of my car. However, I tend to be more of a binge writer when it comes to books – spending hours and hours on end and having to set alarms in case I forget to collect my daughter from school, then I’ll step away for days and go back in for the next binge with a fresh perspective.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read a huge variety of authors but I’m a fan of Nick Hornby’s early books, David Nicholls, Roddy Doyle and Helen Fielding. I also really enjoy Noah Hawley, Emma Heatherington, Richard Osman and Gail Honeyman. Oh dear.. too many to mention I think.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the screenplay for my novel The Chancer, and then on to a sequel – I have a number of ideas but there seems to be demand for a sequel, so that will be up next.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is my first time using Awesome Gang and having read the testimonials, I’ve got high expectations! I use a mailing list and find Goodreads and Bookbub to be useful.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing! I find it easier to write an outline first and then outline my characters before starting chapter one. The outline prevents writing into a brick wall.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never, ever, ever, give up.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading The Fenian by Mike Kernan and loving it. Funny and beautifully written.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Working on getting The Chancer into production as a film and then onto the sequel.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Probably ‘Getting Off A Desert Island For Dummies’ !
Or Adventures in the Screentrade by William Goldman (funny and insightful), Windswept and Interesting by Billy Connolly, Confessions of Forty Something F&&K Up by Alexander Potter and ‘Why Mummy Drinks’ by Gill Sims… all these books would hopefully keep me laughing until I managed to build a raft and find a football called Wilson.
Author Websites and Profiles
Fiona Graham’s Social Media Links