Author Donal Ryan, speaking recently at the relaunch of Midland Books in Tullamore.

Donal Ryan is a perfect example of how talent and persistence will win out in the end; the Nenagh native was rejected a total of 47 times before getting his first two books, The Thing about December and The Spinning Heart published.  The latter, A Spinning Heart, was subsequently longlisted for the Booker Prize, and earned Ryan "The Guardian First Book Award," as well as the "European Union Prize for Literature." It's also on the current Leaving Cert Curriculum.

I was lucky enough to meet Donal at the relaunch of Midland Books in Tullamore recently, where he read from his latest book, From a Low and Quiet Sea, and participated in an audience Q & A. You'll find out more here,

"The Spinning Heart" on the Leaving Cert Curriculum

Donal says he's been really impressed with the questions he's asked by students who are studying The Spinning Heart as part of their English course for the Leaving Cert. He says some of them have done really innovative things with the characters and he's seen real talent while travelling around to schools.

Writing about the migrant crisis

His latest book From a Low and Quiet Sea deals in part with the plight facing Syrian people who have been displaced due to war. He tells me he feels there's a lack of empathy for migrants who are put in horrific situations, and he wanted to humanise their experiences as much as possible.

What's in the pipeline for Donal?

He let me know that he's in the process of writing another book, set in the nineties, that's due out next year.

If you enjoy interviews with authors On the Fringe, have a listen here to Jane Ryan discuss her debut novel 47 Seconds

And below is a link to the interview with Donal Ryan...

https://soundcloud.com/wlrfmwaterford/author-donal-ryan-talks-about-writing-leaving-cert-students-and-more