I never wanted to be mainstream as a writer, but look at what's happened.

The only way to write a book, I’m fond of telling people, is to actually write a book. That’s how you write a book.

I'm very keenly aware that there aren't very many women writing literary fiction in Ireland and so that gives me a sense that what I say matters, in some small way.

Imagine that you are dying. If you had a terminal disease would you ­finish this book? Why not? The thing that annoys this 10-weeks-to-live self is the thing that is wrong with the book. So change it. Stop arguing with yourself. Change it. See? Easy. And no one had to die.

I do not think we remember our family in any real sense. We live in them instead

I can't think of anything you might say about Irish people that is absolutely true.

If you can just actually let the character be for a bit, then you get the right sense.