Cat Johnson Braves Doll Lil’s Word Association Challenge!

Born in Belfast, Cathy always wanted to write and after journalism college went to work at the Sunday World, Ireland’s biggest tabloid Sunday newspaper, where she started in news but went on to become a feature writer, agony aunt, film critic and columnist.

While still a journalist, she decided to have a crack at writing a novel. This was Woman to Woman,which went straight in to the Irish bestseller list and stayed there for 8 weeks. , her eleventh novel published in paperback in September 2009 went to No 1 within days of its release. Her books are international best sellers in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Dolls: In your latest book, , you write about a woman who leaves Ireland with her mother’s recipe book. Do you have a favorite Irish recipe?

Cathy: Do you know, I absolutely adore brown Irish soda bread because my grandmother used to make it. She never used a recipe or a weighing scales: she literally threw handfuls of flour, bread soda, salt and her own buttermilk into a bowl. I also like an unusual Irish potato pancake called Boxty. I don’t know how to make it, mind you!

Dolls: You seem to have a lot of pride in your country as Ireland is almost like its own character in some of your books. Is that intentional or just a result of inspiration in your surrounding?

Cathy: What a wonderful question! Yes, Ireland really is another character in the stories. I am immensely proud of my country and love the way Irish people travel the world, especially to the USA, bringing our culture and sense of humour with us. Over the years, I’ve found that a sense of place is very important in my novels and the towns they are set in are really, as you say, another character. In fact I often getting feedback from readers wanting to visit the towns but sadly they’re all made up!

Dolls: You have a great spot on your webpage offering numerous tips and advice for aspiring writers, like the section titled “Reading is a Vital Tool”. What are some of your favorite books and/or authors?

Cathy: As a booklover, it’s a difficult one to answer. However, at the moment, I’m obsessed with the American writer , who wrote the most glorious short stories. I also love people like and , as well as thriller writers like .

Dolls: Female relationships feature prominently in your books, is there a message for women that you feel you are conveying?

Cathy: I try and deal with real issues that affect real women and I find personally that our female friends are often our strongest allies in life. I think that women are often very hard on themselves and feel guilty so much of the time. But nothing beats talking to a girl friend to understand that you’re doing a really good job. I also find that the issues human beings deal with are often the same whether you’re living in Boston or Ballybunion! I often get feedback from readers saying that my books remind them of conversations they have with their friends, so maybe that’s what I’m trying to convey.

Dolls: Do you have a particular favorite of your books?

Cathy: I always have the strongest affinity with the book I’ve most recently written so in this case, Homecoming. I loved including the wisdom and traditions passed on to Eleanor by her mother. I’m currently writing my thirteenth novel so am enjoying creating a new set of characters.

Dolls: If you were to try your hand in a different genre, what type of book would you write?

Cathy: Part of me would love to write a thriller, but I don’t know if I’d be able to. I’d also love to write children’s books. I guess I just need to write faster!!!

Dolls: We understand that you are also the Irish ambassador for UNICEF. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

Cathy: For me, being a mother is the most important part of my life. When I travelled to Mozambique with UNICEF, I met mothers who face problems that I daren’t imagine – trying to get their beloved HIV-positive children on life saving anti-retroviral drugs. It’s an honour to help UNICEF’s essential work by being one of their Irish ambassadors.

Dolls: As a mother, writer and philanthropist, how do you find time for just you?

Cathy: I don’t! I’m sure most mothers out there might empathise with that. Whenever I take time out for me I feel sooo guilty. Which is why I don’t exercise enough! However I love reading and doing handcrafts. I’m on a bit of an embroidery bender at the moment :)

Dolls: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for Paperback Dolls. We wish you all the best for the New Year!

Cathy: No problem, same to you and thanks for asking me! 

*Paperback Dolls wish to thank the fabulous, Cathy Kelly for contributing to our Passport to Ireland feature. Be sure to pick up one of her and visit her website.

Day is a dreamer who has never met a stranger. She is fearless and will talk to anyone and read anything! She taught music and dance and was a singer/actress for years, performing on stages both nationally and overseas. Now married with children, she spends less time singing on stage and more time writing songs at home. But, family life has not completely slowed this chick down. She still loves an adventure and learning new things. She resides in Texas with her family, Great Dane (Sophie), Labradoodles (George & Cosmo) and Chihuahua (Juan Carlos).

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