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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Interview with Clodagh Murphy and book giveaway!



**Giveaway is now closed**

Clodagh Murphy was raised in Dublin with her two brothers and two sisters. She didn't like attending school, but then had fun spending a few years living in London in her twenties. She's now living in Dublin again and is the author of "The Disengagement Ring" and "Girl in a Spin." Melissa P. and I got to ask her a few questions and enjoyed reading her answers. She has a great sense of humor and we hope you will enjoy learning more about her, as well. In addition, she has offered to send out three signed copies of "Girl in a Spin" anywhere in the world.

MP: “Girl in a Spin” is about a girl with a not so ideal past in a relationship with a politician, what inspired you to write a political romantic comedy?
CM: I had a bit of a crush on Alastair Campbell, and I loved his book "The Blair Years", about his time as Tony Blair's spin doctor, so that's what initially sparked it off. I find the whole business of spin fascinating, and I thought the basic premise of a politician, his spin doctor and a girl who's a bit of a loose canon had a lot of potential for comedy. On the one hand you have Richard, a politician whose public image is very carefully managed and who never does or says anything that isn't thoroughly thought out; and on the other hand you have Jenny, who is quite naïve in ways and doesn't know how to be anything other than herself. She can wreak havoc in Richard's world without meaning to, just by being who she is and I thought I could have a lot of fun with that.

MP: Do you have a specific place where you go to write?
CM: I do most of my writing at my desk in my apartment, but I'm actually more productive when I'm away from home, and I'd love to be able to go away somewhere to write. It's easier to concentrate when I'm not surrounded by my day-to-day life. I also find travelling inspiring, and I have lots of ideas when I'm rolling along on a train or bus, watching the world go by. Daydreaming is an important part of the writing process for me.

MP: What do you do when you aren’t writing?
CM: I still have a day job, so I go to work. In my free time I like to hang out with family and friends, go to the movies or theatre, read, watch TV - all the usual things. I adore eating out and do it far too much. Travelling is a big passion, and I do it as much as I can. I have such itchy feet, I think I must have been a nomad in a former life.

MA: How did you come up with the titles of your books?
CM: I try to come up with something snappy and witty that encapsulates the story and also sets the tone of the book. "The Disengagement Ring" is about a girl whose family team up to try and break up her engagement, so I think the title sums it up pretty well. Finding the title for "Girl in a Spin" was a longer process and more of a joint decision between me and my editor. It was originally called "Spinning Jenny", but my publishers didn't feel that was the right title, so after a lot of brainstorming, we eventually we came up with "Girl in a Spin".

MA: If "Girl in a Spin" were made into a movie, who would you cast in the main roles?
CM: I'm always a bit reluctant to answer these kinds of questions because one of the beauties of books is that readers can have their own images of the characters, and I don't want to impose mine on them. However, since you ask, I'd have to cast Richard Armitage as Dev because he's who I always saw as Dev while I was writing it. Rupert Penry-Jones would be good as Richard, I think. Jenny would be more difficult to cast. Carey Mulligan would be lovely and she has the right vibe, but she'd have to dye her hair platinum blonde – and shrink. She's much too tall for Jenny. You can tell I've hardly thought about this at all, can't you? Would you like to know what I'll be wearing on the red carpet?

MA: Although you live in Dublin and are well known amongst the Irish chick lit crowd, do you plan to make yourself more well-known to readers in North America?
CM: I'd love to! Unfortunately, though, I don't have a U.S. book deal so far. Hopefully that will change in the future. But I'm told chick lit is having a hard time at the moment in the U.S.

MP: What is your favorite thing about living in Dublin?
CM: There are lots of things I love about it, but my favourite thing about living here is that my family all live here too and I'm within easy reach of them.

MA: Are you friends with other Irish chick lit authors (Cecelia Ahern, Marian Keyes, Claudia Carroll)?
CM: I'm friends with quite a few on Twitter and Facebook. Claire Allan is a 'real life' friend. We first met in an online writing group, but I've met her in real life since then.

MA: Have you ever used your own dating experiences in your stories?
CM: No, I don't write misery lit! Seriously, though, I might use small details and fragments of things, but nothing substantial.

MA: What is the most unusual activity you have participated in over the past few years?
CM: I attended a virtual Christmas party a couple of years ago in my online writing group. It was really good fun – and no worrying about what to wear or how to get home! Is that unusual? Maybe people go to virtual parties all the time now, but it was unusual for me.

Special thanks to Clodagh for taking the time to answer our questions and offering the books to give away.

Thanks always to Melissa P. for her fun and thought-inspiring questions.



How to win "Girl in a Spin":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is the most unusual activity you have participated in recently?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Giveaway ends Monday, August 23rd at 6:00 pm EST.

46 comments:

  1. I'd love to have read of this! I also am inspired by travel - and day dreaming!

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  2. I would love to read this!! Thx for the chance:)

    foxchick0323@live.com

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  3. I am a friend on facebook!!

    foxchick0323@live.com

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  4. The most unusual activity I have done lately is take care of our newborn baby bird....I don't get out much!

    foxchick0323@live.com

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  5. I love her sense of humor & would love to read this. Please enter me, thanks.

    ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

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  6. Put "Irish" and "chick lit" in the same sentence, and I'm drooling! Please enter me for this one!

    jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. I can't say that I've been involved in any unusual activities lately. I'm not that interesting, LOL. I guess the most unusual activity that I have done was attending the IHRA drag races for our anniversary. Some people want flowers and dinner and romance for their anniversary, I want fast cars and the smell of burning rubber!

    jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. I am a follower through GFC.

    jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. I am already following CLC on Facebook.

    jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. This contest has been added to my sidebar at http://book-chic.blogspot.com.

    jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. I would love to read this, thanks for the giveaway!

    myra0502@yahoo.com

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  12. I am a follower!

    myra0502@yahoo.com

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  13. This book sounds very interesting ....a political comedic read!
    I would have to say the most unusual activity I have participated in recently would be going from being a rather sedentary person who had to put her beloved geriatric cat to sleep last fall to recently adopting a new VERY energetic puppy who will probably have me white-haired and anorexic by Fall! Ha! We love her dearly, though, and would not trade her for anything on earth!
    I am a follower!
    intrepid9923@yahoo.com

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  14. This book sounds wonderful! I would love to read it.
    Thanks,
    candc320@gmail.com

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  15. I haven't done much unusual lately....I guess the strangest thing would be communicating about my upcoming niece or nephew via text message (is that weird?). My sister in law is newly pregnant and is texting me photos of her ultrasounds when she goes! That's it I guess :).
    candc320@gmail.com

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  16. I am a GFC follower.
    candc320@gmail.com

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  17. I am a Facebook friend!
    candc320@gmail.com

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  18. I love the cover and know that I would love the story. Please enter me in this contest.




    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  19. I love the cover and know that I would love the story. Please enter me in this contest.




    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I sent you a friend's request on FB.



    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  21. I liked this blog on FB.



    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  22. I am a GFC follower of this blog.


    Also, I apparently pressed on "Publish" too long and now there are too many "I love the covers". Please disregard one.


    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  23. I don't get out too much too! I have been studying Chinese for several years and I have been finally speaking it. I am not Chinese but my husband is and he never had the patience to help me. Lately I have spoken to the man in charge of laying our new laminate floors and to the waitress at a Chinese restaurant. I finally feel brave enough to do it!!!

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  24. No Need to enter me. I just posted this at win a book.
    http://winabook.westofmars.com/2010/08/20/girl-in-a-spin-by-clodagh-murphy/

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  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  26. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  27. This sounds like fun. Please enter me!

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

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  28. I follow on Google RSS

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

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  29. please count me in...thanks :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  30. i'm a follower :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  31. white water rafting :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  32. This sounds like such an interesting and entertaining story! I would love to read this book. Thank you for the chance.
    blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  33. Jencey Gortney

    e-mail jenceyg@msn.com

    I will post on facebook page.

    My most unusual activity lately has been trying Guitar Hero for the first time.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great giveaway! I'd love to be entered.

    Please count me in. Thanks.

    avalonne83 [at] yahoo [dot] it

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  35. The most interesting thing I have done lately would be wearing fairy wings and attending a "faerie fest".

    Id love to win and learn about other adventures!!

    papajm25{AT}gmail{DOT}com

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  36. I am a GFC follower

    papajm25{AT}gmail{DOT}com

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  37. I am a new follower! I would love to read "Girl in a Spin". Unfortunately it looks like it will only be through this method for awhile as it isn't available in Can/US yet. I will keep looking for you Clodagh on the bookshelves!

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  38. Count me in! Sounds great!

    askbrittanyroshelle at gmail dot com

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  39. I'm a follower!

    askbrittanyroshelle at gmail dot com

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  40. The most unusual activity for me had been not going to Starbucks on a Monday!

    askbrittanyroshelle at gmail dot com

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  41. I've joined Chick Lit Central on FB!

    askbrittanyroshelle at gmail dot com

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  42. I posted a link to the contest via my FB page:

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  43. oops...forgot my email on that last one:

    askbrittanyroshelle at gmail dot com

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  44. I posted on twitter....@happymama82

    foxchick0323@live.com

    ReplyDelete