My path to publication and inspiration for the book-Guest Post by Cat Hogan
For me, a lifelong obsession with books was a good motivation to become an author. Every week without fail, my mother bought me a book. I couldn’t get enough of them. It’s always been like that. I was born into a home of book worms and I could read before I could walk. My nose was constantly in a book and when I finished reading my own pile, I would steal into my older brother’s room and pilfer from his coveted collection. Equally, writing has always meant something- Whether that came in the form of stories I wrote as a child or keeping an angst riddled diary as a teenager- it’s always been there. When I did the Law Degree, I realised how powerful words can be. One word, or the interpretation of that word can see very different consequences.
The love of stories and the wild imagination came from my parents of course, and in particular the perception I have in my head of my father, Pat, who worked all his life at sea. He started out in the Merchant Navy, and in 1964, joined the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) where he worked aboard the Graunaile, until his sudden death in 2001.
Some of my earliest and fondest memories are of sitting outside at night, with a big old brass compass, identifying star constellations and listening to his stories of the high seas and swashbuckling adventure. In my little blonde head, I wanted the life of adventure, and that romantic view of the world. The sailors blood in me finds inspiration in the sea, the stars and lighthouses.
When I started writing the first novel- long before I thought about publishers or agents, I thought about the book cover. As a nod to Dad, all I wanted was a lighthouse to feature- hence the location: a fictional fishing village in Wexford. I was dipping in and out of the novel, trying to raise two small boys and work part-time in the hospitality industry- but something had to give. I had a compulsion to write and it was all I could think about. In December 2014, I quit my job and became a writer full time. My Business Studies Degree and a Law Degree gave me a good foundation to set up a business- to pay bills, I write content for business.
I thought I would be the next Marian Keyes (who doesn’t want to be the next MK), but my mind had other plans for me. The story is dark- a psychological thriller exploring the depths of flawed human nature, the thin line between love and obsession and the destructive nature of addiction. I finished it at the end of June 2015. I got my agent in August.
My agent sent the book out to submission and 5 publishing houses were interested. Poolbeg were the first to come back and offer me a two book deal, in November. This all happened within 5 months of me finishing the first draft. I chose Poolbeg because of their logo- I had my lighthouse after all.
The hard work started in February. I was dreading the editing process, and had visions of an editor in a garret with a big red pen, slashing my work to bits. That wasn’t the case. I enjoyed it- my editor is a genius and we worked really well together. I didn’t lose any of my characters, not a plot hole to be found and the monster I had built up in my head, never showed its face. I have a few bad habits she is knocking out of me and let’s not mention the war- commas.
They All Fall Down was published in July of this year. A couple of weeks later, I hit the Irish Times Best Seller list. That was a great moment and one I will hold onto for a while.
Now that Autumn is here and as the nights close in, my priority has shifted back to writing. As and from today, I am hiding away at my desk to get my second book written- another tale of darkness and deceit. The constant juggle of life, family and work, but I’m not complaining- I love every second of it!
About the book…
Ring-a-ring o’ rosie . . .
… Someone wants to play.
… Who’s not playing the game?
… Now Someone must pay.
Jen Harper likes to play it safe. She is settling into life on the outskirts of a sleepy fishing village with her little boy, Danny. Life by the sea – just how she wanted it.
When she meets Andy, she feels the time has come to put her baggage and the scars of the past behind her. Then she is introduced to Scott, Andy’s best friend, and is stung by his obvious disdain for her. Why is Scott so protective of his best friend? What is the dark secret that threatens all of them?
In her attempt to find answers, Jen must confront her demons and push her relationships to their limits. By digging up the past, she puts Danny and herself in danger. Will she succeed in uncovering the truth before they all fall down?
Raw and energetic, They All Fall Down is a fast-paced and addictive novel exploring the depths of flawed human nature, the thin line between love and obsession and the destructive nature of addiction.
My review…
There is a lovely buzz about this book at the moment and as I am always afraid of missing out on the next big thing, I was delighted to accept my review copy and dive in!
I love the nursery rhyme Ring O’Roses and have sung it to differing generations of children. It’s one that never seems to get old and I love the slightly dark edge that it has due to its well documented history. And it’s used to great effect here both on the cover and inside as well. This is such a twisted psychological thriller that it definitely lives up to that knot on the front cover as well. The first half introduces you to Jen and Danny and then slowly folded into the mix comes Andy which leads to Scott his best friend. Now Scott is not the sort of friend you would be happy with your boyfriend having. He’s the one you dread taking your boyfriend off into town as you just know he will try to lead him astray. Drink, drugs, women and conniving seem to come easily to him but he’s just being protective of his best friend isn’t he? I loved Jen (strangely enough my nickname for my daughter is Jennifer Juniper!) And I really felt quite protective of her due to things that had happened in her past. So it seems a match made in heaven when she gets together with her lodger Andy as he also comes with emotional baggage. The second half of the book takes on a very different pace to the first as Cat Hogan cranks up the tension and all the players start to come crashing down. It was compelling reading to get to the end and oh, what an end!
I just devoured this. It’s one of those books that you sit down to read and totally lose track of time as you are drawn into the murky waters of life by the sea where you never really know what goes on behind closed doors. It was atmospheric, dark and creepy with a threatening undercurrent throughout. I really enjoyed this and it is lovely to see Cat Hogan join the ranks of talented Irish authors debuting in 2016.
They All Fall Down
is available to purchase now from Amazon UK
About the author…
Cat Hogan was born into a home of bookworms and within spitting distance of the sea. Her father, Pat, a lightship man, instilled in her a love of the sea and the stars. Her mother, Mag, taught her how to read before she could walk.
Writing, storytelling and a wild imagination is part of her DNA.The beautiful County Wexford, Ireland is home to Cat, her musician partner Dave, two beautiful sons Joey and Arthur, and her tomcat Jim Hawkins. There they live a life of storytelling, song and adventure. The other love of Cat’s life is food. A self-professed foodie, there is nothing she loves more than feeding a houseful of friends round her kitchen table.When she is not conjuring up imaginary friends, she can be found supporting local musicians and writers of which there is an abundance in her home town. One of her first endorsements for her novel is also her favourite and comes from fellow Wexfordian of Artemis Fowl fame.’If the Gone Girl met the Girl on the Train, they would have come up with They All Fall Down’ -Eoin Colfer.They All Fall Down is Cat’s debut novel.
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