In September I read and reviewed The midnight ladies swimming club by Faith Hogan and it is definetly one of my favorite reads of the year! I had the opportunity to interview Faith. All her social media links and links to purchase her books are at the end.
Faith Hogan is an award-winning and bestselling author of seven contemporary fiction novels. Her books have featured as Book Club Favorites, Net Galley Hot Reads and Summer Must Reads. She writes grown up women's fiction which is unashamedly uplifting, feel good and inspiring.
Faith's Kindle Number 1 bestselling book, The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club is published in May 2021. Your 2022 Faith Hogan fix - The Gin Sisters' Promise is a USA Today Bestseller!
She writes twisty contemporary crime fiction as Geraldine Hogan.
She lives in the west of Ireland with her family and a very busy Labrador named Penny. She's a writer, reader, enthusiastic dog walker and reluctant jogger - except of course when it is raining!
When did you first call yourself a writer?
I’ve always been a writer, but it was something that I did without very many people knowing. It seemed like a big stretch to actually call myself a writer… even when I signed my first contract and I knew that I was actually going to be published and hold an actual book of my story in my hand – it seemed a strange thing to call myself. But gradually, (well, I’m eleven books in) I have managed to slip into the idea at this point!
Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why?
I’ve written quite a few books now based in Ballycove. Each of the characters feel very real to me and I have to say, that I like all of my main protagonists, even the ones that may not appear to be all that likeable on the page. So, for example, in The Place We Call Home, I wouldn’t want to live with Ada, but I can see why she is the way she is. I think because none of my characters is perfect, we can see bits of ourselves in all of them, probably, as a writer, I do ingrain them with some part of myself, even if not consciously meaning to. In The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club, I loved Elizabeth, Lucy and Jo, which was why writing some of the scenes were quite emotional at times.
What inspired the idea for your book?
I live in the west of Ireland, the Atlantic Ocean is on my doorstep and we have a large urban forest in our town. I’m endlessly inspired by where I live!
If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?
In my head, when I think of my books being made into films, I think of the vast landscapes, the roar of the sea and the various landmarks, like the local woollen mills or the nearby distillery. I rarely place facial features on my characters, but I do think Judi Dench would make a great Jo. Helen Mirren is a strong actress and I think she would be fabulous as Elizabeth and as for Lucy – if Joanne Froggit was free we would definitely give her the part!
Of course, the big question is who would play Dan…
If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?
In an alternative universe, I would own a huge farm and fill it with dogs, cats, horses and hedgehogs – but I suspect, I would still write…
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
Seriously… just one?
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
Generally, it’s a big deep breath and I close the lap top and dance around the house on cloud nine. I should have a little ritual, shouldn’t I? But I’m always much too elated to settle into doing anything remotely organised!
What is your favorite childhood book?
There were so many, I loved The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, but then when my own children arrived, I read everything over and over again with them. There was one book, Mrs Tibbets and I still know most of the words off by heart – still love the warm feeling it gives me.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Mostly, it’s about grabbing time around everything else that’s happening in the house!
What’s Next?
At the moment, I’m in the middle of edits for next summer’s book – it’s called The Guest House By The Sea and it’s a great big hug of a book. Before that, however, we have On The First Day Of Christmas, hitting the bookshops (and ebook shops) in October – this is my first Christmas book! It’s a bit of a departure from some of my other books, with a sliding doors meets PS I Love you sort of hook! I’m really excited to hear from readers on this one, as I say, rather different from my others so…
Do you have a message for your readers?
I talk to readers a lot on various social channels, people are very nice, they reach out and let me know if they’ve enjoyed a book or if they are just about to read one.
I suppose, the one thing I always say is thank you and if I haven’t already been talking to them, I really hope they enjoy my books.
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Amazon
Thank you for this lovely interview, it's been great getting to know you!
When did you first call yourself a writer?
I’ve always been a writer, but it was something that I did without very many people knowing. It seemed like a big stretch to actually call myself a writer… even when I signed my first contract and I knew that I was actually going to be published and hold an actual book of my story in my hand – it seemed a strange thing to call myself. But gradually, (well, I’m eleven books in) I have managed to slip into the idea at this point!
Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why?
I’ve written quite a few books now based in Ballycove. Each of the characters feel very real to me and I have to say, that I like all of my main protagonists, even the ones that may not appear to be all that likeable on the page. So, for example, in The Place We Call Home, I wouldn’t want to live with Ada, but I can see why she is the way she is. I think because none of my characters is perfect, we can see bits of ourselves in all of them, probably, as a writer, I do ingrain them with some part of myself, even if not consciously meaning to. In The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club, I loved Elizabeth, Lucy and Jo, which was why writing some of the scenes were quite emotional at times.
What inspired the idea for your book?
I live in the west of Ireland, the Atlantic Ocean is on my doorstep and we have a large urban forest in our town. I’m endlessly inspired by where I live!
If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?
In my head, when I think of my books being made into films, I think of the vast landscapes, the roar of the sea and the various landmarks, like the local woollen mills or the nearby distillery. I rarely place facial features on my characters, but I do think Judi Dench would make a great Jo. Helen Mirren is a strong actress and I think she would be fabulous as Elizabeth and as for Lucy – if Joanne Froggit was free we would definitely give her the part!
Of course, the big question is who would play Dan…
If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?
In an alternative universe, I would own a huge farm and fill it with dogs, cats, horses and hedgehogs – but I suspect, I would still write…
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
Seriously… just one?
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
Generally, it’s a big deep breath and I close the lap top and dance around the house on cloud nine. I should have a little ritual, shouldn’t I? But I’m always much too elated to settle into doing anything remotely organised!
What is your favorite childhood book?
There were so many, I loved The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, but then when my own children arrived, I read everything over and over again with them. There was one book, Mrs Tibbets and I still know most of the words off by heart – still love the warm feeling it gives me.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Mostly, it’s about grabbing time around everything else that’s happening in the house!
What’s Next?
At the moment, I’m in the middle of edits for next summer’s book – it’s called The Guest House By The Sea and it’s a great big hug of a book. Before that, however, we have On The First Day Of Christmas, hitting the bookshops (and ebook shops) in October – this is my first Christmas book! It’s a bit of a departure from some of my other books, with a sliding doors meets PS I Love you sort of hook! I’m really excited to hear from readers on this one, as I say, rather different from my others so…
Do you have a message for your readers?
I talk to readers a lot on various social channels, people are very nice, they reach out and let me know if they’ve enjoyed a book or if they are just about to read one.
I suppose, the one thing I always say is thank you and if I haven’t already been talking to them, I really hope they enjoy my books.
Website
Amazon
Thank you for this lovely interview, it's been great getting to know you!
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