Ruth McKee: ‘We have something special in Ireland when it comes to writing and publishing’

Tell me about the Irish Writers Handbook.

The handbook offers advice on different aspects of writing and getting published in Ireland, with beautiful essays on craft, and words of experience from authors, publishers and industry experts. It covers everything from fiction to lifestyle books, copyright to royalties, mental health to earning a living, and includes listings and resources too. It’s just the beginning – this is a first edition; we’ll build on this guide each year.

What did commissioning for the handbook reveal?

When I invited people to contribute to this book I was amazed by the wholehearted yes from almost everyone I approached. Yes from authors who wished they’d had this book starting out, yes from publishers who wanted to demystify the process, yes from those working in the creative sector who wanted to encourage and advise. It was clear that there is an appetite for this kind of book. The other thing that hit home is that we have something special in Ireland when it comes to writing and publishing; it might sound cliched but it’s true – we have a tight-knit, supportive community, and the handbook reflects this.

‘I hugged my kids and had a Guinness at the finish line’: Meet the woman who smashed the record for running the length of Ireland

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‘You’re not Irish. You’re not one of us’: Northern students on a year in the South

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Claire Byrne and Mary Lou McDonald come unexpectedly close to a shouting match

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Which pieces stood out?

Each article and essay has its own tone and personality; they are all distinct and come from varied parts of the book world, so everyone is going to find different pieces which speak to them. For me one of the most beautiful contributions is Donal Ryan’s essay – as you’d expect it’s lyrical and moving as he talks about the act of reading on his writing life. From my perspective as a beleaguered but resolute writer I found Olivia Fitzsimons’s essay on the debut experience realistic and uplifting.

Did your job as editor at Books Ireland inform your editing of the handbook?

My job places me at the crossroads between writing, publishing, bookselling and editing, so I appreciate the various paths people take and their own outlook on a book. I understand the pressures and priorities a publisher has when they consider taking on a manuscript but I also empathise with the frustrations of a writer in the throes of the submission process. A copy editor is going to have their eyes on something different from the artist, working from their interior vision. I think of it sometimes like using the road – if you’re on a bike or walking you have a different perspective from someone driving a car. I fear I may be mixing my metaphors! I hope this book will help share those different points of view, and offer writers some solid grounding.

What do you enjoy most at Books Ireland?

The Burning Books podcast. A highlight of the series was talking to John Banville over a glass of wine. I was feeling pretty low about my writing at the time and I came out of that conversation with fire in my belly again. I was also able to introduce him to my dog, Bear!

Is there any advice in the handbook you wish you’d taken?

Probably Jan Carson’s advice to put your own writing first. Putting the handbook together made me reflect on and put into perspective my own “successes” and “failures” (arguably the reaction to both should be the same). My novel The Day I Die is out on submission now, and I remain hopeful (what other way is there?) it will find the right home. All it takes is the right editor at the right time – and that lovely word, yes.

Which projects are you working on?

For my sins, another novel.

Have you ever made a literary pilgrimage?

For my PhD I went to the birthplace of Grazia Deledda, in Nuoro, Sardinia. Towards the end of my thesis she appeared at the end of my bed, a tiny woman, dressed in black. It was the sleep deprivation of early motherhood but, still, unnerving.

What is the best writing advice you have heard?

“Tell the truth through whichever veil comes to hand – but tell it.” – Zadie Smith

Who do you admire the most?

People who have worked on themselves to change harmful behaviours, or to overcome fears.

You are supreme ruler for a day. Which law do you pass or abolish?

I’d put dogs in charge. They can’t do a worse job than human beings. They’d pass laws for long walks and fun, good food and belly rubs.

Which current book and film would you recommend?

Penelope Unbound by Mary Morrissey, which is wonderful. Not current, but I rewatched Paper Moon recently, which is lovely if you need a life tonic.

Your most treasured possession?

All my treasures aren’t things I own, thankfully.

What is the most beautiful book that you own?

Books that friends give me mean a lot.

Which writers, living or dead, would you invite to your dream dinner party?

That sounds a bit stressful, but I’d go for a pint with CS Lewis.

The best and worst things about where you live?

I love Skerries – by far the best thing is walking Bear around the different beaches on the peninsula. Then cold sea swims in the summer, cold pints in Nealon’s in the winter.

What is your favourite quotation?

All of Carol Anne Duffy’s poem, A Prayer.

Who is your favourite fictional character?

I loved the dog Six-Thirty in Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. (They got the casting wrong in the Netflix series and have a big galumphing goldendoodle. Six-Thirty is supposed to be wolfish and shrewd, an outsider, scarred by rejection but with a heart of pure gold.)

The Irish Writers Handbook is published by Books Ireland