Writing Matters with Dolores Keaveney

What is your favourite book?

Because I am a children’s picture book author, my all time favourite book for kids is The Tiger who came to Tea, written and illustrated by Judith Kerr. I had the great pleasure of seeing her in Dun Laoghaire a few years ago. She was writing and illustrating into her mid-90s.

What book do you wish you had written?

Again it has to be a children’s book and I think it would have to be The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. Such a fabulous book.

What story are you most proud of?

I have two books that I am most proud of… I have to say it is my very first book called If I Were a Bee… I wrote and illustrated it in 2008 and still gets a huge amount of reviews and it still sells. I never intended to write a book and it was never on my bucket list. But a trip to Belvedere to learn about bees was the start of a fabulous journey writing books. I am also proud of Dee the Bee. The book was published by an Australian Publisher Starfish bay and it has become a story trail here on the Old Rail Trail Greenway and has been installed in so many libraries and other places.

Guiltiest reading pleasure?

This is an embarrassing question for me. I am afraid I am a boring reader and most of the books I read are factual. Don’t get me wrong – I may have read guilty pleasure books many moons ago but the guilty pleasure books I read now would be about K-pop and other talented musicians. Very odd.

Most memorable book related event you’ve ever been to?

I have two memorable book events. I was thrilled to be asked to launch Ann Griffin’s first book, When All is Said, in Mullingar Library. It was a truly great honour for me. Ann has gone on to write two more books and has been awarded the Irish Book Award Newcomer Award 2019.

The other was at the launch of a book my husband John and I produced together. John wrote the history and I illustrated it with watercolours. It was called The Hills Speak History and Mystery. It was launched by the wonderful author Manchán Magan. He is the most amazing speaker and the knowledge he has is second to none.

Biggest writing inspiration?

For me, as a children’s picture book author, I have to say Benji Bennett, our very own award winning author. Benji was the first person I spoke to about self publishing and he encouraged me greatly, and I suppose he is the person who inspired me to self publish, and the rest is history. I am also inspired by Judith Kerr, Beatrix Potter, Julia Donaldson and all the many great children’s authors and illustrators on our planet.

Who is Westmeath’s greatest writer?

Patricia Gibney is surely the greatest writer. She has been so successful in her writing career and her books have travelled the length and breadth of world. Anyone who can sell 100,000 copies of her first novel and has published 14 books, to date, with 2.5 million copies sold, is great in my eye. Very well done Patricia.

If you could have only five books for the rest of your life, what would they be?

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

You can heal your life, by Louise Hay

The Artist’s Way: A spiritual Path of Higher Creativity, by Julia Cameron

Beyond the Story: 10 year record of BTS

A Guide to Irish Country Houses by Mark Bence-Jones