Archive for November 10th, 2010

Julia Rothwell is at a bit of a loss. She’s just lost her high-flying job as a hedge fund manager in a big bank, and doesn’t really know what to do with herself. So when her best friend and flatmate Reece suggests that she writes a “10 things to do before I die” list, Julia gets stuck in and coming up with a pretty exciting list. She wants to swim with dolphins, visit Tokyo, have relations with an Italian man and many more too! Thanks to her exciting list, Julia ends up jetting all over the globe alone, with her friends and with a few strangers she meets along the way too. Julia soon begins to realise that there is much more to life than working crazy hours and getting promotions at work, but what is she going to discover about herself along the way too? Will Julia achieve all 10 of her dreams, or will she get more than she bargained for?

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At the beginning of this year, I read a book that pretty much blew me away, Pack Up The Moon by Anna McPartlin, it was a stunning work of fiction and when I got the chance to review her latest novel The One I Love (published in Ireland as So What If I’m Broken and in the US as Alexandra, Gone) I was hoping for a similar read and I got it. I then got the chance to interview Anna, and it’s definitely one of my favourite interviews. I hope you enjoy it!

1. Tell us about your latest novel The One I Love (which was released in Ireland under the title of So What If I’m Broken and in the US under the title of Alexandra, Gone).

Alexandra Kavanagh vanishes and ‘The One I Love’ is about the people she leaves behind.

The story of a missing woman came from my preoccupation with the disappearance of little Maddie McCann. I wanted to explore the ordinary everyday lives of people who are close to or touched by an extraordinary and dreadful loss. It’s also about the strength and weakness, pain and joy that comes with being emotionally invested in family and friends.

2. Are you currently working on a new novel - I hope you say yes - can you tell us anything about it?

I’m actually currently working on a TV pilot for a paranormal investigation comedy/drama series. But as soon as the idea is pitched I’ll be researching and writing my next book. I can’t say too much because it’s early days but part of my research involves a trip to a township in Africa and volunteering in a rehabilitation hospital in Dublin. Sounds depressing but don’t worry there will be plenty of smiles along the way.

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