Today we chat with Daithi Kavanagh
Daithi Kavanagh is 56 years old and lives
with his wife and two teenage children in Trinity, Wexford. Up to 2012 when the
recession hit Ireland he was making a living as a musician. He then went back
to adult education and completed his Leaving Certificate in 2014. He is now
studying for a degree in Culture and Heritage Studies at Wexford Campus.
While he was studying he began writing ‘The
Gun’ which is the first book in The Tadhg Sullivan Series. His second book in the series called The
Brotherhood was released in May 2015. He is currently working on the third book
in the series.
He plays guitar and sings in many of the
pubs in his hometown of Wexford where he is often joined by his two children
Ella and Rory who play fiddle and flute.
In his spare time he likes to walk his two
dogs with his wife Caroline.
Welcome, Daithi!
1.
What sparked your interest in writing? Your proverbial light-bulb
moment?
In 2012 I found
myself unemployed due to the recession. I had worked as a musician prior to
that. I took up adult education after that and am currently studying for a
degree in Irish Culture and Heritage Studies. While studying English for my
Leaving Certificate my teacher encouraged me to write. I started writing my
first book The Gun and my teacher would check it for me. It took off from there
and with the help of my wife Caroline I finished The Gun. I signed a contract
with Tirgearr Publishing in 2013.
2.
Which genre are you most comfortable writing in?
Definitely crime
fiction. I’ve been inspired by Stiegg Larrson, Jo Nesbo and Ian Rankin.
3.
Would you say you draw most often from your own knowledge base when
writing or do you research for fresh material?
I always draw from
my own knowledge base. I feel it gives the stories authenticity. It is at times
necessary to research as there are often things within the story where your
knowledge could be limited. But in general I tend to write my stories quite
often around my own life experiences. Also I often base the characters on
people I am acquainted with either living or dead.
4.
Tell us a bit about your work. How, for instance, do you choose your
titles?
So far the titles
of my books have always been related to the main theme of the story e.g. in my
first book The Gun the whole story grew around one of the main characters in
the book accidentally acquiring an assault rifle. In book 2 – The Brotherhood
the story revolves around a vicious cult known as The Brotherhood. I think it’s important (in most cases anyway)
that the title gives some indication towards the direction the story is going
to take.
5.
We love to read excerpts. Share with us your favourite bit of
writing from you latest book.
My latest book is called
The Brotherhood and is the second book in The Tadhg Sullivan Series.
She knew nothing of the white van that pulled up
behind her, until the two men
grabbed her and bundled her into the back. She’d
been jogging along the road, with
her headphones on listening to Mumford and Sons.
At first she’d thought it was a
prank by some of her friends. But as the van
tore along the narrow road at top speed
and she found herself being tossed from side to
side, she knew something much
more sinister was unfolding. She screamed.
Suddenly the van took a sharp left, and
she smashed her face against the side paneling.
They seemed to be on a long,
pebbled lane. She stared at her headphones, the
music still blaring, lying on the
floor, and cursed herself for not listening to
her parents, who had begged her to bring
her mobile phone.
6. Who do you identify with most in your work? And why?
Without doubt
Detective Sullivan my main character is the person I identify with the
strongest. But most of my characters have a little bit of me in them. To give
the characters more depth I tend to
often lend them the darker side of myself as for some reason bright and
cheerful people often come across as bland. Where I can I try to use wit to
counteract this darkness that exists
in the characters.
7.
If you could choose who would play Detective Sullivan in the movie or series made from your work, who would it be?
I think the Irish
Actor Cillian Murphy would play the part of Sullivan very well as he can portray
both strong and vulnerable personas very well (in my opinion) and he has a
depth to his character that I think would portray Sullivan very well.
8.
Which four words would you use to describe yourself?
Passionate, controversial,
opinionated and left wing conservative!!
9.
Which four words would you use to describe your work?
Honest,
controversial, fast-paced and very Irish.
10.
I have to throw this in! That list of favourites we’re all
interested in!
Favourite book: Anything by Arnaldur Indriðason
Favourite movie: On the Waterfront
Favourite TV series: Wallander
Favourite colour: Blue
Favourite food: Steak and Chips
Favourite drink: Tea!!
Favourite pet: Our two dogs Sam and Rosie
Favourite season: Winter. I love the cosiness of the short evenings and
lighting the fire.
Favourite
place: My
hometown of Wexford.
11.
Often personal fame and prominence for your work go together, but
frequently authors prefer remaining in the background while hoping their work
will assume the limelight. Is this true for you, or don’t you mind a bit of
fame?
I’d accept the
fame if it also brought money with it! But I would prefer to remain in the
background as I love the simple home life and be able to go into one of the
local pubs in Wexford with my family and play music without all my fans mobbing
me!!!!! (LOL)
12.
Tell us about your next book (we love to know what to look forward
to!).
My next book is
Book 3 in The Tadhg Sullivan Series called The Crucifixion. The Crucifixion is
once again a story steeped in Irish history and Irish life. It begins with the
murder of a Christian Brother
13.
What comes next, besides a new book project? A holiday, an event?
This summer myself
and the family will be going to Doolin to take in the brilliant traditional
music and see again the beautiful Inishere and Inis Mor.
14.
And finally, if you could choose one person, living or dead, you
would like to meet, who would it be and what would you ask of that person?
GOD – I would ask
him how my books are going to do in the future!!!
Lol, yes, I wish we could all receive insight regarding our work!
Thank you, Daithi, it was a pleasure having you :)
Detective Tadhg
Sullivan’s life seems to be falling apart, since being shifted to Clare
from Dublin after
falling out with the Minister for Justice and the Garda
Commissioner. His
partner, Journalist Helen Carty, has moved out, unable to live
with his bouts of
depression and periodic alcoholism. He finds himself once again
alone in a world that
doesn’t understand him.
Suddenly Sullivan is
knocked out of his lethargy when a teenage girl goes missing
not far from Ennis
where he has been stationed. Sullivan is asked to lead the hunt by
the local
Superintendent and is catapulted into a world of unimaginable horror. He is
confronted by Lord
Charles Cromwell the leader of a sadistic cult—The
Brotherhood—that
derives its pleasures from the torture and murder of young
women.
Sullivan’s
investigation is once again hampered by political interference. As he fights
his way through one
bureaucratic obstacle after another he discovers that The
Brotherhoods
tentacles have not only reached into corridors of power in Ireland but,
they are being
protected by powerful politicians worldwide.
To cut through this
protective ring of steel Sullivan finds himself having to engage
with some strange bed
fellows. Which included an ex CIA agent, Simon Horowitz,
who had saved his partners
life during his last investigation and an IRA leader, Rory
O’Connor, who has
recently been released from prison.
Will this strange
combination be able to destroy The Brotherhood before their
murderous reign takes
another young life or will Lord Cromwell destroy Sullivan and
everything he loves?
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