{"id":8802,"date":"2015-03-17T00:01:35","date_gmt":"2015-03-17T05:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.melanierobertson-king.com\/wp02\/?p=8802"},"modified":"2015-03-16T16:17:39","modified_gmt":"2015-03-16T21:17:39","slug":"st-patricks-day-party-with-sharon-black","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/melanierobertson-king.com\/wp02\/?p=8802","title":{"rendered":"St Patrick’s Day Party with Sharon Black"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"St<\/a>\"St<\/a>Welcome to Celtic Connexions, Sharon. Do make sure you kiss the Blarney Stone here on the table by the front door. At least you don\u2019t have to sit on a ledge and lean back until your head is lower than your bum.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"St<\/a>You\u2019re looking very much in the St Patrick\u2019s Day spirit all decked out in green. Can I offer you a drink? I have to say, I LOVE<\/em> your hat. I have a selection of Irish Whiskey. Have a look on the sideboard and see if there\u2019s something there you fancy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"St
By Cafeirlandais at en.wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia) [CC BY 2.5 (http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.5), GFDL (www.gnu.org\/copyleft\/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/)], from Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>I have plenty of nibbles to snack on whilst we chat. Crisps with French Onion dip (coloured green, naturally), jelly beans, chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. Don\u2019t be shy. Dig in. Who knows, before the end of the night we might even find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tell us a bit about yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you for my Cead Mile Failte (a hundred thousand welcomes) here today, Melanie. I was born in Dublin, the eldest of three children, and grew up in an area called Rathfarnham, which is at the foot of the Dublin mountains. I studied history and politics at college, and then did a postgraduate in journalism, before working for national newspapers. I now live in a small coastal village in Dublin, with my husband and our three children. It\u2019s a place where most people know each other, so apart from my friends from school and college, I have really good friends here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back home in Ireland, how do you normally celebrate St Patrick\u2019s Day?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Traditionally, we would have always brought the children to the parade in town (which is what Dublin people call the city centre). Our eldest two are far too old to go with us anymore, so if they want to see it, they would go with friends. But our youngest is still game. The parade runs right through the centre of town, so most people have their favourite places to view. Ours is on Dame Street, on the south side of the river Liffey. Afterwards, we\u2019d go to the Kilkenny Design Centre in Nassau Street, which is a mecca for Irish design, and have a hot drink and a treat.<\/span><\/p>\n

We have the Americans and in particular the Irish Americans to thank for much of the improvements to our parade down the years. The St Patrick\u2019s Day parade in Dublin was incredibly boring when I was a child. I don\u2019t think we understood what it was meant to be about at all. The highlight was always the American groups who came over to participate. They brought colour and excitement and, dare I say it, a professionalism that we lacked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s a festival that runs right over the weekend, and we have wonderful contributors, both Irish and from further afield.<\/span><\/p>\n

You made the jump from journalist to novelist \u2013 is Going Against Type loosely based on your previous career?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I suppose the book is very loosely based on elements of what I knew, when I worked for the papers. I drew on bits of people I knew for some of the characters, and all the jargon is authentic.<\/span><\/p>\n

I had also written a column for a while, for one of the national newspapers, but it wasn\u2019t a sports column. I never wrote about sport, so Charlotte and her columns needed a lot of research.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dinner is ready? *looks towards manservant* Come through to the dining room. I have to admit I got a bit carried away with the decorating \u2013 sparkly, green Leprechaun hats at the place settings, pots of basil with shamrocks and candles, and green noise makers. What can I say? I wanted it to be special, it being my first St Patrick\u2019s Day party.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I hope you enjoy your meal. I\u2019ve got Potato Leek soup <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
By Vegan Feast Catering (Potato Leek Soup) [CC BY 2.0 (http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>with soft pretzels followed by your choice of Corned Beef and Cabbage, <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
By Jonathunder (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0) or GFDL (http:\/\/www.gnu.org\/copyleft\/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>Guinness Braised Pork, or Guinness Meat Pie. You can think about it while we have our soup course.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love potato leek soup. My mum makes her own all the time, and gives me over big pots of it. The whole family love it! And I was raised on corned beef and cabbage. My grandmother made it a lot. She would shred the cabbage up really fine, and stir it in through creamy, mashed potatoes.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll chat while we eat. Going Against Type is your debut novel. Can you tell us a bit about it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d love to. It\u2019s set against the backdrop of Dublin newspapers, and it\u2019s the story of two rival newspaper columnists who fall in love. Because they write their columns under pen names, they have no idea that they\u2019ve each fallen in love with the enemy!<\/span><\/p>\n

The book opens with Charlotte Regan, who works as a sports reporter in a very male-dominated sports department, getting a chance to write the new sports column Side Swipe. The column is very sharp and her views very controversial \u2013 and it\u2019s noticed by The Squire, a gossip columnist on a rival newspaper.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Squire is written by fashion journalist Derry Cullinane, who initially assumes that Side Swipe is a man! And he takes no prisoners.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Going<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

BLURB<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some would say Charlotte \u2018Charlie\u2019 Regan has it all. Beautiful, smart, athletic and a great job working as a journalist \u2013 in the almost exclusively male sports department. But Charlotte is not quite as sure as she seems. Recently split from her overbearing boyfriend, she escapes for weekends, surfing in the Atlantic, and spends her free nights watching sports, roaring at the TV.<\/span><\/p>\n

Derry Cullinane is a fashion writer, gossip columnist and sophisticated man-about-town. The go-to guy for any woman seeking expert advice on what fabulous outfit to wear for any given occasion. He\u2019s also tall, dark, good looking \u2013 and straight! So what\u2019s the snag? He has a track record of dating glamorous, vain and shallow women.<\/span><\/p>\n

Charlie gets an opportunity to write a new column under the pen name Side Swipe, but is soon drawn into a war of words and wit with a rival paper\u2019s columnist The Squire \u2013 and their verbal fireworks get readers and editors talking. Yet neither Charlie nor Derry knows just whom the opponent is…<\/span><\/p>\n

When Charlotte and Derry meet at the Races, the attraction is instant. As their relationship develops, so much more proves at stake, than protecting their alter egos. But a blunder puts Charlotte\u2019s job in jeopardy just as Derry\u2019s past makes front page, and Charlotte begins to doubt her feelings.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Side Swipe and The Squire are finally forced to reveal themselves, will they revert to type \u2013 or confound everyone\u2019s expectations?<\/span><\/p>\n

**********<\/strong><\/p>\n

EXCERPT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh good grief, Charlotte thought. It\u2019s Panama Hat Man. She found herself blushing as Fiona steered her into the man\u2019s line of vision.<\/span>
\n A slow, amused smile of recognition spread across his face. Brown eyes locked hard with green. Okay Charlotte, play it cool. With a show of dignity, she looked away. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Everyone, this is my old school friend Charlotte Regan. Charlotte, this is Clare, Tina and Rosemary.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Charlotte smiled and shook the other women\u2019s hands, quickly memorising their names, acutely aware of the man\u2019s attention. <\/span>
\n \u2018And Derry Cullinane,\u2019 Fiona said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Almost reluctantly, Charlotte met his gaze again, forcing herself to breathe normally. She smiled politely and extended her hand. Derry held it a fraction longer than necessary. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Tiny hands too,\u2019 he murmured. Charlotte flushed. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018How\u2019s your foot?\u2019 he asked, releasing her hand but holding her gaze.<\/span>
\n \u2018Oh, do you already know each other?\u2019 Fiona asked, looking slightly puzzled. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018No,\u2019 said Charlotte quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018We met at the Galway Races,\u2019 Derry said at the same time. An image of the peroxide blonde woman popped into Charlotte\u2019s head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Can I leave you for a minute? I must check on things in the kitchen.\u2019 Fiona briefly squeezed Charlotte\u2019s hand and left.<\/span><\/p>\n

Charlotte glanced quickly about, hoping to engage with the other women, but to her frustration she found that they\u2019d drifted away. Leaving her with this egotistical\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018So as an experiment, do you think we\u2019ll work?\u2019 Derry said, interrupting her thoughts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Um, will what work?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

He shot her an arrogant smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Fiona\u2019s matchmaking attempt. Either Cupid will be on target or we\u2019ll end up throwing bread rolls at each other.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Charlotte gritted her teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m a crack shot with a bread roll.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

**********<\/strong><\/p>\n

It sounds like a fun book. I\u2019ll definitely be adding it to my TBR list.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can you describe your writing routine? What time of day do you find you\u2019re most productive \u2013 that kind of thing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m definitely at my best in the morning, but I\u2019m not one of those people who can get up at five O\u2019clock to write. I wish I were. Once my younger two are in school, I start to write. The trick for me is to know what I want to write, the night before. I\u2019m far more productive when I have a plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

I think the party is about to start. I hope you got enough to eat. There is dessert but we\u2019ll let this settle first before we have it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

*escorts Sharon back into other room and inserts Cranberries CD*<\/strong><\/p>\n