Beginner’s Pluck
A voracious reader, Louise kept diaries in her teens, and wrote essays and short stories in her twenties, though none were published. Then life, marriage, and babies got in the way. She got back to writing in 2006, when her son was 13. Her work since has been included in anthol-ogies and literary journals, and she was shortlisted for short story competitions, winning the Jonathan Swift Award.
“I loved it from the start. I started one novel, but gave up halfway through. I decided I would definitely finish my next attempt. I enjoyed writing Red Ribbons. I especially liked the character of Ellie Brady. I wanted to show how anyone can suffer from depression if life gives up on them.”
Who is Louise Phillips?
Date of birth: October 25, 1959.
Education: Dalton School, Rathmines. Institute of Education, Lesson St, then College of Marketing and Design.
Home: Piperstown in the Dublin Mountains.
Family: Husband, Robert. Children, Jennifer, Lorraine, and Graham. Granddaughter, Caitriona.
The Day Job: I work in the family business.
Hobbies: Walking, gardening, interior design.
Favourite Writers: John Connolly; Neil Jordan; Colm McCann; Anne Enright, and Noelle Harrison.
Second Novel: The Doll’s House. It’s another psychological crime thriller featuring Kate Pearson. It involves hypnosis, so the reader isn’t sure if what the protagonist remembers actually happened.
Top Writing Tip: Create your own writing space, even if it’s a tiny space in the corner.
Web: www.louise-phillips.com
Twitter: @louiseMphilips
THE DEBUT
Red Ribbons. Hachette Ireland, €14.99; Kindle, €10.98
A schoolgirl’s body is found in the Dublin mountains. Although buried, her corpse has been carefully arranged. Her hair is plaited and tied with red ribbons. A day later, another body is found, arranged in an identical way. DI O’Connor and criminal psychologist Kate Pearson are baffled. Connections soon start to appear, but can they stop the killer before he strikes again?
The Verdict: Dark and spooky, but believable.
— Interviewed by Sue Leonard
