Beginner’s pluck: Kevin Holohan

After college the Dubliner moved to Spain, where he lived for six years, teaching English as a foreign language.

“I loved Spain. It felt exotic. Then I came back to Ireland and worked in films, doing production and coordination.” All this time, Kevin was writing, trying out short stories, poetry and novels. His break came when a story was shortlisted for the Hennessy Award.

On his first novel: “I got the idea from the man I worked for in Spain. He told me when he’d been at school a new kid came. One of the Brothers had a heart attack, and the other lads were letting it happen. It was the new kid who ran for help. I wondered what you had to do to bring that level of animosity out in basically decent kids.”

Who is Kevin Holohan?

Date/Place of Birth: 1964, in Dublin.

Education: The O’Connell School, CBS. University College Dublin; pure English.

Home: Brooklyn, New York.

Family: Wife Lisa, and son Leo, five.

The Day Job: Works for the US Fund for UNICEF.

Hobbies: Tennis and playing the guitar.

Favourite Writers: Samuel Beckett, Flann O’Brien and Russell Hoban.

Second Novel: I’m mulling over two ideas for novels at the moment. I’m not sure which one I will go with.

Top Writing Tip: Don’t try and write the perfect thing. Get the ideas sown, making a mess first, then come back to it when it has become a little unfamiliar.

Web: www.thebrotherslot.wordpress.com Twitter: @kevinholohan

THE DEBUT

The Brothers’ Lot... no exit press. €8.99. Available Kindle.

When Finbar starts attending the Brothers of Godly Coercian School he is shocked by the eccentricity and mindless cruelty of the Brothers. So begins this satire exploring religious hypocrisy. The school in decline, the brothers are desperate for a miracle. But things start to unravel leading to a series of disastrous events.

The Verdict: As funny as it’s shocking. Holohan has transformed a section of Ireland’s horrifically bleak past into a farcical romp.

— Interviewed by Sue Leonard