Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around the evening that my sister and I would sit down to write our Santa letters.

While I may not agree with every woman I meet, or even like them, I am still committed to using my voice, such as it is, to amplifying the voices of the women around me, writes Louise O’Neill

Last month, I was given the James Joyce award by the Literary and Historical Society of UCD. It is the highest award that an Irish University can bestow upon an individual, and is reserved for those who ‘have achieved outstanding success in their given field’. 

"What is this?” my father asked in a bemused tone when he turned on the TV and found a couple kissing in an extremely chaste fashion, a picturesque snow-capped log cabin in the background. 

‘It’s easy to fall into a habit of dissatisfaction, culminating in a sense of uneasiness about our lives. Is this it? Is this all there is? writes Louise O'Neill

Much to the surprise of some readers of this column (thank you, strange man on the internet for telling me I was ‘permanently outraged’ and ‘exhausting’ — I truly believe we could have a future together. Call me), I’m not very confrontational.

A COUPLE of months ago, I was introduced to the concept of Intuitive Eating and I have become almost evangelical about it, says Louise O’Neill

We wonder what their ulterior motives are and we give them close-lipped smiles and wish they would leave us alone, writes Louise O'Neill

This is my favourite time of the year. The evenings getting darker, the fires lighting, there’s no need to carry a parasol with me at all times lest a single ray of sunshine touch my skin. 

When I first began writing, I had my own blog. The most popular piece I ever posted was when I shared embarrassing period stories and asked other women to comment underneath with their own, writes Louise O'Neill.