Beginner's pluck

ELLA always loved reading and writing.

She wanted to be a teacher, but her father died when she was 18, which sent her life off course. After college she went to Holland for a while. Back in Ireland, she worked in advertising, then travelled and wrote for magazines. She also wrote a film for RTÉ Short Cuts.

“I took various courses in creative writing, including courses in Skyros, Greece. The third one, in 2001, was run by Clare Boylan. I met my husband there. After that my writing just took off.”