Beginner's pluck: SA Dunphy
At 16, Shane was in a band and his mother encouraged him to play his guitar for her class of children with special needs.
“They were so open, and I decided I wanted to work with kids.” He worked in child protection for a few years, meanwhile accumulating more qualifications, and he was encouraged to write a book based on his experiences. Wednesday’s Child spawned another eight books based on real cases.
Then, teaching full time, Shane also wrote for newspapers. “It became all-consuming, and in the last few years I have stepped back.”
The last two books included a mystery element, and Shane and his editor agreed it was time for him to try fiction. “I had a great time writing it. I loved being in that world.”
Who is SA Dunphy?
1973 in Brighton, England. The family moved to Wexford when he was 2.
St Peter’s Wexford. Waterford IT. Diploma in Childcare, Degree, Master, and PhD.
Wexford.
Wife Deirdre. Children, Richard 31; Marnie 18. Grandson Rhys, 4. Dogs Lulu and George.
Teaching childcare at the Waterford College of Education. Some consultancy work.
“I’d have been a musician.”
Robert B Parker; John Connolly; Anthony Bourdain; Arthur Conan Doyle.
“I’ve started, While She was Gone. It’s a sequel, kicking off hours after this one happens.”
“Just write. It doesn’t matter if the first 100 pages are complete rubbish. And you must read.”
@Dunphyshane1
The Debut
David Dunnigan is a mess. He’s a criminology lecturer and a consultant for a specialist investigations unit in Dublin, but he’s hanging onto both jobs by a thread. Eighteen years earlier, shopping with his niece, 4, Beth let go of his hand and disappeared. He can’t forgive himself.
A crime book with beautifully drawn characters.
