Beginner’s Pluck: Belfast author Jane Cassidy on broadcasting, redundancy and writing

The Desire Line is an interesting, gentle mystery with twists.

Jane Cassidy author of The Desire Line

One of five children, Jane Cassidy was always mad about books. Her mother had been an English teacher, and her father was a GP. She adored being a student, but afterwards, she didn’t apply for a job, and instead became a professional folk singer.

“I’ve never regretted it,” she says. “I did some teaching on the side, when I wasn’t singing or touring.” 

After 10 years, by which time she had a husband and a baby, she turned to broadcasting, presenting a radio programme, as well as pitching ideas.

“I presented a series for children called Swings and Roundabouts for Ulster TV. That was great fun.” 

She also wrote radio scripts and plays for BBC Radio Four.

“I also dramatised a Maeve Binchy book for them in six episodes.”

Eventually she started working as a producer for BBC Northern Ireland. She ended up as head of learning and languages. “But I was still doing some freelancing, and some singing.” 

Redundancy, in 2012, came as a shock.

“I was devastated. In the first few months, I read thrillers, but felt guilty buying so many books, and thought I’d have a go at writing.” 

When she finished the first, she immediately wrote the second in the series. 

“I wrote and rewrote. I sent manuscripts out, but the rejection was hard.” Meanwhile, she’s worked in Arts administration, and spent a year with the Arts Council.

Who is Jane Cassidy?

The Desire Line by Jane Cassidy

Date/place of birth: 1975/ Co Down.

Education: St Louis Grammar School; Queen’s Belfast, English and French. Post grad in Education.

Home: Belfast

Family: Husband, Morris Leyden, son and daughter.

The day job: Writer and folk singer.

In another life: “Writing was the lifelong ambition.”.

Favourite writers: Ruth Rendell; Sophie Hannah; Ian Rankin; Margaret Atwood; John Steinbeck; Bernard MacLaverty.

Second book: “I’m rewriting the second in the series.”

Top tip: “Don’t lose faith. The experience of writing is wonderfully cathartic.”

Twitter: @JaneCassidy2

The debut

The Desire Line

Poolbeg Crimson, €16.99/ Kindle, €2.29

Helena leaves a psychiatric hospital to discover that her house has disappeared. Her new friends, Jer and Nora McCabe can’t decide if she’s a victim or a villain.

The verdict: An interesting, gentle mystery with twists.