Beginner’s Pluck: 'Milly McCarthy' series author Leona Forde 

Leona Forde made stories up 'in her head' for her daughter and then wrote them in writing classes during lockdown 

Leona Forde is the author of the 'Milly McCarthy' series of books, the second 'Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster' was published this year

A bookish child, Leona was fascinated by history.

“But I wanted to be a fashion designer. As the youngest of five, with hand me down clothes, I was always adding a sash, or crafting clothes to make them mine.”

Leona drifted into teaching, but immediately loved it.

“I’ve been teaching for 20 years — job sharing when my children were small. 

"I teach History and English, and a ‘special’ class once a week covering arts, crafts and literacy.”

Leona has had poetry and stories published, and during lockdown, able to take courses, she was paired with writers, including Patricia Forde.

“My daughter Asha complained that all her books were set in America or Britain. She said, ‘no-one has a life like mine’. I told her stories from my head, then wrote them during the course.”

Patricia Forde encouraged her to publish, and she got a three-book deal. 

The second of two published this year, Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster was shortlisted for the An Post Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year, (senior). Leona is involved in the organisation, Discover Irish Kid’s Books.

Who is Leona Forde?

Date/place of birth: 1979/Ballyphehane, Cork.

Education: Presentation Secondary School, Ballyphehane. University College, Cork, English. H Dip. Maynooth University, Postgrad in Leadership and Management; University College, Dublin, Entrepreneurial Education; King’s Inns, Diploma in Educational Law.

Home: Bandon.

Family: Husband, Tony, (he runs West Cork Coffee.) Asha 13, Rifada 10, Isaac 8, and Indy 4.

The day job: Teaching in Kinsale.

In another life: “I’d love to live in a huge rambling house and run a writer’s retreat.”

Favourite writers: Clare Keegan; Donal Ryan; Sebastian Barry; Marian Keyes; Patricia Forde, and Katya Balen.

Next book: Milly McCarthy and the Sports Day Shambles (spring 2024).

Top tip: “Don’t get hung up on the first draft. The editing is where the magic happens.”

Instagram: @LeonaForde1.

The debut

Milly McCarthy is a Complete Catastrophe (illustrated by Karen Harte), €9.99

Milly’s class have won an environmental prize — a private tour of Fota Wildlife Park. Milly means well, but when there’s a butterfly breakout, a giraffe drama and an incident on Monkey Island, all fingers point at her.

The verdict: Funny, informative, and beautifully laid out. Children will love it.