Beginner’s pluck: Oslo-based Irish writer Catriona Shine

In 'Habitat' we follow seven of the inhabitants, who, affected by different calamities, don’t realise they’re dealing with a shared crisis

Catriona Shine started writing 14 years ago. She’s been shortlisted for many awards; has won the Penfro First Chapter Prize, and has had many stories published in literary magazines. Picture: Aslak Haanshuus

Catriona and her three sisters spent a lot of time in imaginative play.

“We wrote fairy tales then acted them, and we made houses for our books.”

Living near Listowel, Co Kerry, she also acted in local drama groups.

During college, Catriona took a year out and worked in Sydney, Australia.

“And in fourth year, [of five], I studied on an exchange in Oslo. I met my partner there, and when I qualified, we went back and stayed.”

Working as an architect, she started off in an office, Lund and Slaatto, and after five years, moved to a practice called Mad.

I spent 10 years there, and then taught a bit. I’m not, now, practising.

Catriona started writing 14 years ago. She’s been shortlisted for many awards; has won the Penfro First Chapter Prize, and has had many stories published in literary magazines.

“There are two unpublished novels as well,” she says.

Habitat took two years to write.

“I was brought up beside a rental house, and have since lived in apartments,” she says. “I’ve always imagined the lives of my neighbours.

“And I was working on a project for circular architecture — finding building materials we could use again. I became conscious of the life cycle of building materials, and the two ideas came together.”

Who is Catriona Shine?

Date/ place of birth: 1981/ Limerick.

Education: St Joseph’s Secondary School, Abbeyfeale; University College, Dublin, Architecture. “I loved the idea of imagining buildings, and then making them.”

Home: Oslo for past 20 years.

Family: Partner Kristian, and son Elliott, aged 12.

The day job: Full-time writer.

In another life: “Maybe, a biologist.”

Favourite writers: Lucia Berlin; Samantha Schweblin; Georges Perec; Monica Isakstuen; Han Kang; Claire Louise Bennett.

Second book: “It’ll be a short story collection, but I’m also working on a novel that’s set on a train.”

Top tip: “If I’m stuck, I write through the problem. If I ask myself a question, and write the answer, I usually find a solution.”

The debut

Habitat
The Lilliput Press, €16.95/ Kindle, €7.21

During one dramatic week, an apartment building in Oslo disappears, disintegrating in strange ways.

We follow seven of the inhabitants, who, affected by different calamities, don’t realise they’re dealing with a shared crisis.

The verdict: Weird, wonderful, and compulsive.