Beginner’s Pluck: Cork County Council writer in residence Leeanne O’Donnell

Leeanne O'Donnell's 'Sparks of Bright Matter', which is set in 18th century London and rural Ireland, is a mix of the historical and metaphysical.

As a child and teenager, Leeanne would read anything.

“As a teen I adored JD Sallinger and Dickins, and I read Anna Karenina before a school trip to Russia.”

After university, she worked for RTÉ and made some prize-winning documentaries. 

Then in 2005, she moved to London with her partner, Iseult, and worked for the BBC Radio 4 as a researcher.

“It was a wonderful job, but it wasn’t a good fit for me,” she says. “I wanted to tell Irish stories and felt the dislocation of an exile.”

After a year, the couple moved to West Cork.

During the Celtic Tiger, it felt like the world was full of possibilities.

After the birth of her daughters, Leeanne stayed at home but felt an increasing compulsion to write.

“I had a strong feeling of stories embedded in the landscape that wanted to be told. Ideas and characters were pulling at my subconscious.”

With the distraction of small children, it took Leeanne 10 years to complete her debut.

“It took time to get an agent too, but after I changed my pitch, three agents became interested in the same week.”

Who is Leeanne O’Donnell?

Date of birth: 1977 in Dublin.

Education: Maryfield College, Drumcondra Dublin; Trinity College, Dublin, Philosophy and Classical Civilisations.

Home: West Cork.

Family: Wife Iseult, daughters Loveday, aged 16, and Robin, aged 13.

The day job: “I do lots of things. I have a podcast, Into the Mythic; I’m a psychotherapist, and I’m writer in residence for Cork County Council.”

In another life: “I wish I’d been born with an amazing musical talent.”

Favourite writers: “At the moment I’m reading Hisham Mata and Niall Williams. Both are amazing. They concentrate on good writing rather than acclaim.”.

Second book: “I have an idea of my characters, and I have half a plot.”

Top tip: Keep moving forward, in little steps. “Talk to people, but preferably someone without opinions.”

Website: www.Leeanneodonnell.com

Instagram: @donnellleeanneo

The debut

Sparks of Bright Matter

Eriu, €20.30/ Kindle, €10.69.

Irish chemist and alchemist Peter Woulfe loses a mysterious illustrated book and is pursued by dangerous men. 

Set in 18th century London and rural Ireland, this fast-paced debut is a mix of the historical and metaphysical.

The verdict: Highly original; strange yet enthralling.