Beginner’s pluck: Sligo-based author Elaine Garvey

Elaine Garvey: “I’m a participant on the basic income scheme for artists.”

As a child, Elaine made up stories and put on shows with her sister.

“I always wanted to be a writer.”

Leaving the University of Galway, Elaine spent a year working in a hardware shop.

“Then I studied creative writing. Brendan Kennelly was my tutor.”

Afterwards, she went to London, working with magazines and publishers.

“I was always looking for a job that would allow me to write. I always had something on the go, but I didn’t have the courage to write.”

Back in Ireland, Elaine taught English as a foreign language and then went travelling.

“Afterwards, I worked in theatres doing customer service jobs. I was front of house, doing the box office at the Abbey Theatre.”

I took backstage tours and learned the craft of theatre and how plays are produced.

Elaine has published short stories in The Dublin Review and the Winter Papers.

“And I worked in admin for The Stinging Fly.”

In 2018, going part-time, Elaine took a course with Sean O’Riley of The Stinging Fly.

“I thought I’d do a story collection but figured out I was writing a novel.

“I had my character. It took six months of feedback before I came up with a name, job, and London.”

Moving home during the pandemic, Elaine finished the novel, and secured agent Eleanor Birne.

Who is Elaine Garvey?

Date/ place of birth: 1977/ Sligo.

Education: Ursuline Convent in Sligo; University of Galway, English and Irish; Trinity College, Dublin, MPhil in Creative writing.

Home: Sligo.

Family: Mum, brother, and sister.

The day job: Full-time writer. “I’m a participant on the basic income scheme for artists.”

In another life: “I’d like to study more languages.”

Favourite writers: Anna Burns, Herta Miller, Svetlana Alexievich, Marilynne Robinson, Dermot Healy, Brian Friel.

Second book: “I’m at the thinking stage.”

Top tip: Focus on the process, and don’t compare yourself to others. We all work differently.”

Website: elainegarveyauthor.com

The debut

The Wardrobe Department

Canongate, €16.99/ Kindle, €10.75

Leaving rural Ireland, Mairéad works in a London theatre’s costume department. 

It’s tough working as a dogsbody, washing underwear, repairing zips, and dealing with groping actors and a bullying boss. 

She misses Ireland but doesn’t fit there either.

The verdict: Stunningly good. Written with honesty and insight. I loved it.