Review
'Wise, warm, compassionate, full of characters that I loved and identified with, it's like having a great gossip with your best friends. Her best book yet' Marian Keyes
‘This top-notch storyteller once again cuts to the quick of modern women’s lives and their relationships’ Woman & Home
Review
Praise for Once in a Lifetime 'Wise, warm, compassionate, full of characters that I loved and identified with, it's like having a great gossip with your best friends. Her best book yet.' Marian Keyes 'Vintage Kelly territory - it's a book for those who believe in love' Evening Herald 'Entertaining, moving and as vivid as a screenplay - presents a picture of the lives of Irish women which, like all good fiction, brings the truth into sharp relief' Irish Independent 'Engaging reading for these recessionary times' Irish Times Some rave reviews for Cathy's previous bestellers: * 'She writes genuinely compelling stories with a sharp eye for detail and character.' Irish Mail on Sunday * 'Kelly has an uncanny knack of drawing you in to each of her characters, emotionally attaching you to their journeys !'RTE Guide * 'A must for Kelly's many fans; a warm, moving read ' Daily Mail * 'An upbeat and diverting tale skilfully told!Kelly knows what her readers want and consistently delivers.' Sunday Independent * 'An absorbing, heart-warming tale ' Company * 'Kelly explores infidelity with searing honesty!I couldn't stop reading' Louise Bagshaw, Daily Mail * 'Kelly reels you into this addictive tale' Woman & Home
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Warm, captivating storytelling from the heart - treat yourself to come Cathy Kelly time with this No. 1 bestseller.
Something happens that changes you forever…
Ingrid Fitzgerald is flying high. A successful TV presenter, she's happily married with two wonderful children. But as they fly the nest, she's about to discover a secret that will shatter her world.
Natalie Flynn is falling in love – but the secrecy surrounding her mother's past still troubles her. And Charlie Fallon loves her family and her job at Kenny's Department Store, but could now be the time to fight for her own happiness?
The woman with the power to help them is free spirit Star Bluestone. Experience tells her that the important things in life must be treasured and the chance for real joy comes only once in a lifetime…
The woman with the power to help them is free spirit Star Bluestone. Experience tells her that the important things in life must be treasured and the chance for real joy comes only once in a lifetime…
From the Author
When did you start writing?
It sounds clichéd to say I’ve always written, but I have such vivid memories of being twelve and sitting up in bed writing in my notebook. I studied journalism after I left school and got a job in a newspaper, where I stayed for fourteen years. So I’ve worked as a professional writer all my grown up life. Wow! Sounds mad to say it. I dreamed of writing fiction but never really had the confidence to do it, and although I had a couple of abortive attempts to write a novel, I finally put my heart and soul into it during the mid ‘90s and wrote my first book. I’ve just started my twelfth. Yet again, sounds mad.
Where do you write?
I have a beautiful study in my house in Wicklow and from the window, I can see rolling hills and woodland. But I try to keep my eyes on the computer.
What are the pros and cons of being a writer?
I think it’s one of the best jobs in the world. I love writing – not that it isn’t tough on many occasions when the story’s not working and you think you’re a total idiot, which happens every day, basically – but I have a job I love. I am so lucky. Do you know, I can’t really think of any cons apart from the ones every person has about a job: you know, am I doing it right, will I get fired for screwing up! The negatives are what happens in my own head because I am so self-critical and let’s face it, no matter what job I had, I’d be self-critical. So I’m blessed.
What writers have inspired you?
I am a huge fan of an Irish writer, Molly Keane. I read and reread all her work. I love comedic writers too, from Douglas Adams to PG Wodehouse.
How important is a sense of place in your writing?
Very important. Mentally, I have to work out where my characters are very early on. It’s like the place is almost another character.
Do you spend a lot of time researching your novels?
I read a lot and do on-line research, but don’t do so much out-and-out research anymore. Partly because I have two small children and am very busy, but also because I find my novels are more and more about people and relationships, and that’s research into the human condition, which can be done anywhere! I love the airport. Watching people flying off, wondering where they’re going and what’s been happening to them…
Do your characters ever surprise you?
All the time. When I wanted to write first, I used to interview every novelist I could and they all said the same thing: that the story and the characters take on a life of their own. I thought they were all bonkers but it turns out, they were right. You want your character to do something by the end of the novel, and when you reach that point, they refuse to do it.
How much of your life and the people around you do you put into your books?
Who you are goes into your writing because you are the author but I honestly don’t put people I know or my own life into my novels. It wouldn’t work, in my opinion. I want to create a character and a situation and if I use an existing one - character or situation – then I’d be tied by the reality of that person or situation. I am astonished by writers who do put real people into books.
How did it feel when you saw your book in print for the first time? Incredible. Up until that point, it felt as if it was just me and something I’d worked on on my dining room table but suddenly, I had this actual book in my hand with my name on the cover.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing now?
I suppose I could still be a journalist, which was a great job but could be stressful. In my fantasy other world, I’d have retrained and by a psychologist.
What has been your ‘Once in a Lifetime’ opportunity?
Having my sons with my partner. Nothing else comes close.
You have achieved so much, what is your next goal?
I’m very involved in two charities: UNICEF Ireland - I work as one of their ambassadors – and Chernobyl Children’s Project International, of which I’m a patron. UNICEF works in more than 150 countries doing incredible work saving children’s lives. It’s an honour to be involved. With them, I’ve visted Rwanda and Mozambique to raise awareness – and funds – for their work, which includes helping children orphaned by HIV. UNICEF do so much work, I could write a thousand words here describing it. Visit their website to see what they do. CCPI is an Irish charity set up by Adi Roche in 1991 to improve the quality of life of thousands of children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. To date, they’ve delivered over 76 million euro’s worth of aid to children in the heart of the Chernobyl Zone. Currently, we’re trying to raise funds to operate on children with ‘Chernobyl Heart’, a birth defect that will kill them unless they can have surgery. 1,000 euro saves a child’s live. I want to do everything I can for these charities. No child should have to live in fear, hunger, pain. We can all help and I want to do my bit.
It sounds clichéd to say I’ve always written, but I have such vivid memories of being twelve and sitting up in bed writing in my notebook. I studied journalism after I left school and got a job in a newspaper, where I stayed for fourteen years. So I’ve worked as a professional writer all my grown up life. Wow! Sounds mad to say it. I dreamed of writing fiction but never really had the confidence to do it, and although I had a couple of abortive attempts to write a novel, I finally put my heart and soul into it during the mid ‘90s and wrote my first book. I’ve just started my twelfth. Yet again, sounds mad.
Where do you write?
I have a beautiful study in my house in Wicklow and from the window, I can see rolling hills and woodland. But I try to keep my eyes on the computer.
What are the pros and cons of being a writer?
I think it’s one of the best jobs in the world. I love writing – not that it isn’t tough on many occasions when the story’s not working and you think you’re a total idiot, which happens every day, basically – but I have a job I love. I am so lucky. Do you know, I can’t really think of any cons apart from the ones every person has about a job: you know, am I doing it right, will I get fired for screwing up! The negatives are what happens in my own head because I am so self-critical and let’s face it, no matter what job I had, I’d be self-critical. So I’m blessed.
What writers have inspired you?
I am a huge fan of an Irish writer, Molly Keane. I read and reread all her work. I love comedic writers too, from Douglas Adams to PG Wodehouse.
How important is a sense of place in your writing?
Very important. Mentally, I have to work out where my characters are very early on. It’s like the place is almost another character.
Do you spend a lot of time researching your novels?
I read a lot and do on-line research, but don’t do so much out-and-out research anymore. Partly because I have two small children and am very busy, but also because I find my novels are more and more about people and relationships, and that’s research into the human condition, which can be done anywhere! I love the airport. Watching people flying off, wondering where they’re going and what’s been happening to them…
Do your characters ever surprise you?
All the time. When I wanted to write first, I used to interview every novelist I could and they all said the same thing: that the story and the characters take on a life of their own. I thought they were all bonkers but it turns out, they were right. You want your character to do something by the end of the novel, and when you reach that point, they refuse to do it.
How much of your life and the people around you do you put into your books?
Who you are goes into your writing because you are the author but I honestly don’t put people I know or my own life into my novels. It wouldn’t work, in my opinion. I want to create a character and a situation and if I use an existing one - character or situation – then I’d be tied by the reality of that person or situation. I am astonished by writers who do put real people into books.
How did it feel when you saw your book in print for the first time? Incredible. Up until that point, it felt as if it was just me and something I’d worked on on my dining room table but suddenly, I had this actual book in my hand with my name on the cover.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing now?
I suppose I could still be a journalist, which was a great job but could be stressful. In my fantasy other world, I’d have retrained and by a psychologist.
What has been your ‘Once in a Lifetime’ opportunity?
Having my sons with my partner. Nothing else comes close.
You have achieved so much, what is your next goal?
I’m very involved in two charities: UNICEF Ireland - I work as one of their ambassadors – and Chernobyl Children’s Project International, of which I’m a patron. UNICEF works in more than 150 countries doing incredible work saving children’s lives. It’s an honour to be involved. With them, I’ve visted Rwanda and Mozambique to raise awareness – and funds – for their work, which includes helping children orphaned by HIV. UNICEF do so much work, I could write a thousand words here describing it. Visit their website to see what they do. CCPI is an Irish charity set up by Adi Roche in 1991 to improve the quality of life of thousands of children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. To date, they’ve delivered over 76 million euro’s worth of aid to children in the heart of the Chernobyl Zone. Currently, we’re trying to raise funds to operate on children with ‘Chernobyl Heart’, a birth defect that will kill them unless they can have surgery. 1,000 euro saves a child’s live. I want to do everything I can for these charities. No child should have to live in fear, hunger, pain. We can all help and I want to do my bit.
About the Author
Cathy Kelly is a number 1 bestselling author around the world. She worked as a journalist before becoming a novelist, and has published 13 bestselling books.
She is also an ambassador for UNICEF in Ireland. She lives in Wicklow with her partner and their twin sons.
