Stones Corner was the THIRD PLACE fiction winner of the 2022 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Jane Buckley.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Stones Corner, Volume 1 “Turmoil” published March 2021.
What’s the book’s first line?
“They were hyper…almost manic. All day they’d sat through briefing after briefing. Finally, it was time. They’d agreed, enough was enough….”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
There’s nothing ordinary about the everyday lives of the people of Derry/ Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, they do their best to pretend it’s business as usual; they have to; they’ve no choice.
However, in time, the city’s determined efforts prove futile, traumatic and deadly. No one is left untouched; after all, it’s September 1972, the early days of horror and turmoil that became commonly known as “The Troubles – when abnormal became normal.”
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I found it surprising and disappointing that most people don’t understand why the 1969 Troubles began and lasted for over thirty years here in the North of Ireland. So, rather than writing another non-fictional book, I wanted people to learn whilst enjoying a hard-hitting and, at times, heart breaking thrilling novel about what life was like based on my own experiences and actual life events.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Embarrassingly, I’d have to say me! Caitlin’s story is my own story, including her friendship with her best friend Anne, making her clothes by hand, her experience of first love and her dreams of getting out of what was a war zone and starting a new life! She’s a survivor!
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
I’ve tried so very hard to be unbiased when writing the series, which – at times – has proved particularly difficult! I desperately want readers to understand what life was like living here from both sides of the divide (Catholic v Protestant) during the troubles.
I’d like the reader to know how difficult life was, how tiring it was, how brutal it was, and how imperative it is that we keep the peace in Northern Ireland, if not now more than ever!
The Northern Ireland protocol has re-resurrected the old bigoted divisions in the province, and we simply cannot and do not want go back to the dark days of unrest and carnage.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
I’ve chosen some young talented actors who I’ll be approaching very soon with my screenplay for Stones Corner, Turmoil!
Caitlin McLaughlin: Laoisa Sexton
James Henderson: Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Charles Jones: Morgan C. Jones
Kieran Kelly: Robert Sheehan
When did you first decide to become an author?
On New Year’s day 2017, I suddenly decided I wanted to write and I’ve done it and more having just finished V3 Stones Corner “Light”! The final volume is due for release in 2023 Stones Corner, “Hope”
Is this the first you’ve written?
It is, and the process most definitely gets easier. My goodness, have I learned and mostly the hard way!
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I try as much to keep fit (it doesn’t always work!), walk the dog and look after the family.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
It can be difficult, but as much time as I possibly can without interruption!
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best thing about being an indie is control; I’m a control freak! I love managing the whole end-to-end process. The hardest is not being taken as seriously as I’d like when I know I’ve invested time and money in making my work as professional as humanly possible. It’s also tricky submitting to publishers and entering competitions. All this leads to is having to work doubly hard on marketing and promotion. I’ve learned it’s an incredibly tough, competitive industry where NOTHING happens fast!
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Oh yes! The reason? Pure vanity! Having an agent and being published would be the final tick in the box for me. Being honest, it’d give me that extra confidence. I know everyone says there are many opportunities out there as an indie author, but not enough for what I’d like.
Working with a publisher opens doors that some people will never open, no matter how hard or long an indie author knocks.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? Fortune?)
I’d hate to be famous, and I doubt I’ll ever make a fortune! I dearly want people to understand what happened/happens here in our beautiful country and visit our fantastic city, Derry! I guess I’d like to achieve in a weird way what the comedy hit show “Derry Girls” has done in embracing my city’s people and culture!
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve always read Catherine Cookson, an English author, plus many, many others! However, Cookson started writing around the same age as me and based her tales on her upbringing and life experiences. Her stories are raw, simple and intriguing about real life and the difficulties of the times.
Like me, she and her husband worked together as a partnership, and she went on to sell millions of books resulting in TV series and films.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
I’ve always loved the colossal novel, Gone with the Wind. A classic!