Emma Donoghue is the author of 10 novels, including the bestselling Slammerkin (2000) including her latest, Room, which has been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. She was born in Dublin in 1969, and has been writing books since the age of 23. She moved to Canada in 1998, where she lives with her partner, Chris Roulston, a women’s studies professor, and their two children, Finn (6) and Una (3).
Room was inspired by the Fritzl story and tells the story of Jack and Ma, who are trapped in the room of the title.
Have you ever had a nickname?
Occasionally ‘Emsie’ within the family, but it never stuck.
What’s the first record you ever bought?
A cassette of Fame (to my shame, the tv series, not even the film)
What’s your favourite smell?
Chocolate.
What is your favourite room in your house?
Our bedroom – peaceful, white walls, no toys, prospects of books or sleep…
Who was your first kiss and where did it happen?
Miss she’d-kill-me-if-I-named-her, somewhere in Ireland, 1986.
Who was your first love?
A different Miss she’d-kill-me-if-I-named-her.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Too much chocolate. And more-ish TV such as 24 or The L Word.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
Perhaps my extremely flawed table manners.
Who is you closest female friend?
My partner Chris. (It’s a multi-tasking position.)
Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
I pierced my ears late, when pregnant for the first time at 33, but I rarely use them. I’d never consider any further modification: I believe in sticking with the body you’ve got.
Where would you most like to live?
Right now, the place I’m on holiday (and know well), the Port Vendres area in Southern France.
What’s the most unusual question you’ve ever been asked?
I’ve clearly blanked it from my mind in shock.
What’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever received?
Our son Finn came five weeks early, but he was meant to be a Christmas baby rather than a November one, so he’s what stands out.
What is your favourite word?
At this moment, the vegetable we’re having for dinner: samphire.
If you weren’t doing what you do, what might you have become?
A tragedy. (I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t write.)
Is there a book you’ve bought several times as a gift for someone?
Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials.
What happens after we die?
This may sound childish, but: we go to heaven.
What female historical figure do you admire most?
The one who inspired several of my early works: the outrageous, snobbish, quarrelsome Regency diarist Anne Lister.
Sum yourself up in three words:
Impossible, I’m too fond of words to stick to three.
Finally… What are you anti? What are you pro?
Anti-journalists-who-distort-and-misquote. Pro-oysters.
Room is out now, published by Picador
I’ve read 6 of her books.
She’s incredibly talented.
Can’t wait for our group post on “Room.”
Pro-oysters and a warning to the interviewer.
Love it.
I’ve just finished “Room” in one sitting…what a captivating story. I love the fact that Emma Donoghue can’t be pigeon-holed into any one category – her books are so diverse in subject matter and style.
“Life Mask” is still one of my favourite pieces of historical fiction and “Hood” had a huge effect on me as a teenager.
Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials Trilogy is possibly the most beautiful gift I can think of for any person. Wow. I’ve not read any of Emma’s books but I’ll be skedaddlin’ to find them now!
I love lots of Emma’s books: Slammerkin, The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits, etc.
Delighted she is getting recognition via Room.
I’ve bought the HDM series for several people, too. Room has been placed on my reading list!
Wow, I love the answer to: If you weren’t doing what you do, what might you have become? Inspiring and kinda gorgeous at the same time! She is uber prolific.
I loved the Woman who Gave Birth to Rabbits, one of my favourite books of stories and that engraving http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_diW9ogmv26Y/S9gHugIqV3I/AAAAAAAAAcI/SONRxGXmwoc/s1600/tofts.jpg is often in my mind.
Interested in Anne Lister now, too, haven’t read her diaries but there was some sort of dramatisation of her life on BBC a few months ago.
I’m always intrigued to see what the next thing ED does is – always a surprise, and a good ‘un. Nice interview, thanks.
Picked up Room this afternoon to flick through. Was in danger of missing my deadline I got so engrossed. Just proves that if you are a great writer, you really can tackle the most unlikely subjects. I never would have thought I would want to read a novel about this terrible subject. When is Emma coming to Ireland again?
Hello!
It’s great to see so many great comments about Room, and what a cracking interview as well! Thanks for all of the positive feedback!
We’ve got loads of great stuff on picador.com for Room at the minute including a video of Emma reading, a floor plan of Room, the A-Z of Emma and much, much more! Would love some comments! http://www.picador.com
Also, feel free to send any reviews of Room from your reading groups through to picadorblog@macmillan.co.uk
Thanks once again,
Mike.
I think you’ll find that the Kids from Fame cassette was actually far superior to the OST. Just saying.
[...] Anti Room blog has a Q&A with Emma Donoghue as well as a variety of nifty and thought-provoking posts, including one on mean girls after [...]
[...] Current favourite cover design: Emma Donoghue’s Room. Loving the colours, the fisheye effect, the lonely little toy. (A helluva lot better than the US cover, which seems to be going for “Red Rum”-style creepiness but just looks kinda primary school.) By all accounts the book is super-excellent and is hovering near the top of my ‘to buy’ list. Check out a rapid-fire Q&A with Emma over at The Anti-Room. [...]
The “Room” sounds like great read to have. It’s next on my to-do list after i put my kids to bed!
Booker shortlist!
Congratulations Emma Donoghue!
I never heard of her before until I saw the YouTube video! This one is definitely worth my read. Thanks!
Congrats on winning !
The Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year: ‘Room’ by Emma Donoghue.