Today's guest was winning writing competitions as a child but went on to study medicine. She worked for many years as a child psychiatrist. Around the age of forty, she did her first writing course after which she was like a lunatic driving home full of ideas and lines for poems.

Fast-forwarding to 2021, her debut novel, Words to Shape My Name, has been shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award. It tells the story of the relationship between Lord Edward Fitzgerald and his manservant, Tony Small.

British author, Hilary Mantel describes it as “An ambitious and vital novel with an epic sweep: a complex, timely story about liberty, equality, identity. This book is an act of salvage.”

It was longlisted for the 2019 Bath Novel Award and was a winner at the 2020 Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair.

Laura McKenna's debut novel has left me with a deep admiration for her writing and her ability to express so wonderfully details of someone's life that was so vastly different from her own.

This is an exciting episode when I meet Louis Markoya, an artist who spent six years as a protégé of Salvador Dalí. It is dedicated to two very special people – my wonderful friend and fellow author, Zoe Holohan, and the fabulous man, Paul Chimera, who introduced me to today’s guest, Louis Markoya. Louis is continuing the work of Salvador Dalí today after a huge break from art that he took having spent six years as Dalí’s protégé. Louis is exhibiting from 28th August 2021 until 6th February 2022.

Louis Markoya is a surrealist painter inspired by fractals and mathematics. As a former protégé of artist Salvador Dalí, Markoya’s interest in lenticular prints developed while assisting Dalí on 3D projects that included holograms. LRMA is pleased to host an exhibition of Markoya’s work this fall, which will include a retrospective of work since Dalí to present, including a series of paintings inspired by the pandemic and 3D holographic lenticulars.

This interview with Louis explores his journey into art which was inspired predominantly by Salvador Dalí and nature. We explore the places that have affected this creativity, his work with Dalí, and how he took a prolonged break from art only to return and carry on aspects of the Great Master’s work. We also talk about the brain and art. Below you can read about Louis to get a fuller flavour of this episode.

By Louis Markoya:
During my childhood I had very little exposure to art and did not develop any real interest in it. I honestly did not even really know what art encompassed. My only childhood memories of going to art museums for class trips involved the Egyptian sections of the Metropolitan in NY.

To continue reading go to the Creative Places & Faces website

I read the third novel written by today’s guest late in 2020 and I couldn’t put it down. Guilty, which is set in County Clare is a riveting page-turner about the dark secret that causes a doctor’s perfect life to unravel. One review by the author Patricia Gibney stated, “A full tapestry of secrets and lies.. a perfect mix for a thrilling read. I loved Guilty.” And so did I. And after reading it, I wasn’t surprised to notice that our guest describes herself as a plotaholic.

This amazing author’s interview will take you to County Clare, where she lives. Siobhán MacDonald loves the diverse scenery from the wildness of Loop Head to the moonscape of the Burren, to the rolling hills and lakes of East Clare. This is the setting for two of Siobhán’s books Guilty and The Blue Pool

Siobhán’s childhood holidays were spent in West Cork, which she fondly remembers for the colour therapy it affords.

You will also travel virtually to Upper West Side New York, Crete, Ile – de-Ré Glencoe, Glen Etive on the west coast of Scotland.