Come and chat to author Marian Keyes: Monday 4 June, 9pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Book club special: We’re excited to announce that Mumsnet fave Marian Keyes will be joining us on this thread for a webchat on Monday 4 June between 9 and 10pm, when she'll be answering your questions about her writing, life and hopefully throwing in a few beauty tips along the way.

Marian last joined us in Feb 2016. With no less than 13 novels, three collections of journalism, alongside an extremely honest account of her battle with depression, Saved by Cake, she’s one of Ireland’s greatest and most successful ever novelists. Her latest novel The Break - just out in paperback - has been described as “Marian Keyes at her funniest, wisest, glorious” (Nina Stibbe). Marian was a vocal part in the 'Yes' campaign in the recent Irish referendum. Her social channels on Twitter and Instagram are followed by over 190k collectively.

Join Marian on Monday at 9pm - or post up a Q for her on this thread in advance. Join the chat for chance to win one of FIVE copies of The Break. Names will be pulled out of the hat just after the webchat

You’re one of my Sudden Wild Enthusiams, that I’ve never got over.

I’m prone to sudden mad obsessions myself but unfortunately don’t have the same funds to indulge! I can totally relate to that time you almost booked flights to that Italian outlet centre for cheap shoes, I totally lose the run of myself.
What’s the most extreme thing you’ll admit to doing to get your hands on a desired fashion item?

I love Marian Keys! Great chat to have. Coincidentally your hair is looking amazing, I recently tore your photo out of a magazine as I am growing mine and want to ask for a 'Marian' ;)

I would love to know who is your favourite of all of your characters and why apologies if this is like asking parents who their favourite child is

Marian, I love, love, love your books!! You are by a million miles my favourite author! Rachel's Holiday was the first one I read and have loved every one of yours since; I finished The Break a few weeks ago, another brilliant book.

I am not normally this gushy about anybody .

As so many others Rachel's Holiday was the first book of yours I read.

I'd got it free with a magazine but have read it so many times I've had to replace it twice...and then they invented kindle! So now I can re-read to my hearts content.

As the child of an alcoholic it's a very honest and accurate depiction of addiction I feel.

Did you ever worry you were being TOO honest? Opening yourself up to possible criticism even from other addicts/family of addicts?

I did love the response you once gave which I can't quote verbatim, to being accused of being a "fluffy chick lit" writer along the lines of 'since when is being shocked back to life after an od chick lit material?' Quite right.

You also write comedy EXTREMELY well which I think is very hard to do.

Love you and your work long may both continue.

Hi Marian, thanks for so many fantastic reads. I think I read somewhere that you were writing a sequel for Kate Walsh. Is this true?!

P.s I was trying to avoid fangirling, but should admit that after falling in love with the Walsh family I developed a bit of a crush on Dublin/Ireland too. Now married for over ten years to a lovely Irish man and we have three children - I hold you at least partly responsible! Thanks!

I don't have a question sorry! I'm just excited to ear what you have to say. One thing I would like to mention is THANK YOU for all you did to support Repeal. Bravo.

Omg Marian I love you

I think my favourite is Angels, and pretty much anything involving Mammy Walsh makes me cry with laughter.

Can I ask if you have a favourite chapter in any of your books and why?

I just wanted to say I love your books (and I love it when you are in It Takes Two!).

You answered my question last time so I will let others ask this time!

Thank you for the hours of happy reading.

As the daughter of an Irish mother your books helped me to understand some of her peculiarities. Perhaps in future books the rest will be revealed.
It’s hard to pick a favourite but I think it would have to be A Charming Man. As well as the main storyline, I loved the fact that Lola‘s happy ending was with a transvestite. What led you to that choice?

I absolutely love the Walsh family. Have you any plans to do any more novels on them

Rachel's Holiday is my absolute favourite with Anybody Out There as a close second. I've read them so many times over the years I've had to replace them twice.

What made you start writing? I love your books, they're all so relatable and definitely books you want to read in one sitting! Every time I think I want to start to write, I manage to talk myself out of it and convince myself it'll be crap. How do you motivate yourself?

Hello, Marian, another reader and fan of your books here.

Do you ever think that family members or friends might 'recognise' themselves in the characters you've written? (Rightly or wrongly!)

You've done stories on all the Walsh daughters, will you ever do a story from the mum's perspective?

I'm just about to start reading Under the Duvet and have been looking forward to it so much as I really enjoyed Making It Up As I Go Along. I loved the list of translations you put in there 😂 I think I like your collections just as much as your novels and I always read them in your voice! My question is who are your favourite authors?

Oh and by the way Marian, I do hope your dad is doing ok and that you’re all keeping close and coping. My dad sank very quickly and severely into dementia and it was a hellish year. He eventually died and it took me a long time to sort myself out. I’m just coming out the other end now after 18 months. I wish you all the strength and love to cope. Your family seems less fractured than mine so I’m sure you have lots of support but I’m rooting for you too.

Any up and coming authors we should look out for?

What do you like to read when you’re relaxing?

With the latest devastating news of Percy Pigs’ gums potential demise, will you A) Be buying in bulk IMMEDIATELY B) Be protesting that the reasoning of too high sugar content for kids could be remedied by marketing them for adults only C) Be experimenting with alternative farm-themed chewy gums in preparation for empty Percy Pigs shelves?

Hi Marian, I am a big fan too. What I have wondered recently is, do you feel that the portrayal of an unborn child/spirit sort of 'choosing' its mother-to-be in 'The Brightest Star in the Sky' is maybe hard to square with your support for the yes side in the referendum? The novel read as if you felt unborn children had a 'soul', but presumably you don't?

Hi Marian! What would be your favourite comfort food with your favourite comfort TV show?

(p.s. Love you! )

I couldn’t help myself, I have a question after all!

Who is your favourite current author- whose books do you wait impatiently for?

And is there a book that you wish you had written?

Thank you!

I've really enjoyed all of your books, and, like you, was blown away by Denmark's performance at this year's Eurovision. (May have watched it a few times since on Youtube...)
I was hugely shocked when you revealed in 'The Mystery of Mercy Close' who Anna ended up with. I was absolutely convinced it was going to be one of the others. Was it always your plan that she would end up with the one that she did, and how did you decide? And has anyone else ever suggested that she should have got together with one of the others instead?
Thanks for reading.

Hi Marian, I just wanted to thank you for introducing the world to Irish terminology. As a result of your books I can now never hear the words "ride" or "lad" without smirking childishly

I just loved The Break, and it’s great having you on the Twitters. Thank you for all your work on Repealing the 8th too, following you and all the amazing repealers made me very homesick.

I was the first Irish woman a Latvian colleague had met and she told me anything she knew about Ireland and the Irish came from Marian Keyes books. What are the most common kind of questions do non Irish readers have about Ireland for you?

Who is Lorcan Larkin based on??