All books are imperfect, that’s where the beauty lies ...

Hello and welcome to this Chapters 10 with Elaine Feeney, the author of the critically acclaimed novel "As You Were" and the recently released "How to Build a Boat." Elaine is an Irish poet, playwright, and novelist who has been making waves in the literary world with her unique voice and powerful storytelling (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!).

"How to Build a Boat" is a poignant and witty novel that explores themes of motherhood, grief, and the complexities of family relationships. 

Elaine Feeney is known as a writer and performer of raw honesty and humor, so it is no surprise that "How to Build a Boat" has been praised for its masterful use of language, vivid characterisations, and insightful commentary on contemporary Irish society. It demonstrates Feeney’s continuing mastery of the novel form, after her debut novel, "As You Were" was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards and won the Kate O'Brien Award, this in addition to three books of poetry, including ‘Where’s Katie?’, performing at festivals worldwide, teaching, lecturing, being a poetry ambassador, wife and mother … I am exhausted just typing that and have come out in hives thinking about how much organisation goes into doing all that she does … oh and she is charm personified and hilarious when she called into the shop!

What is the first book you bought yourself?
We were a library family, so the notion of buying a book and keeping it, only happened when I was in university. So my first conscious moment of, ‘I’m buying this book, because I can’t keep going into the shop every day reading it and annoying the booksellers’ was a Rita Ann Higgins’ collection of poems.

If you could tell your younger writing self-anything, what would it be?
You will finish something someday, and some people will read it. These scribbles you’re doing, will be worth it. (And the teenage loneliness will lift too.)

Did publishing your first book change your writing process?
I became more aware of the longevity of print. That words have power.

What were you most wrong about when you imagined being a writer?
The instant fame and champagne. (That rhymes a little!) I’ve felt a lot like Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman going about with my book, and that took me by surprise. My favorite part of this journey has been meeting booksellers. I wasn’t expecting to love so many of you.

Which 3 books do you think everyone should read?
The next three books that are recommended by readers they trust, and then the next three and never stop. Like a whispering network. My son was asked when he was four or five, who his favourite writer was, and he said, ‘how do I know? I will only know that the day I am dying.’ He adores books as much as I do, and thinks we are always searching for ‘the’ book. All books are imperfect, that’s where the beauty lies.

Elaine Feeney Signing her book How To Build A Boat at Chapters Bookstore Dublin Ireland

Do you have a favourite book to gift and if so, what is it?
I always gift poetry books. Irish women poets mostly.

What song always gets you on the dance floor?
Tammy Wynette’s ‘Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad.’

Tea or Coffee?
Irish Coffee

Do you Google yourself?
Yes, and especially when I have a book out. So, this week, upon googling myself, Google offered the ‘People Also Search For…’ which included, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, some soccer players and Gerry Hutch. I mean, what’s happening? Have they books out this week? I’m not googling myself again. Not today in any case.

Why do you love Chapters?!
THE STAFF. But also, I love that you can bring books back to Chapters within a month and get money off another purchase. I love upcycling like this. I am a publisher’s nightmare, I know. But anything that keeps people in the cycle of reading is great.