On home, roots, writing, success and her favourite bookshops …
June O’Sullivan lives on Valentia, off the coast of Kerry. She is a graduate of the MA in Creative Writing at UL. Her writing has appeared in The Ogham Stone, The Storms Journal, The Waxed Lemon, Frazzled Lit and Sonder. Her debut novel, The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife, was published in 2025.
ON HOME I always wanted to live by the sea, so I’m delighted to be able to call Valentia Island home. I grew up in Limerick, and have lived in Cork and Galway, as well as the typical backpacking stint in Australia. I moved to Valentia Island in 2019 and was so fortunate to be here during lockdown. Social distancing is rarely an issue here. There are so many beautiful places to walk and enjoy the views. The weather and the light are constant dramatic companions, and there’s always the opportunity for a quick dip in the icy Atlantic when I can pick up the courage.
ON MY DESK I have a small office beside the utility room. Handy for keeping an ear on the washing machine! From my window, there’s a lovely view of the Portmagee Channel and Coomanaspig mountain that I try not to be distracted by. I’m as guilty of procrastination as any writer and can waste precious time on the internet or doing household admin, so I purchased a second desk that I’m only allowed to write at, longhand! No devices, laptops or phones there to scroll pointlessly. It’s a little trick I play on myself to make sure my desk time is productive, and so far it has worked.
ON WRITING At the moment, I’m at the thinking phase for book three. I have some sources gathered for research and I’m letting everything marinate. As soon as it clicks and I’ve enough time to devote to it, I will start writing. At that stage, I try to write every day, even if it’s only for half an hour. I find this is the best way to keep my subconscious connected to the characters and their lives, so that even when I’m washing up or driving somewhere, the cogs are still turning in the background.
… the way I can feel like I’ve succeeded is when I meet with or get messages from readers who love the story I’ve written.
ON ROOTS I feel like my roots have less to do with where I’ve lived and more to do with what I surround myself with. Family who know everything about me and friends that go back as far as first year in secondary school. Favourite albums that can transport me back to another time and place. Books and authors I’ve loved and can revisit. Souvenirs, photos and knick-knacks brought back from places I’ve visited. These are where my roots are. A bit like mycelium, these roots are part of a big lovely, interconnected network that nourishes me.
ON SUCCESS Publishing my debut novel, The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife, thrust me into the great unknown and I didn’t know how I would or should quantify success. Would it be book sales, festival appearances, good reviews? Ultimately, I discovered that the best part of publishing and the way that I can feel like I’ve succeeded is when I meet with or get messages from readers who love the story I’ve written, and feel moved and affected by the people on the page. As an avid reader, I understand that all that matters at the end is the story and whether it’s done the job you wanted it to do.
ON BOOKSHOPS Bookshops are my absolutely favourite thing in the world. I would happily never again buy another pair of shoes or lipstick if I had to choose between them and books. My mother worked in a bookshop when I was young and then later opened her own bookshop with my sister. There’s nothing to compare with the luxury of browsing shelves and choosing new worlds to lose yourself in. My favourite shops in Ireland are Charlie Byrne’s in Galway and Chapters in Dublin, but all of the others are a joint third favourite. @sullivanjune
The Sky Is Not Enough (Poolbeg Press, €17.99) is out now.
