Carmel Harrington enjoyed a bustling twenty year career in sales, with Aer Lingus and 3M, before packing it all in to become a novelist. Beyond Grace’s Rainbow, Carmel’s debut, was initially self-published as an eBook before signing with HarperCollins. It was re-released in both paperback and digital format; winning Romantic Read eBook of the Year 2013 at the UK’s Festival of Romance.
Since then the author’s star has shone brightly with the soul-stirring The Life You Left (2014) and festive treat Every Time a Bell Rings (2015). Carmel is a regular panellist on popular chat show Midday, a book reviewer for South East Radio, has written several plays and is co-founder and Chairperson of the Wexford Literary Festival. This week sees the exciting unveiling of The Things I Should Have Told You, a bittersweet tale of family and love on a stunning road trip of self-discovery. Claudia Carroll has said ‘anyone who loved the great Maeve Binchy will adore this gorgeous gem of a book.’
Carmel Harrington lives in County Wexford with her husband Roger and their two children Amelia and Nate.
On home
I live a couple of miles outside Screen Village. It’s postcard pretty, complete with thatched cottages and old buildings that have been lovingly restored. My children go to Screen National School and there is an incredible community spirit in abundance. We don’t have a corner shop, but we do have a great pub – Freddie’s – and an impressive hardware store – C&C’s – that has everything from a tin of paint to a pint of milk on hand. The road I live on is rural. Think green fields and rows of yellow corn stalks. During the day, when the kids are at school, you can hear a pin drop, save for the odd rumble of a tractor as it goes by the top of our drive. I lived in Dublin for over twenty years, but the pull to return home to Wexford grew strong when I got married and started a family. We’ve ended up on a road that I know very well. It’s a few minutes from my childhood family home. When I was a kid, this road was the very one I exercised my pony on every evening after school. Back then, it was mostly fields framing either side, and I remember vividly watching rabbits bound around the field that our house now sits in. And you know what? We still have families of rabbits come visit our back garden now. Easter Bunny HQ, we tell the kids.
On locals
My favourite restaurant in Wexford is Cistin Eile, which serves Irish cuisine with a contemporary twist. The old Irish adage ‘Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras’ or ‘Hunger is the best sauce’ is painted on the wall. Pretty but simple decor, complete with oil tablecloths, add to the overall Irish-ness of the restaurant. The talented chef and owner, Warren Gillen serves Wexford’s artisan products, in such a way that every mouthful is different and an explosion of flavour. His dark, treacly homemade Guinness bread with butter is glorious, so much so that I’ve twisted his arm once or twice to bake me a loaf for a special occasion at home. My absolute favourite dish there is his ten hour slow cooked beef with onion fondue, spiced turnip colcannon, peppered cream and broccoli. Trust me, it’s heavenly. A perfect night out for me is dinner there, followed by a drink in our local. Freddie’s is a traditional Irish bar, which serves a mean gin and tonic. Always a friendly atmosphere, thanks to Freddie himself and Pat, behind the bar. There’s live music too every week. I brought my US agent there on her last visit and I still smile thinking about her dancing around the tables.
On creating
My writing room, or more accurately writing corner, is in our living room. I’ve taken over two corners in it. One has my bookshelf, which is getting fuller by the day with favourite reads and signed copies of books from dear friends. The other corner holds my writing desk. The desk is small, deliberately so. If not I would fill it with clutter. I do have a decent office chair, to help with my bad back (writer’s ailment!). Behind me on the wall, is a canvas picture of each of my books. They help motivate me when I’m flagging in word count. Beside that is a framed promotional poster from my first US book signing in Barnes & Noble, Indiana. This was a gift from my husband for Mother’s Day a few years ago, with an engraving that says, ‘A great author, but an even better mummy.’ I adore that. I write on my MacBook Air laptop. A treasured possession, I’d be lost without it. I also have a little sign that says ‘too blessed to be stressed’ and yellow tea lights that say ‘enjoy the little things.’
On escapes
Locally, my favourite place to escape to is Curracloe Beach. I prefer it when it’s empty, either early or late. I’ve done some of my best thinking on that beach. I particularly love it when it’s cold and windy, I always feel invigorated afterwards. Coming home to an open fire and a cup of coffee after a satisfying walk on the beach is one of life’s pleasures. Overseas, well, it has to be Orlando, Florida. I’ve had a love affair with that place for over two decades now. I know the Kissimmee area well; my parents owned a villa there for years. My family and I celebrated Christmas there in 2014 and it was without doubt, the best holiday of our lives. On Christmas Eve we rode the Polar Express Train to the North Pole then we had dinner with Santa and Mrs Claus in Seaworld. We’re saving to go back soon.
On the Wexford Literary Festival
At an author talk in Enniscorthy Library, I met Maria Nolan and we clicked immediately, becoming firm friends. She told me about early plans to start a writing festival and before I knew it, I was on the committee and the Wexford Literary Festival was founded. We are a boutique festival and we work hard to ensure that our festival remains loyal to its roots – one that supports readers and all working authors, no matter their genre. We are passionate about celebrating great books and connecting them to readers. The ripple effect of festivals like ours, are infinite. We’ve already helped connect several aspiring writers to agents and publishers. I can’t wait to see what Festival 2017 brings. If you surround yourself with other book lovers and writers, they can only inspire you and motivate you to achieve your goals.
On what’s next
Right now, I’m about to start edits on my fifth novel. Actually, do you want an exclusive? I haven’t shared this with anyone yet. The title of my next novel is 72 Derry Lane – a fictitious road in Clontarf, Co Dublin. The name is a nod to the place where my father and aunt were born – Derry, The Ballagh, just up the road from me. Their family cottage, now fallen, is at the end of a long lane. I always feel there’s something special about that place. And two of my one act plays are being staged by the Blackwater Wayside Players, later this autumn. That will be a lot of fun. There is something special about seeing words written come to life in the hands of talented actors and actresses.
All Carmel’s novels are published by HarperCollins and available nationwide. The Things I Should Have Told You (€16.99) is out today.
Carmel was photographed at Freddie’s Bar, Screen, Co Wexford by Eoin Rafferty.
Sophie Grenham @SophieGrenham
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