In our new books series, KEVIN POWER, author of Bad Day in Blackrock, which inspired the ICONIC FILM What Richard Did, tells Sophie Grenham about visiting the set, and his intimate knowledge of the layout of HODGES FIGGIS...
Academic and Rooney prize-winner Kevin Power penned the controversial Bad Day In Blackrock, published in 2008. Set during the zenith of the Celtic Tiger, the story is based on the Club Anabel tragedy, in which a young man was violently killed. Renowned playwright and mentor, Professor Frank McGuinness, has called this work “the defining story of his generation.” Bad Day was later adapted for film as What Richard Did (2012), to critical acclaim. Kevin lives in Ringsend and is now a Fellow of Creative Writing at St Patrick’s College in Drumcondra.
On where the magic happens
I have a small home office, which – apart from a desk and a large black-leather chair that makes me feel like a James Bond villain – is mostly full of books. On the wall is a framed poster for a reading I did in Serbia in 2010. At least I think that’s what it is. It’s in Serbian. Could be anything, really.
On discipline
I’m not precious about where I work. Writing goes best when you just fold it into your daily life. If I went on a retreat I’d just spend all my time lounging around drinking margaritas and thinking I was great.
On bookshops
I regularly alarm people with my extensive knowledge of the layout and stock of Hodges Figgis on Dawson Street. The atmosphere is civilisation itself. I feel I must also say a word for Chapters on Parnell Street, which has the best selection of secondhand books in the city. Between them, these two institutions absorb the lion’s share of my disposable income.
On iPads
I sometimes remind myself of the old lady from Fahrenheit 451, who chooses to die with her books rather than live in a world without them. I don’t see the point of tablets. I am, however, relatively sanguine about the future of the physical book. Books survived the Nazis and they’ll survive Jeff Bezos, too.
On What Richard Did
It’s not that rare to sell a movie option; what’s rare is when the movie actually gets made. I was thrilled, of course, but also frankly unnerved. My beautiful book! What were they going to do to it? In the end it was a joy to watch Lenny Abrahamson and Malcolm Campbell make Bad Day their own. I visited the set a few times – a rum experience, to watch real live people wandering around pretending to be characters you made up.
Bad Day In Blackrock is published by The Lilliput Press (€10.00) and is available from most good bookshops.
Kevin Power was photographed in St Patrick’s College, where he is a Fellow of Creative Writing
Image via Eoin Rafferty