I am a 25-year-old aspiring writer at home with my husband and two cats, Florence and Tabitha, to keep me company. Originally from Northern Ireland, I moved to my husband’s farm in Wexford after I got married at 22. The transition from suburban to country living was tricky at first, but I’ve carved out a good life for myself. I like to go rowing in the stunning surroundings of Graiguenamanagh. I recently graduated with an MA from University College Dublin, and I have quite a large collection of books I’m determinedly reading my way through. I started writing fiction a few months after completing my MA, and have found it to be an extremely enjoyable way to spend my time.
I started reading the Guardian on my sister’s recommendation during my undergraduate degree at Durham; it used to be on sale for 20p in the students’ union! The first thing I looked for was Lucy Mangan’s column, which was absolutely hilarious, before moving on to the sudoku puzzle. I bought it every Tuesday for the Education supplement, given that I was studying a degree in education and philosophy.
Now I read the Guardian for current events and book reviews, although I love the emphasis the paper places on feminism. I really enjoyed the recent conversation between Lauren Laverne and JK Rowling; it felt a lot fresher and more interesting than a normal interview.
My favourite Guardian article was written by Neil Gaiman, whom I met once at UCD. I was sweating profusely and spouting gibberish at him, but he was very kind and signed my book regardless of what an eejit I was. His article focused on the importance of libraries and promoting literacy to children, and I agreed with every bit of it. Books have played a seminal role in my life, and Wexford Library has been crucial in helping me to feel at home in a different country – it is vital that these resources are preserved for the use and enjoyment of future generations.
Nowadays, instead of getting a paper copy for 20p, I read the Guardian online and follow the headlines on Twitter.
• If you would like to be interviewed in this space, send a brief note to good.to.meet.you@theguardian.com
