Debut Spotlight: Kate McQuaile

Anyone who has followed the blog for a few years will know that I am a huge fan of Irish Fiction having been introduced to authors such as Maeve Binchy when I was younger by my mum and granny.  I also love discovering new authors to follow so to be introduced to a new Irish author such as Kate McQuaile, whose debut novel What She Never Told Me is published today, is a win win for me ;)

Kate McQuaile is a graduate of the Faber novel-writing course. She lives in London and works as a journalist, but is originally from Drogheda in Ireland.  Follow Kate on Twitter

Can you tell us a little bit about your debut novel What She Never Told Me?
It’s the story of a woman trying to make sense of her life and her memories after her marriage collapses and her mother dies. Her discovery of an old letter among her mother’s papers and her need to make contact with the father she has never known send her on a journey that makes her question everything she thought was real and true.

Where did the inspiration come from to write this story about a woman wanting to finally discover the truth about her heritage from her dying mother? 
It came from a couple of different things — a childhood memory and the idea that even the most ordinary families have secrets. 

If you had to describe What She Never Told Me in one sentence, what would it be? 
I would say that it’s about loss, acceptance and forgiveness.