New novel from Fran O’Reilly has Clondalkin as the backdrop
By Aideen O’Flaherty
Families moving from the inner city and into new suburbs in the 1980s set the backdrop for author Fran O’Reilly’s new, self-released novel, ‘Escape the Truth’.
His book details the trials and tribulations of a young couple who have just moved to Clondalkin from the inner city.
Fran O'Reilly
The move gives the couple, Freddy and Jean Higgins, the opportunity to start afresh in new surroundings, and while Jean wants to seize the opportunity for a better life, tension starts to mount as Freddy becomes drawn to the criminal elements that the couple thought they’d left behind.
The book’s author, Fran, who is originally from Crumlin but has lived in the Cushlawn area of Tallaght for the past 40 years, has had ample time to indulge in his passion for writing following his recent retirement from An Post. He penned ‘Escape the Truth’ – his fourth book – during the lockdown.
Fran took some time out to speak to The Echo about how he developed his passion for writing, his decision to retire, and he also explained why he dedicated the book to frontline staff.
When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing by accident, really. I was actually lying on a beach in Fuerteventura when I thought that I saw someone I knew. It turned out that he was actually German, but within minutes I had built a complete story around the idea. Imagine meeting someone from your past who denied ever knowing you? That eventually became my first book, ‘An Incredible Chain of Events’.
How did you feel about your recent retirement from An Post?
Retiring from An Post left me with mixed feelings. I had the option of staying another two years, but after spending 43 years there, I felt that it was time. Also, my dad had worked for An Post, and had a stroke only months from retirement. I vowed that that would not happen to me.
Has your retirement allowed you to indulge in your passion for writing?
Retiring has certainly given me more time to write, but I confess that for the first four or five months I couldn’t really get into it. I used to wake up feeling guilty, as if I should be somewhere else.
What do you enjoy most about writing fiction?
I enjoy writing fiction because you can use your imagination so much – everything is possible, there are no boundaries. For my next book, I want to tackle a true-life story. I just hope that I can do it justice.
Your most recent novel, ‘Escape the Truth’, is set in the ‘80s. Why did you decide to set it in this era?
I set ‘Escape the Truth’ in the ‘80s because so many folks living in the suburbs can identify with that time. I moved to Tallaght then, as did so many of my neighbours and friends. It was an incredible time, as thousands of families left the inner city to re-settle and create a whole new life for their families.
Can you describe what your new novel is about?
‘Escape the Truth’ centres on a childless couple, called Freddy and Jean, who reluctantly move from the city centre to the suburbs of Clondalkin. They try to settle into their new surroundings, but the spectre of being unable to have children is never far away. Both are lucky as they have jobs, unlike most families around them, but Freddy is drawn back towards the city, and the dubious people that he grew up with. Jean is also left feeling unsettled, as a chap at her job pays great attention to her. Can the couple save their relationship, or will all the distractions in their lives end in disaster? This story is a thriller, crime, comedy, and love story, and should appeal to all ages.
You dedicated the book to frontline staff, why did you feel it was important to do this?
I decided to dedicate the book to the frontline staff only because I finished writing the book during the coronavirus pandemic. I think that being a nurse is more of a calling than a job. They deserve every penny that they earn. I hope that if someone opens my book in a few years’ time and reads the dedication, they might remember what we’ve been through, or more importantly, what all those staff have experienced.
‘Escape the Truth’ is available now in paperback or Kindle format on Amazon.co.uk.
