Irish authors Sinead Moriarty and Alan Nolan brought their unique storytelling perspectives to Seoul during the third annual Irish Literature Festival, where they discussed their latest works exploring family dynamics and childhood adventures set in Dublin's past. The festival, organized by the Irish Embassy in Korea and the Seoul Metropolitan Library, ran from September 12-14 and featured intimate conversations about the creative process behind their compelling narratives.
Moriarty, whose 18th novel "The In-Laws" was published in July, drew inspiration from an unexpected source: HBO's hit drama series "Succession." While watching the show, she found herself focusing not on the domineering patriarch Logan Roy, but on the perspectives of those caught in his destructive family orbit. "Logan Roy is a horrible character (who) plays his children off each other, and I was thinking, 'What if it were a woman and she was playing her sons off each other?'" Moriarty explained. "Then I thought, wouldn't it be more interesting to get the perspective of their wives?"
That spark of inspiration became "The In-Laws," a novel that follows three very different women who share one formidable obstacle: their domineering mother-in-law. When a crisis threatens the family business, the sisters-in-law – reluctant allies at first – realize they stand a better chance if they unite against their common adversary. "In-laws are really interesting, and it can be tricky because they're not your family and you haven't chosen them. You just get dumped with them by marriage," she noted.
Family dynamics, in all their messy, subtle, and sometimes heartwarming forms, have long been Moriarty's literary focus. Throughout her prolific career, she has published 18 novels and four children's books that tackle challenging topics including infertility, grief, euthanasia, and the complex frictions of motherhood and sisterhood. Her novels have achieved remarkable commercial success, selling over 900,000 copies in Ireland and the UK alone.
"Everybody has a family, and every family has complications. I think that's why people can relate," Moriarty said, explaining the universal appeal of her work. With more than 20 books to her name, the prolific writer maintains an unwavering passion for her craft. "I write every day. I'm very disciplined, very routine, and I don't want to do anything else. I don't think this is a sacrifice. I'm happy writing."
For Moriarty, writing has served as both therapy and connection. Her debut novel "Baby Trail" grew directly from her personal struggle with infertility. "It was an awful and lonely process, but I thought maybe I could make it funny, sad, bittersweet," she recalled. "(The writing) was very therapeutic. And I began to get letters from all over the world saying it helped them feel less alone. That's exactly what I was trying to do."
Despite her continued success, Moriarty expressed deep concern about the future of reading, particularly among younger generations. She referenced a troubling British report from Nielsen and HarperCollins, which found that only 40 percent of parents with children ages 0 to 13 agreed that "reading books to my child is fun for me." This statistic alarmed her profoundly.
"Reading to your child before bed is the most magical thing you can possibly do. If parents aren't willing to do that, there's no hope," she said passionately. "Everyone has to invest in keeping children reading – parents, teachers, schools, governments – because it's an awful battle." She shared her personal experience with this challenge, noting that her three children were avid readers until they received phones, "and then it was over. They're slowly coming back, but we are fighting against technology, which is so addictive and so attractive. We really have to do more."
However, Moriarty sees reasons for optimism. She praised brilliant young writers who are bringing people back to books and has noticed a growing pushback against lives spent entirely on screens. "I heard about the trend here called 'text hip,' which I think is starting to make a difference," she said. "People are beginning to switch off from technology for a while. We're seeing a similar trend in Ireland – slowly, slowly. People are just tired of staring at screens all the time, so I'm kind of hoping it will continue to grow."
Meanwhile, Alan Nolan has carved out his own niche by transforming historical periods into thrilling adventures for young readers. His latest children's book, "Grand Central Cinema Club," released this month, transports readers to Dublin in 1937 – a city on the brink of global upheaval yet alive with the dreams and aspirations of its youngest inhabitants.
"The book is set just before the Second World War," Nolan explained. "Ireland was neutral at the time, but throughout the book, there are little seeds (of what's to come). It's not about the war, though – it's about kids from different social backgrounds meeting at the cinema every Saturday morning." In this pre-television, pre-mobile device era, Dubliners flocked to the city's numerous picture houses to watch cartoons, newsreels, and feature films. For Nolan's characters, these cinemas become much more than entertainment venues – they serve as gathering spots, incubators of friendship, and the backdrop for ambitious dreams of becoming filmmakers themselves.
True to his style, Nolan weaves elements of mystery and adventure throughout the narrative. "And of course, there's always a bit of crime involved – robberies and heists. There's also a series of heists happening across Europe that are getting closer and closer to Dublin. I love writing that stuff," he added with enthusiasm.
This approach mirrors his successful earlier Molly and Bram series, set even further back in Dublin's history during the 1800s, when the city had no electricity, cars, or motorbikes. "I'm a big history fan. I love Irish history, and I love setting stories back then because in some ways it's simpler," Nolan explained. He noted the practical advantages of historical settings: "If you set a story in modern times, technology moves so quickly that books can date almost instantly. I thought, I'm never going to be able to keep up. Go back to a simpler time where kids could actually get lost – the past is more exciting."
Nolan believes his historical approach offers modern children valuable perspective. "I think it's nice to give modern kids a taste of what life was like back then. Dublin is a very old city, and a lot of things that stood hundreds of years ago are still there today," he said.
His previous series features an ingenious pairing of two unlikely companions: an 11-year-old Molly Malone, reimagined from the iconic Dublin folk song as a skilled pickpocket, alongside a young Bram Stoker, the future author of "Dracula" (1897). Molly, born into poverty, and Bram, from a well-to-do middle-class family, embark on adventures that spark both friendship and inspiration for Bram's later literary achievements.
The creative roots of this series stretch back to Nolan's own childhood experiences. When he was 10 years old, his grandmother gave him a copy of "Dracula." "It was a totally inappropriate book to give a 10-year-old," Nolan laughed. "It's so visceral. I had nightmares. It really affected me, and I became obsessed with Bram Stoker. I've been thinking about him for years and always wanted to write a story about his early life."
For Nolan, the creative process always begins with character development. "What I love most is coming up with characters. They often just appear in my head, almost fully formed, usually in the middle of the night," he said. "I'll wake up, grab my notebook, and start scribbling things down – sometimes even little drawings. For me, it's always characters first; they tell me what story they want to tell." This organic approach, he believes, keeps his work fresh and full of energy.
Nolan gravitates toward densely plotted tales brimming with action, puzzles, and unexpected twists, but he maintains one consistent element across all his work. "I think kids always deserve happy endings," he said firmly.
Looking toward the future, Nolan has ambitious plans for both of his series. "Grand Central Cinema Club" will continue following the young protagonists as they actually create their film in the next installment, while Molly and Bram have a fifth book ready for publication. The upcoming adventure will take the unlikely pair to London, where they'll continue their friendship and face new challenges in an unfamiliar setting.
