Na de leesclub 'In het spoor van de eclips' is het stil geweest bij Bronagh Curran. Maar ze is terug met haar e-book 'The Path of Totality', de Engelse versie van In het spoor van de eclips. Wij kregen de kans om haar te interviewen! 

1.      How are you? It’s been a year since your book came out in The Netherlands!

I'm good thanks for asking! Ever since In Het Spoor Van de Eclips came out in The Netherlands I have been trying to get the original English version published before the Total Solar Eclipse on Aug 21st 2017 and it came very close to being bought by a Scottish publisher but fell at the final hurdle. It's been a tough experience for me and without my Dutch readers I don't know if I would have kept going.

2.      Are you still writing?

Yes - I am still writing, probably not as much as I should and I have been taking very long breaks from it. I went travelling in America for 7 weeks and didnt write one word, but I think that's a good thing too as it gives your brain time to absorb what it's experiencing without having to process this imaginary world you are also living in. Even right now this week I am wondering if I should give up writing - this happens to me every couple of months - mainly because I am not seeing the results I think I should be. It's been very hard not to see The Path of Totality as a failure because I failed to get it published in my own language. But then I go back and read all of the wonderful comments from my Dutch readers and I see that my story has meant something to them and that is enough success to keep me going back to my laptop.

3.      Is there a plan for a writers visit to Holland?

Unfortunately no, there are no plans to visit The Netherlands but I would love to if the opportunity ever arose.

4.      The Path of Totality is still not published in its original languages, why?

-The real life event of the eclipse dates the book

5.      How do you feel about it? 

Getting published is a very complicated process and often it just takes being in the right place at the right time and for whatever reason, it just didn't happen for TPOT. This will always make me sad because there are so many readers who will never get to know Nat, Quincy and Celeste. It makes me question my ability as a writer and whether I'm wasting my time and energy but I have to move on, which is why I made the decision to self publish it on Amazon. At least this way it is out there for people to hopefully find one day.

6.      Can we expect another book within 5 years?

 I really hope so! I am working on a new novel called Birds of a Kinder Climate about a homeless girl named Mee and it's due to be completed by the end of 2017. I would love if this book makes its way to Dutch readers and trust me if it does, I will be making myself available to Hebban to discuss it!

7.      You story has been compared with the books of John Green. How do you feel about that?

Having my writing compared to that of John Green is a massive compliment, he is my favourite living writer and his books have a huge influence on me. It is a dream of mine to one day meet him or at least have him read one of my books.

8.      What is your nicest comment on In het spoor van de Eclips?

9.      Your epub publication date, is it because of the eclips in the US, some months ago?

Yes, I made the tough decision to self publish The Path of Totality just after the eclipse happened in American on 21st Aug as it was at this stage that I knew no traditional publisher would buy it. I learned the lesson with this book to never again set a story around a real life event as it puts an expiration date on your book in the eyes of publishing houses.

10.   How existed the character of  the old man, how comes along with the youngsters? They travel to the eclipse. Did he exist from the start or comes along during the story?

Quincy was without question, the first fully formed character in my head - and perhaps the most important one. His friendship and the impact he has on Nat's life is the heart and soul of the book and I always see it as more a story of friendship rather than romance. Also writing his dialogue was my favourite part of the entire process because I got to speak through a wise mind that had lived life and had lots to teach his new young friends, I loved his jokes, his riddles and his history. His voice was the one that would come to me as I day dreamed on the bus to work. He made me cry on a few occasion, especially at the eclipse!