Page Turners: ‘In Her Place’ author Edel Coffey
Author Edel Coffey discusses her beloved literary titles, writing process, and how the best concepts come from asking yourself, ‘what if’.
Edel Coffey is an award-winning bestselling author of two novels. Her debut novel, Breaking Point, won the Irish Independent Crime Fiction Book of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards in 2022, and her second novel In Her Place was shortlisted for The Last Word Listener’s Choice Award.
Who is the other woman? That’s for you to decide. Ann devoted years to her mother’s care – and now she’s gone, Ann feels lost. Justin is also grieving, but his wife is still alive. Deborah is in a coma and she doesn’t have long left. When the two meet, they are instantly drawn to one another and, before long, they’ve fallen deeply in love. Ann quickly moves in with Justin and his little girl, making them the perfect family. But just as Ann settles into her new life, Justin’s is turned upside down. Unexpectedly, his wife has survived. Deborah is coming home. Neither knows what to do. But one thing is certain: Ann has earned the life Deborah left behind, and she plans to keep it.
Did you always want to be a writer? Tell us about your journey to becoming a published author.
Yes, I always wanted to be a writer but it took me a long time to build up the confidence to do it. I did a degree in Journalism and worked as a journalist. It was a great way to write for a living but the desire to write a novel was always there, so I wrote my first novel in stolen moments until I finally had a draft that got me an agent and then a publisher.
What inspired you to start writing?
I always wrote and I had always assumed I would write a book, but a busy career that I loved always seemed to get in the way. When I had children in quick succession and took a step back from work, I realised it was now or never. So I started writing whenever I could. I had a feeling at the time that a lot was at stake, so I think I was very motivated to do it, which I realise now is an essential part of writing a book. You have to be self-motivated.
Tell us about your new book, In Her Place. Where did the idea come from?
In Her Place is my second novel and it tells the story of Ann, a woman whose life has fallen apart after the death of her mother. When she meets wealthy Justin, they begin an intense relationship, but there’s just one snag – Justin is married to a terminally ill woman. When his wife unexpectedly recovers, the now-pregnant Ann is faced with a dilemma…who is the other woman in this situation? I wanted to write about a person who recovers against all the odds and how it might not be welcome news for everyone.
What do you hope this book instils in the reader?
First and foremost, I always want readers to be entertained and I like to keep them guessing too, so I make my books fast-paced and intriguing. But I also like the books to function on other levels, which is why I write modern moral dilemmas that give readers a lot to think and talk about. I want my books to reflect the contemporary world and the complicated lives we lead, so readers can ask themselves ‘what would I do in that situation?’
What did you learn when writing this book?
I learned a lot about writing! With a debut novel, you write at your own pace and don’t show it to anyone until it’s ready. With this book, I learned a lot about planning and outlining, which has really helped in the writing of my third novel.
Tell us about your writing process?
I need the right idea before I begin. Once I have the idea, I am a woman obsessed. The story is always running on a loop somewhere in my mind, whether I’m at a party, making children’s lunches or cleaning the house. It wakes me up in the middle of the night, so I try to work on it every day until it’s done… and then I can start the process all over again! The journalist in me loves to research, so I’ll always read widely on whatever topic I’m writing about, and then I’ll start thinking about what kind of character might find themself in this situation. I’ll try to plot it beforehand only loosely because it always changes in the writing. I’m often as surprised by the twist as the reader is.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
My ideas always start with the question ‘what if…’ I draw a lot of inspiration from the world around me. I’m a journalist by training so I find it hard to switch off from news, trends and statistics, so often a news report will trigger a line of inquiry that leads me to an idea for a novel. I hope it’s what makes my books feel authentic and relevant to readers. I’m writing about the world we all live in.
What are your top three favourite books of all time, and why?
This is a terrible question to ask a writer! My favourite books are always changing but the novels that made a real mark on me were ones that highlighted the ordinary tragedy of life in beautiful, restrained writing, so books like A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh, The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton and So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell. These three all had a big impact and I think they influenced my outlook as a storyteller too, as they’re all quite dark. I’ll always have a place in my top five for Lullaby by Leila Slimani and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
Who are some of your favourite authors, Irish or otherwise?
The aforementioned are favourites. Claire Keegan too has long been a favourite. Her short story Antarctica from the collection of the same name frightened the life out of me when I first read it and I have read everything she has written ever since. I think Ann Enright and John Banville are two of our finest writers, and I also love Irish writers Ferdia Lennon, Elaine Feeney, Jane Casey, Andrea Mara, Catherine Ryan Howard, Roisin Kiberd, Paul Lynch, Catherine Prasifka, Aingeala Flannery, Louise O’Neill, Sinead Gleeson, Rob Doyle, Cat Doyle… I could go on and on. I read a lot of French fiction too, I like their outlook and find their literature very philosophically engaging. A book I loved was The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier, about a plane that duplicates itself – and all of its passengers – during a thunderstorm.
What are some upcoming book releases we should have on our radar?
I really enjoyed The Cleaner by Mary Watson about a woman who is intent on getting revenge and infiltrates a group of people by becoming the neighbourhood cleaner. It’s very dark and gripping. I’m also really looking forward to reading Elaine Feeney’s next novel, Let Me Go Mad In My Own Way, which is out in May 2025. She was long-listed for the Booker Prize last year.
What book made you want to become a writer?
I remember writing a long mystery story in response to the first Agatha Christie novel I read when I was around 12 so perhaps it’s all Agatha’s fault.
What’s one book you would add to the school curriculum?
Kaitriona O’Sullivan’s Poor (if it’s not already on the curriculum). It tells us everything we need to know about how to help people access education.
What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year?
The Child In Time by Niall Williams.
What’s some advice you’ve got for other aspiring writers?
Finish things. The author Francesca Simon passed on this excellent advice from her father, who was a Hollywood screenwriter. Finishing is what distinguishes professionals from amateurs. Professionals always finish. She told me, “most people embark on these enormous sagas set across three centuries and five solar systems and I think, ‘you’re not going to finish this’. Do something smaller, write a short story, bring something to a conclusion.” It’s sound advice.
Lastly, what do the acts of reading and writing mean to you?
I have always written. If I come up against a problem, a dilemma, an emotion, my innate response is to write about it. It’s how I understand the world and myself. Reading, however, is pure pleasure and the quickest escape route from a bad day.
In Her Place by Edel Coffey (SPHERE, €16.99) is on sale now.
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