Even though Jane Casey, a Dublin-native scribe, might be frequently seen on bestseller charts, she isn’t granted all the hours of her day to devote solely to her craft. Similar to the majority of modern writers, she must also navigate through the relentless torrents of emails and book-related inquiries which continuously consume her time.
Being a full-time novelist isn’t necessarily about spending all day writing, as Casey states during a video conversation from her London residence, which she shares with her husband and two sons. In her own words, it’s crucial to guard her writing window amidst constant emails, requests, and phonecalls.
Despite the challenges, she takes it all with a cheerful demeanour, acknowledging the positive side of being busy. Since the launch of her first novel in 2010, 47-year-old Casey has collected a number of awards, including the Mary Higgins Clark Award for the fourth book in her popular Maeve Kerrigan series, awarded by the Mystery Writers of America.
The characters that she moulds in her novels, though occasionally wicked, never lack depth. Their maliciousness is often counterbalanced by Casey’s empathy towards them. She believes that an author’s disdain for their characters is apparent in their portrayal, something she consciously tries to avoid.
Her upcoming novel, A Stranger in the Family, is the eleventh addition to the Maeve Kerrigan series. Those familiar with the series will recognize the group that collaborates with the detective sergeant, particularly Detective Inspector Josh Derwent. The enthralling dynamics between the duo, unfolding over the series, adds an enticing appeal to the storyline.
In this most recent addition, the detectives are preoccupied with unravelling the connection, if any, between a double homicide and the disappearance of nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall who vanished from her home sixteen years prior. Rosalie, a clever, resilient yet vulnerable character, appears vibrantly alive in the narrative, sustained by the fragments of attention she can gather and harbouring persistent hope.
Casey confides that her book carries many personal elements. Much of the narrative, especially those parts that aren’t focussed on Maeve and Josh, are influenced by her personal experiences. By introducing a character like Rosalie, who often feels out of place and tries to adapt, Casey indirectly reflects on her own feelings as a child.
Similarly, Casey’s character Kerrigan, a charming protagonist of London-Irish background, mirrors the outsider persona. Casey shares that when she initially created Kerrigan, an important trait was his inability to fit in. This struggle for Kerrigan continues, as he looks for a place he can belong, yet he turns it to his advantage.
There’s a unique pleasure for Casey when people share their interpretations of her characters, a conversation that she finds rather enriching. She believes writing often requires an ability to distance oneself, and this process can be slightly isolating. Much like Graham Greene referenced the ‘chip of glass in the heart’, Casey relates to always having the need to step back and observe instead of completely immersing in the moment.
Life in the 1990s saw Casey leave Dublin to attend Jesus College in Oxford for her English studies. However, upon returning to further her education at Trinity College, she found her perspective had changed drastically. Disregarding the traditional study path was questioned by professors, but Casey believed the course she took and leaving the known path changed her life significantly.
Additionally, meeting her future husband at Oxford was another life-changing event. Despite being just 19, she felt certain that their relationship was meant to be a lifelong one, which eventually played a critical role in her decision to leave home again.
The query posed by many – if she foresaw a career in fiction writing during these formative years, still remains.
In her student life at the Bodleian library, she indulged herself in copious amounts of literature and daunting subjects, treating herself with crime novels as some sort of award. She experienced a revelation, “The narrative that’s been playing out in my head, I could inscribe it somewhere”. Despite the initial stint in young adult fiction editing, she credits authors like John Connolly and Tana French for inspiring her to explore the depths of crime writing.
The escalating trend of females penning crime novels intrigued her profoundly, the definition of an Irish crime novel has become increasingly elusive with their diverse and numerous narratives. “I find this thrilling, as individuals are venturing out of their comfort zones and really challenging the perceived limitations,” she adds.
Summer is approaching, and Casey is lined up to be one of the principal speakers at the Harrogate Crime Festival, taking place in the erstwhile abode of Agatha Christie, the Old Swan hotel. Frequently referred to as the Crime writers Assembly, due to its popularity amongst authors, the festival draws in scores of readers each year. For Casey, headlining this event is considered a major achievement in her career.
As she puts her final words, “It’s a genuine delight. I’ll be engaged in a friendly conversation with Erin Kelly, who is a close acquaintance of mine. It’ll be an enjoyable discussion”.
However, being inherently reserved, public appearances, such as book launches, are seldom part of her routine. These events only seem to instil worry in her, “Nowadays authors are required to exhibit a vast number of talents, public speaking being one of them. It appears as though masterful authors bear similarities with stand-up comedians. They manage to keep the audience amused and involved, which is a talent in itself. Nonetheless, we’re individuals who prefer solitude and the companionship of books. The attempt to juggle both aspects proves to be challenging.”
“How does she keep up such pace and energy? She’s not entirely sure herself. A lot of it likely contributes to her adrenaline and experience. She appreciates the intimate conversations she has when she converses with her readers. To her, the celebration is enjoyable, but the memorable part is engaging with her audience, listening about their thoughts on her characters.
She finds listening to her fellow writers significant and rewarding, making her feel like part of a large connected community. Apart from these, Casey is also fond of investing her time in social media. She regularly shares snippets of her life, including her life with her cocker spaniel, Rory, to her followers and constituents.
Engaging with people online offers an entirely new experience, drastically different from conventional fan mail. Once upon a time, you would only read the letters screened and vetted by your publishing house or agent. Now, she gets to interact with her fans directly and instantaneously.
She strongly believes that surfing online, despite how her husband amusingly opposes, helps her broaden her perceptions. As a contemporary crime writer, she endeavors to illustrate the picture of society at present, and online browsing allows her to gain awareness of current trends.
She further states that people are generally freer online than they are in person. Especially on Twitter, she feels like she gets an understanding of people’s minds. Sometimes, she procrastinates online when she doesn’t find her book enjoyable but convinces herself that she’s just researching or engaging with culture.
Casey reflects on whether she would prefer to be from an earlier age like Mary Higgins Clark or Agatha Christie if she could time travel – a time where modern distractions were non-existent.”
Whilst she has perused numerous writers’ biographies and experienced their highs and lows, the author warns against underestimating the challenges authors face, like Agatha Christie’s near financial ruin due to US taxation. Another case she mentions is Georgette Heyer, whose intense drive for success and the bitterness she harboured due to perceived unpaid dues stands as a warning. Contemporary writers also encounter their own hurdles, says Casey.
The author pragmatically acknowledges the constraints of her present knowledge, suggesting that despite potential difficulties tied to modern technology affecting story planning, she would opt for the current times.
Jane Casey’s novel, “A Stranger in the Family”, published by Hemlock Press/HarperCollins, is now available.