Derry writer Geraldine Quigley picks up a Penguin book deal
A DERRY woman with a passion for writing while in a call centre working has been selected for a special mentoring programme.
Geraldine Quigley first put pen to paper seven years ago and has now penned her first novel, Music Love Drugs War.
The book tells the story of a group of friends in Derry during the Hunger Strike in 1981.
She has been picked, along with 11 other writers, to join a year-long Penguin Random House mentoring programme.
“I want the mentoring scheme to push me to be a better writer,” she said.
Ms Quigley has been identified by the Penguin as an “exceptional” writer.
She is now part of their mentoring programme, WriteNow, that aims to find, mentor and publish new writers from communities currently under-represented in the industry.
Each of the 12 writers are paired with a mentoring editor from Penguin Random House with experience in their genre.
Mrs Doherty, who is the sister of bassist Michael Bradley from the Undertones, told BBC Radio Foyle that she has always wanted to write a book.
“I started writing short stories and thought why not a novel,” she said.
Music Love Drugs War tells the story of a group of friends in Derry during the Hunger Strike in 1981.
“This story was close to my heart because it is not a traditional story about Northern Ireland,” she said.
“This process is a wonderful thing. I am working with a Penguin mentor for the next 12 months to get my book ready for publishing,” she said.
Tom Weldon, who is the Chief Executive of Penguin Random House UK, said that books play a unique role in society.
“They spark conversations and bring people together through new ideas and perspectives.
“Our role is to seek out voices that speak to all of society and make sure those books and stories are for everyone.”
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