“Write what you know” must be one of the most common tips writers receive. So I did.
I had a happy childhood growing up in a housing estate on the outskirts of Waterford city. I began my working life in a travel agency. Although it was the eighties I had the opportunity to stay in fabulous hotels, travel first class and experience things that previously I could only have dreamed of. Surfing in southwest France, Jeep safaris in Dubai, dining on a riverboat on New York’s Hudson River and so much more, and all free.
In 1995, I married Michael, a farmer from Co Waterford, and in 1997 our daughter Aisling was born. On my second pregnancy it was confirmed that we were having twins. Our excitement was incredible. “Two for the price of one,” people joked and we’d laugh.
But it wasn’t to be. At 24 weeks our baby boys were born and died. The pain and anger was all consuming. You wonder why? What did we do to deserve this? Also within months our beautiful daughter was diagnosed with dyspraxia – a motor co-ordination difficulty which affects learning and the ability to do many everyday tasks. I felt not only had the doors closed but the windows had been bolted too. It was a very dark time.
When challenging things happen we have a choice. Either stay in that black place or do something to make a difference. My daughter became my saviour; her sweet smile gave me the strength to search for ways to help her and me. I went back to education.
As part of a psychology course, I was required to keep a journal. At first I wrote about the learning. Then one night I began to write a story about a mother who was trying to understand her child’s difficulty. There was such freedom in writing as though I was somebody else. From that moment, I couldn’t stop.
Writing enabled me to explore many of life’s issues such as bereavement, addiction, betrayal, love, and friendship through the characters I was creating. Seeing challenges from various points of view was enlightening. It was my time and I just loved it. I brought my travel and tourism background into the stories. I created a fictitious place called Bayrush, a coastal town in the south-east of Ireland and sent my characters to places I had previously visited. I also created a fictitious holistic therapies centre called Butterfly Barn and this provided the title for my first novel although I had no real intention of ever sharing my stories.
Eleven years on, through my retraining I had become an adult education tutor delivering modules in tourism, communications, personal effectiveness and adult literacy. One day I saw a notice about a start your own business programme. I thought why not sign up? I’m crazy enough to want to create a “real” Butterfly Barn so I enrolled. I told the mentor my idea and he said, “Karen, you will need millions to build it. Come here as an author and learn to self-publish.” I laughed, firstly because he was the first person to ever call me an author and secondly because I had no idea how to go about self-publishing.
One year later, I stood with my family and friends in The Book Centre, Waterford while Margaret Organ, the arts officer for Waterford City and County Council, launched Butterfly Barn. A record breaking number of books sold on the night. It became No 1 in original fiction and stayed there for six weeks. It was overwhelming.
Readers in Waterford told their friends near and far about it. They began to post photographs of the book from landmarks all over the world to social media. One reader while holidaying in Bermuda brought Butterfly Barn into the local bookstore and unbelievably the manager ordered stock. I am so thankful to the people of Waterford and the south-east for their amazing support.
As word spread Ireland’s two wholesalers, Eason and Argosy, took stock as did the library service. Then RTÉ Nationwide came to our farm to film a piece with my family about why I write and we were able to highlight the wonderful work of Feileacain, a charity run by volunteers who help to support families through the loss of a baby in pregnancy.
Thanks to the positive reaction to Butterfly Barn, when my second novel, On Butterfly Wings, came out last December it hit The Irish Times bestsellers list at number 5 in original fiction. I was ecstatic.
Every day I wake up grateful that I found the courage to publish my books. My greatest wish is that my books will continue to bring light and hope along with fun and laughter to readers.
I truly believe our babies are angels guiding me. The Butterfly Barn of my imagination is a transformed barn which houses a training centre with converted outhouses and logs cabins dotted in the woodlands surrounding a lake. It is a beautiful place filled with creativity, activity and positivity where people from all walks of life come to holiday and learn new things.
Although I don’t have a physical Butterfly Barn, doors are opening in other ways. I am being invited to host The Butterfly Barn Experience in gorgeous locations to groups. These events are filled with creativity, fun, friendship and laughter. Maybe Butterfly Barn is meant to go mobile!
I’m delighted to say our daughter, Aisling, is happy and doing well and we were also blessed with our son, Eoghan. Who knows what’s around the corner next but one thing is sure, I will keep on writing. I’ve found what I meant to be doing. Thank you so much.
