Q&A: Charleen Hurtubise, Author of ‘Saoirse’

We chat with author Charleen Hurtubise about Saoirse, which is a powerful novel set between the United States and Ireland about a woman who runs from her traumatic past and the secrets she carries to survive.

Hi, Charleen! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I am a novelist, essayist, and artist. My first novel, The Polite Act of Drowning, was published in Ireland and the UK in 2023. Saoirse is my US debut. I  spent much of my childhood in Michigan, early adult years in Boston, and have now lived most of my life in Ireland, which is home. I live in Dublin with my Irish family, but the pull of Donegal never leaves and continues to influence my drawings and writings, including Saoirse.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I was interested in the printed word even before I attended school. I must have been three or four years old and remember drawing squiggles on a page and reading them aloud to my older sisters. They laughed because they only saw scrawl, whereas I knew these symbols had meaning. Once I unlocked the code of print, I started copying poetry from books into little booklets for my family.  In school, we wrote stories for the Young Author’s program.  My first book was about a dog named Banjo who was brought along on a family camping trip. Already, the dysfunction and chaos element was apparent in my work, as Banjo made a mess out of everything! But it wasn’t until my early twenties that I found literature that made me think I might have something to say. 

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: We had a set of Child Kraft encyclopaedias and I would trawl through the Arts and Crafts volume until I found a project I could manage, one in which we had all the materials in the house: stilts made out of coffee containers and a floating crocodile from the cork off of a bottle of wine.
• The one that made you want to become an author: White Oleander by Janet Fitch. A story, that, in essence, could have been mine: the search for safety and identity in a world where adults had badly let one down. When I finished reading it, I immediately  bought a notebook.

• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad is a devastating read.

Your latest novel, Saoirse, is out February 24^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be? 

A story about: Survival, Resilience, Courage, Reinvention and Love.

What can readers expect?

Saoirse follows an artist who has fled a painful past in America to build a new life in Ireland. Living with her daughters and  partner in Donegal, she hides secrets that only her evocative paintings hint at. When her Dublin exhibition wins an award, unexpected success brings attention to her doorstep and her carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Early readers have praised it for its lyrical sense and emotional intensity.  Others have noted it makes one question what you would do to survive and to protect the ones you love.

Where did the inspiration for Saoirse come from?

There are many threads to this story. Initially, the  idea of an American running away, hiding in Ireland and accidentally starting a life really played to my imagination, especially in the ‘90s before government systems were linked up and before a quick internet search could lead to exposure. I also was interested in exploring art and creativity as a way to process past traumas.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Both Saoirse and Daithí – I loved creating their life in Donegal with their two daughters. I just wanted to get everyone to a place of safety. Ultimately, I feel this a love story about the strength we find in one another, how we forgive and how we heal.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them? 

This story really flowed for me. I enjoyed the process very much. As with every story, it takes time to formulate and connect the scenes, but in the end, it is worth taking that time. There are difficult topics in this story, and though it is a work of fiction, I was very familiar with much of the emotional landscape of the novel. In this regard, the process of writing can be challenging, but also healing.

What’s next for you?

I have a follow-up novel, exploring Daithí’s life. He is a character I’m having a hard time letting go of, so I will follow it through and see how I get on.  The Irish Arts Council gave me a grant to pursue this idea so that is helpful encouragement. I have a few other, half-formed ideas and I’m looking forward to finding time to get to all of them.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?

Louise Nealon’s second novel, Everything That Is Beautiful, is a study in betrayal, loyalty, and the burden of carrying a family’s secrets.  Also, I loved the stunning writing in American Marriage so I’m really looking forward to Kin by Tayari Jones.

Will you be picking up Saoirse? Tell us in the comments below!