Author Archives: mikandrist@gmail.com

I am very happy to share this announcement from my Australian publisher Penguin Random House about my two forthcoming books. You can read the announcement as well as details and dates for both books here.

I’m touched and delighted to say I’ve been voted in to the Top 10 of Booktopia’s Australia’s Favourite Author poll for 2019. Thank you all SO much for your votes, and for reading my books. Big thanks to Booktopia for their constant support … More

I’m now counting down the days until I leave Dublin for the Perth Writers Festival, getting ready to swap my winter boots for sunscreen. I’m taking part in two events: THE WORLD IS THEIR BOOK with Balli Kaur Jaswal and … More

My big thanks to fellow author Sarah Williams for inviting me on to her podcast series Write with Love, which is now available to listen to on-line. During our 20 minute conversation, we talk about my path to publication, my previous … More

My warmest thanks to the Lissycasey Bookclub in County Clare for giving me such a lovely welcome and brilliant night out last week. I was invited to join them to discuss their October book – my eleventh novel, Hello from … More

“Recently, I’ve been thinking about what I’ve learned over the past 20 years of being a published writer.” I’ve written an article for the Penguin Books Australia website about my books, inspiration and life as an author. You’ll find it … More

During my Australian book tour in July, I had the pleasure of doing a talk for Dymocks Camberwell at Infuse Cafe, where I also got to meet Steve de Niese, co-presenter with author Ash Oldfield of The Book Stash podcast. … More

Here is my public confession (with photos) about the different writing rituals and superstitions that help me write my books. Thanks so much to Marianne Guy of Word Farm for inviting me to take part in her series on Australian authors … More

Calling all writers, beginners and beyond! I’m so pleased to be teaching one of the courses at this year’s Dalkey Creates writing festival here in Ireland on Saturday 13th October. It’s called Absolute Beginners, and as the name suggests, it’s … More

Hello again, Home and Away! Last month when I was in Australia, I was surprised & delighted to see my novel The House of Memories pop up in an episode of Home and Away. Last night, back in Ireland, there … More

No trip back to Australia is complete for me without a visit home to the Clare Valley, this time with two dear friends from Tasmania, Jane and her daughter Lizzie. We only had time for a day trip, but still … More

My warmest thanks to Australia’s Better Reading website for this lovely article about my books and writing.

And so my July mini-book tour here in Australia has come to an end. I’ve loved every busy minute of it, from launching Dr John Wilson’s The Riesling Railway with my Mum and family at the National Railway Museum, Port … More

I’m on Home and Away! Well, not me exactly, but one of my books. Many thanks to all my eagle-eyed Facebook friends for spotting the TV character Maggie reading my novel The House of Memories in her recent hospital scene. … More

For the past 12 years, I’ve had the great pleasure of being the Ireland correspondent for Rod Quinn’s Overnights program on ABC Radio nationally. Several times a year, Rod and I chat about what’s happening in Ireland culturally, politically and … More

In Melbourne today, I popped into the two WH Smith bookstores at Southern Cross railway station and signed copies of The Trip of a Lifetime and my other titles. My big thanks to Billy, the book manager, for his warm … More

I think you may all have guessed just how delighted I am with the new vintage-style covers Penguin Books Australia has given all 12 of my books. Last week in Melbourne I had the big treat & honour of meeting … More

It was my big honour yesterday to launch John Wilson’s book The Riesling Railway at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide. It was such a special and fun day, with more than 200 people gathering to celebrate the publication of … More

A postscript to yesterday’s message about my novel At Home with the Templetons and the inspiration I found in the Clare Valley’s Martindale Hall. To coincide with publication in 2010, I filmed this eight minute video in Castlemaine, Victoria, the … More

Special book post! I’ve just received my first copies of the new-look vintage-style Penguin Australia editions of all 12 of my novels and I am thrilled to bits. I love this new look and hope you all will too. They’ll … More

Cover news! My entire backlist of 12 novels will soon be appearing in Australian & NZ bookshops with new vintage-style designs. I’m delighted to give you all a sneak preview of two of them, A Taste for It and Family … More

My warmest thanks to all of you who have been in touch here and by email to ask if I have a new book on the way. I’m happy to say I’ve been locked away for many months writing it, … More

I’m very happy to share the news that The Trip of a Lifetime has made the shortlist for the General Fiction Book of the Year in the Australian Book Industry Awards. Thank you all so much for your support, and my … More

Delighted to see The Trip of a Lifetime in Dymocks Top 101 books for 2018 – by the skin of my teeth at number 101! Thank you all very much and big thanks to Dymocks Books too. Read the full … More

This week marked the 18th anniversary of the death of my dear dad, Steve McInerney, pictured here with me on my wedding day 26 years ago. In memory of him, here is a memoir article I wrote about his life, … More

I’m thrilled and touched to say I was voted in to the Top 10 (at #8) of Booktopia’s poll to find Australia’s Favourite Authors. Thank you all very much!

Even after 12 novels there is nothing quite like receiving my first advance copies of a new edition.  I’ve just received this gorgeous homecoming present here in Dublin – a box of the beautiful new UK edition of The Trip of … More

My final interview of last year was with the lovely Suzy Yates of Talking Lifestyle Radio on Dec 29. During our 15 minute conversation on a sunny Sydney morning, we spoke about travel, family, writing in my Dublin attic, how … More

I was so sorry to hear that ABC TV’s wonderful book discussion program, The Book Club, is coming to an end after 11 great years, with the last episode airing in Australia this Tuesday 19 December at 8.30pm. It was an … More

So delighted to see The Trip of a Lifetime in Eason Ireland’s list of the 50 Best Books of the Year. Thanks so much to everyone at Easons Ireland for their wonderful support. If you’d like to be in the running to win … More

Happy UK publication day to these beautifully festive new paperback editions of The Alphabet Sisters & Lola’s Secret. And coming soon in 2018, The Trip of a Lifetime too.  

I’m delighted and very touched that two of my novels (The Trip of a Lifetime & The Alphabet Sisters) have been voted in to Better Reading‘s Top 100 Books for 2017 in Australia. Thank you all so much – the full … More

When I was back home in Australia in July, I had the big treat of spending two days in my homeplace of the Clare Valley of South Australia with Melissa Field of Yours Magazine Australia & local photographer Daniel Blackman, visiting many … More

An early festive treat to see The Trip of a Lifetime featured in Dubray’s Christmas catalogue here in Ireland – thank you Dubray Books and Penguin Random House Ireland!

‘There’s something you need to know about Monica’s novels and it’s really quite important to remember: you can’t read them in public.’ My warmest thanks to Theresa Smith in Australia for this thoughtful and lovely article about my books and … More

Delighted to still be in the Top 10 at Meg’s Bookshop in South Australia, four months after The Trip of a Lifetime was published. Thank you Margie and Mark! (Delighted to be there alongside so many other Australian authors too.)

My guiltiest pleasures, how I relax and a few of my favourite things – all in this Q&A in the health supplement of the Irish Examiner.

Sveiki* to the Lithuanian edition of Hello from the Gillespies! I’ve just received my author copies of this lovely hardback edition, with its new title ‘Lemtingas laiškas’ which translates as ‘Fatal Letter’. *Hello

Happy news from Australia – The Trip of a Lifetime has been chosen as one of Dymocks’ Favourite Books of the Year. Thank you, Dymocks Books, you are one of my favourite Australian booksellers of the year too!

My tales of house-hunting (and railway lines) in Dublin; editing in my attic to the sounds of One Direction & Bruce Springsteen; childhood memories of the Clare Valley and a few of my favourite bookshops (and restaurants) in Ireland and … More

“Love, laughter and dark family secrets” – my big thanks to Starts at 60 for this feature article about my books.

I’ll be reading from “Lola’s Secret” at Dubray Grafton Street at 6.40 pm tonight, as part of Dubray’s #readforhope on Culture Night. There are lots of authors taking part (we’re all listed below) – if you’re in the area, please do come … More

“I was an ordinary kid in an Australian country town but through books I travelled the world.” Ahead of Australian Reading Hour on Thursday, my article about what books mean to me appears in The Guardian Australian edition today.

Read about the keen researchers who helped me write The Trip of a Lifetime – Thanks again, Sheila and Sarah!

My interview about my Irish-Australian life appeared today in TheJournal, Ireland’s online news site – big thanks to journalist Aoife Barry.

I’m delighted to share the news that the Irish edition of The Trip of a Lifetime has gone straight in to the Irish Times’ Top 10 here in Ireland, at number 8. My big thanks to Irish readers for giving … More

For any of you in or around Dublin who might like a signed copy of The Trip of a Lifetime, I’m happy to say you will find one in the Easons Irelandstores in Dundrum, Tallaght, Liffey Valley, Blanchardstown and Swords. I … More

The Trip of a Lifetime has been on a trip! My Irish friend Louise and her family took a copy of my new novel with them on holidays to West Cork this week, where it got to see ALL the … More

From today’s Sunday Times’ Culture magazine in Ireland – you can read my interview online here. My big thanks to journalist Pavel Barter & photographer Barry Cronin.

I’m delighted to share these photos from my Dublin launch last night of The Trip of a Lifetime. I loved every minute of it – my warmest & happiest thanks to my dear friend Sinead Moriarty for launching it, to the lovely … More

I’m now counting down the hours until the Dublin launch tonight of the Irish edition of The Trip of a Lifetime. If you’re nearby, please do come and join us all at the splendid Dubray bookshop in Grafton Street, Dublin … More

I’m back in Dublin but I’m still cheering loudly for Australian bookshops! This Saturday, 12th August, is Love Your Bookshop Day in Australia. Bookshops across the country are throwing a party & you are all invited. Love Your Bookshop Day … More

I’ve just landed back in Dublin, as memories of my Dad & South Australian childhood are published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in Melbourne today. You can read it online here.

Hello again, Ireland!

Thank you VERY much, Catriona Rowntree, for taking my Trip of a Lifetime on a trip to beautiful France!

I loved every minute of my big Australian book tour but one special highlight for me was being back in my home place of the Clare Valley of South Australia and doing a talk at the Clare Town Hall (especially … More

My travel article about the five places that changed my life (the Clare Valley, London, Hanoi, New York & Ireland) is in The Age & Sydney Morning Herald today. You can read it online here.

I officially finished my Australian book tour in Melbourne with a fast and fun interview on Channel 7’s Daily Edition program – if you’d like to see it, here’s the link! And here’s a few photos from behind the scenes…

I am very happy (and very touched) to see The Trip of a Lifetime in the number 1 spot in the Australian fiction bestseller lists again. Thank you all so much. My thanks to Better Reading too for their weekly updates!

Do any of you like to listen to audio books? I’m delighted to say the audio edition of The Trip of a Lifetime is now available from Bolinda Audio in Australia and New Zealand. It’s narrated by the very talented actor Ulli … More

Greetings from the Gold Coast! I had one extra date on my Australian book tour, up in sunny Queensland, as a guest speaker at the Dymocks Books conference. My warmest/sunniest thanks to all the Dymocks folk for their great hospitality and welcome, … More

My Australian book tour photo album #5. I’ve just had two action-packed days in Western Australia, on the final leg of my tour for The Trip of a Lifetime. Once again, my biggest thanks to the brilliant librarians and booksellers who … More

My big thanks to journalist Lynne Testoni for her interview with me for WYZA.com.au – read it online here!

My Australian book tour photo album #4. After a great time in Clare and Kadina, I finished my South Australian leg of the tour with two very fun events in Adelaide yesterday. Firstly, a brilliantly Irish-themed lunchtime event at the Burnside … More

I am very happy indeed to share this tweet from my Australian literary agents, Curtis Brown. Thank you all SO much for giving The Trip of a Lifetime (and me) such a very warm welcome in Australia.

Thanks so much to everyone who came to my hometown event in the Clare Town Hall last night and to my morning tea in Kadina today. I loved meeting and talking to so many of you. It was so great … More

My Dublin bookshelves, photos and all! My big thanks to writer Maureen Eppen for asking me to be part of her Shelf Awareness Q&A. You can read all about my bookshelves and my books here on her blog.

I’ve just had a fast and flying trip to beautiful Hobart as part of my Trip of a Lifetime book tour. It always feels special to be back in Tasmania – Hobart is where I wrote my first short stories … More

Thanks so much to everyone who came to my events this past week in Twin Waters and Helensvale in Queensland; Canberra, Mount Gambier, Warrnambool, Torquay and Hawthorn in Melbourne. I’ve loved getting to meet and talk to so many of … More

I was very happy and touched today to hear the news that The Trip of a Lifetime has started popping up in the Number 1 bestseller spot in different bookshops around Australia. Thank you all SO much for giving it (and … More

Would you like to take a look inside my Trip of a Lifetime photo album? You can take a behind-the-scenes look at my writing life with my photo album from writing and researching The Trip of a Lifetime. It’s up on … More

Thanks so much to all the (very lovely) readers who came to my first seven events in NSW & QLD (in Sydney, Hornsby, Balmoral Beach, Rouse Hill, Penrith, Camden and Noosa) and to all the great people at Better Reading … More

I’m delighted (and relieved!) to share this lovely first Australian review of The Trip of a Lifetime – thank you so much, Better Reading, you have put a spring in my book-tour-step today! Read the review here.

I’m thrilled to be able to emerge from my attic and – finally – share this news: my new novel, called THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME, will be published by Penguin Random House in Australia & New Zealand in July … More

Delighted to take delivery this morning of the Latvian hardback edition of Hello from the Gillespies. I’m even more pleased to see that not only have the title and text been translated, but my name too!

A warm invitation to any of you in or near County Meath here in Ireland – I’m giving a talk about books, writing and my love of libraries in the Oldcastle Library on Thursday 23rd February at 7.30 pm. I’ll … More

My warmest thanks to Margie and Sharon of Meg’s Bookshop in the Clare Valley of South Australia for hosting my book-signing in November during my flying trip home. Big thanks to everyone who dropped by to say hello too, including … More

I’m delighted to be part of the terrific Dalkey Creates writing festival in County Dublin this October. I’ll be running a two day workshop on Sat 15 & Sun 16 October, called Creative Writing: Absolute Beginners. Here’s the info from … More

My Alphabet Sisters have been for a jaunt on a Melbourne train – thank you Books on the Railway and happy reading to Nicosmarty who found them.

Hello to all of you in or around the Salisbury area in South Australia. I hope you’ll come and join in our discussion about Hello from the Gillespies next month! Salisbury Library Service say: Our One Book One Salisbury Author … More

I’m very happy to be part of a new series of writing seminars via video conference, ‘Creators on Craft’, organised by the Australian Society of Authors. I’ll be presenting a session on getting to know your characters on Friday 24 … More

It is a truth universally acknowledged that if you are in Bath on your way to the Jane Austen Centre and trip over a cobblestone and land on your outstretched right hand, you will break your wrist and spend the … More

There is serious worry within the Australian book industry about a new proposal to remove Australian copyright protection. This move would affect not just authors and publishers, but readers too. If you’d like to help support Australian storytellers or want … More

I think my bedside reading pile is getting out of hand.  

It was my big pleasure and honour to talk to renowned Australian journalist Geraldine Doogue here in Dublin for her SaturdayExtra program on ABC Radio National. We recorded a segment in St Stephen’s Green about the role of women during the … More

I’m delighted to see Hello from the Gillespies in this year’s Dymocks Books’ Top 101 poll in Australia. Thank you all very much for your votes. https://www.dymocks.com.au/top-101

I’m very happy (and very touched) to be named at no. 5 in Booktopia‘s poll listing Australia’s 50 Favourite Authors. Thanks so much for all your votes, and big thanks to Booktopia for their great support of Australian authors too. http://blog.booktopia.com.au/…/australias-favourite-author…/

Happy New Year to you all from the beautiful, stormy west of Ireland. I spent the final day of the year in Connemara in County Galway, driving past mountains and lakes, in rain and sunshine, under grey and then blue … More