Fiona Graham, screenwriter and author from Kinvara, Co Galway, launched her debut novel, The Chancer. This feel-good humorous book is set in the west of Ireland and Los Angeles in 1989 and follows the story of a small town nobody with unrealistic dreams.
Fiona launched the book on Friday at Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop and actors Tara Breathnach, Diarmuid de Faoite and Seamus Hughes performed two chapters from the book.
Fiona is best known for the award-winning Irish feature film, ‘Songs for Amy’ starring Sean Maguire, James Cosmo, Barry Ward, Patrick Bergin and Kevin Ryan. ‘Songs for Amy’ was also set in the west of Ireland and featured music from singer songwriters Ultan Conlon and Jim McKee. Rock band Alabama 3 also played themselves.
Alabama 3 also feature in Fiona’s new novel, once again, playing themselves. ‘They are such colourful characters and in their own words ‘have the power to raise the dead’. I’ll probably include them in everything I write!’ says Fiona Graham.
The book has also been listed as “Indie Books We Love” by LoveReading and prior to final draft, reached #2 across all genres on The Red List by Coverfly.
Fiona grew up in Glasgow and moved to Galway city in 1997, before moving to Kinvara in 2006. ‘The west of Ireland is a wonderful place to write,’ says Fiona. ‘It’s a place that’s brimming with stories new and old and I’ve always been inspired by the humour of both the Irish and the Scots.’
The Chancer is available at Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Dubray Books and Kenny’s Bookshop, as well as online with Amazon.
