Cathy Kelly Opens Up About Writing
Bestselling Irish author Cathy Kelly revealed in a candid interview that nearly every writer channels personal struggles into their work, using themes of fear, anxiety, and resilience. She encourages aspiring writers to use writing as therapy, especially during stress: "If you're absolutely full of fear and anxiety, sit down and find a pen/laptop." Kelly also addressed persistent misogyny affecting women's fiction in 2026.
The interview appears in *The Irish Times* and coincides with the publication of her 24th novel, "The Island Retreat." The book is set in Corfu and follows a former TV therapy guru and six guests at a retreat, exploring the human need for healing. Kelly has been candid about her personal struggles with depression and a breast cancer diagnosis that followed her divorce. She noted that while she has never written a "cancer book," the theme of depression has been a constant in her work throughout her career. Elaborating on misogyny in fiction, Kelly stated it is "startling" that in 2026 women writers are still judged on an "imaginary plane that consists of champagne and pink things." She also pointed out that critics often haven't read the work they are dismissing. This focus on substantive issues is not new for Kelly; a 1998 review of her second novel noted its fierce look at the unfair division of emotional and domestic labor. Before becoming a full-time novelist in 2001, she worked for 13 years as a journalist for the *Sunday World*, where she was a news and features writer, film critic, and advice columnist. Her literary career includes numerous bestsellers, with her 2005 novel "Always and Forever" displacing both Dan Brown and J.K. Rowling to top the UK bestseller list. Her 2001 novel, "Someone Like You," won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award. Beyond her writing, Kelly has been a global ambassador for UNICEF Ireland since 2005, where she works to raise awareness and funds for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDS.
