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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Plenty of copies of my latest novel The Last Week of Him available in all bookshops and in ebook and audio format, perfect bank holiday reading. #booksky

Photo shows copies of my novel The Last Week of Him out now.

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

No hints, but I have written about 5 drafts now, and it's in the hands of my agent. So I'm nervous and excited to hear what she thinks of it.🤞#WomenWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Thank you for having me on this evening. It's been a lot of fun! And thank you for the work you do on this platform. #WomenWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Oh yes I forgot about that! This book The Last Week Of Him went straight into number 7 on the Irish Times Bestseller list. I was so delighted. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Also my characters don't want to admit their failings to themselves either. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Yes and spending time in nature along the Wild Atlantic Way on the West of Ireland will certainly help you stay present. #WomenWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A6 The Last Week of Him is available in all bookshops in Ireland and online on Amazon and in audiobook form. I can be found as rutholearywriter on all social media platforms and my website is rutholearywriter.com where you can subscribe to my free monthly travel blog. #WomensWritersNetwork

rutholearywriter.com

Ruth O'Leary Writer

Welcome to Ruth O'Leary Writer, where you can explore original fiction and discover her debut novel.

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A5. I send suggestions to the cover designer. For the Camino book, I wanted a Shirley Valentine feel so I sent the guy a photo of Shirley having a glass of wine by the sea on her own. He had never seen the movie but indulged me! Most authors don't get a say. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A3. I also commissioned a local poet to write a poem about the atmosphere of North West Mayo and that appears inside the book instead of a dedication page, creating another link to the area. She read her poem at my book launch. #WomenWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Honestly, I think adults are just as bad. If you go to any playground now you see so many parents on their phones while their kids shout for their attention and kids copy everything. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Also my book jumps back to 1995 for some chapters and each character has a different view of events that took place. We all remember things differently. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A5. I love the cover. The dog on the cover is very important. There is a golden retriever in the story but shortly after I handed the book in to my publisher, our own family retriever passed away so I asked if I could have retriever on the cover and the designer obliged. #WomensWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A3 The receptionist at the hotel I was staying in happened to be the same age as my characters which meant that she would have been in the same class with them in school. So I have one of my characters have a chat with Lorraine, the real receptionist, when she visits the hotel. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A4 Also my women belive they are best friends but its a very long time since they spent a week under the same roof and that's when they begin to question how well they really know each other. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Especially since the pandemic. Many people were very comfortable not leaving the house or meeting up with friends and projected a different side to themselves on social media. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A3 It was wonderful to return to Belmullet for a book launch. I returned there a few times researching the book and all the locations, businesses and some of the people there are in the book. They all came to the book launch. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A4. I think this book raises the question:How well do we really know our friends if we view each other’s lives through Instagram posts rather than meet them in real life? Are we staying involved or simply staying updated. #WomensWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

It is so far West in North Mayo that the next coffee shop west of Belmullet is in Boston! Stunning empty beaches and weather that changes 5 times a day. Very atmospheric and although my characters grew up there it is very different to their lives now. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

As a family we spent a week near Belmullet as my son was attending Irish Summer College there in 2021. The scenery was so wild and barren. No trees grow there because of the strong Atlantic winds in winter. It was so different from the women's lives in big cities. #WomenWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Yes, I think that's when our subconscious gets to work. Sometimes before a walk I will say "How can I escalate drama for Clo in my story" and then head out and hope something pops up. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A3. I love writing about real places. The Weekend Break is set in Galway. I lived there for a while in the late 80’s. A Week to Remember is set on the Camino which I walked as research. For The Last Week of Him I set in a rural area as contrast to my characters busy city lives. #WomensWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Yes. Once I get an idea in my head of what I think my character looks like I print off a photo of a wel known person who resembles them and I write a bio for that character so I know as much as possible about them before I start writing. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Yes and even though the group is online, we come out and support each other by attending members book launches and promoting their books on our social media platforms. #WomenWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Thank you. Yes ideas and stories can spring from the smallest of everyday life events. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Yes it does Rita. I have played roles from a Viking to a nun so I know what it feels like to move in those costumes although I havent written a nun into my novels...yet. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Yes, I think it does as my job on set is basically watching other writers work become a live product and I am surrounded by creative people trying to make that happen. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

And the courage and support to go for it. A supportive writing group helps with that. #WomenWritingNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A2.The idea for the opening came when I was out walking and I received WhatsApp notifications from a new worldwide group I had joined. Women from all over were in this group and I thought what if 3 women in different countries received the same message that shocked them. #WomensWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Writing is my full-time job in the sense that it occupies most of my time physically and mentally, BUT it doesnt provide a full-time salary at the start so I also work as a movie extra and actor chaperone on TV and movie sets in Ireland #WomensWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

100 percent! In fact I think age brings more life experience to the page and makes the characters more relatable. #WomenWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A1 Joining an online writing group gave me the courage to move from short story writing to attemping to write a novel. #WomenWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

A1 I live in Dublin and came late to writing after stumbling into a free writing class.Once I started writing I couldn’t stop! I joined an online writers’ group in early 2020 and my first novel was published in 2024. My 2nd novel came out in 2025 and my 3rd came out this month. #WomensWritersNetwork

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

I'm looking forward to answering all of your questions.

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Full moon tonight, 01 April. No, it's not a prank it will actually be there although it may feel like a prank if you live in Dublin because it's so cloudy that we probably will not see it. But happy Pink Moon to all who celebrate. It symbolises renewal blossoming and stepping into growth. 🌕

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Reposted by Rutholearywriter

Women Writers Network @womenwritersnet.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Morning all and it's another exciting week at #womenwritersnet. Tomorrow (Thursday 3 April), we're delighted to be interviewing @ruthwriter.bsky.social and will find out more about her latest title #TheLastWeekOfHim. Do join us!

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Rutholearywriter @ruthwriter.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Hi everyone I hope you’re enjoying your weekend. My latest Rambling Ruth Travel blog can be found on my website www.rutholearywriter.com This is not my usual blog post as it covers my two book launches one in Dublin and one in Belmullet Co Mayo for my latest novel and Irish Times bestseller. +