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In the running for this year's An Post Irish Book of the Year are six outstanding and unique books from a selection of incredibly gifted authors, editors, and an illustrator. We caught up with Liz Nugent, nominated for her psychological thriller Strange Sally Diamond, in light of her win at this year's awards where she took home Irish Independent Crime Fiction Book of the Year 2023.
Strange Sally Diamond focuses on the idiosyncratic Sally - reclusive, neurodivergent, funny, and many more things, with a troubled childhood lurking in the shadows of her history. A compelling crime novel and a compelling character study, this is a brilliant feat of writing from the acclaimed and accomplished Liz Nugent.
Can you tell us a bit about your nominated book, Strange Sally Diamond?
Strange Sally Diamond is about a very reclusive woman who lives with her widowed, adoptive father. When he dies, she disposes of his body in a very unusual manner, and this brings her to the attention of her community, the police and the world’s media as she discovers her true, deeply traumatic origin story.
How did you develop the idiosyncratic character of Sally Diamond? Were there any inspirations, literary or otherwise?
I was inspired by the character of Boo Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird as someone who is a recluse, yet finds himself being kind to children by leaving them treats in the nook of a tree. It’s also interesting that his brother lives in the house with him and yet he comes and goes like a ‘normal’ person. And I started to wonder how they could be so different. What might have happened to make Boo so afraid and want to shut himself off from the world?
What was the process like of getting into Sally’s mindset and stream of consciousness while writing her?
Sally is the only character I’ve written who is like me in some respects. I also dislike Dundrum Shopping Centre, large crowds, loud noise and very brightly lit places. I’d prefer not to wear make-up but I adhere to social conventions, and I wish I could be more like Sally. She often says the things that I think but don’t say. She has no filter.
Sally has been likened to characters such as Boo Radley (by yourself) and Eleanor Oliphant: what do you think of our fascination with this type of unique, isolated and reclusive character?
Neurodiverse characters are often written as the butt of a joke and I wanted to write a character like that from the inside. Sally has a great sense of humour, so we laugh with her but not at her. I think people are curious about neurodivergence; atypical behaviour is interesting. But as Sally’s psychiatrist father says, she is not Autistic, she defies diagnosis because her behaviour is inconsistent. She is a product of her childhood.
Do you see your book as a crime novel? How do you feel about that term?
There are terrible crimes committed in this novel, some worse than murder, so I think it is definitely a crime novel. I’m very happy to be on the crime shelves and also, crime writing festivals are the best fun! The crime-writing community is one the most collegiate and supportive. The crime genre is very broad these days and I’m pleased to be part of it.
What is the most important element to creating a compelling psychological thriller or plot?
Good characters making bad decisions are integral to a good crime novel because that’s where you find your plot. But in the writing process, pace is the most important element and the one that I find most challenging.
Trauma, especially childhood trauma, is a big part of this novel. Can you tell us a bit about why you wanted to focus on this in Strange Sally Diamond?
With all of my books, childhood trauma plays a big part. How children are treated and how they react to certain situations shapes the adult that they become. Nature vs nurture is an evergreen argument. I still don’t know the answer.
And how did you balance blending humorous and dark elements in this book?
It’s very hard to be an Irish person without a sense of humour. Sally is naturally funny and I tried to make sure that immediately after the darkest moments in the book, there is some light relief.
How did it feel to win Irish Independent Crime Fiction Book of the Year at this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards? And with so many people voting for your book, how does it feel to now be nominated for the overall An Post Irish Book of the Year?
It’s a huge honour to know that the reading public are supportive of my work. Prizes are incredibly encouraging and to be in the same league as the other nominees for Book of the Year is enough. I don’t need the prize as well.
And lastly, what Irish books have you most enjoyed reading this year?
I’ve really enjoyed the following: Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry; The Close by Jane Casey; Kala by Colin Walsh; Service by Sarah Gilmartin; and Tell Me What I Am by Úna Mannion.
