Paula Clamp is one of Ireland's best-selling novelists. This site will tell you how she got published, the inspiration behind her books and what life is like as an Irish writer. There's even an opportunity for your child to be famous in her next book! 

Born in Nottinghamshire, England, Paula has lived in Northern Ireland since 1986. A theatre studies graduate, her plays have been performed in Belfast and Dublin. She has Masters Degrees in Cultural Management and Anglo-Irish Literature. She is a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Ulster and has extensive experience in delivering creative writing workshops. Paula is married to Gerry and has 3 young children, Jordan, Yana and Jay.

You now have two Irish best-sellers under your belt - how did you get started?

At the time I had 3 children, all under 4 and was tearing my hair out wondering what career could fulfil my own ambitions and fit in around my family. As you can imagine the choice was limited. I used to sit feeding my youngest, looking outside at the hustle and bustle of the busy lives of my neighbours. Lack of sleep and sore boobs, conspired to let my imagination run riot. I wondered what everyone was up to behind their vertical blinds. The result was the first six chapters of my first novel Standing in a Hammock. 

And then you completed your first novel and sent if off to an agent?

No. After I wrote those first 6 chapters I thought 'well, I love it, but what if no-one else does?' I didn't have the confidence to plough on with it and so I just fired off what I had to just one publisher. Luckily for me, on the strength of that I secured a 4-book contract.

Did you know then what kind of books you wanted to write?

I knew I wanted to write the kind of books that I love to read. Foremost, I wanted to create page-turners - as revenge for all those books I couldn't put down when I had a hundred other jobs to do. I also wanted to reflect a part of life in Northern Ireland that up until now has not been seen - that of ordinary women in complex situations, with plenty of humour, passion and intrigue thrown in for good measure.

And you do all this with 3 young children?

It's not easy I can tell you - especially when your thoughts are focused on a character and your two-year-old son is running around with his nappy on his head, shouting 'I've lost my marbles'. 'Me too son' is the only response. I couldn't begin to work as a full-time writer if it wasn't for my husband, Gerry. Then again, he is kind of…in a way…partly to blame for the three babies in the first place!

Is there time for hobbies when you’re not writing…or lecturing…or giving workshops?

I have played volleyball since I was at university and have represented Northern Ireland Universities and the national squad. I still dabble, especially when the incentive of a squad of rowdy women, a weekend tournament and a bottle of Bacardi is dangled before me.