Adele Irving Interview Published on: 30, Jun 2021

I was an only child whose parents inspite of little eduction and even less financially, gave me the best childhood they possibly could. I can’t say that I had any heroes growing up.

As a teenager in the 60’s while my friends were screaming over the Beatles and the Rolling Stones I wanted to be different so I cheered for The Dave Clark 5.

From the time I was 10 and flew on my first airplane I wanted to be a stewardess but I lacked the self-confidence to even apply for the job. It wasn’t until I was 30 that I started working for an airline but on the ground not in the air.

I started writing my memoir Splat in 2010 and always thought that I would go to a resort somewhere in Mexico and spend a month or two writing but that never happened. It wasn’t until 2017 that my husband and I were on a two month cruise of Asia and the South Pacific that I got the writing bug. On our many days at sea I would go to the library with my latte and stare out at the vast ocean in front of me. My best writing was a result of that trip.

I would later find that the best place for me to write was in my beautiful office where I could lock myself away.

My biggest challenge was writing so as not to hurt any family member. It wasn’t until the very last minute that I decided to publish and I’m so glad that I did. My reviews have been excellent and not in the area I expected. I’ve learned that every family has a secret not just mine.

My life went “Splat” in 1995 so the book’s title was decided long before I put pen to paper. The chapter titles came after I finished writing the chapter and I tried to put a twist of humour on each of them.

This is my one and only book. I had a story to share with others and I did.

For others who are beginning this daunting task it’s important to know that writing is a process. Your book will develop in it’s own time and space. You will edit and change your mind a thousand times!