JD Mac Namara

Mac Macconnamara was brought up in the West of Ireland and the UK.

For over 40 years he travelled the world as an international consultant and as a visiting professor at several Universities.

After retiring from business and academia Mac reverted to his true love of writing, particularly political articles and short stories.

For many years, he was the UK editor of the EU Reporter a publication which pointed a critical spotlight at the European Commission and the European Parliament. This rather nurtured his scepticism regarding politics which shows in some of his stories.

He has had several his Irish short stories published in magazines and anthologies.

Many of these stories are set Erris, in the far west of Ireland where he spent a happy childhood.

Mac's version of Erris is peopled by Priests, rouges and sages. Their exploits vary from the distillation of illegal whiskey, the growing of cannabis and the smuggling of contraband as well as match-making, dog training and an interesting method of obtaining an illegal telephone.

The stories emulate the noise of pubs, the smell of Guinness, turf smoke and fresh baked bread and, particularly for the exile and the adventurous, give the very best of reasons to visit the far west of Europe where the next parish is America.

The stories are written with the hope of leaving the reader with a smile on his or her face and the feeling that that they already know Erris and some of it's unique people.

Credentials

JD Mac Namara in 60 seconds

When did you start writing?

1960 in India.

What do you love about short stories?

They have to contain the pure essence of a tale in a few words.

Do you write in other forms?

Two as yet unpublished novels and many newspaper articles on politics and business and some obituaries.

What distracts you from writing?

Procrastination and laziness.

Outside of writing, what are your other passions?

Travel and whiskey, my springer spaniel, good friends and good conversation, Technology and History. and my home in France.

What is your favourite book?

Wind in the Willows, Put Out More Flags and anything by Tolkien, Waugh and Graham Greene.

Who are your favourite writers?

Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene and J R R Tolkien.

Where is your dream location?

Western Gats Kerala.

What one item would you put into Room 101?

Most of our British and Irish political masters, HMRC and most of the European Commission.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Keep at it.