Authors > Malachy Doyle > Author Revealed

Malachy Doyle

Malachy Doyle

Malachy Doyle, who himself has ten brothers and sisters, is the author of many books, including Cow, illustrated by Angelo Rinaldi. He lives in North Wales with his family.

Author Revealed:
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. Who ate all the chocolate?
Learn more about Malachy Doyle
Malachy Doyle Revealed
About Malachy Doyle
  • What is your birthdate?:
    6/30
  • Previous occupations:
    I've packed Polo Mints in a Polo Mint factory; sorted dirty laundry in a Dirty Laundry; darned socks, patched jeans and looked after the children in a Special School; and taught Sociology, Psychology and all sorts of other things.
  • Favorite job:
    Making up stories. Imagine getting paid to do the thing you love!
  • High school and/or college:
    I went to school in Saint Malachy's College in Belfast. And no, it wasn't named after me!
  • Name of your favorite composer or music artist?:
    My favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach.  My favourite singer is June Tabor.
Revealing Questions
Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
A. Ireland, then England, then Wales, then Ireland again.
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. Who ate all the chocolate?
Q. How would you describe perfect happiness?
A. I had a brilliant day writing. Then I had a walk round my island. Now I'm sitting by an open fire with a good book, a cat on my knee and Liz by my side.
Q. What’s your greatest fear?
A. There's a scream. The cat digs its claws into my knee. I jump up. My book falls in the fire. I run to see what the scream was. The burning book falls out of the fire onto the carpet...
Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
A. Up a gum tree.
Q. What do you regret most?
A. I wish I hadn't just eaten the whole of that chocolate bar. I wish I'd managed to save some of it for later. And a tiny bit for you.
Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
A. I'd love to be able to illustrate my picture books, but I can't draw for toffee. If I try and draw a pig it looks like a worm.
Q. What is your greatest achievement?
A. My children.
Q. What’s your greatest flaw?
A. I eat too many biscuits.
Q. What’s your best quality?
A. Stickability. I just don't give up.
Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
A. I'd like to be a crocodiddleotamus.
Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
A. Mobile phones. They just never stop beeping or nattering.
Q. What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
A. I'm a walker. I wander the coastline and the mountains, looking, thinking, dreaming.
Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
A. Chocolate ginger biscuits. Yum!
On Books and Writing
Q. Who are your favorite authors?
A. I've so many favourite authors.

I love Jane Austen, Sebastian Barry, Ian McEwan, William Trevor, John McGahern, Anne Tyler, Carol Shields, Rose Tremain...

I love David Almond, Geraldine McCaughrean, Sonya Hartnett, Robert Westall, Tove Jansson, Alan Garner, Robert Cormier, Morris Gleitzman...

I love Martin Waddell, John Burningham, Shirley Hughes, Morris Sendak, Allan Ahlberg...
Q. Is there a book you love to reread?
A. If I'm ever ill, I like to reread Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Q. Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
A. Read lots, write lots, rewrite lots, and don't forget to live life to the full!
Q. What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
A. Have you met J. K. Rowling?