Author Jo Spain: ‘Publishers say they want diversity. But what working-class writer can live on what publishers pay?’
The novelist talks about making the leap from working for Sinn Féin to writing full-time, her tough childhood, and why publishers’ talk of diversity is out of touch with reality
Jo Spain has always had a strong work ethic. Photo: Frank McGrath
Emily Hourican
‘It was like jumping off a cliff without a parachute. It was beyond scary. I don’t know if that made me work better and harder?” Author Jo Spain is talking about the moment, in 2016, when she decided to leave her job in Leinster House, as political advisor to Sinn Féin, and go full-time as a writer. “I’m the breadwinner, so I was taking a leap with the whole family in the non-parachute jump,” she adds.
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