71: Charleen Hurtubise on Saoirse: Identity, Survival, Art & BBC Radio 2 Book Club | In My Good Books

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by Irish author Charleen Hurtubise to talk about her powerful novel Saoirse . A story of identity, survival, reinvention and the transformative power of art.Charleen shares the inspiration behind Saoirse, exploring how her protagonist must first survive and then learn how to truly thrive. We talk about what it means to rebuild yourself after trauma, the emotional complexity of starting again, and why creativity can be a lifeline.We also discuss Charleen’s experience of having her work selected for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club, and why the fact that books are chosen by librarians made the moment even more meaningful.From the writing process and naming characters, to the shift in setting from America to Ireland, this conversation dives into Irish literature, the creative process, and the emotional truth behind storytelling. Find Charleen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charleen_hurtubise/Buy Saoirse here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/saoirse-a-bbc-radio2-bookclub-pick-charleen-hurtubise/0876f9513db5403d?ean=9781804441954&next=tBooks recommended on this episode:https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/everything-that-is-beautiful-louise-nealon/cc5e8acb9ccc99f5?ean=9781786581365&next=t