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On the up and up - Kate Thompson

Thursday 15 March 2001
Kate Thompson is not a woman to rest on her laurels. Having been a successful actress for many years - well known from her role as Terry in Glenroe - she has just published 'Going Down', her third novel in as many years, has two more written and ready to go and has already started work on book number six.

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Thompson thoroughly enjoys writing what she calls 'big beach books' ensconced in her windowless, low-ceilinged attic with no distractions: "just me and a desk and a computer screen". She attributes much of her success to her husband and daughter who were "incredibly supportive" especially in the early days when she was receiving rejection letters from publishers. They also participate in the research for her novels; for 'Going Down' the family learned to scuba dive in Ireland before doing more extensive research amongst the coral reefs of Jamaica!

For Thompson, the measure of a good book is if she "can empathise with the characters". With the warm, witty and funny 'Going Down' she succeeds admirably and looks likely to be a fixture on many book shelves for some time to come.

Caroline Hennessy

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