Person to Person: Leona Forde says one of her earliest memories is helping her dad dig potatoes 

Tell us about yourself;

My name is Leona Forde, I am a Mom of four, an English and History teacher and children’s author from Co Cork. I write the Milly McCarthy series, published by Gill, and illustrated by Karen Harte. The series has been dubbed Ireland’s answer to Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It is for readers aged 7 to 12 and it follows the antics of a young Irish girl called Milly,who is a magnet for mayhem.

There are currently four books published in the series, with the fifth one, Milly McCarthy’s Wild Atlantic Antics due out on May 22.

Where were you born? I was born in Ballyphehane, a suburb south of Cork city.

Where do you live? I currently live in Bandon, Co Cork.

Family? I am married with four kids. I come from a family of five, I am the second eldest of three sisters, one brother. I am very lucky to come from a large extended family.

Best friend? I have a large circle of friends, and if I start naming names I’ll get into trouble, but there are three people I phone daily, you know who you are!

Earliest childhood memory?

One of my earliest memories is helping my dad to dig up potatoes and pick peas in the pod for the dinner. My grandmother had a huge back garden and my dad grew all sorts of veg there. I can still remember the smell of the damp soil and standing on a stool by the kitchen sink, helping my nan to shell peas and eating more than I put in the pot.

Person you most admire?

The person I most admire is my grandmother Maureen Herbert, she was a really strong woman, she loved to laugh and fill my head with stories.

Person who most irritates you?

There is no one person, but I dislike people who are inconsiderate of others.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

One of my most memorable holidays was visiting Rome and Florence with my husband. I got to see all the historical sites and the beautiful works of Renaissance art that I teach my students about. I threw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, so hopefully I’ll get to go back.

Favourite TV programme?

I love Downton Abbey, I loved all the historical references and seeing how society changed. The storylines were always compelling, and it has strong female characters. Of course, it’s so beautiful too, with its shots of the grand house and all the decadent costumes.

Favourite radio show?

In our house on Sunday morning, when the roast dinner was cooking, my mam always had The Oldies and Irish on 96 and 103FM playing. Now, I put it on in my house and I sing along to the same songs they played back then. It brings back memories of my childhood and I love that my children listen to it just like I did growing up.

Your signature dish if cooking?

I am vegetarian, so my go to dish is a sweet potato and black bean chilli. It’s so easy to make and I serve it with a huge dollop of sour cream and a side of Cheesy Doritos for dipping.

Favourite restaurant? I love Japanese food, so Ichigo Ichie is a real treat. The chef Miyazaki makes the best seaweed tempura.

Last book you read? I am reading a lot of YA (young adult) at the moment, so the last book I read was Boys Don’t Cry by Fiona Scarlett. It’s told from the point of view of two brothers living in Dublin. One brother, Joe, is trying not to follow in his father’s footsteps into a life of crime. It is about love and loss, it’s beautifully written and had me in tears.

Best book you read? I loved Elenor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman. It’s funny and traumatic and so compelling. It was one of those books that takes you on an emotional journey. I remember initially disliking the main character Elenor, then feeling sorry for her and then rooting for her. It had a twist in the plot that I didn’t see coming and it has such an uplifting lesson about resilience. It’s one of the few books I’ve re-read.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

The last CD I bought was a 100 greatest hits Sing Along for our karaoke machine. I am a terrible singer, but that doesn’t stop me.

Favourite song? My favorite song is Dolly Parton’s Nine To Five. I love the opening bars, it’s so upbeat and always puts me in a good mood.

One person you would like to see in concert? I would have loved to have seen The Beatles live. I love watching documentaries about Beatlemania, I can picture myself with a beehive hairdo screaming hysterically and fainting when Paul sings ‘I want to hold your hand’.

Do you have a pet? No, but when I was a kid, I had a beautiful yellow canary called Sunshine, who after getting an infection had to get one of its legs amputated, so he would hop from perch to perch on one leg.

Morning person or night owl? Neither, I love a lie-in and I go to bed as early as I can so that I can read for an hour before falling asleep. I’m at my best in the afternoon.

Your proudest moment? My kids telling me ‘This is your best book yet’. They say it after every one and I happily believe them.

Spendthrift or saver? I’m a saver, I don’t like shopping unless it’s buying books, then I’m a spendthrift.

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live? Bandon is a great town, but we don’t have a swimming pool. My kids love swimming and all go to lessons, so it means a long spin three times a week. I think swimming is a skill every child should have, so I’d love if our town could have a pool.

What makes you happy? My family. I love the summer months, when there is no school, or weekly activities and no-one has to rush off anywhere. I love going for walks, or a spin to the beach, or just lazing about in the garden, all of us together.

How would you like to be remembered? As someone who was kind and loving, someone who brought happiness to other people’s lives.

What else are you up to at the moment? I am writing more Milly McCarthy books and working on a few other projects too.