Local man’s book inspired by son’s birth

A NORTHSIDE man has published his debut book which was inspired by the birth of his first child.  

Ross McDonagh, who is originally from Santry and now based in Los Angeles, started writing ‘The Curious Fox’ after his wife became pregnant with their first son Esteban. 

“That’s when the idea first struck me,” says Ross, who studied journalism and editorial design at Colaiste Dhulaigh, Coolock, from 2000 to 2002. 

“I very much looked forward to reading to him and sharing my love of books, but being a writer by trade (or a journalist at least), I knew that one day he would ask me to make up an original story for him. So I told myself I had better get a head start!” 

From conception to publication, Ross worked on the book for four years.  

“I wasn’t hammering away at it every day or anything,” he says. “I would drift back to it in waves. I knew I had a bit of time before Esteban could read.”

Ross says he is extremely satisfied with the end product.  

“I had ideas for the artwork but I couldn’t even draw the dole,” he jokes. “My friend Conor O’Brien, however, is a supremely talented artist. He is the cousin of a very good friend of mine, Shelly, and she introduced us years ago. I told Conor my ideas – he ignored most of them – and he came back with something better than I could have imagined.”

Ross hasn’t any immediate plans to write more books. 

“I’ve since had two more kids and they take up approximately 98 per cent of my free time, and I sleep the other two per cent,” he tells Northside People.

“But one day I would like to tackle a Young Adult (YA) novel. I have a good idea for one. And of course, living in Los Angeles means I have to try write at least one screenplay.

“I do have another idea for a second children’s book too, but it is a little unusual. I don’t know if a publisher would go for it. We shall see.”

After completing his studies at Colaiste Dhulaigh, Ross finished his degree at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK the following year. 

He initially worked as a freelance journalist in Ireland for the Evening Herald, 98FM and the Metro. 

Ross left Ireland in 2012 for the sunnier climes of LA where he married a Califonian girl, interviewed every celebrity he could find and now works as a showbiz reporter for DailyMail.com. He now lives in Baldwin Hills with his wife Monica and their three sons, Esteban, Salvador and Xavier. 

•‘The Curious Fox’ is available in all Veritas stores, in Easons, and online on Amazon, and is priced at €8.99.