Kirkintilloch was Paradise for budding writer and Celtic fan...
Source: Kirkintilloch Herald
Date: 20.12.2012
HEAVENLY inspiration is behind a new book which blazes a trail from Kirkintilloch to Paradise.
Landmarks and locations around Kirkintilloch star in a new book which follows the fortunes of a young boy on the brink of footballing stardom.
‘Paradise Road’, by Stephen O’Donnell, is the story of a shining football talent from the town who signs for a big club. However, he is forced to face up to the harsh reality of not quite making the grade in the big league.
Stephen’s character has to settle for living his dream through his favourite team – Celtic FC – as he boards the Kirkintilloch fan bus to Parkhead.
Readers will recognise many of the landmarks mentioned in the book, the pubs, the Cowgate and even Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.
“It’s not just a book about football and fandom,” says the author. “It offers a portrait of the character and experiences of a section of the Irish Catholic community in the west of Scotland.”
Stephen was born in Kirkintilloch among a large family of Celtic supporters.
While he had to move away early in life to attend boarding school – his father was in the RAF and it was thought to be more stable than following his dad around the world – the author’s heart is rooted in the area where his family
still live, and where his mother and father went to school.
“My father was from Kirky and my mum from Lennoxtown, and they both went to St Ninian’s,” he explains.
“All my mates in Kirky are firstly mates of my cousins. I wanted to write about what I know – which is characters that people from a west of Scotland working-class background can relate to.”
The 41-year-old who now lives in Glasgow’s West End – where his character in the book also ends up – added: “Because of my roots I was able to imagine the life I might have had if I’d stayed and was brought up in Kirky.”
Stephen is currently working on his next novel. Not keen to divulge too many of its secrets, he did let on that it centres on a TV debating programme and is both funny and provocative, while addressing serious issues affecting football.
Date: 20.12.2012
HEAVENLY inspiration is behind a new book which blazes a trail from Kirkintilloch to Paradise.
Landmarks and locations around Kirkintilloch star in a new book which follows the fortunes of a young boy on the brink of footballing stardom.
‘Paradise Road’, by Stephen O’Donnell, is the story of a shining football talent from the town who signs for a big club. However, he is forced to face up to the harsh reality of not quite making the grade in the big league.
Stephen’s character has to settle for living his dream through his favourite team – Celtic FC – as he boards the Kirkintilloch fan bus to Parkhead.
Readers will recognise many of the landmarks mentioned in the book, the pubs, the Cowgate and even Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.
“It’s not just a book about football and fandom,” says the author. “It offers a portrait of the character and experiences of a section of the Irish Catholic community in the west of Scotland.”
Stephen was born in Kirkintilloch among a large family of Celtic supporters.
While he had to move away early in life to attend boarding school – his father was in the RAF and it was thought to be more stable than following his dad around the world – the author’s heart is rooted in the area where his family
still live, and where his mother and father went to school.
“My father was from Kirky and my mum from Lennoxtown, and they both went to St Ninian’s,” he explains.
“All my mates in Kirky are firstly mates of my cousins. I wanted to write about what I know – which is characters that people from a west of Scotland working-class background can relate to.”
The 41-year-old who now lives in Glasgow’s West End – where his character in the book also ends up – added: “Because of my roots I was able to imagine the life I might have had if I’d stayed and was brought up in Kirky.”
Stephen is currently working on his next novel. Not keen to divulge too many of its secrets, he did let on that it centres on a TV debating programme and is both funny and provocative, while addressing serious issues affecting football.
Glasgow's own 'Irvine Welsh' tackles sectarianism in new football book Paradise Road
Source: The Glaswegian
Date: 12.12.2012
Author: Emma Smith
A WEST End author who has been hailed as a Glasgow rival for Irvine Welsh is hoping his debut novel will be made into a film.
Stephen O’Donnell, 41, wrote Paradise Road after moving back to the city from Prague where he taught English.
The novel tells the story of Kevin McGarry, a young man from the Glasgow area who was once one of the most talented young footballers of his generation in Scotland.
However, through a combination of injury and disillusionment, Kevin is forced to abandon his hopes of playing the game professionally.
Instead, he settles for following his favourite team Celtic as a fan, while trying to earn a living as a joiner.
Stephen, who started the book in 2004, said: “I was always advised that if I wanted to be a writer the best thing to write about is what you know.
“I moved away from Glasgow as a teenager but I used to always come back to visit my friends and cousins whenever I could.
“The book, although it is fiction, looks at what might have happened to me if I had stayed in the Glasgow area. I was always a half-decent footballer but in the book I made Kevin an extremely talented player.”
The book examines some of the major issues affecting football today.
He added: “It’s not just about football. It looks into sectarianism, Glasgow culture and the declining attitude in Scottish football. I am very pleased with the response so far. One review said I was a Glasgow rival to Irvine Welsh.”
Steven hopes the book will be made into a TV series or film and he is already working on his second novel.
He added: “I have written 60,000 words and I plan to have it finished by March. This book is about one of the minor characters in Paradise Road and looks at football in the media.”
Date: 12.12.2012
Author: Emma Smith
A WEST End author who has been hailed as a Glasgow rival for Irvine Welsh is hoping his debut novel will be made into a film.
Stephen O’Donnell, 41, wrote Paradise Road after moving back to the city from Prague where he taught English.
The novel tells the story of Kevin McGarry, a young man from the Glasgow area who was once one of the most talented young footballers of his generation in Scotland.
However, through a combination of injury and disillusionment, Kevin is forced to abandon his hopes of playing the game professionally.
Instead, he settles for following his favourite team Celtic as a fan, while trying to earn a living as a joiner.
Stephen, who started the book in 2004, said: “I was always advised that if I wanted to be a writer the best thing to write about is what you know.
“I moved away from Glasgow as a teenager but I used to always come back to visit my friends and cousins whenever I could.
“The book, although it is fiction, looks at what might have happened to me if I had stayed in the Glasgow area. I was always a half-decent footballer but in the book I made Kevin an extremely talented player.”
The book examines some of the major issues affecting football today.
He added: “It’s not just about football. It looks into sectarianism, Glasgow culture and the declining attitude in Scottish football. I am very pleased with the response so far. One review said I was a Glasgow rival to Irvine Welsh.”
Steven hopes the book will be made into a TV series or film and he is already working on his second novel.
He added: “I have written 60,000 words and I plan to have it finished by March. This book is about one of the minor characters in Paradise Road and looks at football in the media.”