Lucy Kennedy has admitted that Googling herself early in her career left her “sobbing” and knocked her confidence so badly that she made a decision to stop reading negative comments about herself online . The broadcaster also revealed that she learned early on in the media industry that constantly diversifying was essential to staying financially secure. The presenter is juggling a full schedule with her hit show Living with Lucy, her radio show on Classic Hits , her success as a children’s author and now
the release of her first adult novel, not to mention raising her three children. But Lucy admitted having more than one job in media is often essential if you want to make things work long-term. “I think it’s so important for anybody in this business to find a second string to your bow at least, or a third, because no one job, especially in Ireland, whether it’s radio or television or being a children’s author, will fully sustain what you need in terms of an
income, unless you’re doing it the whole time,” she told RSVP Magazine . “Work dries up, things change, people move on, budgets are cut, and during lockdown everything was put on hold. I think it’s safer to always have a fallback. “For me, I think I’ll be a television presenter until the day I die, but with radio, initially I did it in case telly dried up. Then I loved it and I took on books in case radio dried up, and again I loved
it and thank God, for whatever reason, someone’s looking out for me, everything is still going really well. I also do it all because I really love and enjoy what I do.” Lucy admitted that while becoming an author eight years ago may have surprised some people, writing was always something she loved. “I didn’t do very well in school, but I excelled in English. I’m full of ideas. I don’t even know where the stories come from, but I was always wired to write
children’s books,” she said. “When our children were very small, I was reading books thinking, ‘God, this is awful. I could definitely write a children’s book’. “And then one New Year’s Eve, I decided among the giving up booze, stop swearing, etc, I thought I will just go for it. “I love it. I’ve just written my 11th children’s book, which has gone to print, and I have the 12th one in my head.” Lucy has now released her first adult novel, The Mini Breakers,
but admitted she turned down the idea for years because she did not believe she could write for adults. “I always said no. Honestly, it was a confidence thing. I just really didn’t think I could,” she admitted. She explained that the inspiration for the book came while on holidays in Portugal with her family. “And then two years ago, I was sitting in the sun in Portugal at seven in the morning, because I was determined to get a sun-lounger at the pool. I
was observing people and I started writing about girls on a holiday,” she said. “I’d tap away until Richie and the kids would come down, and by the third or fourth day, I said to him, ‘I think I have my adult book’. I came home and sent off the chapter to my agent, and it was sold the next day.” However, Lucy admitted she feels pressure releasing a book in a completely different genre. “I am nervous. I’m very confident in the children’s genre
now but my first children’s book was the same. And I don’t want to be seen as a TV presenter who writes books. I want to be the presenter who’s also an author. “I think there’s extra pressure as well when you’re known for something else. Like, did she even write it? “But I write everything myself. There’s no ghostwriter. “I suppose because my children’s books sell so well, I feel pressure now that people might think I should have stuck to the children’s books,
because it is so different. But deep down in my heart of hearts, I think The Mini Breakers is a really funny, easy read.” Despite her confidence in her work, Lucy admitted she has learned to avoid negativity online. “I don’t read the comments. I stay away. And I’m not going to go and look at book reviews,” she said. “I made the mistake years ago of Googling myself when I was about 28 and new in the business, and I ended up sobbing because
people are so mean. “And that day I decided, right, you’re not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. “The only comments I see are on Instagram and I can see by the first line if it’s negative so I just swipe left and delete. Reviews for television or radio I might read, but for The Mini Breakers no, I think it would knock my confidence. So I’m going to save myself from that.” The Mini Breakers by Lucy Kennedy, published by Bonnier Books UK,
is available in book stores now. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Lucy Kennedy, Living with Lucy, Classic Hits, The Mini Breakers, Bonnier Books UK, children’s author, adult novel, social media comments