The Scarlet Ribbon the debut novel from Derry O’Dowd is the fiction line launch novel for The History PressIreland. In an unusual collaboration between father and daughter, Michael and Katy O’Dowd (writing under the pen name Derry O’Dowd), the novel is a romance, set during the years 1737-1742 in Paris, London, Dublin and Galway. It follows the story of a young surgeon, James Quinn, battling prejudice and suspicion in his controversial quest to become a man midwife, and the women who change his life. As Michael O’Dowd explains, ‘from the backstreets of Paris, through the glittering social whirl of London, and finally back to Ireland again, this is a story of the thorns of love and the harsh reality of life in the eighteenth century, where nothing is simple and complications of all kinds surround James Quinn, man midwife.’

In a classic case of never giving up, Katy O’Dowd explains how the publishing deal was secured. ‘I am un-agented,’ Katy explains, ‘as is Derry O’Dowd, so it was a matter of sending out the manuscript and getting rejected, sending out the manuscript and getting rejected … Thankfully, I discovered the rather marvellous writing.ie and read a post announcing that The History Press Ireland were looking for historical fiction for a new line they were launching. I sent the first three chapters of The Scarlet Ribbon, was then asked to send on the full manuscript and it was accepted! It was the best feeling in the world, ever, and when we were told it would be launching The History Press Ireland (THPI) fiction line, well, let’s just say we were a touch excited and very honoured. Ronan Colgan and the team at THPI have been lovely to work with, so we feel exceptionally lucky.’

The father/daughter writing partnership developed after Katy’s father had an idea that he was keen to turn into a novel but didn’t have the time to write himself. ‘It took off from there,’ Katy explains, ‘slowly at first, but became a proper working partnership when I moved back to Galway with my family a few years ago. We hadn’t written together before then, but it works very well – collaborating brings up things that you wouldn’t have thought of yourself.’ Katy goes on to explain how the pen name Derry O’Dowd was developed. ‘Dad came up with the name – it worked better than ‘Michael and Katy O’Dowd’ and is nicely androgynous. I was born in Derry and it is my middle name.’

The Scarlet Ribbon contains a remarkable level of historical medical detail, set against locations that have been superbly recreated with every nuance of the period. I asked Katy how long did it took to research. She told me, “Michael, along with being an obstetrician gynaecologist, is a medical historian. He wrote ‘The History of Medications for Women’ and ‘The History of Obstetrics and Gynaecology’ (with Elliot E Phillip). The Scarlet Ribbon drew on research he had gathered for both books, and a lifetime’s interest in medical history and natural remedies. The locations were thoroughly researched and then visited.”

The collaboration between Katy and Michael is very interesting, Katy explained, “The Scarlet Ribbon was Dad’s idea. Mum got us together as Dad felt that he didn’t have the time to write a novel – seeing as both of his text books took seven years each to research and write you can understand why! I knew that I always wanted to be a novelist, so it was an ideal situation. We would get together and break the book down scene by scene, with Dad talking me through and explaining the medical procedures. I would then go away and write and come back to Dad to make sure that I was getting everything correct.”

Quinns Household Remedies feature at the top of every chapter giving it a real historical context and depth, I wondered if these were created for the book or part of an original document. Katy revealed, “The Quinn Household Recipes and Remedies were inspired by a few sources: Dad’s ‘The History of Medications for Women’, Culpeper’s ‘Complete Herbal’, and ‘The Compleat Housewife or Accomplished Gentlewoman’s Companion’ by Eliza Smith from 1758.”

In addition to writing The Scarlet Ribbon Katy explains what other projects she is currently working on. ‘I have a YA steampunk book out in April/May, ‘The Lady Astronomer’ published by Doctor Fantastique Books in the States. I’m also currently co-editing a horror anthology for Pendragon Press, ‘Nasty Snips II’ and am working with Dad on the next Derry O’Dowd books.’ As Michael explains, The Scarlet Ribbon is the first of a three part saga.’

For Katy and Michael, The Scarlet Ribbon is clearly a novel which came about through perseverance and self-belief. So what advice would they each give to aspiring authors still trying to get published? ‘My favourite piece of advice that I was once given – and it doesn’t just apply to writing – is reach for the moon and you’ll get the stars,’ comments Katy. For Michael, his advice is simple. ‘Do your research on the topic and related areas first.’ The Scarlet Ribbon is published by The History Press Ireland.

About the authors

Katy has worked for Time Out, Associated Newspapers and Comic Relief and her articles have appeared in The Times (London), Metro (London) and many other arts and entertainment publications, paper and online. She flits between Galway and London and has two sons – a pre-schooler and a teen – a husband, an elderly boxer dog and rescue cat. Katy enjoys really bad TV shows, B movies and creature features. Katy blogs at www.katyodowd.com and can be found on twitter @katyod

Michael O’Dowd has written extensively about historical medicine, with his titles ‘The History of Medications for Women’ and ‘The History of Obstetrics and Gynaecology’ among his published titles. He has also written the award-winning radio play ‘Death of a Jogger’ and ‘Changeling’ a musical drama for Access TV, shown on RTE. He is the National Chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ireland but is now retired from clinical practice. You can read more about Derry O’Dowd at www.derryodowd.com