‘My worst job was telemarketing in Australia–noone understood my strong Cork accent’

Leona Forde is the author of the Milly McCarthy series of children’s books. Forde, who teaches English and history, clinched a three-book deal to write the Milly McCarthy trilogy. Her second book, ‘Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster’, was shortlisted for the Children’s Book of the Year accolade in the 2023 Irish Book Awards. The third book, ‘Milly McCarthy and the Sports Day Shambles’, will be published on April 25. Forde lives in West Cork with her husband and their four children.

How did your upbringing influence your relationship with money?

I come from a family of five children, so bikes, clothes and books were always handed down. I think this made me more aware of not buying something new when something can be repurposed or upcycled. Myself and my sisters still check with each other if we’re getting rid of something or need to borrow something before we go and buy it brand new.

When were you most broke?

As a college student. During my years at UCC, I had a part-time job as a waitress at a Chinese restaurant. The pay was minimal. It was hard trying to balance wanting to earn money for a social life but also saying “no” to extra hours so I could attend lectures.

You signed a three-book deal with Gill Books. Could you afford to give up your teaching career to become a full-time writer?

Even if I could afford it, I don’t think I’d ever want to give up teaching. I enjoy it far too much. Each day is completely different – full-on, but rewarding. It’s brilliant being around young people, who are so creative themselves. As I teach English, I get to read, write and discuss literature all day, so teaching and writing go hand-in-hand beautifully.

What’s the most expensive place you’ve ever been to?

Definitely Monaco. It was a stop-off point on a cruise, so I got to spend a day there admiring the marina full of yachts. Everything there is so opulent, the mall is packed with high-end designers, and supercars pull up outside the Monte Carlo casino every few seconds. I was able to stroll around, but if you wanted to stay and play in Monaco, you’d certainly need a millionaire’s bank account.

What was your biggest ever financial mistake?

We bought our house in 2007, at the height of the boom. We were about to get married, we didn’t want to rent, and we had no crystal ball to tell us about the coming crash. However it’s the house we still live in, we have fantastic neighbours and we love the area – so while it was a financial mistake, it’s not a regret.

What was your worst-ever job?

Telemarketing in Australia. We had a list of numbers we had to cold-call to sell gym membership. I spent half the time repeating my script because people couldn’t understanding my thick Cork accent. I stumbled over the pronunciation of “Woolloongabba” during each call and despite my best efforts, never made much money because the pay was linked to our sales. However, I did write a short story about the experience that got published in a magazine, so it wasn’t a total loss.

What’s the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

One of the most extravagant things I ever bought was my car. I had a second-hand car for a number of years that spent every second week in the garage. Last year I got a new car – I love all the technology inside and how reliable it is.

Do you have a pension?

Yes, I’m lucky enough to have a public service pension. When I first started teaching, it wasn’t something I gave a second thought to. But now I definitely class it as one of the benefits of the job.