Both Liz Nugent’s new novel and its title character are wonderfully, almost indescribably strange indeed. I would later confess to her that I wasn’t sure how to write about the book without spoiling it. I tracked down the 55-year-old author during a writing retreat in Ireland where she was a mere 2,000 words into her next book, thanks to constant distractions like the publicity interview she’s giving to me. Journalists have been raving nonstop about what some are calling the best book of the year. “Nugent’s fifth novel is her best yet,” gushed The Guardian, describing the story as one where “evil perpetuates evil in a heartbreaking but humane tale of people damaged beyond repair.” 

While Nugent’s protagonist has never been officially diagnosed, and her adopted father refers to her as “socially deficient” and “odd,” Sally Diamond is probably some version of neurodivergent. She hates crowds and loud noises, keeps a list of unacceptable topics of conversation and – lacking any understanding of social norms – constantly puts her foot in her mouth. When the local vicar extends a caring invitation to mass, for example, Sally flatly replies, “No, it’s very boring.”

 

 

So, why is Sally so strange? Well, that’s the whole point of this (dark, funny, twist- and-turn-filled) story. Following her father’s death, Sally makes national headlines by attempting to incinerate his body. “Just put me out with the bin,” he’d joke, which Sally takes (along with everything else) very literally. Now with the media circling, it turns out Sally’s actually Mary, a child born in captivity to the man who kidnapped her mother. He long ago escaped the law and is still out there, perhaps, because someone from Sally/Mary’s past is trying to connect and reveal the truth about her traumatic past. 

After a sleepless night of tossing and turning, I spoke with Nugent via Zoom to discuss the book everyone’s talking about. Where’d she get such a terrifying idea for a novel? How is Nugent like Strange Sally? And is it weird if I’m sympathetic to an evil kidnapper? Zoomer gets answers to some seriously strange questions. 

Rosemary Counter: I couldn’t sleep at all last night because of you! Wow, what a book. Congratulations. I don’t know how I can write about this book without spoiling it. 

Liz Nugent: You know what? You have my permission to go ahead and spoil it. This is the kind of story that people will either like or not, so it’s best to let them know what they’re in for. I’ll do it: Sally discovers she’s the child of a pedophile and the child he had kidnapped. 

RC: We see these stories in the news sometimes, and they’re always shocking, but I don’t think I’ve ever read anything on what happens afterwards … or what happened before. What kind of research did you do to prepare? 

LN: I actually didn’t do any research. I read the stories that everyone reads in the newspaper, like those of Josef Fritzl, but I didn’t go back and read books about those particular cases. I wanted this story to be my story, and I was afraid if I did read those books, I would accidentally plagiarize their story. And I wanted the story to be about the child who came from those horrific circumstances, not the perpetrator. I didn’t get into his head, not really, though I suppose I sort of did …

RC: I was going to say, I disagree! No spoilers, of course, but I think you absolutely get into his mind, though not in the way you might think. I literally gasped about two-thirds in when I realized what was happening. And I was sympathetic too, which is a very uncomfortable — a keep-you-up-all-night kind of feeling. 

LN: Yes, I think I know what you mean. This is so hard to talk about! You’d think it’s one way, that things will maybe be okay, but I also needed the story to be realistic. So there are times I had to go the other way. This isn’t the kind of story that ties up neatly with a bow. 

RC: For obvious reasons, I’m always impressed by career writers who excel in different fields. I know you’ve written TV shows, plays, novels …

LN: Before all that, I was a big reader from a very young age. I spent a lot of time as a child in the hospital and we didn’t have phones or PlayStations. All we had was books. I don’t know any writers who aren’t readers first. Because I loved Shakespeare and Chekhov, I ended up working in theatre. I actually trained as an actress, which has become very helpful in writing. All my books are written in the first person, where you have to inhabit your character, which I learned through acting. But I ultimately decided acting wasn’t for me, so I became a stage manager instead. That’s when I started caring about words. At the same time, I was always fascinated by true crime. I don’t have any background in psychology or anything, but I watch people very carefully and am very interested in the way people work. 

RC: That sounds a little bit like Sally Diamond. Are you two similar?

LN: Most of my other main characters have been psychopaths, so I’m more similar to her than any of them. I definitely aspire to be like Sally. She treats every single person she meets the same way; she doesn’t see age or colour. I love her honesty, and I loved writing someone who says whatever she thinks and feels all the time. She says things I’m afraid to say. And she puts her foot in her mouth all the time, which is something I do a lot too. We’re both terrified of giant shopping malls. 

RC: You’re not neuroatypical, but you did have a childhood brain injury that became dystonia. How did that inform your writing of Sally? 

LN: Yes, I had a brain haemorrhage as a seven-year-old child and dystonia as a result. It’s a weakness along my right side, so I can only type with one hand. I’ll soon be having some minor brain surgery, which I know sounds like an oxymoron, that might help things. Scientists are finally coming up with something that might help my mobility. I was originally right-handed, so I had to re-learn how to write with my left hand, but I was so slow that I could never finish an exam in time. I had a terrible time in school because of this. It made me an outsider, just like Sally is, and put me in a position to observe other people. 

RC: I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book with a character quite like Sally Diamond. I actually think I’ll go back and read this book again. What will you possibly follow up this book with? 

LN: I’m already at work on another. That’s why I’m here, actually, at this writers retreat for two weeks in hopes to finally get some work done. At home, you can’t just ignore your husband. You have to spend time with him. I’m joking and absolutely adore my husband, who’s incredibly supportive. We’re so lucky that I’m now in the position to hire him, so he works for me. He does my website, travel arrangements, taxes. I like to call him my “husbanager.” It’s like having a lover, butler and secretary all at the same time.