Meet Cillian Dunne | Author & Screenwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cillian Dunne and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cillian, why did you pursue a creative career?
I write because I just genuinely enjoy it. I love sitting down and typing for hours on end. It’s a lot of fun for me. It was only a few years ago, after writing my second book, that I decided I would try to pursue a career in being an author & screenwriter. Things have been going really well and I’m happy I pushed myself to write more and work harder to make the dream a reality. Yet, if push ever came to shove and I was forced to pick up a full time, 9-5 career job, I would still happily write for free in my spare time. I really just genuinely love everything about storytelling.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started writing when I was 18. I had just watched “Midnight in Paris” and was inspired and that was when it all really started for me. I wrote throughout college, mostly for fun. I would write funny stories/screenplays about things my friends and I had done and then I would share it with them so they could have a laugh. I never really assumed I could have had a career in writing, but after a breakup when I was 22 I randomly decided to write a book to get my mind off things. I finished that book in 9 months and it was the most validating feeling I had ever felt, even though the book istelf was pretty trash. I’ve had challenges along the way, but I think they never affected me too much because I genuinely just love writing and storytelling. I’ve written two more books since and I am currently working on my fourth. I moved to LA to pursue writing (books & screenplays) and I’m excited about the progress that I’ve made so far. There is still so much to go, but I take pride in the fact that I have come this far and kept a positive attitude, even though rejection is far more common than praise.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a tough one. If I had a buddy visiting, I would be obligated to take them to the beach in Venice or Santa Monica. After that, I would take them for a few beers at Big Deans, then we would walk up to Chez Jay and have dinner and drinks. When night rolls around, I’d take them to a solid night spot to party – this could be a music venue like the Troubador, or it could just be a fun bar like The Victorian in Venice or Harlowe in Hollywood. It all depends on how we’re feeling and what kind of atmosphere we want to put ourselves in. The great thing about LA is that there’s always something you can do.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A lot of people have been behind me since I started writing. Way too many to name. However, my parents, my brother, my friends Michael, Mark, Liam, and Conor, and a few people I consider to be mentors I’ve had huge reasons why I keep getting better at what I do. At the end of the day, stories are written to be read and everyone I mentioned is the first to either congratulate me or critique me. It all goes a very long way.

Website: https://www.houseofhonorbooks.com/cillian-dunne

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunne.cillian/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cillian-dunne-04713014a/

Other: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19597172.Cillian_Dunne