FIDELITY, the boredom of marriage, the role of working mums and the dangers of social media come under the spotlight in the latest novel by Dublin actor-turned-writer Caroline Grace-Cassidy.
The Week I Ruined My Life tells the story of Ali Devlin whose her marriage to her childhood sweetheart Colin turns bitter following her decision to go back to work after being a stay-at-home-mother for years.
She begins to rediscover the woman she once was and seeks solace form her toxic relationship by throwing herself into her job at the City Arts Centre and spending more and more time with her workmate Owen – who just so happens to be passionate, charming and everything her husband used to be.
Then one heat-of-the-moment decision on a business trip to Amsterdam sets off a series of events that will change the course of all their lives forever.
Caroline, who began her acting career in the Bafta-winning children's programme Custers Last Stand Up and whose film credits include Your Highness with Natalie Portman, turned to full-time writing in 2011.
She is also a founding member of all-female film and TV production company Park Pictures, she has written five shorts and has a feature film in pre-production with an American studio.
The inspiration for her latest novel was an advertisement in Vogue magazine with the tagline 'Are you restless and searching for happiness?'
"As soon as I read that line, the whole idea for the book came into my head. I ran upstairs and literally started writing," recalls the happily married mum-of-two.
So what did her husband Kevin make of the storyline?
"At this stage he understands stories are stories and that they don't necessarily come from first-hand experience. Many of my ideas come from listening to what is going on in other people's marriages. I am in my point of life where I do have some friends and I do work on a female chat show where I come across a lot of women who have serious marital problems. I'm also terrible for listening into private conversations in restaurants," she confesses.
Her own brother's marriage separation also fuelled her latest book and, as a mother, Caroline was keen explore the impact of marriage breakdown's on children.
"In Ireland we are conditioned that marriage is forever, there is a stigma and an embarrassment to marriage breakdown. But in 2016 what is right for the sake of the children? Surely a happy home with one happy parent totally outweighs two people sticking together miserably until their children turn 18. Even if there isn't shouting and screaming, sometimes the dead atmosphere is worse".
In her novel Caroline explores the roles of working mothers in modern society, with Ali's husband remarking ''family should come before the arts'.
"I still hear a lot of people asking women 'Why would you be working and someone else is minding your kids?', especially if they are doing voluntary work or not coming home with massive pay checks. The answer is because they want to work and then when they come home they are a happier and better mother."
As well as being an entertaining read, Caroline hopes the book, which is being optioned as a four-part drama series, resonates deeper with some readers.
"I'd like someone to read it who is a really unhappy place and realise there is a solution and they don't need to be so unhappy. I just hate to think of people in unhappy marriages and sadly there is a lot of them out there."
Caroline, whose own daughters are four and eight, loves being able to combine work with caring for her daughters.
"I already go back to that Steve Jobs quote that you need to find work that you love to do and you will never work a day in your life. I'm very fortunate".
A regular panellist for the Midday show on TV3 for the past four years, as well as exploring issues close to the hearts of female viewers, she describes it as "a bit of a laugh and a giggle".
And her own personal bugbear, something she isn't afraid to voice her opinion on?
"Breastfeeding gets me a lot. I didn't breastfeed and it was my choice. When the breastfeeding Nazis come on I want to voice my opinion that it wasn't for me and stop making mothers sitting at home with a new baby and a bottle feel like they are not doing a good job, when they are".
While she uses Facebook as a tool for her work, Caroline's latest novel also highlights the potential perils of social media, especially when combining alcohol with flirting.
"It can be a dangerous medium, especially for reconnecting old partners. Some people live quite precariously through it."
:: The Week I Ruined My Life by Caroline Grace Cassidy is published by blackandwhitepublishing on June 24. Caroline will be reading and discussing her book at the Crescent Arts Centre at 5.30pm tomorrow as part of the Belfast Book Festival. www.belfastbookfestival.com
