A hopeful voyage

CECELIA AHERN’S first of four novels (so far) was “P.S., I Love You”; the film version, starring Hilary Swank, hit theaters last week. Ahern is the co-creator and producer of the ABC show “Samantha Who?” starring Christina Applegate, about a character who’s navigating her clean-slate life after losing her memory in a car accident. Ahern’s father is the prime minister of Ireland.

Will you take us through your path a bit? You were, like, born in the ‘80s and now you’re a network TV creator-producer?

Yeah! I was born in ‘81! I wrote my first book when I was 21. Do you want me to take you right through?

No. I want you to tell me your secrets of success.

With “Samantha Who?” [ABC’s] head of comedy development, Amy Hartwick, got in touch after reading “P.S., I Love You.” And she asked if I’d like to do a TV show. I knew she’d liked the way I wrote the stories I’d told, and the positive side that comes through, and all my stories about women on journeys about self-discovery -- but every week? So I came on the idea of someone who knows nothing about themselves. . . . I figured out [Samantha] was a terrible person too. That’s the twist. She figured out she was a horrible person.

You’re too young to envy starting fresh, right?

Of course -- I don’t envy that, no. I just think that I wanted to see something, to write something, with good people, making good choices, good decisions, good choices. I get tired of seeing people make bad decisions! My books are positive, hopeful -- not dragging people into negative things. I just like when the good girl wins!

Like fellow prodigy Kate Bush before you, have you changed your conception of love as you’ve grown up?

My conception of love? I still believe in it!

Oh. Good.

I’ve been in a relationship for almost seven years now. I certainly believe in love. I’m realistic -- but I don’t think being romantic means being realistic. When they work, they’re great. When they don’t, they . . .

Your sister married young and quite well.

Funnily enough, [elder sister Georgina Ahern and singer Nicky Byrne] were together since they were 14. We were all in school together. They started going out from then. He wasn’t in the band, but she encouraged him to follow his dream. The band is still together -- they’re called Westlife. It’s funny how it works! Everyone in the family seems to follow their passions. Find what you love and work hard at it.

That’s a crazy idea!

I left college to write the book. I got my degree but -- and my mom and dad were like great, brilliant, write a book. I had a story to tell for myself. I think a lot of parents would be: “Do something where you get paid, do a proper job.” They’re very open-minded and that’s been very helpful. I could have gotten embarrassed and put my pen down and gotten a job that I’d hated.

Did your father ever worry about what you might write?

No -- he knew I was writing fiction. I told him all along what I was writing, but it was a very private thing. I wrote “P.S., I Love You” in three months. I hibernated and wrote all night and slept all day. They just let me go with the flow. . . . It was a funny time looking back on it. When I got my book deal I rang him up and told him and he said, “What’s it about again?” And I said, “It’s fiction, don’t worry, I’m not revealing any secrets.”

So it was concocted in a fit of mania!

Completely! It wasn’t planned! But that’s what happens when I get an idea. It just overtakes life. The world I’m writing about becomes stronger than the world I’m living in. Everything stops. It’s a bit scary.

That’s kind of creepy.

But I love it. That’s why I love writing. It’s where I feel comfortable -- with people I like to hear talking. My own little world.

Is it really true that you went to the Irish finals of Eurovision [the European song contest]?

Uuuuuuugh! Well. Yeah. We didn’t get through, so that was great. Well, that was good fun. We were in school. I’d been asked to do this band. I’d done lots of shows and pantomime. They put this band together for Eurovision -- we did a one-night-only performance. We didn’t get through and we disbanded! We got to go and record the song, but we didn’t get any further. Which is great, because I can focus on what I do best, which is writing.

It’s a fantastic thing to have on your resume.

Is it?

How could it not be?

As I’m cringing! As cringey as some things you do in life are, I don’t regret it. I met some great people, [but] I’m glad I didn’t stick with it.