Roddy Doyle, an acclaimed author and playwright, has expressed that the work fans most frequently want to discuss is his novel "The Woman Who Walked Into Doors," published in 1996. He noted that this story, which focuses on domestic violence, continues to resonate with readers, particularly women. Recently, at a book signing event in Auckland, several women shared how much the book meant to them, leading Doyle to consider it one of his best works.

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Doyle has maintained a long relationship with his character Paula Spencer, who first appeared in "The Woman Who Walked Into Doors" and later featured in a trilogy of novels. He recounted an incident during the Covid-19 pandemic when he thought about how Paula would perceive the experience of getting vaccinated, which inspired his new work, "The Women Behind the Door."

As he approaches his 70th birthday alongside Paula, he humorously acknowledged that she is a fictional character but contemplated the idea of giving her another book as a present. He emphasized the need for creative energy to write, noting that he currently has the motivation to produce new work but is aware that this may change over time.

Doyle revealed that one book he frequently returns to is Charles Dickens’ "Great Expectations," which he admires for its characters and plot. He also shared a pivotal piece of advice he received about feeling grateful for his success rather than merely lucky, which helped reshape his self-perception.

When advising emerging writers, Doyle encourages them to focus on quantity over quality initially, advocating for the importance of writing freely to discover their voice and characters. This process, he likens to developing a relationship, suggesting that one should write extensively before honing in on the details.

Discussing his language choices, Doyle reflected on the criticism from American producers regarding the profanity in "The Commitments," revealing his fondness for certain expletives. He humorously described his daughter's gift of wooden decorations featuring his favorite Irish slang terms, further showcasing his appreciation for colorful language.

While addressing the literary community's frequent inquiries about James Joyce, Doyle clarified his respect for Joyce's work, particularly "Ulysses," despite expressing some frustration with the academic discourse surrounding it. He noted the tedious expectation for Dublin writers to comment on Joyce, emphasizing that he does not feel bound by Joyce's legacy.

If given the chance, Doyle would enjoy having a drink with Charles Dickens, citing his fascination with Dickens' creativity despite the author's controversial personal life. He concluded by sharing a lighthearted wish for the theme music of BBC's "Match Of The Day" to be played at his funeral, an homage to his lifelong enjoyment of the show.

Roddy Doyle will be speaking at the Sydney Writers’ Festival on Saturday, May 23, at 6 p.m. His latest novel, "The Women Behind the Door," is published by Penguin.