Cecelia Ahern has amassed global sales exceeding 25 million copies of her books
Best-selling Irish novelist Cecelia Ahern is set to appear at the Queen's Reading Room Festival, taking place at Chatsworth in the Peak District on September 19-20.
The author, whose father is former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, will feature alongside a stellar roster of writers including Kate Mosse, Jojo Moyes, Meg Mason and Elif Shafak.
Now 44, Ahern burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel PS I Love You in 2004, penned when she was just 21. She has gone on to publish a new book annually, amassing global sales exceeding 25 million copies.
Before turning to fiction, Ahern studied journalism and media communications. However, she had earlier flirted with pop stardom as a member of girl band Shimma, who finished third in Ireland's Eurovision selection contest in 2000.
Speaking about the forthcoming festival, Ahern expressed her enthusiasm. "I'm really looking forward to it; it's such an honour to be invited," she said. "And I'm so excited that it's at Chatsworth, which is such a stunning building."
The prospect of engaging with her readership is clearly a major draw.
"There's an incredible list of authors and I will be getting to meet my readers, which I love doing," she added. "I am really excited to connect with other writers and have chats with them about the book world."
Several of her works have been adapted for screen, notably the 2007 film of PS I Love You starring Hilary Swank.
Ahern has not yet had the opportunity to meet the Queen, though the monarch has been known to attend the festival in person.
"No, I haven't, and it would be an honour to meet her," she said. "It would be fantastic if she was there."
The author was particularly complimentary about the Queen's efforts to promote literature and champion the value of reading.
"I think it's amazing that she's shining a light on books and the importance of reading," Ahern said. "I'm always grateful to anybody who puts that so high on their list of importance."
While she has yet to meet the current Queen, Ahern does have a memorable royal encounter to look back on. She was present at Dublin Castle in 2011 during the late Queen Elizabeth II's landmark visit to Ireland, attending as a guest of her father.
"I met her when I came along as my dad's date," she recalled. "I remember that her eyes really captured you; they were very twinkly.
"She was with Prince Philip and there were hundreds of people to meet but I felt she was taking in everything, really registering everybody there. It was very special to be in the room."
