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2013 Irish Book Awards

The Herbalist has just won Newcomer of the Year at the Irish Book Awards!

I'm thrilled, and still a bit gobsmacked, and of course grateful. I keep thinking back to four years ago, and me sitting at my chaotic kitchen table scribbled away like a maniac, with no idea whether the book would ever see the light of day. And now it has readers, readers who liked it enough to award it Newcomer of The Year. A big thank you to everyone :)

Receiving the award from Madeleine Keane

Book On One



The Herbalist will be The Book On One this week!What does that mean? Well, if you tune in to RTE Radio One at 11.10pm from Monday to Friday you'll hear the novel being dramatized... cant wait to see how they've done it...

ROPES 2014

ROPES is a literary journal published by students at NUI Galway, and they are open for submission! (Details Above.)  I met their PR Niamh Callaghan at the Over The Edge Reading last night in Galway, it was hugely enjoyable night with a great audience. Audrey Dinneen read the most heart breaking pancake making scene you'll ever hear, and the open mic afterwards was packed with exciting poems, sestinas on rugby bums, rifts on hips, coffee bean epiphanies... A lively (and really well run) open mic - it will be on again in December, so if you're near Galway check it out. (And a big thanks to Kevin Higgins and Susan Millar DuMars for inviting me.) And...

I'm reading in Croi Anu Creative Centre, Moone, Co Kildare tonight at 7.30pm

It's my last reading of the year, and it's been an exciting, and exhausting year, so I'm really looking forward to crawling back into my cave and getting to grips with some writing. I heard Donna Tartt on the radio this morning, she was asked for writing advice.  I waited with baited breathe for some mystical insight, but her tip was pretty practical.  The advice that is most often given to writers,  and most often ignored by writers - but probably the best - 'write every day - just show up at the page.'

I'm looking forward to doing just that.

Have a great weekend, and good luck if you submit to ROPES :)

Over The Edge


   
I'm heading to Galway this Thursday, to read at Over The Edge. I moved to Galway to study in 1992, and didn't leave till 2006... its a hypnotic place -so really looking forward to the reading, to meeting people - and bringing my daughter to Fat Freddie's afterwards, might try and fit in Charlie Byrnes, and Salthill prom. Wish I was going for more than one night. Here's the details :)
  

'The November Over The Edge 'Open Reading' featured readers are Niamh Boyce, Audrey Dinneen and Padraic McCormack. There will as usual be an open-mic after the featured readers.'

Thursday 21 November @ 6.30pm 
Galway City Library, Galway
T: 087 643 1748

Today


View from my room at The Tyrone Guthrie Centre

 The photo is my view from my room at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, I was kindly granted a residency there by Kildare Arts Office. That week meant an awful lot to me, a good friend and relative died recently, and I spent the time writing poems for him. It gave me the space I really needed, and as usual at I met some amazing and kind people. 

I'm off to Dublin today to read with some great writers, Janet Cameron and Gavin Corbett. We'll be in the Irish Writers Centre at 4pm. Everyone is welcome to come along. The event is part of the Dublin Book Festival.

Later tonight you can hear me live on radio, if you dare :) I'll be interviewed on Radio Active.ie by Anita White.  Anita's an inspiration, and old friend of mine. She owns the magnificent online beauty resource Dolled Up.ie .We'll be on at 10pm, taking requests, gabbing and having some fun.

Dublin Book Festival


Richard Fitzpatrick has written an article about The Herbalist in today's Examiner to tie in with my reading at a Dublin Book Festival event on Saturday 16th in the Irish Writers centre. You can read the piece HERE The Dublin Book Festival is a real feast for readers and writers of all ages, the line up includes Pat Mc Cabe, Sarah Clancy, Jennifer Johnson, Sinead Gleeson, Nuala Ni Chonchuir, Sinead Moriarty, Sinead Morrissy and Mary Morrissy. 'Creating A Stir' I'll reading with Janet Cameron, Gavin Corbett in the Irish Writers Centre on Saturday 16th. We'll also be talking about getting published. Ciaran Carty will chair. There are many, many other events, the programme can be read here HERE

Reading in Mountmellick




 I'll be reading from my novel “The Herbalist” in Mountmellick Library,
Tuesday 5th November at 11am. All are welcome. I bags the orange chair :)

Irish Book Awards



Some good news - the nominees for the Irish Book Awards was announced, 
and my novel The Herbalist has been nominated in the Newcomer of the Year Category. 
The public have a say in which books win, so you can vote 
for your favorites by clicking  Here 

Christmas Market

  Ballyhale Farmers Market, Co Kilkenny  Delighted to be joining other authors on our book stand this Sunday - Helena Duggan, Eimear Lawlor,...