Nearing the end of my novel, soon. A few more weeks, I hope! Its been a long haul. It helps that the short people are back at school, though they'll have almost seven weeks of 'off days' (between holy days, bank holidays, and religious festivals etc...) this year....so better keep my head down - but in the meantime - Poetry... The 2017 Strokestown International Poetry Festival Competition is open for entries. I went to this festival a few years ago and had a ball, it was great crack, very fine poetry and even a guided mountain climb. There'll be a festival anthology this year - in which shortlisted entrants will feature alongside the work of the judges and other poets. Shortlisted poets for each of these competitions will also be asked to read a selection of their poems as part of the festival, and will receive a reading fee of €200. Closing date: 2nd December, 2016. For details, rules and entry forms see Here Good luck if you enter :)
