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 :)

ROPES

My copy of ROPES arrived in the post today, there's still nothing like getting something the old fashioned way. I can't wait to read it tonight, well done on the ROPES team, its a beautiful production. I've a story in there somewhere called Saving Grace. Isn't the cover design gorgeous? It's by Claire O Brien, you can check out more of her images here. ROPES is a literary journal produced annually by the members of the MA in Literature and Publishing class at NUI Galway, you can find out more Here.

good news...

The ROPES Team are launching the 20th Issue at the Cúirt International Festival of Literature on 26 April 5 pm in Busker Brownes, Galway. It will be launched by Marina Carr. I'm thrilled that my story, Saving Grace will be published in this issue. If I can wangle my way to Galway I will, I love Marina Carrs writing, the rich midlands Gothic, dark language, and earthy female characters.
+

The Hennessy Literary Awards are on Tuesday 24th, and my poem made the Emerging Poetry shortlist! (Cocktail dresses for the women, and suits for the men, I wish it was the other way around, wish I was a man. Please tell me I'm not the only one who had to google 'cocktail dress'! How is a cocktail dress different to any other kind of dress?) Anyway, I'll bring my camera, and a sack and report back :)

+
And finally, (I know - me, me, me...) saving the best bit till last - as a result of the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair I've just signed with The Book Bureau Literary Agency, and am thrilled to be represented by the wonderful Ger Nichols. So thanks to the Irish Writers Centre, and thanks to Ger for taking me on:)