Category: On Reading

Book launch, New Publication, On Reading, Writing Life, Writing News

Arlen House book launch afternoon in Books Upstairs 5th October

I am delighted to be the MC for an afternoon of fine readings as part of Arlen House’s 50th Anniversary celebrations in Dublin’s Books Upstairs this coming Sunday, 5th October at 4pm sharp.

Writers Rosemary Jenkinson, Ger Reidy, and Celia de Fréine will be launching their latest publications and Alison Wells and TC Arkle (travelling from the UK for the event) will read from Fire: Brigid and The Sacred Feminine. We would be delighted if you could join us!

Contemplation, On Reading, Writers Read, Writing Life

Brevity and Letting Words Sit

I was delighted to be able to attend a number of literary events recently – it’s not often that I am in a position to do so – and whilst in Strokestown for the Strokestown International Poetry Festival and in Maynooth Bookshop for Mary O’Donnell’s launch, I picked up some gems of poetry and short story collections.

Photograph showing the covers of the seven books listed below

As a predominantly long-form prose writer, I treasure the chance of brevity, beauty, and letting words sit for a while. Here’s my reading list:

  • Nuala O’Connor Menagerie (Arlen House) – poetry
  • Vona Groarke Infinity Pool (Gallery Press) – poetry
  • Mary O’Donnell Walking Ghosts (Mercier Press) – short story collection
  • Alan Hayes and Nuala O’Connor (eds) Washing Windows V (Arlen House) – poetry (by 303 poets – and I’m delighted to have a poem in here!)
  • Celia de Fréine Even Still (Arlen House) – short story
  • Noelle Lynskey Featherweight (Arlen House) – poetry
  • Eilish Martin ! All’arme/? And what…if not (Macha Press) – poetry (stunning art work and production)

On Reading

January Reading

Some of my reading for the new year: a lovely mix of poetry and prose. The photograph shows books (from top to bottom) by: Celia de Fréine, Isabel Allende (my book swap from the Irish Writers Centre Nollaig na mBan event), Maeve O’Sullivan, Samantha Harvey, Susannah Dickey, Dawn Watson, fran lock, Anne Tannam, Patrick Chapman, Neil Hegarty, and Deborah Levy.