Tuesday 30 October 2012

Silversmith Poetry Competition

Christmas shopping early? Why not write a poem?

Competition from Maison Vee and The Journal/original plus. Theme is 'Earrings'.

The winning earring poem will be published in The Journal and its author will get to choose a pair of Maison Vee earrings.

Deadline: 12 November 2012

Free to enter

Entries marked 'competition' to Sam Smith at The Journal: smithsssj@aol.com


http://www.etsy.com/shop/MaisonVees

Sunday 28 October 2012

Moth Short Story Prize 2012

1st prize is €1,000, and this year we have a 2nd prize of a week-long writing retreat at Circle of Misse (www.circleofmisse.com) in France.


The judge is Martina Evans. Martina has published four books of poetry and three novels. Her first novel, Midnight Feast, won a Betty Trask Award and her third novel, No Drinking No Dancing No Doctors, won an Arts Council England Award. In 2011, she was awarded the Ciampi International poetry prize by the the Premio Poesia Ciampi Committee from Livorno, Italy.

Deadline: 31 March 2013.

Further details are available on their website: http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=3055&page=7


Entry fee is €8 per story for payment made by credit/debit card (via paypal) or cheque (Irish and UK only)
Entry fee is €9 per story for payment made by money/postal order

You can enter all online.

Saturday 27 October 2012

Kate Mosse

That's Kate Mosse the writer, not the model.
She's in conversation with Mia Gallagher as part of the DLT library voices presents series. More power to DLR Libraries, that's what I say.

Meet the author of the bestselling Languedoc Trilogy which comprises Labyrinth, Sepulchre and now, Citadel. Few historical novelists can bring the past to life with such compelling immediacy and imaginative brilliance. Kate Mosse was co-founder of The Orange Prize and is a tireless campaigner for reading and literacy.
Pavilion Theatre, Marine Rd, Dun Laoghaire
Saturday November 3rd at 2.30pm
Tickets 10 & €8 concessions from www.paviliontheatre.ie
Kate Mosse said some interesting things about the Orange prize which, as you know, is a prize only for women writers. I'll see if I can find the link. 

Here we go from The Guardian

"in many areas of the arts – whether it's the number of theatre directors, the number of women getting commissions for big plays, the number of women in film or in classical music – representation of women is poor, and in some cases it's worse than it was."

Friday 26 October 2012

Poetry School/Pighog Press pamphlet competition

First Prize: Publication by Pighog Press and 40 copies of the pamphlet
4 Runners up: a free place on a Poetry School activity
Judges: Julia Bird and Brendan Cleary
Deadline: 31 January 2013

The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over writing poetry in English anywhere in the world. Initially entrants are invited to submit ten poems (or ten sides of poetry on A4, not more than 30 lines per side) for consideration by the judges by 31 January 2013.

The judges will select a shortlist of up to twelve poets by 22 February 2013. Short-listed poets will be asked to submit complete pamphlet collections by 28 March 2013 for final judging. Shortlisted poets will also be invited to read at an event in Brighton in May 2013, when the winner will be announced. 

If you have:
a) attended a Poetry School course or workshop since 1 January 2010 or you have attended or booked a course by the competition closing date (30 January 2013)
 or
b) have purchased a Pighog publication from the Pighog website (www.pighog.co.uk) since 1st January 2012

Fee is £10 otherwise £15.

I'd recommend picking up one of the judge's books.

Link with more details here

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Magma Magazine Competition


I have a soft spot for Magma. The mag is great and the editorship changes so it's different every time and they don't get stuck in a rut.

Anyway, they've a competition, two competitions.

Deadline 16 December 2012.

Magma's Judge's Prize
Judge: Gillian Clarke, the National Poet of Wales
11 to 80 lines (unusually long)
First Prize £500
Second Prize £200
Third Prize £100
and

Editors Prize for a short poem
Up to 10 lines
Judged by a panel of Magma Editors comprising Laurie Smith (panel Chair), Julia Bird, Roberta James, Rob Mackenzie, and Karen McCarthy Woolf.
(I would love to be a guest editor on a magazine. Offers please)
First Prize £500
Second Prize £200
Plus 10 Special Mentions £10 each
As part of the prize, all 15 winners will have their poems published in our Spring Issue 2013 and be invited to read alongside Gillian Clarke at Magma’s prize-giving event in London.

Competition Entry Fees: £5 per poem or £15 for four poems, except for Magma Poetry magazine subscribers who pay £3 per poem or £9 for four poems.

 More here

Monday 22 October 2012

Dublin Book Festival 2012


DOWNLOAD DBF 2012 PROGRAMME HERE
The Dublin Book Festival 2012 is in different venues this year. The programme looks innovative. 
It's the week of 13th to 18th November.  
Here are my own personal selection but there's loads more.
Children’s Treasure Hunt
 
All Ages
Beginning in the Children’s Area, 
Smock Alley Theatre
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th, 12.00pm – 4.00 pm  •  Free entry
Follow our intriguing clues around Temple Bar to explore many fun and cultural sights, and perhaps even discover a prize at the end!
No booking required, simply turn up on the day at anytime and go to the Children’s Area.

Literary Walking Tour
 Meeting at front steps, Smock Alley Theatre
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th, 11:00am and 2:30pm
8 /6 concessions, children under 14 free
Join Pat Liddy on a fascinating walk in the ancient area around the Smock Alley Theatre – a historic centre for publishing houses, newspapers, monasteries, cathedrals and a stomping ground for famous writers drawn here by the taverns and civic occasions.
A History of Ireland in 100 Objects – Fintan O’Toole
 Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Sunday 18th, 12.00pm – 12.50pm  •  Free entry
What’s the object for your times? Join Fintan O’Toole, author and literary editor of The Irish Times, and guests to discuss the 10 objects on exhibition at the National Museum at Collins Barracks and vote for your preferred object. This last object chosen will be added to the other 99, which have appeared weekly in The Irish Times, and will feature in a book on the subject, to be published by the Royal Irish Academy in March 2013.
Readings from Large Mammals, Stick Insects and Other Social Misfits with Felicity McCall YA (Young Adult)
 Children’s Area, Smock Alley Theatre
Sunday 18th, 12.00pm – 12:50pm  •  Free entry
Derry author and journalist Felicity McCall reads from her novel Large Mammals, Stick Insects and Other Social Misfits. Take a glimpse inside the lives of fifteen-year-old Aimée and her co-best friends Bree and Beks as they prepare for Aimée’s school exchange partner to arrive with her totally fanciable brother. Brilliantly funny stuff.
No booking required, but seats are limited so we advise you to arrive 15 minutes before the start time.
Inspiration for Writers: Writing for Young Adults – Alan Early, Siobhán Parkinson and Sheena Wilkinson. Chaired by Robert Dunbar
 Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
 Sunday 18th, 3.00pm – 3.50pm  •  Free entry

Robert Dunbar, commentator on children’s books and reading, leads Sheena Wilkinson, winner of two Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Awards and winner of a White Raven Award, Alan Early, author of the acclaimed Arthur Quinn series and Siobhán Parkinson, well-known author and Ireland’s first Laureate for Children’s Literature, in a discussion about writing for young adults.
Inspiring Short Stories: Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Mary Costello and Nuala Ní Chonchúir. Chaired by Eithne Shortall
 Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Sunday 18th, 4.00pm – 4.50pm  •  Free entry



 Éilís Ní Dhuibhne is the author of over eleven books. She has been the recipient of many awards, including the Stewart Parker Award for Drama and several Oireachtas Awards for Irish-language fiction. Mary Costello’s stories have been anthologised and published in New Irish Writing and in The Stinging Fly. The China Factory, her first book of stories, was nominated for the Guardian First Book Award. Mother America is Nuala Ní Chonchúir’s fourth short story collection. Ní Chonchúir has won rté radio’s Francis MacManus Award, the Dublin Review of Books Flash Fiction Prize, the Cúirt New Writing Prize, the inaugural Jonathan Swift Award and the Cecil Day Lewis Award. Eithne Shortall is the chief arts writer for the Sunday Times Ireland. She specialises in literature, theatre, film and writes a fortnightly column on arts and heritage. She is also an occasional book reviewer for rté Radio 1’s Arena.
In Their Own Write: John Boyne, Siobhán Parkinson, Dermot Bolger, Donal Ryan, Colm Keegan and Deirdre Sullivan
 Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Sunday 18th, 5.00pm – 6.45pm  •  Free entry
What does it mean to have an established writer endorse your work? Dublin Writers Festival invites John Boyne, Siobhán Parkinson and Dermot Bolger to nominate emerging writers to share the stage and showcase their work. Donal Ryan’s recent debut novel The Spinning Heart was chosen as the flagship release for Doubleday Ireland, in a co-publishing venture with Lilliput Press. ‘I can’t imagine a more original, more perceptive or more passionate work than this.’ (John Boyne). Colm Keegan’s debut collection Don’t Go There was published last year by Salmon Poetry. ‘The poetry … brims with frenetic energy and a hard-earned street-wise lyricism, bereft of false notes or unearned experience.’ (Dermot Bolger). Deirdre Sullivan’s debut novel Prim Improper, published by Little Island, was shortlisted for the Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Award (2011). ‘A writer with a sparkling talent … her first novel for young teens is even more hilarious and touching than I could possibly have imagined’ (Siobhán Parkinson).
Kevin Barry and Mike McCormack In conversation with Sean Rocks
 Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Sunday 18th, 8.00pm – 9.30pm  •  10/8 concession
Bringing the Dublin Book Festival to a close, we have two of Ireland’s finest short story authors, Kevin Barry and Mike McCormack in conversation with Sean Rocks, presenter of rté Radio 1’s Arena.Kevin Barry is the author of the story collections Dark Lies The Island and There Are Little Kingdoms and the novel City Of Bohane. He has won the European Union Prize for Literature, the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature, and the Sunday Times efg Private Bank Short Story Award. Mike McCormack, has published two novels and won several awards, among them The Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. His story ‘The Terms’ from his collection of short stories Getting It In The Head was adapted into an award-winning short film. Mike’s new collection of short stories, Forensic Songs, was published earlier this year.
In Memory of Maeve Binchy – Patricia Scanlan, Sheila O’Flanagan and Sinéad Moriarty
 Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Saturday 17th, 1.00pm-1.50pm  •  Free entry
Three of Ireland’s top female writers come together to reveal how the legendary author Maeve Binchy inspired their writing and helped to pave the way, not only for them, but for a host of Irish female writers over the years.
Silver Threads of Hope: Roddy Doyle, Siobhán Mannion and Declan Hughes In conversation with Sinéad Gleeson
by admin on September 17, 2012
Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Saturday 17th, 2.00pm – 2.50pm  •  Free entry

 

 This anthology of short stories by Ireland’s most prominent authors has been released in aid of Console. Editor Sinéad Gleeson (broadcaster and journalist with the Irish Times) joins contributors Roddy Doyle (Booker prize-winning author of The Commitments), Siobhán Mannion (Hennessy New Writer of the Year 2011) and Declan Hughes (award-winning author of the Ed Loy PI series).
The European Muse: Irish Poets Inspired by Europe
 John F. Deane, Harry Clifton, Moya Cannon, Mary O’Donnell, Michael O’Loughlin and Judith Mok. Chaired by Peter Sirr
Presented by Poetry Ireland in association with Dublin Book Festival
Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Saturday 17th, 3.00pm – 4.20pm  •  Free entry







Irish poets discuss poets and poetry from Europe that has influenced and inspired them over the years. With John F. DeaneHarry CliftonMoya CannonMary O’DonnellMichael O’Loughlin and Judith Mok. Chaired by Peter Sirr.
 Catherine Fulvio, Lilly Higgins, Jane Travers and Sheila Kiely
Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Saturday 17th, 4.30pm – 5.30pm  •  Free entry
Join our food writers for a lively discussion about the evolution of the cookbook – from print to online. Are cookbooks a thing of the past? Catherine Fulvio is proprietor of the Ballyknocken House Cookery School, a prolific cookery writer and one of Ireland’s top television culinary stars. Lilly Higgins is a Ballymaloe-trained chef and an enthusiastic food blogger. Sheila Kiely runs a Food Safety Management Consultancy and her blog www.gimmetherecipe.com is one of the big names in the foodie blogosphere. Jane Travers is the author of Tweet Treats, a book of over 1000 recipes which were composed on Twitter in 140 characters or less.
Irish Publishing Business Day
 Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Friday 16th, 10.00am – 4.30pm  •  By Invitation Only
A series of three events aimed at those working in the publishing sector. The events will explore innovations and developments in the industry with a particular focus on digital publishing.
To make an enquiry about this event please email: info@dublinbookfestival.com

Inspired by Science – New Worlds and New Ideas in Association with Dublin City of Science

 With Celine Kiernan and Conor Kostick   YA (Young Adult)
Launch Area, Smock Alley Theatre
Friday 16th, 10.00am – 11.00am
Booking essential, places limited to one class onlyFind out what inspires top sci-fi and fantasy authors Conor Kostick and Celine Kiernan. From the virtual worlds and sophisticated technology of Conor Kostick’s The Avatar Chroniclesto the fantastic world of Moorehawke inCeline Kiernan’s international smash-hit trilogy. Hear Conor and Celine talk about how they were inspired and the incredible worlds they have created. You might even be inspired to create a fantastical world of your own!To enquire about booking, please email: info@dublinbookfestival.com
Ages 7-8 years
Pearse Street Library
Friday 16th, 10.30am  – 11.30am
Booking essential, places limited to one class only
Join us for a fun and imaginative workshop, creating characters and writing a story together with your class. Then write your own ending, draw some pictures and at the end of the workshop take your story home to show all your family and friends!
To enquire about bookings, please email: info@dublinbookfestival.com

Thynks Open Poetry Pamphlets Competition

Deadline: 31 October 2012

For small poetry collections of up to 25 pages and up to 40 lines per page on a theme of the poet's choice.

First prize is publication of a pamphlet collection plus £100; 2nd prize is £50 plus publication of a pamphlet collection; 3rd prize is £25 plus publication of a pamphlet collection.

Entry Fee: £10

 Website:- http://www.thynkspublications.co.uk/competitions

Thursday 18 October 2012

Slam Poetry Workshops

Free Slam Poetry Workshops with Dave Lordan for TY/Senior English students. 

Calling all performers, poets, writers and lyricists!

To tie in with IFI Educations schools screening of We are Poets (http://wearepoets.co.uk ), Poetry Ireland in collaboration with the IFI are offering a number of FREE WORKSHOPS to 12 lucky participants, between the ages of 15 and 18, who are interested in learning the art of slam poetry.
These high-energy slam poetry workshops will be led by award-winning poet and spoken word performer, Dave Lordan. The participants will learn about performance, writing and the art of slam poetry, and work towards a live performance which will take place on Dec 12th after the screening We are Poets.
·         
 If you would like to take part, please email and tell us why or send in an example of your work.
E: schools@irishfilm.ie or contact Dee or Elaine on 01 6795744 for more information.
 Open to individual students. Places limited. Closing date Nov 12th.

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Index on Censorship Poetry Competition

40th Anniversary Poetry Competition

Deadline: 21-Oct-12

For poems on the subject of 'free expression'. Index will pay £50 for each successful poem (to be notified by 6pm on Monday 29 Oct). Chosen poems will be published in the Winter issue of Index on Censorship's award-winning magazine.

Chosen poets must be available to read their poem at the 40th anniversary poetry celebration on Monday 19 Nov at 7pm at Kings Place, London. This event will also feature readings by Simon Callow, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Dame Janet Suzman and Jonathan Dimbleby.

Free to enter
Submit to Eve Jackson on eve@indexoncensorship.org

Website: www.indexoncensorship.org

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Literary Salon

Literary salons were part of Dublin's social life in the nineteenth century. Join Chris Binchy, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Claire Kilroy and Nuala Ní Chonchúir as they discuss the resurgence in interest in literary fiction and read from their work. The discussion will be followed by a tour of the house.

Booking essential.
Venue: Number 29, Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2
Time: Wednesday 24th October @ 7pm

T: 01 674 4862
E: cityofliterature@dublincity.ie

Sunday 14 October 2012

Patrick Kavanagh Fellowship Readings

Poetry Ireland in assoc. with the Irish Writers' Centre and the Trustees of the Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh fellowship presents a reading of former recipients of the Kavanagh Fellowship Eileen Casey, Mark Granier, Rita Kelly, Aidan Murphy and John W Sexton.

Venue: Irish Writers' Centre, 19 Parnell Square, D1

Time: Wednesday 24th October 2012 @ 7.30pm

Friday 12 October 2012

Poets to Check Out - Jewel

A very lovely love poem from Jewel.
If you have any youtube recommendations I could feature, poets reading their own work, please add a comment.

Thursday 11 October 2012

Seanchaí - The Kerry Writers Museum in Listowel - Short Fiction


Short Fiction, 20th & 21st October, 2012 Director : Anthony Glavin

This workshop will explore the impulses that prompt us to story tell, as well as the various ways in
which the seeds of a short story can present themselves, and the process of finding your own voice.

Designed for those who have always wanted to assay the short story, or who are already underway, the workshop will consist of on-site writing exercises together with discussion of the various elements of fiction: from language and theme to how is a story set, and how do we go about peopling it in persuasive fashion?

Course Director
Short-story writer and novelist Anthony Glavin served as editor of ‘New Irish Writing’ in the Irish Press from 1987-88, and as a commissioning editor for New Island Books from 1994 to 2004. Author of a novel, Nighthawk Alley, and two short story collections, One for Sorrow and The Draughtsman and The Unicorn, his stories have also appeared in Phoenix Irish Short Stories, Best Irish Short Stories,ShortStory International, The Irish Tatler, An Gael, The Journalof IrishLiterature, New Dubliners: Stories to Celebrate 100 Years of Joyce’s Dubliners, The Faber Book of Irish Short Stories 2006/7, The News from Dublin: New Irish Short Stories (Faber 2011).

Anthony will read from his work on Saturday October 20th at 8pm.  Admission is free for workshop participants and €5 for the general public.

Course Fees & Booking Information
Fee Per Workshop : €130.00
  • The fee includes all tuition. It does not include accommodation, meals and transport to and from Listowel. 
  • Light refreshments will be available at break times. 
  • A non-refundable deposit of €50.00 is required when booking your course. The balance is due 2 weeks prior to commencement of the workshop.
  • All payments should be made in €uro. All major credit cards are accepted. Cheques should be made payable to The Seanchaí Centre.
  • Seanchaí reserves the right to cancel the course at short notice. In this event, a full refund will be made.
  • Courses will run from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday. Daily times may be subject to change, and participants will be notified of any changes prior to the workshop.
  • The workshop director will agree appropriate break times with participants on arrival.
  • Places are limited. Strict priority will be given to those who register 4 weeks in advance of the workshop.
  • Where participants are asked to submit work, this should be done at least 2 weeks in advance of the workshop.
How to Book :
See website here

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Kildare Readers Festival

Kildare Readers Festival takes place Friday 12th to Sunday 14th October.
Grab your tickets at Riverbank box office 045 448327 or http://www.riverbank.ie

All events are FREE of charge

This annual festival takes place this year in Riverbank Arts Centre and Hotel Keadeen, Newbridge and Alice’s Restaurant, Naas. 

Colin Bateman will kick start the festival on 12th October and over the weekend there will be a jam-packed schedule of author readings, interviews, book signings, drama, poetry, music and more.

Joseph O Connor will read from his new work Where Have You Been? One of Ireland’s greatest living poets, Paul Durcan, will join Dermot Bolger in conversation, Marie-Louise O’Donnell and Niall MacMonagle will take the audience through their ten most recommended reads, Paul Howard creator of Ross O’Carroll-Kelly and author of Triggs: The Autobiography of Roy Keane’s Dog will read and a very special event with the author of Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks, John Curran, is an absolute must for all Christie fans.

We also welcome Mae Leonard with Philip Scott, James Durney will preview his new book The Quiet Man. NYPD Detective Peter Daly. There will be a celebration of one of the country’s most inventive and entertaining playwrights, Tom Swift, courtesy of The Performance Corporation and festival regulars Stories for the Ear, KRF Notebook project and The Kildare Readers Festival Author Panel will ensure that there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Full programme is available on www.kildarereadersfestival.ie

Tuesday 9 October 2012

SILVER THREADS OF HOPE

SILVER THREADS OF HOPE BOOK LAUNCH

Here news of a launch of a project in a good cause.
 
28 Irish writers handed over unpublished/new stories, all in aid of a very good cause - Console - www.console.ie
 
The launch, by Anne Enright, takes place on Wednesday October, 10th at 6.30pm at The Lost Society, Powerscourt Centre, South William St., Dublin 2.

The book includes stories from Kevin Barry, Greg Baxter, Dermot Bolger, John Boyne, Declan Burke, John Butler, Trevor Byrne, Emma Donoghue, Roddy Doyle, Dermot Healy, Christine-Dwyer Hickey, Declan Hughes, Arlene Hunt, Colm Keegan, John Kelly, Claire Kilroy, Pat McCabe, Colum McCann, John McKenna, Belinda McKeon, Mike McCormack, Siobhan Mannion, Peter Murphy, Nuala Ni Chonchuir, Phillip O'Ceallaigh, Keith Ridgway,
William Wall and Mary Costello. 
 
The book will be published by New Island books.


Monday 8 October 2012

Tam o'Shanter in the modern day

From the ever resourceful Stammering Poet's blog.

Tam O'Shanter reboot. I read this mad poem at school in Scotland. Can you bring it into the 21st Century? 

reply from the organisers may give some pointers

We are very pleased with the response so far; some brimfull of wit and wisdom, lovely imagery and some very good lines . But there is something slightly depressingly similar about some of them, kebabs occur so often that the competition could almost be retitled “Carry on up the Kebab”, and a lot of downright squalor and sordidness. The original Tam avoids that. Can we not a couple of hundred years later do as well? And does it only have to be about a man out on the piss pulling the birds………….. there are so many other escapades which can go horribly wrong to choose from.    Burns did not have much choice, we have.

Deadline 31 Dec 2012

The story of Tam’s journey home from the tavern after a few too many is infamous. But now a new challenge has been set!
The Great Reboot of Tam o’ Shanter challenges you to bring the bard’s poem into the 21st century. Following the structure of the original, you are invited to come up with a new, modern twist on this old classic. The organisers are looking for someone to write a piece, in English or Scots, thinking about what Burn’s would have written if he were around today. An outing to a football match in Barcelona, a blind date to Benidorm, a hen party, a rave at a zombie night-club... it’s up to you!

•    The poem should be about a night out and the return home after a wild and unpredicted experience – of whatever kind!
•    It should be written in Scots or English and be the original work of the author, unpublished and not accepted for publication elsewhere.
•     It should not be under consideration in other writing competitions and should not be a translation of another author’s work.
•    The original 'Tam o’ Shanter' runs to 224 lines. Entries should be no longer than that, and particularly short poems are not appropriate: so, no limericks, sonnets or villanelles, please.
•    Any metrical form would be welcome – the ballad stanza, rhyming couplets, iambic pentameters, free verse are all welcome options. We are looking for a narrative poem of substance, insight and wit.
•    The competition is open to anyone over the age of 16.

How to enter
•    All entries are to be made online to: tamoshanterreboot@hjlockhart.co.uk
•    You can make as many entries as you like.
•    Entries will be acknowledged by E mail.
•    There is no fee for entry.

It's free!

The Judges:
Lesley Duncan, Poetry Editor of The Herald; Charles MacLean, Whisky Evangelist; Hugh Lockhart, Trustee of FSFF, David Purdie, editor of The Burns Encyclopaedia; Alan Riach, Professor of Scottish Literature at Glasgow University; Alexander McCall Smith, novelist.

The Prizes
The three best entries will submit to final judgement at an event in the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum beside the Auld Haunted Kirk of Alloway, in Ayrshire, Scotland and prizes will be awarded as below:
1st prize  £500
2nd prize £200
3rd prize  £100
And a further four prizes of £25 each.

Link here

Sunday 7 October 2012

Writing workshops, Béal an Mhuirthead (Belmullet, Co Mayo)

A series of creative writing workshops will begin in Áras Inis Gluaire, Béal an Mhuirthead (Belmullet, Co Mayo) at 7.30pm beginning on Monday 8 October, taking place fortnighly thereafter. The workshops are free of charge and will be facilitated by Geraldine Cummins.

Venue: Áras Inis Gluaire, Béal an Mhuirthead, Co Mhaigh Eo

T: 097 81079

E: r.mangan@arasinisgluaire.ie

W. www.arasinisgluaire.ie

Saturday 6 October 2012

Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Award

Deadline: 5th Nov 12
Submissions are now being accepted for the 14th Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Award. Poets may submit a maximum of six poems, which must be original, unpublished and 40 lines or less.

The first place winner will receive a cash prize and plaque as well as an invitation to read at the Francis Ledwidge Commemoration at the National War Memorial Gardens in July 2013. The second and third place winners will receive cash prizes and books.

The entry fee is €4 per poem or 3 poems for €10. For more information on submissions, click here.

Friday 5 October 2012

Seanchaí Kerry Writers Museum - writing poetry course

Writing Poetry - 10th & 11th November, 2012 Director : Alan Jude Moore

This weekend workshop is aimed at poets who are working towards a first collection or who are building up a track record of publications.
Over the course of the two days we will explore various aspects of your work and the work of your peers to give you a better sense of your abilities and how best they might be applied to move your work on to the next level.  Each participant will be expected to send a poem in advance so that we can focus on your work in a critical, but always constructive, workshop environment.  In addition to looking at the work of the group, we will also look at a selection of contemporary poets and examine how lessons we learn from their work can be applied to our own.
One of the principles of the poetry workshop is that by interacting with your peers and engaging in constructive critique of your work and their work, each participant will benefit.  We want each participant to leave the workshop with a better sense of their abilities, their strengths and - not least - their poetic imagination and how best these can be applied to write the poetry they want to.
Alan Jude Moore was born in Dublin and graduated from Trinity College Dublin where he studied Political Science.  His published work includes the poetry collections Black State Cars (Salmon Poetry, 2004), Lost Republics (Salmon Poetry, 2008) and Strasbourg (Salmon Poetry, 2010).  A new collection is due to be published next year.  He has been twice shortlisted for the Hennessy New Irish Writing Award in the fiction category and his work has been translated into Italian, Russian and Turkish.
Alan has taught several courses at the Irish Writers' Centre, including creative writing for beginners and an advanced poetry workshop.  He has also facilitated poetry workshops for the national organisation for poetry, Poetry Ireland, and recently adjudicated the annual Poetry Ireland Introductions Series.  He is the editor of the online literary magazine The Burning Bush 2 (www.burningbush2.com).

Alan will read from his work on Saturday November 10th at 8 pm.  Admission free for workshop participants and €5 for the general public.

Course Fees & Booking Information
Fee Per Workshop : €130.00
  • The fee includes all tuition. It does not include accommodation, meals and transport to and from Listowel. 
  • Light refreshments will be available at break times. 
  • A non-refundable deposit of €50.00 is required when booking your course. The balance is due 2 weeks prior to commencement of the workshop.
  • All payments should be made in €uro. All major credit cards are accepted. Cheques should be made payable to The Seanchaí Centre.
  • Seanchaí reserves the right to cancel the course at short notice. In this event, a full refund will be made.
  • Courses will run from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday. Daily times may be subject to change, and participants will be notified of any changes prior to the workshop.
  • The workshop director will agree appropriate break times with participants on arrival.
  • Places are limited. Strict priority will be given to those who register 4 weeks in advance of the workshop.
  • Where participants are asked to submit work, this should be done at least 2 weeks in advance of the workshop.
How to Book :
See website here

Thursday 4 October 2012

Red Line Book Festival

14th -17th November 2012

The Red Line Book Festival will highlight both Irish and international contemporary authors, celebrating books, reading, and the written word. By gathering together contemporary writing talent of Ireland and abroad, and those involved with the literary heritage of Ireland, the festival provides you with an opportunity to engage and meet with your favourite authors in a meaningful way. 

The Festival will incorporate our traditional Readers Day on Saturday 17th November with Dermot Bolger as host. We have a fantastic line-up as always with President Michael D. Higgins, Gerard Donovan, Anne Enright, Sean Moncrieff, Ferdia MacAnna, Christine Dwyer Hickey and Adrian Kenny. This year the event will be in The Civic Theatre, Tallaght. Tickets €10/€8 concession on sale now.
Friday 16th November will see an evening of Crime Fiction hosted by Declan Burke. The line-up is currently being finalised….but it will be a criminally good event! 
Tickets €10/€8 concession on sale now.

Our Lunchtime at The Civic Theatre will see non-fiction authors Catherine Fulvio (cooking), Lisa Fitzpatrick (style) and Tony Bates (psychologist) 
Tickets €5 on sale now.

Local authors Eileen Casey, Louise Phillips and Colm Keegan will be speaking at an evening event Three Voices/Three Forms in The Civic Theatre on Wednesday 14th November 
Tickets €5 on sale now.

For budding writers, there will be writing and getting published with Vanessa O’Loughlin of Writing.ie
Our local branch libraries will also be hosting events, including monster book clubs…so keep an eye on our website which we will be updating regularly.

As a part of the festival, South Dublin Libraries are also delighted to announce the 4th annual TEDxTallaght, an independently run TED event showcasing the best of Ireland’s new thinkers and innovators. With speakers such as Maureen Gaffney, Catriona Crowe, Cathal Garvey and many more. Tickets on sale soon.

Running alongside the general programme is a highly regarded Children's Programme, which will be a leading showcase for children's writers and illustrators. 

Events will take place at the Civic Theatre, The County Library, Tallaght, The Victory Centre, Firhouse, Clondalkin Library, Lucan Library, Castletymon Library and Whitechurch Library.
Browse the programme online at www.redlinebookfestival.com

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Poets to Check Out - Poetry Divas

This is a poem the Poetry Divas read together and we recorded it especially to highlight our passionate belief in freedom of speech and to support Pussy Riot for English Pen.

The poem, Pair Bond was written by Barbara Smith and you can buy your own copy in her collection. The Angel's Share published by Doghouse.

See Barbara's post here on this.

Couldn't Irish Pen do something similar?

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair

The Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair deadline is fast approaching. Last year's first fair was inundated with debut novels and had a number of successes.

Earlier in the year, Niamh Boyce sold her novel The Herbalist to Penguin Ireland and more recently Janet Cameron’s book, Cinnamon Toast and the End of the World, was snatched up by Hachette. As well as this, Liberties Press have laid claim to Kevin Curran’s novel, Beatspolitations. With nine of the authors signed up with literary agents and many in talks with publishers, they eagerly anticipate more book deals before the end of this year.

This time round they've added an extra prize of a seminar on 'How to Pitch your Novel' to better prepare the novelists for the day and they've cut the number of novelists participating
in half to give them more quality time with the publishers.

The deadline for the competition this year is on October 17th and the Novel Fair itself will take place on February 16th, 2013.

The Novel Fair was introduced last year with the aim of introducing, in person, up-and-coming writers to top publishers and literary agents who, in turn, have the chance to liaise with an eclectic bunch of talented, new authors. It gives promising, first-time novelists the opportunity to bypass the slush pile, pitch their ideas, bring characters to life and place their synopsis directly into the hands of the people they want to see it most.

More here 

Monday 1 October 2012

Ó Bhéal Guest Poets in October and November

Upcoming Events for October and November 2012
(the online version is here.)
In association with Foras na Gaeilge Louis Mulcahy – 1st October
In association with Foras na Gaeilge Colm Breathnach – 8th October
With earlier Wordshop from 7pm Lillian Allen – 15th October
In antipation of the Cork Jazz Festival Raven and The Dan Walsh Trio – 22nd October
Denise Blake – 29th October
Afric McGlinchey – 5th November
In association with the Corona Cork Film Festival Poetry-Film Night – 12th November
Paula Cunningham – Friday 19th November
In association with Poetry Ireland Tom Mathews – 26th November
At Cyprus Avenue All-Ireland Slam Championships – Friday 30th November
Entrance is free. Readings will last between 30-45 minutes after which there will be the usual open-mic session. Be sure to come early to get good seats. Full bar available.