Call me Ms Cynical

I've never been sure what the point of a chapbook is. It's not vanity publishing but isn't it a close cousin? Who buys them and where? What's the point? Call me Ms Cynical today.

Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition 2008

Prize of US$1000 or €600 and publication of chapbook. by Southword Editions. aka Cork Literary Centre. Winner will receive ten author copies. The winner will be invited to Cork, Ireland for the book launch in February 2009. A maximum of US$1000 or €600 will be paid by the Munster Literature Centre towards the winner's travel expenses in addition to prize money.

(Cork, Ireland? Are they targeting US writers here?)

3 Copies of 15 page manuscript consisting of either a selection of poems or one long poem on any subject or theme from a poet of any nationality writing in English.

Entry fee is US$20 or 15 euros. (Yes they are. Euros second. No pounds.)

First 500 entrants will receive by return a free copy of Never Trust Where A Cat Sits by Irene A. Mosvold of Louisville, Kentucky, winner of the inaugural Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition.

Deadline: October 31st 2008
Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition,
The Munster Literature Centre,
Frank O’Connor House,
84 Douglas Street,
Cork, Ireland

Or online.

Judges: Competition will be judged by a panel of published, prizewinning Irish poets. Who?

All Ireland Poetry Day
Don't forget All Ireland Poetry Day this Thursday 2nd October. See the Poetry Ireland website for your nearest.

Dublin
6.30pm, Unitarian Church, 112 St Stephen's Green West, D2
A reading by John F. Deane, Rutger Kopland and Fiona Sampson.

Kildare
7.30pm, The Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge
A Conversation Cafe with readings and open discussion from poets Desmond Egan, Mae Leonard and Bill Tinley.

7.30pm, Maynooth Library
Readings from an ecelctic mix of poets including Alison Maxwell, Colm Keegan, James Lawless and Kate Dempsey

Louth
1.10pm, The Space, Town Hall, Dundalk
A lunchtime reading with Barbara Smith, Patrick Chapman and Paddy Dillon.

11.15am Dundalk FM will host a special show dedicated to poetry featuring Barbara Smith, Patrick Chapman and Paddy Dillon discussing their favourite poems and reading from some of their own work.

Meath
8.30pm, Bellinter House, Navan
A reading with poets Peter Fallon, Yvonne Cullen and Tom French.

Westmeath
8.30pm, Mullingar Arts Centre, Mullingar
An evening of poetry and prose with poets and authors Dermot Healy, Michael Harding, Michael Mc Donald, Suzanne Doyle and MC for the evening Marty Mulligan.

During the day poet John W Sexton will read for children in Killucan and Mullingar Libraries.

Wicklow
7.00pm, Blessington Library, Blessington
A reading with poets Nessa O'Mahony, Ann Leahy and Dave Lordan.

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Library Voices

The innovative Dún Laoghaire Rathdown county library moves from strength to strength. Other county libraries and arts services should watch and learn.

On Thursday, October 2nd (7.30pm) Tim Pat Coogan will be on stage discussing his works, his recent memoirs and more.

On Tuesday, October 14th (8pm) DLR Library Voices will host Booker Prize Night, with panellists Declan Hughes, Claire Kilroy and Alison Walsh. . Can Sebastian Barry emulate John Banville winning in 2005 and Anne Enright in 2007 with his book The Secret Scripture? Hear three astute critics discuss the shortlisted titles and join in the general discussion. As the evening draws to a close we will announce the winner from London's Guildhall.

On Wednesday, November 5th (7.30pm) two of Ireland's major poets, Gerald Dawe and Brendan Kennelly, in the company of Leontia Flynn, recent winner of the prestigious Rooney Prize for Literature 2008.

On Thursday, November 13th (7.30pm) an evening in the company of novelists Niall Williams and Chris Binchy.

All events are staged in County Hall in an informal and intimate setting. Tickets, priced €5, are available in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Library Branches. Further information is available in DLR branch libraries and on the DLR Library website.

They also have a new Writer in Residence Paul Perry who is organising workshops in Deansgrange Library starting Tuesday 21st October fortnightly until Christmas. He will also offer one-to-one support for aspiring writers and host a creative writing blog.

And as predicted. Patrick Kavanagh Competition Deadline is extended to Friday 10th October. Send your first poetry collection in now.

Writing for Children

As in writing stories for children to read, not how children should write.

Two events:

Writing for Teenagers - Cathy Hopkins & Jenny Valentine

Part of the 2008 Children’s Book Festival. Cathy Hopkins (series include Mates, Dates and Truth, Dare) and Jenny Valentine (Finding Violet Park, winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, and Broken Soup) will debate their very different approaches to writing for teenagers with Dr Patricia Kennon, co-editor of Inis magazine. This event promises to be one of the highlights of the CBF programme and is open to both interested adults and young fans

Pearse Street Library, Dublin 2
Monday October 20th 2008 – 6.30pm

Booking essential - Please contact CBI 01 8727475, info@childrensbooksireland.ie

Everything you Ever Wanted to Know about Writing for Children - Irish Pen

What age group should I be writing for?
What do children actually want to read these days?
How many words are in a novel for 9 year olds?
How can I catch the attention of a children’s editor?
These questions and more will be answered at the special Irish Pen Night on Thursday 9th October at 8.00

Booking essential: 087 9660770
Admittance - €3 for Irish pen members, €5 for non-members
Expert Panel:
Children’s Editor, Helen Carr
Helen is an experienced editor at O’Brien Press. Helen has worked with children’s books for all age groups and is always on the look out for new Irish (and international) talent.

Children’s Advocate, Mags Walsh
Mags is the Director of Children’s Books Ireland.

Children’s Writer, Oisin McGann
Oisin writes for many different age groups, and is also an illustrator. His latest books are Silent Scream (Corgi) and Wired Teeth (O’Brien Press).

Chair: Sarah Webb
Sarah worked as a children’s buyer and marketing manager for many years for Eason and other book companies. She is now a children’s consultant and her new young teen book, Amy Green, Teen Agony Queen, will be published in February 2009.

Monthly talks from one of Ireland's Top Agents

Into Print - with Jonathan Williams

OK, it's questionable whether Jonathan is the top agent in Ireland; it's a very short pile. Perhaps you'd rather sign with Marianne Gunne-O'Connor, in the hope of a million-Euro pay cheque but unquestionably, the man knows what he's talking about. Although he did suggest to a talented writer friend of mine that she go away and write non-fiction, for example a book about cakes. She flounced off.

Where: Irish Writers Centre, Dublin
When: Tuesday 28 October at 7 p.m.
Thursday 20 November at 7 p.m.
Tuesday 16 December at 7 p.m.

How much:€8 or season ticket @ €20 (for all 3 autumn presentations).
Places limited. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Into Print – autumn season

Starting in October, leading literary agent Jonathan Williams presents an exciting new monthly series of talks aimed specifically at aspiring writers. Each month he will provide indispensable advice and information to those who are looking to see their work into print. From choosing and dealing with agents, editors and publishing houses through to issues of presentation, publicity, and marketing one’s work, these unique presentations in the Irish Writers’ Centre will provide aspiring writers with expert insights into the world of letters and how to negotiate one’s way within it.

Blogs to tickle your fancy

I stumbled across some of these wonders using the black box in the margin. Suck it and see.

Annie Rhiannon blonks about life in Ireland.

Blue Mosaic me blogs about his literary successes and failures.

Book Roast serves up books and authors lightly toasted.

The Cat Girl speaks about her cat-like life, meaning domestic moggy-like.

Darran Shan who writes those great, popular vampire children's books blogs here.

Deluded woman blogs at Is that me? How did THAT happen??

Eric Forbes book addict's guide to to good books from Kuala Lumpur.

JasoniJournal blogs about writing in Australia with a SpecFic slant.

Nick Laird writes in the Guardian about translating poetry.

Pauline McGlynn writer and comedienne (not sure of the order) blogs about life.

Pub rants is about a US literary agent (so I don't think there's a whole lot of moaning at the bar with a half-drunk pint involved here, despite the title,)

The 26th Story is the Harper Studio blog.

Prose Writing Workshop

Here's a one day workshop in the Irish Writers' Centre that won't break the bank and sounds worthwhile.

4 October 2008

1 day Prose Master Class with Dermot Bolger

10.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.

Cost €150

The Irish Writers Centre presents a one day intensive prose master class by one of Ireland’s foremost writers, Dermot Bolger.

His masterclass will focus on prose writing, but in the general question and answer sessions Bolger will address the other genres he works in and all aspects of the business of writings and publishing. Places are strictly limited and candidates who wish to be considered should submit one piece of prose of under 3,000 words, whether a complete short story in itself or an extract from a novel or memoir in progress.

There are lots more workshops starting, mainly weekly, in the next fortnight. Check up on the teacher and workshop aims as the courses vary a lot.

Young Emerging Writers' Forum

Young writers in Ireland now have a new forum to check out. The arts journal is aimed at writers between 13 and 18 and will be in every library and youth cafe in Ireland in December so send your stuff in.
Deadline 17 October.

They are looking for poetry, short stories, flash fiction and art.

It sounds like a good idea and is sponsored by the arts council. I hope they get lots of high quality submissions in all sorts of genres and forms. Please spread the word. You can submit online or by post.