DE DUBLIN BOOK FESTIVAL

Some very interesting events at the Dublin Book Festival and it is FREE in to all of them. No excuse!

When: Saturday 6th, Sunday 7th and Monday 8th of March 2010.

Once again it's on in City Hall and there are readings with the likes of poets Geraldine Mills and Nessa O'Mahony; the launch of a selected writings form the late Nuala Ó Faoláin by New Island; and Eileen Battersby in conversation with The Stinging Fly's Declan Meade.

That's a mere taster. The programme is vast and interesting. Be dere or be square.

SALT SALE & SELF-PROMO

Salt Publishing are having a sale.

Times are hard for all and small publishers are really feeling the pinch. If you are in need of a good read, do please consider Salt as your first port of call. You don't even have to leave your desk - they have an excellent online shop. You could buy my short story collection Nude (plug plug) or, if you write, Short Circuit, their guide to writing short fiction. Or if you are a poetry nut, Jane Holland's Camper Van Blues. Look, there are hundreds of worthy titles on there - pop over for a browse.

On the subject of plugging ones own work, I came across a great quote, which all writers need to bear in mind, no matter how much they resist the notion. I've written an article for the Spring issue of The Stinging Fly on this issue called 'The Writer and the Internet'. Coming soon!

Here's the quote (it's from Marion Maneker here):

“The success of a book is dependent upon the ceaseless hard work and self-promotion of the author. More than any other aspect of the book business, this is what constantly surprises outsiders: It's all on the author. Sure, the publisher can add some luster and oomph, but without a strong author promoting a strong idea/story/concept, a book will just sit there, inert.”

Inert. Now we don't want inert books, do we?

WRITE AGAINST RACISM

To mark European Week against Racism - 13th March to 21st March - the Social Inclusion Unit, Community Services Department, South Dublin County Council are holding a writing competition to combat racism and to celebrate the variety of cultures and people living in Ireland today.

You simply convey your personal message against racism through poetry or prose.
Max 500 words.

First Prize €150
Second Prize €100
Third Prize €50
Six Runner Up Prizes of €25

Closing date: FRIDAY 19th MARCH 2010

Entry forms here.

SUNDAY TIMES EFG BANK SHORT STORY LONGLIST

The writers longlisted for the £25,000 Sunday Times short story award - 13 men and 7 women - are listed below. Congrats to Petina and Simon, who I know, and to everyone else on the list. Lots of the writers are pretty famous, some are new to me. The shortlist will be announced on the 7th March and the winner at the Oxford Literary Festival on the 26th of March.

• Richard Beard - James Joyce, EFL Teacher
• Nicholas Best - Souvenir
• Sylvia Brownrigg - Jocasta
• John Burnside - Slut's Hair
• Will Cohu - Nothing But Grass
• Joe Dunthorne - Critical Responses To My Last Relationship
• Petina Gappah - An Elegy for Easterly
• Jackie Kay - Reality, Reality
• A.L. Kennedy - Saturday Teatime
• Adam Marek - Fewer Things
• Charles Mosley - Constraint
• Chris Paling - The Red Car
• Ron Rash - Burning Bright
• Simon Robson - Will There Be Lions?
• Kay Sexton - Anubis and the Volcano
• Helen Simpson - Diary of an Interesting Year
• C.K. Stead - Last Season's Man
• Rose Tremain - The Jester of Astapovo
• Gerard Woodward - Legoland
• David Vann - It's Not Yours

HOW NOT TO WRITE A NOVEL

I'm reading a screamingly funny book at the moment called How Not To Write A Novel by Howard Mittlemark and Sandra Newman. I buy the odd writing manual for pithy quotes and examples to use in teaching CW. This one is definitely the funniest. It's as funny as Katherine Lynch's Single Ladies on a bad day - and that's funny! The examples of bad prose are over-the-top but, sadly, such ill-thought-out rubbish has come to me as judge/editor of this and that.

The book might scare off wanna-be writers and much of it may be too obvious for experienced writers but it's so hilariosly well-written, I recommend it - at least to editors and CW teachers for a good laugh. And some tips to pass on to the non-faint-hearted student.

Here's a couple of examples of the style of this book:

The Crepuscular Handbag - wherein the author trips over his own cleverness

A Test: Do I Know This Word?
Ask yourself: 'Do I know this word?'
If the answer is no, then you do not know it.

Men Are from Cliché; Women Are from Stereotype - wherein the characters are built solely of broad gender stereotypes:

"Melinda picked up Joe's beer-stained sports section with a wry smile, replacing it with another saccharin-berry scented candle. As she sat on the pouffe to enjoy her copy of Brides' Shoe Monthly, she wondered if he would remember to call for their third-date anniversary." etc etc

LOOKING AT THE STARS - POETRY IN THE GUTTER

Gutter Bookshop | Poetry Night
Thursday 18 February @ 6.00pm

The Gutter Bookshop presents their Poetry Night - inviting readers to discuss poetry, and "some brave volunteers to read either their own work or their favourite poet."

The Gutter Bookshop, Cow's Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin 8

T 01 6799206
E gutterbookshop@gutterbookshop.com
W gutterbookshop.com

VALENTINE'S 'NUDE' GIVEAWAY IN NEW YORK

 

'Dreaming of Heathcliff' - a painting by Sandy Mastroni

Happy Valentine's Day, lovely readers!! I love this day: romance, heart-shaped everythings (pasta! buns!), chocolate coming out my ears, pretty cards, maybe even wee prezzies.

To celebrate all things love-like and sensuous, I'm over at Eimear Ryan's blog in New York here for an interview about my short fiction collection Nude, which is all about the body and art and sensuality.

Eimear is very generously giving away a copy of the book and a gorgeous red mug from the Strand Bookstore. To be in with a chance to win you have to read the interview first (heh heh) then do what she asks. Think literary crushes...

NUDE IN REVIEW #5

Later on today, I am at Eimear's blog (as mentioned previously) for an interview about my short fiction collection Nude. I'll post again to direct you there.

Coincidentally, two other Nude related things have also just occurred:

1. Lane Ashfeldt writer and editor at Pulp (which is currently on a break) has put a mini review on her site here.

2. Irish writer Ethel Rohan who lives in San Francisco has written a very moving piece called 'Nude: A Personal Essay' here.

Neither piece is very long, both are worth reading. Thanks Lane and Ethel.

IRISH NON-FICTION ANTHOLOGY FOR HAITI

Garret Pearse, along with a couple of friends, has recently started a fundraising project for Concern's Earthquake relief in Haiti called True Irish Stories for Haiti.The idea is to get as many people as possible, from all walks of life, to submit their true Irish stories.

The stories should be short, true and should relate to Ireland or someone Irish or something Irish in however tenuous a fashion.  They will then publish a book with these stories to raise money for Haiti.
 

Initial deadline for submissions: March 7th.

Stories should be in the 600 word range.

For more information, see http://trueirishstories.blogspot.com or you can contact Garret at trueirishstories@gmail.com or 087 859 7023.

NUDE ON VALENTINE'S DAY

On Sunday - Valentine's Day - I head to New York (virtually - sigh) to wunderkind Eimear Ryan's blogspot for an interview about my newest short fiction collection, Nude.

Eimear is a hot young Irish writer who is currently holed up in Brooklyn, writing and writing and writing. She won a Hennessy Award last year and she is destined for BIG things. You heard it here first.

Eimear plans to give away stuff - a copy of Nude and either a bag or a mug from the fabulous Strand Bookstore. Do join us for talk of love (of short fiction), literary crushes and e-books, amongst lots more.

I did spend Valentine's Day in New York two years ago with two of my favourite men, as it happens. It was bliss. The men? Mr Nuala and Rufus, of course! Happy days, as the young people say.

THE RED CAR TOUR IN GRAN CANARIA

I'm over at Irish poet Liz Gallagher's Musings blog today on stop#4 of The Red Car Tour, for my new poetry pamphlet Portrait of the Artist with a Red Car. We are dressed in red frocks and enjoying the carnival in Gran Canaria, while discussing poetry and translation and other stuff. Join us by clicking HERE.

ARTEMIS - WOMEN'S POETRY MAG

In Greek myth, the goddess Artemis is an androgynous goddess. She had, apparently, a masculine energy and independence, and did 'not possess much need for a man to complete her.' Now you know. With that in mind I bring you Artemis, the literary mag. Well, not me exactly, I'm just passing on the info:

Artemis is a new UK magazine which focuses on publishing women's poetry and reviewing poetry collections by women. To subscribe, submit poems or purchase a specimen copy of  Artemis, e-mail co-editor Dilys Wood at dilyswood@tiscali.co.uk, or write to Dilys Wood, 9 Green Dale Close, London SE22 8TG.

Subscription cost for 2 issues is £9, and the  next deadline for poetry submissions is 28 February (2 copies of each poem, with no  more than 4 poems overall with a total maximum word count of 200 words).

The Poetry Editor for the May issue of Artemis will be Alison Brackenbury.

THE RED CAR TOUR CONTINUES TOMORROW

Hi all, do stop by tomorrow for directions to poet Liz Gallagher's blog in The Canary Islands for the next stop on my Red Car Virtual Tour for Portrait of the Artist with a Red Car.

We will be dressed in carnival outfits (what more could you ask for?!) and chatting about prose poems, poetry in translation etc. We'd love you to join us!

ENTERING LIT COMPS - A DEBATE

Any of you who like to enter literary competitions, get over to my cyberpal Sarah Hilary's Crawl Space Blog and join in the debate. (When I say 'cyberpal' I do not mean to imply that she is a robot, btw. We've yet to meet in person, is all! heh heh.)

LITERARY DEATH MATCH IN DUBLIN

I must be mad but I have agreed to this (words from the Literary Death Match website):

The Literary Death Match is heading to Dublin! And what a thrilling mix of stars we've got lined up. The all-star judging panel is set to feature playwright/producer Philly McMahon, journalist/TV presenter Una Mullally, and a judge soon-to-be-named.

All will preside over a fearsome foursome of literary talents, including award-winning fiction writer and poet Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Stinging Fly's hand-picked reader-representative Colm Liddy, scribe Brian O'Connell (author of Wasted: A Sober Journey Through Drunken Ireland) and spoken-word brillianteur Marty Mulligan.

Hosted by Opium's Todd Zuniga.

When: Friday 5th March. Doors at 7:30, show at 9:15 (sharp), afterparty: 11 p.m. and beyond.

Where: The Sugar Club, 8 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin (map)

Cost: €6 preorder (link coming shortly); €9 at the door; €6 with a valid student ID.
This event is free for Literary Death Match subscribers!

WRITE FOR SUCCOUR - TOMORROW ONLY

I love this challenge from Succour and I hope to try it. Eek! I'm breaking out in a sweat just thinking about the PRESSURE!

DETAILS:

For the next issue of Succour, we would like to invite submissions which pertain not to a theme, as has hitherto been the case, but which adhere to a pair of conditions.

 

Condition 1: All submissions should be written on Saturday February 6th, 2010.
Condition 2: What you write should not be an attempt to execute an idea – for a story, for a poem, etc – that has previously occurred to you. Rather, we would prefer you to write whatever happens to come into your head at that particular time.

 

The idea for this issue was inspired by 20 Lines a Day by Harry Mathews, in which the author sets out to follow a rule Stendhal once set himself, to write ‘Twenty lines a day, genius or not’. Mathews undertakes this project in an attempt to overcome ‘the anxiety of the blank page’; it becomes part of his writing practice, his way of starting off, getting in the zone, before going on to whatever his main writing project may be. We would like submissions to February 6th, 2010 to be written in the same spirit.

 

We will be accepting submissions to February 6th, 2010 from Saturday February 6th 2010 until Monday February 8th 2010 – thereby allowing a couple of days for typing up etc.

 

Maximum word count: 400

 

Please send your work to: succourdublin@gmail.com

BRIDPORT 2010 NOW OPEN

Oooh look, Zoë Heller is the fiction judge at Bridport this year. I never enter this - the field just seems too VAST but I love the idea of Zoë reading my story. Zoë Heller is a great writer. I'd have to get past an army of pre-readers first, of course, and I don't actually have anything worth entering (a technicality - I may get the story I've been writing for the last 11 months finished by June...But, then, is it any good, I ask myself? Sigh.)

THE DETAILS:

The Bridport Prize is the richest open writing competition in the English language - with £5000 first prize for a short story (of up to 5000 words); and £5000 first prize for a poem (of up to 42 lines).

This year we are delighted to launch a new category of Flash Fiction - there's £1,000 to be won for the best short, short story of under 250 words.

The Bridport is also known as a tremendous literary stepping stone - the first step n the careers of writers such as: Kate Atkinson, Tobias Hill, Carol Ann Duffy and Helen Dunmore.

Anyone can enter - so long as the work is previously unpublished. It costs £7 per story, £6 per poem or £5 per flash fiction and the closing date is 30th June 2010

Each year the prize is judged by well known writers - this year we are delighted to have Zoë Heller judging short stories and Michael Laskey judging poetry

The 2009 anthology of winning entries is available for just £12 or £15 overseas (including postage and packing). The 2008 and 2007 anthologies are available in limited numbers for £7 and £5 (£10 and £8 overseas)

Enter online at: www.bridportprize.org.uk

Or download an entry form: www.bridportprize.org.uk/entryform.pdf


Or email for a pdf entry form: frances@bridportprize.org.uk

Or send an SAE for an entry form to be posted to you

The Bridport Prize
PO Box 6910
Dorset
DT6 9BQ
UK

100 STORIES FOR HAITI

Less than 2 weeks after the spark of the idea was lit, the 100 Stories for Haiti anthology of short fiction is ready to go to press. This initiative was all started by Greg McQueen. I answered the call for subs sent out by Greg, and I got a story in. I see some pals with stories also included: Billy O'Callaghan, Tania Hershman, Joel Willans, Vanessa Gebbie and Sylvia Petter. I recognise other names too. And it's all for a great cause, as we know.

I had somehow failed to notice in the subs guides that the story submitted should be feel-good. Mine isn't really but it's in there anyhow. It's called 'Juno Out of Yellow' and is about nudes and art and infidelity and what kids should not see.

The full list of 100 stories and their authors is here at the anthology's site. I'll let y'all know when it is available to buy. It will be sooooooon.