A few years ago, I stumbled across Limerick writer Rose Servitova’s debut novel The Longbourn Letters. It was an imagining of the correspondence between Pride and Prejudice’s most eccentric gentlemen, Mr Bennet and Mr Collins. As a fervent Jane Austen fan, I was curious but trepidatious, having read various poor pastiches over the years. But… Read More A Season at Sanditon Q&A with Rose Servitova
I first came across Cork writer Gráinne Murphy’s evocative writing thanks to the wonderful Madeleine D’Arcy and Danielle McLaughlin, who run Fiction at the Friary. It was the tail end of the lockdowns, and the Cork literary salon was being conducted online. Gráinne was interviewed about her second novel, The Ghostlights, which ties together a… Read More Winter People Q&A with Gráinne Murphy
[Updated 31/10/22] It’s been a while since my last novel list so I thought I’d do a quick update covering what’s left of the year. My own WIP is slightly MIA – it’s been a tough year in terms of writing fortitude. But I’ve picked myself up, dusted off book two and am in the… Read More Novel competitions 2022/2023
September has become a major month on the aspiring Irish novelist’s calendar. That is the window when the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair is open for entries. Described as Dragon’s Den for writers, it allows twelve winners the opportunity to pitch their manuscripts to a large group of agents, publishers and editors. Many have found… Read More The Quiet Whispers Never Stop Q&A with Olivia Fitzsimons
[UPDATED 5/11/22] Hello! Because my short story listings post from the start of the year was getting a bit long and unwieldy, I thought I would do a fresh one for the second half of the year (which means that we are, unbelievably, halfway through 2022 already – that’s mad, Ted). As ever, I will… Read More Short story competitions June-December 2022
For such a small nation, we seem to be awash with literary journals. Just this week, I noticed two brand new publications preparing to accept submissions for their very first issues. Both based in my hometown of Cork, they’re respectively called Howl and The Four Faced Liar, the latter taking its name from beloved local… Read More A round-up of Irish literary journals
Just a quick post to say that Cork’s wonderful literary salon Fiction at the Friary returns with an in-person event tomorrow (February 27). It has been sorely missed. This month is slightly different to the usual guest author format in that it will be a showcase of work from Cork Words 2. Edited by Patricia… Read More Fiction at the Friary Cork writers showcase
[Updated 2/11/2022] As I’m solely focussed on a novel right now (and struggling, at that), I’m not really keeping a close eye on the world of flash fiction. But I thought I’d share a list of the competitions that are showing up on my Twitter timeline – hope these are useful for someone. As always,… Read More Flash fiction competitions 2022
A little bit of writing news to share with you on a grey Monday – my book, Fundamental Things, made the longlist of the Caledonia Novel Award 2022. I’ve been sitting on the news for some time as the longlist was announced in early December, but the competition was being judged anonymously so I was… Read More Caledonia Novel Award 2022 longlist
Just over a year ago, I competed my first book. Then I sent it to a couple of experienced beta readers, and revised it. Sent it to some more, revised it… you get the picture. It’s currently out on submission, and I will someday do a ‘6 things’ post on the whole, complicated agent querying… Read More 6 things I’ve learned about finishing a novel
Word herding 