Category: Short stories

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Mel Ulm and the Jamie O’ Connell interview

I haven’t written about Jamie O’ Connell for a bit now. But, thankfully, Mel Ulm has given us a proper fix of the Jamie in a hugely detailed interview with the author on Mel’s Reading Lives blog.

Mel Ulm knows his stuff. He knows Irish and he knows the short story. I imagine that he spends every second reading new and old Irish literature. I really enjoy his blog and am really enjoying the Q and A for Irish writers he has running for the last while.

Jamie O’ Connell was interviewed last week and it is really is a fab read. Jamie is honest and generous in his answers to very fascinating questions and the whole thing turns very academic but not overly off-putting!

So, Mel Ulm is everywhere but Jamie seems to be back on the scene a bit more recently. Jamie is launching our group anthology in June in Carlow. He is also working on new stuff all of the time and I just cannot wait to read any of his new stuff as his last short story collection was out just a year ago so we need some new work from this man.

Also, I hear talk that he was on Sunday Miscellany last Sunday and is going to be featured regularly on RTE Radio 1 on the Sunday Miscellany program. The latest one from yesterday doesn’t seem to be available just yet but I will post when it is. 9 in the morning was just too early for a Sunday wake up call.

Have a read of the interview here, lots of great nuggets on the writer’s life and ethos.

http://rereadinglives.blogspot.ie/2013/04/jamie-oconnell-question-and-answer.html

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Town and Country Short Story Anthology

I feel like I’ve been waiting forever but the day is nearly here!
I’m waiting on my review copy to arrive, Kevin kindly organized for me to get one before the launch on the 25th May.
The pressure will be on to finish reading it and write a review on it before the launch…
Can I do it? Yes! Absolutely! I take your challenge, Faber!
Bring it.

Stay tuned for my review but in the meantime, here’s a press release sent from Rebecca, Faber Publishing..

“These are Irish short stories and often they come in the shapes that we know and have loved in the form but also they come at a very interesting moment, I believe, when the story is being considered anew and is being pulled in many strange and unexpected new directions. The Irish story is changing and is pulsing with great, mad and rude new energies. Watch it now as it spirals and spins out –” Kevin Barry, introduction to Town & Country

After previous volumes edited by Joseph O’Connor and the late David Marcus, Faber and Faber are delighted to present a fourth collection of all new Irish short stories. Edited by novelist and short story writer Kevin Barry – whose story ‘Beer Trip To Llandudno’ appeared in the 2011 collection and went on to win the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Prize – this volume once again mixes fresh new voices with established names such as Dermot Healy, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Julian Gough, Patrick McCabe and Paul Murray, and will seek to offer fresh renditions to the Irish story; new angles, new approaches, new modes of attack.

‘This volume proves that one thing we needn’t be ashamed of is the quality of Irish writing.’ Irish Times (on New Irish Short Stories 2011)   ‘This fine anthology offers reassuring proof that whatever the state of the economy, Irish writing is as strong as ever.’ Irish Mail on Sunday  (on New Irish Short Stories 2011)

Kevin Barry is the author of the story collections Dark Lies the Island and There Are Little Kingdoms as well as the novel City Of Bohane. He has been awarded the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Prize, the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award, and has been shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Prize and the Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year award. His stories have appeared in the New Yorker and many other journals and anthologies.

For further information please contact Rebecca Pearson, Publicity Manager, on 020 7927 3886 or rebeccap@faber.co.uk

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A gutted and distraught Rozzie cannot go to Faber launch event

Faber Socials is on the Saturday, 25th May and am so not going to miss it.

Except I am. It coincides with a big family event at home, in the West and my sister would cut me off if I missed it for a book launch.

But, this is not just any ol’ launch. It’s a brand new anthology of Irish short stories. Edited by the man,  Kevin Barry, Town and Country  is featuring contributors like Patrick McCabe,Paul Murray, Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Eimear Ryan andMichael Harding.

Apparently, everyone is going to be there. Like, everyone.

One has to even buy a ticket to attend so it must be all very special. It’s going to be launched in the Clarence Suite in Dublin at 6 p.m.

Hey, wait a minute, I don’t have to be in the West until 10:30 a.m. the day after. I could go to the Faber event, mingle and quaff nice drinks for a couple of hours and then either travel to the West that evening, arriving after midnight. Or, I could get up at 4:30 a.m. the next morning and arrive in perfect time for the West event. A third option would be to make someone dress up as me for the West event and I would take their place at the Faber event. A fourth option would be to write to the Dublin Writers’ Festival and demand(ask) that they switch the event date to the Friday instead of the Saturday. The most important thing is that I am there.

The final option is that I don’t go and just go to the West and enjoy that family day, and I will enjoy it but I would love to have two enjoys.

What do you think I should do? Click on  the poll below to help me decide. [polldaddy poll=”7068965″]

 

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Hennessy literary award 2013 results

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John O’ Donnell wins Best Emerging Fiction for his strangely sweet and disturbing short story, Shelley. I remember reading this and being thoughtful about it afterwards. Dermott Healy, uber renowned poet and novelist, was inducted into the Hennessy Hall of fame. I wonder will the stories and poems from the last year will be compiled anywhere?

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What’s the story event in Dundrum tomorrow night, 4th April

What’s the Story?

4th April

7:30 p.m. Mill Theatre, Dundrum and you can buy tickets here http://www.milltheatre.ie/shows/whats-story

Putting the short story in the spotlight Katy Hayes, DLR County Council Writer in Residence 2012/2013, hosts special guests in a close encounter with the short story form: Martina Devlin, author and journalist, Hennessy Award winner, NNI Columnist of the Year 2011, co-author of Banksters, won the VS Pritchett Memorial Prize 2012 for her short story “Singing Dumb”; Declan Meade, editor and publisher, founder of The Stinging Fly magazine and The Stinging Fly Press, publisher of exciting Irish new short fiction; and Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, novelist and short story writer who teaches on the MA in Creative Writing in UCD, former Orange Prize shortlistee for The Dancers Dancing, and former judge on the Francis MacManus Short Story Competion.

Katy, Martina, Declan and Éilís will kick the short story round the auditorium for an entertaining evening of reading, probing and analysis.

I cannot make it, am gutted. Everything is always on when I am not in Dublin. Note: I must move to Dublin one day again.

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Bantry Lit festival 2013 is open for business!

The West Cork Literary Festival 2013 programme is out!

My must do and sees(for now) are:

Sunday evening/night

  • The opening of the Festival with Ruth Padel and her new poem for the festival and the J. G. Farrell Award.
  • Open mike with Paul O’ Donoghue-I love these and I think Paul is the perfect chilled out and mannerly, listening Chairperson for these events. They are on every evening and great fun after a few 7-ups in the Maritime Bar.
  • Dave Lordan and Karl Parkinson with the funky sounding Dropping the Act present the Freedom Poetry Show. Only thing is it is at 11:30 and a girl has got to get her sleeps but so like the sound of this!

Monday

  • 4-The Letter Café will provide complementary stationery, pens and postage, and will be open all week. Last year the WCLF posted over one hundred letters. Phillip Hensher opens this. This is a really sweet event. Last year, I wrote letters to my Aunt in Canada and she was happy! This opens in the yummy Letter Cafe in Organico’s. Food and ambience is spot on here. Just go!

Tuesday

  • Ann Enright-an evening with. The only event I might pay into. Bantry can work out expensive when you factor in week long workshop, lunch, dinner and soda water and limes. She would be worth it!

Wednesday

  • Deborah Levy-free event and reading- The title story of her most recent work of fiction, Black Vodka: ten stories, was shortlisted for the 2012 BBC International Short Story Award. Oh, yes, get me there and I will buy a book or two!
  • Fish anthology 2013 launch-say no more but one thing,its on in the Maritime Hotel this year not the lovely church..

Thursday

  • Jamie O Connell reads but at 11:15 in the morning. Should he not be sleeping? Anyway, I am at a workshop so cannot make it but I am going to write to him with a petition demanding(asking) if he will switch to 4, please?
  • Louise Doubty speaks about writing a novel in a year. Could be fun.

Friday

  • Writer idol-this is where you send a piece of your work anonymously to Bantry folk before a date in May. one-page samples of work, submitted anonymously in advance, will be read by actor and author, Kate Thompson, and when members of the panel have heard enough, they will raise one hand. Two hands up – the reading will stop and the panel will discuss the piece. Last year, bestselling author Anita Shreve, who brought Writer Idol to Ireland, commented that the quality of submissions was so high in Bantry that the panel were slow to raise their hands. This was not her experience on other WI panels. As a result, we were unable to read all of the entries, but the panel offered excellent tips pertinent to anyone hoping to be published. Wanted to go last year but didn’t. Scary stuff.

And then home….Some of the highlights, there are loads more on http://www.westcorkmusic.ie/literaryfestival/programme Be sure to check it out and get your tickets quickly as they will go…

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Easter Eve by Anton Chekhov

For the time that is now…a story about Easter, a mystical story from Chekov, master of all stories that are very short.

On the night before Easter, a traveler is waiting to cross the river to a monastery. A lay brother brings a ferry across.

As the ferry moves slowly to the other bank, the traveller talks about his sadness over the death of a fellow monk. When the traveller gets to the monastery, he takes part in services throughout the night, then goes back on the ferry after sunrise on Easter morning. There seems to be no relief for the traveller, he has not found what he was looking for on his trip.

A really nice one to read on Easter Sunday or Easter Saturday or anytime at all!

It is completely free at: http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/achekhov/bl-achek-easteve.htm

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Edge Hill Short Story Prize 2013-a powerful reading list for Rozz!

A record number of writers have entered this year’s biggie, the Edge Hill Short Story Prize..

It is the only UK award that recognises excellence in a published collection of short stories and has some pretty enticing prizes for the winning short story god or goddess!

I noticed a big number of short story writers from Ireland and am crossing every finger for them. We

The judges have to shortlist 5 names only! That is tough. It will be revealed in May and the winners announced at a plush ceremony on 4th July in London. There is a main prize of £5,000 and a Readers’ Choice of £1,000 chosen from the 5 shortlisted. That is when I will be pushing everyone to vote for the best and Irish, hopefully!

On the long-list from Ireland are:

  • Kevin Barry with his brilliant Dark Lies The Island. You know how I feel about Kevin’s unique work. Noone like him though they may try.
  • Eileen Casey  with her collection Snow Shoes. This is one I want to read but haven’t yet.
  • Nuala Ni Chonchur  with her emotive collection Mother America. Nuala is obviously a highly talented writer, that’s a given but she is also extremely generous with her time promoting literature and the short story form that I am sending all my good vibes to her!
  • Mary Costello with her breathtaking and breathe deeply collection The China Factory. This is her first collection so it would be great for her.
  • Ellis Ni Dhuibhne  and her diverse collection The Shelter Of Neighbours. I loved, loved, loved every single piece in this. She knows how to do it and has been doing for years now, well deserved and my prediction.
  • Emma Donoghue  with her short story collection Astray. Again, beautiful prose but the content of history does not connect with my reading tastes. Maybe, the judges will have a historical interest?
  • Mike McCormack – Forensic Songs. I have not read anything by Mike but my aim this year. Please, send me more time.
  • Joseph O’Connor – Where Have You Been. This is my next collection to read. It is sitting there waiting for me on the window. It looks lonely.

We really have some strong contenders there. Anyone of them is truly deserved as inspiring me and their readers to love the short story form. Best of luck to all of you in great company and you have given me another To Read list!

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Under 30 Volume one is coming at you!

Under 30 Volume 1

Under 30 had a full page in the Times last week. Plus, a sample of one of the young writer’s story. Volume One is going to be available soon, with the launch in the next few weeks. To be announced!

Under 30 Volume One

I had the opportunity of reviewing some of the work for Under 30 and really enjoyed some satisfying short stories. Under 30 has all the features of a cooperative writing community. Feedback is given and received with no winners or losers. Just a chance to improve your writing if you dare.

You can buy a copy of the anthology at lulu publishing in e-book format for a mere €4! It would be rude not to so go on and click here!

If you prefer it in the paperback version, it is going to be slightly more expensive at €9 on amazon here.

 

 

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Junot Diaz “Miss Lora” wins the Sunday Times EFG Short Stroy award 2013

So, my least favourite and least predicted won the prize!

First of all, congratulations to him! €30,000 is a pretty nice fee to command for a short story!

You might have read my previous posts. I loved most of the short stories and I did like this. In fact, it is a perfect short story but I thought there was no freshness of content of theme to it. Look the The Gun and we have all of that and more, it also manages to be an easy to read story. I had to repeat some of the lines from Mark Haddon’s wonderful piece.

Miss Lora, not as much,for me and that is a totally personal thing.

It was a public vote so it could have a won by a couple of hundred people and maybe, the story maybe appealed to a more conventional or popular type of view of what a short story should do. Entertain and it did that. It’s just that everyone has their favourites!

Don’t get me wrong, if I even hoped to write in a quarter of the way Junot did, I would be delighted! IJunot sheds some light on the story http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/mar/22/junot-diaz-wins-short-story-prize and he seems to be very modest and a clear lover of the form. I’ll have to read his full collections Drown and This is how you lose her, which Miss Lora come from.

His comment about writing goes a long way to explain his stories.

“There are two types of writers: those who write for other writers, and those who write for readers,”and that he prefers to keep his readers in mind when writing, as “they’ll be more likely to gloss over his mistakes and act as willing participants in a story, rather than actively looking to criticize his writing.”

Here’s to another year of mind moving tales!