May 22
Congratulations to Rainie Bish, who is the lucky winner of my ‘Learn Love in a Week’ giveaway. A copy of the book is on its way to her.
A huge thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway, and don’t worry if you didn’t win this time because I have loads more competitions lined up!
For all you budding writers seeking advice and tips, the Dublin Writers Festival is an absolute must. Running from 20th – 26th May 2013 the week long event is perfect for every aspiring writer jam-packed with workshops and talks from some the industry’s finest talents. The annual celebration of the written word, returns to the capital with a breathtaking line up of inspiring events. Audiences are invited to ‘Be Part of the Story’ and hear the ideas behind the words as the finest Irish and international writers engage in readings, talks, debates, and workshops across the city.
Curated by Sinéad Connolly, the programme includes a wide range of events for all ages, including the Get Drawn In initiative, which will see 500 school children taking part in events all over the city, featuring top European picture books makers Hervé Tullet (France), Sarah McIntyre (UK) and Ireland’s Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey. The Ark are hosting an Irish language programme for schools with Patricia Forde, Aine Ní Ghlinn, Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin and Diarmuid de Faoite.
There are plenty of events for children at the week-end, with a choice of indoor and outdoor workshops; and author events with Costa award winner and dyslexia advocate Sally Gardner, master of horror Darren Shan, Jennifer Gray’s witty Cat burglar, Andy Briggs with his re-imagined Tarzan series, and debut novelist Dawn O’Porter.
Budding young teenage writers will be taking part in workshops throughout May with poet Dave Lordan, leading to a performance as part of the popular and streetwise Brownbread Mixtape (featuring the best Irish spoken word performers, comedians and musicians).
The festival also examines the science of programming children’s events, bringing together representatives from the Discover Story Centre, Southbank Centre in London, and Fighting Words and The Ark in Dublin for Drawing Children In, an event highlighting innovative new approaches to literature programming.
This year’s stellar line up includes, amongst others, a rare visit from American literary master James Salter; author of one of the bestselling novels of all time Dan Brown; Booker prize winning heavyweights Thomas Keneally, Anne Enright, Roddy Doyle and John Banville; and compelling contemporary poets Robin Robertson and Frank McGuinness. Proving that feminism is alive and well, Caitlin Moran will bring her sparkling wit and razor sharp intelligence to bear on a dizzying array of topics.
For more information about the festival and a full programme listing, check out the Dublin Writers Festival website.
For those looking for the perfect poolside read, you will be pleased to hear that Avon will be releasing a FREE collection of short stories called ‘The Perfect Escape’. Featuring irresistible tales of love, friendship, betrayal and passion, from Sunday Times bestselling authors Claudia Carroll, Miranda Dickinson, Julia Williams and many others,’The Perfect Escape’ showcases some of the best commercial women’s fiction.
Some of the stories are –
Everyone’s against Claire marrying Barry in Don’t Marry Barry. Claire is determined to prove them wrong. If only she could get a significant ex out of her head …
Four for Home is the moving story of Jim, left by the love of his life to bring up his three young daughters …
My Midsummer Miracle is the story of Lizzie, who is penniless and lonely. Before she died, Lizzie’s mother promised her some midsummer magic. This Midsummer’s’ Day will Lizzie’s fortunes be changed?
Amanda’s excited about her hen party in The Naughty Girls Hen Weekend. But the best laid plans never do run smoothly …
In The Psychic 32-year-old lawyer Gina does nothing but work. Little does she realise that a surprise gift to see a psychic will change her life …
The Goslathon is Stella Newman’s witty tribute to Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Gosling.
Soldedad had thought she had finally tamed womaniser Lance in The Clause. But leopards can’t change their spots and when a mystery woman catches Lance’s eye on holiday, sparks fly …
Each short story is followed by exclusive extracts of each of the authors upcoming titles.
I am loving the sound of this collection, featuring some of my favourite authors, this is definitely one ebook I will be downloading and with it being free, there is no way to can resist this literary treat!
You can download The Perfect Escape
to your Kindle from 27th June 2013.
It’s that time of the year when the shortlist for the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance has been announced and this year’s nominations are absolutely wonderful. Having read and adored ‘You Had Me At Hello’ by Mhairi McFarlane, I hailed that story as one of my favourite books of 2012 and ‘The Wedding Diaries’ by Sam Binnie was a hilarious insight into the drama and chaos of wedding planning and how easily it can spiral out of control.
The nominations revealed for the shortlist are -
CHARLOTTE STREET, Danny Wallace (Ebury Press)
YOU HAD ME AT HELLO, Mhairi McFarlane (HarperCollins)
SUMMER DAYDREAMS, Carole Matthews (Little Brown)
WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE, Maria Semple (Orion)
ELEANOR & PARK, Rainbow Rowell (Orion)
THE WEDDING DIARIES, Sam Binnie (HarperCollins)
Congratulations and good luck to all the authors nominated. The winner will be announced in June 2013.
For more information about the Melissa Nathan award, see the website for details
Sunday Times bestseller, Adele Parks is returning with her latest book ‘The State We’re In’.
The story of ‘The State We’re In’ is –
What are the odds that the stranger sitting next to you on a plane is destined to change your life? Especially when they appear to be your opposite in every way.
She’s a life-long optimist, looking for her soul mate in every man she meets; he’s a resolute cynic – cruel experience has taught him never to put his faith in anyone.
People can surprise you. In the time it takes to fly from London to Chicago, each finds something in the other that they didn’t even realise they needed.
Their pasts are such that they can never make one another happy and it’s when they get off the plane that their true journey begins…
I have been a fan of Adele’s books for a number of years, I have enjoyed her powerful stories of love, loss and happiness and ‘The State We’re In’ sounds like another stunning roller coaster of a tale.
You can pre-order The State We’re in on Amazon and will be available to buy from good bookshops from 4th July 2013.
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