Check out Verbal this week!

For all you Norn Iron folk, Verbal Magazine is in the Derry Journal on Tuesday 27th April, Belfast News on Thursday 29th April and Newsletter on Friday 30th April 2010.
This month Verbal speaks to Edna O’Brien on the 50th anniversary of Country Girls – her debut novel which, despite being banned in Ireland on its release, cemented her reputation as one of the most important writers of her generation.
As if one literary luminary wasn’t enough, they also chat to poet and novelist, Ciaran Carson on the links between his writing and traditional music. An interview with the award winning Nigerian-born writer Petina Gappah and a feature by Canadian-born Chris Nikkel looks at how
immigrant writers are changing the face of Irish (and British) society and literature. Plus Marcus Sedgwick, the master of historical fiction for children, took time out from his appearance at the Children’s Books Ireland conference to speak to us about his award winning fiction.
Their opinion piece this month comes from Mike Faulkner, author of two books documenting his life on an uninhabited Island on Stangford Lough. Recently shortlisted for the inaugural Author Blog Awards - Mike explains the difficulties of online marketing when you’re reliant on a generator for electricity…

They also took a trip to the first Northern Ireland Booktrust conference to find out how this national organisation is helping parents and carers make a difference to children in their most formative years.
Their popular Shelf Life and Ulster History Circle features are still going strong and they continue with their new series; introducing readers to some of the best of the special collections housed in local libraries – this month Edward Bunting, and some exclusive pictures of the inside of QUB’s new multi-million pound library. With details of upcoming literary festivals, a sneak peak at 2D – Northern Ireland’s premier celebration of comics and graphic novels and reviews of the best, new Irish writing you won’t want to miss.