tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53329287868909617502024-02-19T14:43:31.869+00:00BooksNIall about books written by authors from and in Northern Ireland.David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-8443904513611281002013-10-18T11:35:00.003+01:002013-10-18T11:35:37.273+01:00Why you should share what you write...<br />
ACCORDING to the excellent <a href="http://www.freedomwithwriting.com/?source=fww&cid=subscribelink"><span style="color: #99aadd;">Freedom From Writing</span></a> web resource one should regularly update people as to where they can find your writing, so I had a wee scan through where my writing has been hanging out of late.<br />
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Apparently the best way to get material picked up and/or freelance writing assignments is to make sure that people can see what you've written already<br /><br />As usual most of my music writing appears on my <a href="http://belfastmetalheadsreunited.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: #99aadd;">blog</span></a>, which is also syndicated on <a href="http://www.rockradio.co.uk/"><span style="color: #99aadd;">Rockradioni</span></a> and appears on my <a href="http://www.wikinut.com/author~viggni/Jonny/"><span style="color: #99aadd;">Wikinut</span></a> page. Some artists actually believe what I write and have used material and quotations on their Facebook and <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/doublewidemetal/press/"><span style="color: #99aadd;">Reverbnation</span></a> pages...<br />
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Despite a few typos -I was pleased have had a gig review on the global (page views in excess of 1.2m) Metal Rules website for the <a href="http://www.metal-rules.com/metalnews/2013/08/31/steve-vai-mandella-hall-belfast/"><span style="color: #99aadd;">Steve Vai gig</span></a> in Belfast, and<a href="ttp://www.theindependentvoice.org/2013/Edition_31/index.html#music3"><span style="color: #99aadd;"> my review of Nine Inch Nails</span></a> at Belsonic appeared on the Independent Voice webzine.<br /> <br /> My creative writing - that is my short stories appear on my <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jonathantraynor"><span style="color: #99aadd;">Smashwords</span></a> page for purchase (film options still available for some of these stories!).<br /><br /> The benefit of <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/"><span style="color: #99aadd;">Smashwords</span></a> is that if you meet the standards your stories then appear on other online e-story outlets such as <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/beginnings/id503112851?mt=11"><span style="color: #99aadd;">iTunes</span></a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Jonathan-Traynor?store=allproducts&keyword=Jonathan+Traynor"><span style="color: #99aadd;">Barnes and Noble</span></a>, Sony readers amongst others. (Kindle users at this time have to purchase/read sample from my <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jonathantraynor"><span style="color: #99aadd;">Smashwords</span></a> page to get it on your Kindle.)<br /><br /> After this time looking through where I have been published I took a little time flicking back through old clippings from my first jobs in journalism through to being the American Football correspondent for the now defunct Ireland's Saturday Night.<br /><br /> Doing so I came across my first published piece of creative writing, a short story that was carried by the BBC, a morality tale all about traffic...written before I was even 40 you can read it <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/learning/getwritingni/sh_jt_traffic.shtml"><span style="color: #99aadd;">here</span></a>.<br /><br /> All in all not a bad output for a part-time hobby; maybe one day my freelance output will get bought and my creative stories will find a home (as said film options and TV options al still available)<br /><br /> If you want to share your freelance output, or hints and tips for aspiring writers (start writing is the main tip!) just drop your comment below and keep writing.<br />Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686558394484639631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-53194588058185092552013-10-14T19:25:00.000+01:002013-10-14T19:25:01.270+01:00Ghosts in the Glass, A Review<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp2a5-XK3DobGQq_kHuV9f8uxYy9hO_cdr9gHj5yoY9Dn8VzvE7pkYyAuM0m0kPtmgdVb-XNYOuTiBsj4xUnooAtdcJpMY5zHzJRReOPZ0dJuvFxsw5wWX9oTIWCMIcIm3HZWRka7vZE/s1600/16181362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp2a5-XK3DobGQq_kHuV9f8uxYy9hO_cdr9gHj5yoY9Dn8VzvE7pkYyAuM0m0kPtmgdVb-XNYOuTiBsj4xUnooAtdcJpMY5zHzJRReOPZ0dJuvFxsw5wWX9oTIWCMIcIm3HZWRka7vZE/s320/16181362.jpg" width="224" /></a><i><span lang="EN-US">Book review by <a href="http://www.ellierosemckee.com/">Ellie Rose McKee</a>. </span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">‘Ghosts in the Glass & Other Stories’ is the first anthology written
by various members of Belfast Writer’s Group – edited by Lynda Collins. As the
title suggests, the theme is all things spooky and supernatural. I’m not
typically a fan of the horror genre but this book left me pleasantly surprised.
It’s a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend an evening. The stories are engaging
and not at all predictable. My particular favorites were ‘Arthur Grey: Lucifer’s
Factory’ by M Rush, and ‘Peace of Mind’ by Phil Deane. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">All in all I’d rate it <b>five
stars out of five</b>. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It is available to buy – at an excellent price* – from Amazon as a
paperback and a Kindle eBook. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Ghosts-Glass-Other-Stories/dp/1907572023/">Preview
here</a>. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">*All profits go to charity, Action Cancer. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-8123759490001097222013-02-05T19:50:00.001+00:002013-03-26T11:41:13.754+00:00<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXBwZ6MwViFK37sd2wd71d2pIYNLLSCXL3VXrKtlPuWrutKYMmObCa8SSTG6CjznhK68IjH0TdxAyDsMugMSrfTByjz4yMbnhyphenhyphen1Y9GUOd-EX7SH44on_Ar28nKcb6sFmJKEL0UpZaHWo/s1600/the+black+conspiracy+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXBwZ6MwViFK37sd2wd71d2pIYNLLSCXL3VXrKtlPuWrutKYMmObCa8SSTG6CjznhK68IjH0TdxAyDsMugMSrfTByjz4yMbnhyphenhyphen1Y9GUOd-EX7SH44on_Ar28nKcb6sFmJKEL0UpZaHWo/s320/the+black+conspiracy+front+cover.jpg" width="202" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Black-Conspiracy-Ken-Magee/dp/1908090294/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1347967274&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">The Black Conspiracy</span></a> is the second of a pair of books by Bangor author, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ken-Magee/e/B006ISWTR0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Ken Magee</span>.</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> It's a funny, contemporary fantasy which answers the question "What happens when ancient magic meets the Internet".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ken has always loved fantasy novels, particularly the work of Terry Pratchett and Robert Rankin. He says "I was always going to write in the humorous fantasy genre, and twenty years experience of working in the IT industry, was bound to influence the storyline." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the book's blurb...</span><br />
<b style="text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ancient magic has infected the
Internet… </span></b><b style="text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">is this the end for civilisation?</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ancient
magic has transported Tung, a young thief, and Madrick, a has-been wizard,
across a millennium. Now the magic has infected the Internet and civilisation
simply can’t handle the consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To make
matters even worse, evil wizards have followed Tung and Madrick through time.
They’re determined to hunt down and destroy the pair, and with them, our modern
way of life. <b>Saving the world has just
got a whole lot harder.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you want to laugh while the world comes to
an end? The Black Conspiracy is the spellbinding, stand-alone sequel to Dark
Tidings.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Black-Conspiracy-Ken-Magee/dp/1908090294/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1347967274&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">The Black Conspiracy</span></a> is available from Amazon and has already had some great reviews:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">This wonderful book takes the story forward from Ken Magee's debut novel </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Tidings-ebook/dp/B0064TN0KS/ref=cm_cr_dp_asin_lnk" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">Dark Tidings</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">. It's a fantasy but with a difference - ancient magic meets big banking and the internet.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">This is a hugely funny book. Ken Magee's sense of humour shines out through the story and leaves the reader with some beautifully memorable phrases. It's not often that I've encountered the Universe as a character. She's a corker, if a little unpredictable after a tipple! Utterly brilliant!</span>" <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Ignite - Amazon top 500</i> <i>reviewer.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would like some more information about the books or the author, you can email ken.magee@gametheworld.com or Tweet at https://twitter.com/KenMageeAuthor or have a look at <a href="http://kenmagee.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">Ken's blog</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">.</span></div>
Ken Mageehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06809796809027184991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-8906944649047485522012-10-21T16:11:00.000+01:002013-02-05T19:35:30.896+00:00Dark Tidings by Ken Magee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWSlj-uo1ffkVrRlvjYI7EWUfZaoGc3JaZ_QZG9CTPhuKpys8BRxtvIv-Bq08xnWJpO5iTfSvMYylMXqeaOV92n1JIXJw6Hjsq8nPNVujFMLJRYuVgPsV4tJr9jN8Y98pyOtWlxm6BFI/s1600/Dark+Tidings+front+cover+final.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWSlj-uo1ffkVrRlvjYI7EWUfZaoGc3JaZ_QZG9CTPhuKpys8BRxtvIv-Bq08xnWJpO5iTfSvMYylMXqeaOV92n1JIXJw6Hjsq8nPNVujFMLJRYuVgPsV4tJr9jN8Y98pyOtWlxm6BFI/s320/Dark+Tidings+front+cover+final.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Tidings-ebook/dp/B0064TN0KS/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1350816500&sr=1-1" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Dark Tidings</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is the first of a pair of books by Bangor author, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ken-Magee/e/B006ISWTR0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Ken Magee</span>.</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> It's a funny, contemporary fantasy which asks the question "What happens when ancient magic meets the Internet".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ken started this book many years ago, but it wasn't until 2011 that he got the chance to write full time and finish his </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">début</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> novel. He describes the delay in getting the book finished as 'life getting in the way'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Ken has always loved fantasy novels, particularly the work of Terry Pratchett and Robert Rankin. He says "I was always going to write in the humorous fantasy genre, and twenty years experience of working in the IT industry, was bound to influence the storyline." </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the book's blurb...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What happens when ancient magic meets the internet? One thing is
certain, modern life will never be the same again.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A thousand years ago, a young thief, Tung, and a disgraced wizard,
Madrick, are thrust together in an executioner’s dungeon. In the darkness,
Madrick reveals an incredible secret about a legendary spell. The great spell
helps them escape their prison cell... and eventually their century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Catapulted into the present day, their lives collide with Michael,
a computer hacker who plans to destroy the world’s largest bank. But sinister
people are tracking their every move and they will stop at nothing to steal
their spell.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Tidings-ebook/dp/B0064TN0KS/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1350816500&sr=1-1" style="color: blue;">Dark Tidings</a> is available from Amazon and has already had some great reviews:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Imagine the worlds of Terry Pratchett and Dan Brown coming
together- Dark Tidings provides a witty and clever read that will appeal to all
readers."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> "This is a super book! It's intelligent, extremely funny
and very relevant to what's going on in the world today."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you would like some more information about the books or the author, you can email ken.magee@gametheworld.com or Tweet @Ken MageeAuthor or have a look at <a href="http://kenmagee.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">Ken's blog</span></a>.</span></div>
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<br />Ken Mageehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06809796809027184991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-15542832081240076112012-09-24T12:13:00.002+01:002012-09-24T12:13:56.385+01:00Still Dreaming and WAKE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivILx1FQ4f_9JDgQbkv77cxjK6f_jBRc4tU4VW-N93-dNaswoLXzpUx1Fuc1IUcJ39g9TeMlogUDt4hLq4685-g6I2GyCHaW9W8LB0PDWovWB-evoSk1IB3_sRX2hnhBbrxB-mLqAViB8/s1600/Still+Dreaming+Front+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivILx1FQ4f_9JDgQbkv77cxjK6f_jBRc4tU4VW-N93-dNaswoLXzpUx1Fuc1IUcJ39g9TeMlogUDt4hLq4685-g6I2GyCHaW9W8LB0PDWovWB-evoSk1IB3_sRX2hnhBbrxB-mLqAViB8/s200/Still+Dreaming+Front+Cover.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
Still Dreaming:
Poetry and Short Stories, the first book by Northern Irish author, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/EllieRose101">Ellie Rose McKee</a>, was first
released in May 2012 and then re-released as a second edition earlier this
month, on September 17<sup>th</sup>. WAKE, which is the sequel, is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/417887778272430/">due for release in just
a few days</a> – on September 28<sup>th</sup>.<br />
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While Still
Dreaming included some experimental and less common literary styles and dealt
with some hard hitting issues, WAKE goes further. WAKE is darker, more personal
and much longer too. It includes a Haiku with an advanced structure, a Limerick,
a Sonnet, a Monologue and a Soliloquy alongside ‘typical’ poems and short
stories. </div>
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The covers
for both books come from photographs taken by the author herself. The first
being of Groomsport bay, part of County Down’s Ards Peninsula and the second
being of Northern Ireland north coast – near the Giant’s Causeway. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9qF20aPvoNsGa4cwc52oW36TROZdsN8a4CHYP_VEre0h3H6weOcgx5Wm1GGqkouxgMYGm3e9dYF8Pv6Km8VyYb9g4ngfmZMykuxVJFV4FaObEXutbIgsajR1lvz8BrcCWcKtjFhdiTA/s1600/WAKE+Front+Cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9qF20aPvoNsGa4cwc52oW36TROZdsN8a4CHYP_VEre0h3H6weOcgx5Wm1GGqkouxgMYGm3e9dYF8Pv6Km8VyYb9g4ngfmZMykuxVJFV4FaObEXutbIgsajR1lvz8BrcCWcKtjFhdiTA/s200/WAKE+Front+Cover.JPG" width="150" /></a>Ellie really
enjoys photography and even produced a paperback containing all her own ‘shots’
over the summer entitled <a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3404592">Overlooked
Awe</a>. </div>
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All three of
the aforementioned books were self published, but Ellie is hoping to go down
the traditional publishing route with her novel – Rising from Ashes. In the meantime,
however, she has plans to release a second photobook in February 2013. </div>
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When not
writing or taking photos, Ellie enjoys travelling, making YouTube videos and
getting involved with Children’s and Youth Work. You can find out more about
her by visiting her <a href="http://www.ellierose101.co.uk/">website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EllieRoseMcKee">Facebook Fan Page</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/EllieRose101">Twitter Profile</a>. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-33201992131110122262012-05-20T20:44:00.000+01:002012-05-20T20:44:25.503+01:00Dusk Chorus by Colin Dardis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mw1lQYXzUXI/T7lIQ0kvHEI/AAAAAAAAAKU/24Eo11pLiME/s1600/duskcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mw1lQYXzUXI/T7lIQ0kvHEI/AAAAAAAAAKU/24Eo11pLiME/s320/duskcover.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
<i>Taken from Gerry McCullough's review on Amazon.co.uk</i>
<br />
<br />
I've read a lot of Colin Dardis's poetry, both in magazines and in his first book Left of Soul; and he never ceases to delight. This new collection (which includes a few from Left of Soul such as Sleep Becomes Her and The Night Birds) has so many strikingly beautiful lines and images that I could spend the whole of this review in quoting them.
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In Shimmer, for example, there is 'Each star a celebration / suspended in the sky/ by the memory of your grace';and in Take the Sun, 'And if she danced/ there would be sunsets/ where the evening paused in splendour.' 'The eye of the moon is upon me / and the trumpets echo now.' Colin Dardis in many ways reminds me of Tennyson or even Jon Stallworthy, both poets with an eye for beauty and the ability to convey it; and particularly successful in their love poetry. But Dardis, here, is writing not just about love but also about a particular subject, the cycle of day and night and how we deal with this never ending movement of our lives. Sunshine Bed and Home for the Stars are marvellously evocative examples of this.
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Awake to This focuses on dawn, which we so regularly miss '...in order to witness / the slow fracture of dawn / trickle down the black mountainside.' A Shift of Seasons is another love poem. 'Come light your fire around me / let's set up camp in each other / and settle down for the rest of our hours/ together, peacefully.' A fine example of a pun used to convey a double meaning full of beauty, in the manner of the Metaphysical poets. 'I have seen your star in my sky / and it has guided me home.'
Then there's the effective image in Sunset at Bridge, 'The Lagan shining like a debutante's necklace / lovingly wrapped round the city's neck.' And Teasing the Sleeper, '...each one sewn into the air / with God's promise / of another day.'
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If you like good poetry, then you really shouldn't miss out on this very good book.<br />
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Link to download pdf version:
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<a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/colin-dardis/dusk-chorus/ebook/product-20086465.html">http://www.lulu.com/shop/colin-dardis/dusk-chorus/ebook/product-20086465.html </a><br />
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Kindle for UK users:
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dusk-Chorus-ebook/dp/B00810GSF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336565411&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dusk-Chorus-ebook/dp/B00810GSF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336565411&sr=8-1</a>
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Kindle for US users:
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dusk-Chorus-ebook/dp/B00810GSF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336565450&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.com/Dusk-Chorus-ebook/dp/B00810GSF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336565450&sr=8-1</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-87886768062500361132012-04-24T00:59:00.000+01:002012-04-24T00:59:57.607+01:00Débuting with ebooksFOR some time my writing - average though it is - has been languishing on hard drive, memory sticks. Let's face it, yer average Northern Ireland author has enough hassles through paying the mortgage to spend time chasing the dreams of agents and publishers.<br />
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Thanks to good friend Mike Thomas, an English musician, teacher and writer of children's books, I discovered that publishing ebooks yourself wasn't that difficult. He pointed me in the direction of a US-run site called Smashwords, and I disted down the stories, freshened them up and hey presto their live!. <br />
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Now I have seven short stories online and available to buy via Smashwords and, through Smashwords iBooks, Barnes and Noble, Dieselm, Sony e-reader, Kobo and Diesel.<br />
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Yes, it can be a little fiddly to start with, but it is worth the effort.<br />
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You can check out my stories <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jonathantraynor">here</a>. They are five dark tales, a Belfast romance, and a bit of sword and sorcery nonsense that was escapism for me. Even more important, it has given me the confidence to tackle two ideas for novels that have been nagging me for some time!<br />
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While it is gratifying that people can access and buy my stories, like all such ventures the lack of an editor as a critical friend means that you never know whether your prose punches as it should (or spot any typos!). But it perhaps should be regarded as a gateway and the reward? Telling friends and family: "Aye, I'm a published author!"<br />
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So if you want to chat about e-publishing put your queries in the comments, or if you enjoyed any of my stories let me know (better still post a review on Smashwords!)Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686558394484639631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-74851367846687121432011-10-22T22:18:00.000+01:002011-10-22T22:18:38.108+01:00Twisted Agendas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nAuooSmKq31Lt9uaBeANV0LqHHxkczhuKgx-W8yPqfMUiz77233F8cP7A6ydOoqHbl-2ilPgBGRGm4bDlaC4K9jZxKSCgCDWd5e5G2WMRRFHRfQ2Mi4dqXCv7pXeMWjPYFt7PwCG3bml/s320/Twisted+Agendas+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nAuooSmKq31Lt9uaBeANV0LqHHxkczhuKgx-W8yPqfMUiz77233F8cP7A6ydOoqHbl-2ilPgBGRGm4bDlaC4K9jZxKSCgCDWd5e5G2WMRRFHRfQ2Mi4dqXCv7pXeMWjPYFt7PwCG3bml/s400/Twisted+Agendas+cover.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE second novel by Northern Irish writer Damian McNicholl is currently enjoying great critical acclaim. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span>In Twisted Agendas, Danny who is desperate to escape his predetermined existence decides to break out from life in Northern Ireland, and move to London. He then meets Piper, a friendly and outgoing American girl on a quest of her own.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span>Two very different worlds are thrown together as Danny is willingly absorbed into unfamiliar territory. However, the Hammersmith Bridge is then bombed, Piper disappears without a trace and Danny finds himself the centre of a police investigation, hounded by whispers of the IRA.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span>Dark, yet humorous, Danny and Piper’s story is one of dysfunctional parenting, clashing motives and twenty- something’s negotiating love and big city life.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span> </span></b>‘Fast-paced, poignant, often humorous and consistently un-put-downable, McNicholl’s latest novel is the work of a writer at the top of his game,’ says Alexander Fitzgerald, Editor, Irish Tatler Man</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span>‘A compelling and entertaining romp through other people's inter-tangled lives… From terrorists to lovers to meddling fathers, Damian deftly weaves comic misunderstandings with a larger more ominous theme of authority going slightly mad… Author Patricia Wood, author of Lottery (shortlisted for the 2008 Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction)</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span>‘A thoroughly engrossing transatlantic adventure…' Irish World</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span>‘Comic, courageous and often painful, this is a beautifully paced and balanced novel that will have an assured place in contemporary Irish writing,’ says Seamus Deane, shortlisted for Booker Prize</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span>Damian was born in Northern Ireland and attended law school at University College, Cardiff. His first novel, A Son Called Gabriel, was an American Booksellers Association Booksense Pick, Foreword Magazine, and Lambda Literary Awards finalist. Film rights for the novel have been acquired by award winning Director Tom Collins. In addition to other media, he’s appeared on National Public Radio’s The Marty Moss Coane Show, Irish Radio Network's The Adrian Flannelly Show and BBC Radio Ulster's Arts Extra to discuss his work.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He maintains a blog at <a href="http://www.damianm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.damianm.blogspot.com</a> and can be found on Twitter at @damianmcn. He lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and is at work on his third novel.</span></span>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-52584907002894596732011-08-29T14:41:00.003+01:002011-08-29T15:11:40.529+01:00New book by NI writer hailed as potential Bestseller!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalOnY55ccUnXy4NMcBpL5NpHMOa4b7Y4y_r57eqj7mJ8CDhk9z6tSz2RUy_lcB2PBULEUpENo2eVwX-FD6Y16FaPq9jkaZ306SPMbhWI-CZmhKgCge5Mj6zdryJFEITfgZm5PXM0rS-TO/s1600/The_Whore_cover_t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalOnY55ccUnXy4NMcBpL5NpHMOa4b7Y4y_r57eqj7mJ8CDhk9z6tSz2RUy_lcB2PBULEUpENo2eVwX-FD6Y16FaPq9jkaZ306SPMbhWI-CZmhKgCge5Mj6zdryJFEITfgZm5PXM0rS-TO/s1600/The_Whore_cover_t.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Whore and her Mother </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Raymond McCullough, from County Down, has been writing successfully for years. He began by publishing a magazine, <i><b>Bread</b></i>, which went to nearly every possible type of denomination in Ireland, and all over the island (from Catholic to Free Presbyterian and from Cork to Coleraine, and Galway to Dublin) at the height of the troubles. The mediating influence of this magazine certainly contributed more than can be quantified to the eventual ceasefires.<br />
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Raymond then moved on to having numerous articles published in computer magazines, while earning a living as a college lecturer; to having his thoughts on Ireland published by the I<i>rish Times</i> and the <i>Presbyterian Herald</i>; and to self publishing a book, <i><b>'Ireland – Now the Good News'</b></i>, excerpts from <b><i>Bread</i></b>.<br />
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Since those days, he has mainly concentrated on radio and podcasts (<b><i>Celtic Roots Radio</i></b> currently has nearly 14,000 downloads a month) but recent developments in the world around us, together with the serious urging of various friends, have now decided him to complete, and publish, the book he has been putting together for some time, with the striking title,<b><i> 'The Whore and her Mother.'</i></b><br />
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This book takes a long hard look at the forecasts of the Hebrew prophets (respected by at least three of the major world religions) and it attempts, in the light of current events, to work out how accurate they have been up until now, how far we can therefore trust their future predictions, and how we should interpret their meaning.<br />
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At a time when the devastating events of recent years are forcing even the completely unreligious to describe them as <i>'apocalyptic,'</i> and those who have some belief to ask urgent questions, here is a book which makes a serious effort to come to terms with the question of what will happen next, and how close we might be to the end of this world as we know it.<br />
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Unlike others, Raymond McCullough makes no attempt to prophecy himself, but lucidly, straightforwardly, with academic precision, but also with page turning excitement, puts the pieces of the jigsaw into some sort of order, and gives us his best guess as to what we should now expect, while inviting us not to swallow his ideas, but to read up his references and judge for ourselves.<br />
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This is a book which no one should miss. Buy it on <i>Amazon Kindle</i> for <b><i>£2.99</i></b>, or look out for the paperback, coming soon.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whore-her-Mother-Babylon-ebook/dp/B005J0HL3U/">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whore-her-Mother-Babylon-ebook/dp/B005J0HL3U/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kingdomcome.org.uk/911">http://www.kingdomcome.org.uk/911</a><br />
<a href="http://preciousoil.com/books/The_Whore.shtml">http://preciousoil.com/books/The_Whore.shtml</a>Gerry McCulloughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063245623305522268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-35736333532213627202011-03-07T09:52:00.004+00:002011-03-07T12:53:35.947+00:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AvYFJHNifqQ/TXTVLrPFTBI/AAAAAAAAAAw/bytdxScSAlk/s1600/EverythingElse.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AvYFJHNifqQ/TXTVLrPFTBI/AAAAAAAAAAw/bytdxScSAlk/s320/EverythingElse.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581320234780150802" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Everything Else We Must Endure</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Author: Brian McGettrick<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Publisher: Sunnyoutside, Buffalo, NY</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Paperback, 52 pages<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">Category: Poetry</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b></b></p><b><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Available From:</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color:#2b00af;"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><a href="http://www.sunnyoutside.com/">www.sunnyoutside.com</a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px ;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color:#2b00af;"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><a href="http://www.spdbooks.org/">www.spdbooks.org</a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px ;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p></b><p></p><p></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span></p><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>In Belfast At:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">No Alibis, Botanic Avenue</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bookfinders, University Road</span></p><p></p></div><p></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Synopsis</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Everything Else We Must Endure allows the reader to peep through domestic doors not fully closed and see the varied interiors of the lives being led, introducing us to memorable characters who re- mind us that not all action takes place in the spotlight. In these poems, even the mundane sparkles and sometimes it’s the young who have wisdom to spare.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Author</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Brian McGettrick lives a half life in front of the typewriter and a full life with his wife and two daughters in the north of Ireland. This is his first collection.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Praise</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“Brian’s rich talent allows him to say so much with so little, to craft emotion and meaning with such simple, gentle, everyday words. This is welcome, accessible poetry; honest, generous, warm and wise. This collection is a deep-dive exploration into the simple distractions of life, and one which reminds the reader of the joy— and the uneasiness—which surrounds us all.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>—Jason Johnson, author of Woundlicker and Alina</i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“Sharp, often funny, sometimes world weary, always interesting.” </span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>—Tony O’Neill, author of Digging the Vein and Down and Out on Murder Mile</i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“Brian McGettrick’s poetry stands out because it combines a focus on the reality of everyday life situations with an ability to excite surprise or wonder in the reader...these poems deal with themes that are everywhere around us.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>—Eabhan Ní Shúileabháin, poetry editor, The Stinging Fly<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></i></span></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-65506788982616012312010-11-30T10:21:00.004+00:002010-11-30T10:24:44.809+00:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><strong>Would you like</strong> Belfast Girls<strong> in your stocking this Christmas?</strong><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><em>Award-winning Irish author, Gerry McCullough, releases her debut novel, 'Belfast Girls', on Amazon.com</em></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> The new full-length debut novel, Belfast Girls - from Ireland’s award-winning author, Gerry McCullough - has just been released on Amazon by new UK publisher, <strong><em>Night Publishing</em></strong>. This story of three girls growing up in contemporary Belfast captures the high life - and lowlife - of these post-conflict times, including drugs, high fashion, addiction and crime.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Gerry has been a successful short story writer for many years - with stories, poems and articles published regularly in magazines and anthologies in Ireland, UK and USA, and broadcast on BBC Radio. In 2005 she won the <em>Cuírt International Literary Award</em> in Galway, Ireland, for her short story, <em>Primroses</em>, and has been shortlisted/commended for other awards since then.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Says Gerry of Belfast Girls, <em>“I’m bouncing off the walls! It’s something I’ve lived for and worked for my whole life, so I couldn’t tell you how happy I am. I’m hoping for a lot of support from the people of Ireland and beyond and I think the book is something everyone will enjoy.”</em></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Her first novel follows the lives and loves of three girls from different religious backgrounds. In a city where such differences often separate, the girls manage to remain firm friends into adulthood. Their love lives are much more complicated, though. Sheila, the ‘ugly duckling turned beautiful swan’, becomes a successful super-model - dubbed the ‘ice maiden’ - but hides her unhappiness and dissatisfaction beneath the ice cool exterior.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Phil sets her heart on Davy, but he gets more and more entangled in the local crime scene, eventually dragging her down with him. Mary is wild and uncontrolled - until she almost overdoes it - then manages to re-build her life on a more solid foundation. John is all that Davy is not - solid, ambitious, serious, but also self-righteous, angry and conflicted. Drawn to one another, yet somehow repelled, John and Sheila’s love affair is more off than on. Where will it end?</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Belfast Girls managed to make it to the top of the <em>HarperCollins</em>’<strong><em>Authonomy.com</em></strong> site last April, earning Gerry a review from this major publisher. But it was<strong><em> Night Publishing</em></strong>, a smaller UK company, which actually offered to publish her first novel - without forcing it into any particular ‘genre’ pigeon-hole. The result is a novel which has plenty for everyone - action, emotion, gunmen, kidnapping, glamour and despair. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">This novel is a thriller, romance, comedy and drama, rolled into one - as Gerry says, <em>“Like most people’s lives!”</em> So, why not put Belfast Girls into your stocking this season?</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Belfast Girls paperback/<em>Kindle</em> editions available on <em>Amazon.com</em>, <em>Kindle</em>edition also on <em>Amazon.co.uk</em></p></span>Gerry McCulloughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063245623305522268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-28614034480690641182010-11-24T21:21:00.000+00:002010-11-24T21:21:51.986+00:00The River and Other Stories by Seán Mackel<div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #007f40; font-size: 22pt;">GUILDHALL PRESS</span></b><span style="font-size: 22pt;"></span></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">launch debut novel</span></b></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60aGdMGhVXbdUTAwfvOLiwkHk8LK8vb036ASogGeu-DMj9AwHqZTX3UucdqWn6Lyq9FvVKtzi50USKHVVr_4_oGIGlfHZ3YK5XMqgYDgz2CBMnMOZlAbeMe5WHjJokOxg7-NaU2j0Y_mn/s1600/the+river+invite+front+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60aGdMGhVXbdUTAwfvOLiwkHk8LK8vb036ASogGeu-DMj9AwHqZTX3UucdqWn6Lyq9FvVKtzi50USKHVVr_4_oGIGlfHZ3YK5XMqgYDgz2CBMnMOZlAbeMe5WHjJokOxg7-NaU2j0Y_mn/s320/the+river+invite+front+01.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><div align="center" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></b></span></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;">The River and Other Stories</span></i><span></span></b></span></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span>by</span><span></span></b></span></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Seán Mackel</span><span style="color: blue;"></span></b></span></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span> </span></b></span></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;">Clarendon Bar Lounge, Strand Road, Derry</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"></span></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;">Thursday 25 November at 7:30pm</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"></span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><b><span> </span></b> </div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black;">Guildhall Press</span></b><span style="color: black;"> is pleased to announce the launch of <b><i>The River and Other Stories</i></b>, a collection of short stories from local author <b>Seán Mackel</b>. This absorbing debut<b><i> </i></b>publication explores the intricacy of narratives between people and place, across time and territory. In the title story, an ageing house painter discovers the river to be the only true bridge. Elsewhere, a young couple reconciles the past through music, a dusty professor finds release working with a Czech puppeteer, and a surprise awaits the 1948 Tillies Shirt Factory Queen. The reader embarks on an intriguing journey beginning in 1920’s Donegal through Derry during WWII, from Australia to Poland and back again to a contemporary city on the cusp of cultural celebration.</span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Seán explains: “The thirteen short stories are thematically linked by a river, in this case the Foyle. In exploring these narratives, I was influenced by one translation of An Feabhal as ‘estuary of the lip’. And it was this link between life and language, which intrigued me. So the first story in my collection acknowledges the Irish language as the roots of our imagination. The collection then flows forward from the 1920s, through the forties, and addressing the Troubles, it continues up to the present day featuring characters from Australia , the Czech Republic , Germany , France and Poland . Given our recent history in the North, the title story, <i>The River</i>, explores the idea of truth. It is placed at the physical centre of the book. Like the River Foyle itself it has the capacity to divide and, more importantly, to unite.” </span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Seán added: “I’d like to give special thanks to Marilyn McLaughlin who was instrumental in the editing process of this collection and to Guildhall Press and the Arts Council for giving me the opportunity to have my work published. I hope everyone will enjoy my stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them.”</span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Included are stories previously short-listed for the Brian Moore Short Story Award 2003/04, Raymond Carver Short Story Contest 2004 and the Michael McLaverty Short Story Award 2008. In his foreword to <i>The River and Other Stories</i>, Derry-born author Sean O’Reilly writes:<span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span>‘These stories display a scrupulous sympathy for the characters and the small rewards they find in their attempts to keep on going. The writing is simple and honest and touched with wonder ... With great delicacy, these stories ask the question: What saves us all from drowning in the past?’</span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5d-zDaqFzWK0tH3a-4tT6QSbXTpzbIzX5Dh-ZbitmhMPEAjl3EwPZ4ExrQNMDw1GJkB-8rRIxVSB9bE3oAGFzkUH8EU4KU2mZKjm_cNymCBr8sCz5pioIfUsUAm5zfAXQpE9Y3oDTIRBc/s1600/Sean+Mackel+Author+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5d-zDaqFzWK0tH3a-4tT6QSbXTpzbIzX5Dh-ZbitmhMPEAjl3EwPZ4ExrQNMDw1GJkB-8rRIxVSB9bE3oAGFzkUH8EU4KU2mZKjm_cNymCBr8sCz5pioIfUsUAm5zfAXQpE9Y3oDTIRBc/s200/Sean+Mackel+Author+Photo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Seán Mackel was born in Belfast in 1957. He now lives in the North West of Ireland. His poetry has appeared in <i>Cuirt Journal, Cyphers, HU, Poetry Ireland , Waterford Review</i> and <i>Four W</i>, Australia . A chapbook collection of his poetry, <i>Strangled Laughter,</i> was published in 1998. </span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black;">The River and Other Stories</span></i></b><span style="color: black;"> by <b>Seán<span> Mackel</span></b> is published by <b>Guildhall Press </b><span>a</span>nd supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Paperback. ISBN: 978-1-906271-33-6. £7.95. Available from all good bookshops and <a href="http://www.ghpress.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">www.ghpress.com</a></span><span style="color: black;"></span></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-weight: bold; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-81279925002634523992010-11-23T15:31:00.002+00:002010-11-23T15:35:18.410+00:00'left of soul'- poems by Colin Dardis<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3W-ZKPb5DIA/TOvfLjAs7VI/AAAAAAAAAHo/HJ8B1RytReQ/s1600/soft1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 170px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3W-ZKPb5DIA/TOvfLjAs7VI/AAAAAAAAAHo/HJ8B1RytReQ/s200/soft1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542769155879267666" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/left-of-soul/13507682">'left of soul'</a> is the new collection of poems from Colin Dardis.<br /><br />Originally from Omagh, Country Tyrone, Colin now resides in Belfast, where he currently edits the poetry e-zine 'Speech Therapy'. Previously, Colin has been a co-ordinator of Make Yourself Heard, a monthly performance poetry night in Belfast, and has worked as a Poet In Motion for the New Belfast Community Arts Initiative. He has also performed with the Belfast Poets. Notable readings include the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Between The Lines and the Castlereagh Verbal Arts Festival.<br /><br />Colin is a poet who displays hunger for understanding of himself and the world around him. His poetry display an ever present sense of hope through times of love, sadness, death and joy, while sprakling with humour, honesty, modesty, and a touch of the absurd.<br /><br />'left of soul'- available to buy now and preview via Lulu.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-52401732197984152582010-11-12T22:18:00.002+00:002010-11-12T22:18:33.199+00:00Your chance to meet the Godfather of Punk.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdITrwQQ6JUMr2bQHirWje3FtCG6veY2xg82FXFO0Z9L9mO6SBXedDAG1Rgdv9AGAKhRXS2WhqAXutZeNxgL0YDpmD02nB3-fQ252Fs3qLUqC5N02tXf-7y91sycwL-HFn76OVSXIawgA/s1600/HOOLEYGAN+signed+by+Terri+Hooley+%2526+Richard+Sullivan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdITrwQQ6JUMr2bQHirWje3FtCG6veY2xg82FXFO0Z9L9mO6SBXedDAG1Rgdv9AGAKhRXS2WhqAXutZeNxgL0YDpmD02nB3-fQ252Fs3qLUqC5N02tXf-7y91sycwL-HFn76OVSXIawgA/s320/HOOLEYGAN+signed+by+Terri+Hooley+%2526+Richard+Sullivan.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'd the privilege this week of meeting and having a few drinks with a Northern Irish legend, the legend that is Mr Terri Hooley. What was planned as just a meeting for my wife to get his book<b> '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0856408514?ie=UTF8&tag=bo0d-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0856408514">Hooleygan</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=bo0d-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0856408514" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />' </b>signed took a wee bit longer than I'd expected.She was also fortunate to have the book signed by both Terri and Richard Sullivan, Richard I believe put a lot of hard work into both persuading Terri to have the book written and writing the book.I reckon this book will be the Northern Irish bestseller this Christmas.<br />
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If you want to get a copy of the book signed both Terri Hooley and Richard Sullivan they will be signing copies in Waterstone's Fountain Street, Belfast tomorrow, Saturday 13 November, from 2.00pm.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you haven't bought the book yet, buy it now! Did I mention it's called <span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0856408514?ie=UTF8&tag=bo0d-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0856408514">Hooleygan.</a></b></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=bo0d-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0856408514" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></div><script src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/s/link-enhancer?tag=bo0d-21&o=2" type="text/javascript">
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<noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/s/noscript?tag=bo0d-21" alt="" /&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; </noscript>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-3050046870798928882010-11-10T22:18:00.002+00:002010-11-10T22:18:26.430+00:00When Bedlam won't be.I shouldn't really tell you about this<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b><span style="font-size: small;">as I might miss all the bargains.Last year I was at something similar run by Jenni and it was impressive and I left needing to purchase another bookcase...</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbSDV8L_-MmK1yPyO_TZUVjQcHjnz21KT0LntdYBXgf-dSXKh4pCJm1R8KGCSE7FiiBkln2FCukGxvLrUBTecyKSYKHJu1vLH0ytaApO8JDV-aSdl2YH1wqw-asvjf4hmfk3K43w8tFxk/s1600/Bedlam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbSDV8L_-MmK1yPyO_TZUVjQcHjnz21KT0LntdYBXgf-dSXKh4pCJm1R8KGCSE7FiiBkln2FCukGxvLrUBTecyKSYKHJu1vLH0ytaApO8JDV-aSdl2YH1wqw-asvjf4hmfk3K43w8tFxk/s320/Bedlam.jpg" width="225" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>WHAT ?</b></span> - For two days only, in the front foyer of the Old Library in Great James Street, local online Bookshop,<span style="font-size: large;"><b> <span style="font-size: small;">LITTLE ACORNS BOOKSTORE</span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>will have a stall at Derry's innovative and most exciting indoor weekend market – BEDLAM MARKET. <br />
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With an overall stock of <b>7,000 books</b>, stock has been specifically chosen for sale over the two-day period in keeping with the nature of the market and other stalls: vintage, retro, antiques, arts and crafts.<br />
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T<span class="text_exposed_show">here will also be books on film, television, music (biographies, history, pictorial etc), literature (drama, poetry, study guides etc), fashion, arts, crafts, Irish/Ireland-related plus mixed fiction, alongside selected children's titles. <br />
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New and used books will all be discounted, many of which will be cheaper to buy than online and in the high street.<br />
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To compliment the books, a small selection of used and new CDs and cassettes – jazz, blues, film soundtracks, swing etc – will be on sale.<br />
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Other stock available:<br />
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As-good-as-new magazines on books, publishing, writing (Books Ireland, the Bookseller, Publishing News, the New Yorker, Writers' News etc). Plus arty postcards and second-hand film star prints/postcards (Marilyn Monroe, James Dean etc).<br />
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Local, hand-made, specially created gift cards and other small crafts from Marilyn McLaughlin.<br />
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And possibly a few other unique surprises – perfect for stocking fillers or Christmas gifts!<br />
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Please feel free to suggest or ask after any specific books/subjects in advance that can then be made available (if in stock) on the day.<br />
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This is a one-off Book Stall, so please do come along and feel free to spread the word!<br />
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Email: wonderfulworldofworders@ya<wbr></wbr>hoo.co.uk<br />
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Web: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/shops/littleacornsbookstore" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.co.uk/sh<wbr></wbr>ops/littleacornsbookstore</a></span><br />
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</div><b><span style="font-size: large;">WHERE ?</span></b> - Bedlam Weekend Market (Basement of Old Library)35 Great James Street, Derry, N Ireland<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">WHEN ?</span></b> - Starts @ 10am this Saturday and finishes sometime on Sunday.</blockquote>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-87324260991456250252010-11-06T15:31:00.001+00:002010-11-06T15:31:54.324+00:00Promoting books, authors and publishers from and in Northern Ireland.I mentioned on <a href="http://ye-what.blogspot.com/">YeWhat.Biz</a> that I was feeling slightly guilty about this blog gathering dust over the last few months. It still has visitors even though the last blog post was in June. I've decided I'd like to open it up to authors, poets & publishers from and in Northern Ireland who want to use it to promote their books, book signings, appearances etc. Also if you've read a book about Northern Ireland or written by a Northern Irish author and you want to review it on here it's open for you to blog about that.It can be used to reblog blog posts or articles that have been written for other sites that can be reposted on<b> <a href="http://booksnibiz.blogspot.com/">BooksNI </a></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKs_J0nIygaDUEQG1fLPlPqATlxuaYmBJBRXow0uzoXB2DMopBpUPlCvuxKHMvYEvEgQfvuNBLhjesC4TSoL0JwMGYpgZZnw-sxJofX3qdcFX4DFhUIAE2J91ksP36UaswNG_G7q5rdWj/s1600/authors+wanted+for+booksni.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKs_J0nIygaDUEQG1fLPlPqATlxuaYmBJBRXow0uzoXB2DMopBpUPlCvuxKHMvYEvEgQfvuNBLhjesC4TSoL0JwMGYpgZZnw-sxJofX3qdcFX4DFhUIAE2J91ksP36UaswNG_G7q5rdWj/s400/authors+wanted+for+booksni.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I'm going to be sending out invites by email to people inviting them to start blogging here @<b> </b><a href="http://booksnibiz.blogspot.com/"><b>BooksNI.</b> </a>If you are one of these people please feel free to blog about, as it says on the tagline of the site,<i><b> books written by authors from and in Northern Ireland.</b></i> Sadly the blog/website can only have up to 100 authors, so if your reading this and want to post on this site <a href="mailto:davetodd7@gmail.com">email me</a> soon so I can add you as an author.I'm afraid there is no payment for writing/blogging on this site, it's just another avenue for people to find out about your latest book.David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-27943562386316835112010-11-05T21:15:00.000+00:002010-11-05T21:15:22.637+00:00Highlighting the people and places that make Northern Ireland...<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iGftQWII8i4?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iGftQWII8i4?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-85838983036326029292010-06-26T12:35:00.002+01:002010-11-05T13:18:15.917+00:00@YeWhat.Biz #booksniTaking a break from blogging here @ BooksNI and in the meantime read blog posts <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><cite style="font-style: normal;"><b> @<a href="http://ye-what.blogspot.com/"> YeWhat.Biz </a></b></cite></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHzySPynKEB1Ji-Ev6m5imxVjrXhoFnCXNPxqAggAnJpAihDQX4TPesVGbiFO9eVty1t5LUIT5D5FxzkY6n61FieS3qKPNbCBFRXRRqedy_sXJc0mAMPJQVlCSxh0wd5vUA9XDFNbjLwS/s1600-r/YeWhat.Biz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHzySPynKEB1Ji-Ev6m5imxVjrXhoFnCXNPxqAggAnJpAihDQX4TPesVGbiFO9eVty1t5LUIT5D5FxzkY6n61FieS3qKPNbCBFRXRRqedy_sXJc0mAMPJQVlCSxh0wd5vUA9XDFNbjLwS/s1600-r/YeWhat.Biz.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><cite style="font-style: normal;"><b> </b></cite></span>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-91524116361601991472010-06-25T21:15:00.002+01:002010-06-26T12:18:17.805+01:00editor's desk - 05 days 02:40:01 left...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLUWsh5Ml50n_NWzgsvSY1LpSErTl-0grV1RO59zvXJwtJ_AgslPMS065Fb5LFIxWI_pdCgPE9g0gU5uNUjH7bU5uKHq6HZR0ffHZpcQ97YeSF3X_MniolfEq7_Bhki6nXOsAVy0xheez/s1600/authonomy+booksni_biz.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLUWsh5Ml50n_NWzgsvSY1LpSErTl-0grV1RO59zvXJwtJ_AgslPMS065Fb5LFIxWI_pdCgPE9g0gU5uNUjH7bU5uKHq6HZR0ffHZpcQ97YeSF3X_MniolfEq7_Bhki6nXOsAVy0xheez/s1600/authonomy+booksni_biz.gif" /></a></div> The clock is <i>ticking</i> and <a href="http://booksnibiz.blogspot.com/2010/06/introducing-northern-irish-sci-fi.html">Owen </a>now only has just over 5 days left to make it into the top 5. To encourage you to back the book, if you haven't already done so here's a review of The Time Warriors. It's reviewed by Christine who works as a civil servant in Belfast. She was told about Owen Quinn's book through a friend. Sci-fi is not her usual usual thing but she backed it on Authonomy and before she knew it she had read the first two chapters.<br />
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<blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Time Warriors is an engrossing read which took me by surprise. The scifi elements are well placed and the character of Varran is an intriguing one; a man who hasn't aged but doesn't know if he is immortal or not. As he tells Tyran, he has never had the inclination to throw himself under a bus to find out.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The book is made up of 17 different stories but all connected and building towards a series finale in Tempest where everything comes together in a rip roaring adventure that threatens Earth and more importantly, the Time Warriors themselves.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Without spoiling it, what shines amid the scifi and aliens is the human drama where Owen deals with bullies, unrequited love and bizarrely, makes losing your virginity a life changing event. I cried at the end of Homecoming as Jacke deals with the death of her grandmother and questions herself.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And this is another plus for the book. I actually care about these characters and what they go through and Owen has given each one a journey of self discovery, again cleverly using scfi adventure as a backdrop.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What I found a good device was, you think you know what is going on but Owen twists your expectations. He says they battle Bigfoot, Jack the Ripper and the Celts but each one subverts what you think and becomes something quite different and engaging.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The fact we now have a Nr Irish, black female lead is a brilliant idea as I could see Belfast and for once, the troubles are not the focal point of being Irish, living your life in this new Ireland is but with aliens and villains creeping at our doors here in the North, life just got a whole lot creepier.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Time Warriors is a visual treat, such vivid imagery and breath taking stories that will take you by the scruff of the neck and throw you into worlds you never imagined.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If this doesn't put us on the map, then nothing will. Superb.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remember, everyting happens for a reason! You have been warned.</span></div></blockquote> To help Owen make it into the Top Five...<br />
<ol><li><span style="font-size: small;">Register (simple) on <a href="http://www.authonomy.com/" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), "194f5", event)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.authonomy.com</a> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Search for<b> '</b><b><span id="ctl00_Content_BookHeader1_lblTitle">THE TIME WARRIORS</span></b><b>' </b>and click on it </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Then click on <b>'Back the book'</b></span></li>
</ol>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-66264975131635513522010-06-25T00:08:00.002+01:002010-06-26T01:01:42.557+01:00#FollowFriday @garrett_carrAccording to <a href="http://mashable.com/2009/03/06/twitter-followfriday/">mashable.com</a> #FollowFriday began with a simple <a href="http://twitter.com/micah/status/1124262248" target="_blank">tweet</a> @<span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/micah/status/1124262248" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Fri Jan 16 17:53:49 +0000 2009'}">5:53 PM Jan 16th, 2009</span></a> it went...</span></span><br />
<blockquote><span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> </span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">I am starting Follow Fridays. Every Friday, suggest a person to follow, and everyone follow him/her. Today its @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/fancyjeffrey" rel="nofollow">fancyjeffrey</a> & @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/w1redone" rel="nofollow">w1redone</a>.</span></span></blockquote>The idea is to think of interesting people you already follow and recommend them to others.<br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/myklroventine" target="_blank">Mykl Roventine</a> suggested the hashtag #followfriday, and a few friends (<a href="http://chrisbrogan.com/" target="_blank">Chris Brogan</a>, <a href="http://queenofspainblog.com/" target="_blank">Erin Kotecki Vest</a>, <a href="http://technosailor.com/">Aaron Brazell</a> and <a href="http://jimkukral.com/" target="_blank">Jim Kukral</a>) helped spread the word. On the first FollowFriday, there were almost two #followfriday tweets per second at its peak.By Saturday morning, there was no trace of FollowFriday.Then late the next Thursday night, suddenly #followfriday tweets began to appear in foreign languages! It seemed that FollowFriday was back. Now, every Friday, people suggest other people to follow.<br />
As it's Friday I thought for all you tweeters out there and those who haven't yet started tweeting that I should suggest a #FollowFriday. Suggested because the tweeter puts a bit of effort into his poetic tweets. He isn't followed by or following thousands of people yet, but I'd reckon he has one of the best twitter pages I've seen yet. Tweets like...<br />
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<blockquote><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">- Wendy and I had the craic / on today's Talkback / Hope I kept my cool / and not blab like a fool - <a class="tweet-url web" href="http://bit.ly/cjrO4l" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/cjrO4l</a> (@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/wendytalksback" rel="nofollow">wendytalksback</a>)</span></span><br />
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<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">- You have an hour and half / to win a copy of my book / have a go, it's a laugh / a few others have partook - <a class="tweet-url web" href="http://bit.ly/9tGeOk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/9tGeOk</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">- A change is as good as a break / But I’ll get both at Flat Lake - <a class="tweet-url web" href="http://www.theflatlakefestival.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.theflatlakefestival.com</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">- Me and Monsters in No Alibis / come along, or send your spies - <a class="tweet-url web" href="http://bit.ly/aoHZed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/aoHZed</a> @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/young_at_Art" rel="nofollow">young_at_Art</a> @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/CultureNI" rel="nofollow">CultureNI</a> @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/NI4kids" rel="nofollow">NI4kids</a></span></span></span></blockquote><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">The twitterer is <a href="http://twitter.com/garrett_carr">Garrett Carr </a></span>who comes from a town in the west of Ireland. He has a background in illustration and has worked for governmental agencies in his native Ireland and for development agencies in Latin America. Now living in Belfast, he he contributes to the city's burgeoning literary scene with publications, exhibitions and readings.<a name='more'></a>The books he has written include </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1847385990?ie=UTF8&tag=bo0d-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1847385990">Lost Dogs</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=bo0d-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1847385990" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> a children's book due to be published in Nov. The blurb for it reads...<br />
<blockquote>At last there is peace in the city. A shipment of vicious creatures will be exported , twitterfaraway. Their containers rattle, howl and smell of death. But not everyone is keen to see them leave. Shouldn't the place that makes the monsters keep them? Ewan has returned to the city for his father's trial. May has joined a school for special talents. Andrew wants only to keep out of trouble. But trouble is sure to find them. It has their scent. </blockquote><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/184738529X?ie=UTF8&tag=bo0d-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=184738529X">The Badness of Ballydog</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=bo0d-21&l=as2&o=2&a=184738529X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> published earlier this year is about May, Andrew and Ewan. Something is coming ...something big. May knows it, but no one will listen to her. She is an outcast due to her odd ways and freakish ability with animals. Andrew knows it, but he has his position as gang leader to maintain. Ewan knows it, but what can he do? The sea creature is the biggest living thing on the face of the earth. And it won't stop until it has destroyed Ballydog. Can three teenagers save the baddest town in the world from its fate? Is it even worth saving? <br />
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Thanks Garrett, for entertaining the big kids like me on twitter and I hope more people discover the hidden tweasure of your tweets. Yes , every word in the English language can be changed to a tweet word, hence treasure = <b>tw</b>easure. That reminds me <a href="http://twitter.com/WOSSY">Johnathan <strike>Woss</strike> Ross is on twitter</a> and as it's Friday he maybe on TV later too.<br />
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<noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/s/noscript?tag=bo0d-21" alt="" /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; </noscript>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-4518318826589122592010-06-23T23:11:00.001+01:002010-06-25T00:06:07.927+01:00The Twelve by Stuart Neville: Out now in paperback.For any aliens who've just landed on this planet or ex prisoners who've been banged up in solitary with only a Bible to read for the last year there's a book now out in mass market paperback you just have to read. I can't believe it's nearly a year since the book was first published, nearly a year since I enjoyed reading it. It's a book that I just might read again sometime.The book is entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0099535343?ie=UTF8&tag=bo0d-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0099535343">The Twelve</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=bo0d-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0099535343" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> and is written by Stuart Neville.<br />
I've been reading <a href="http://conduitnovel.blogspot.com/">Stuarts blog</a> for a few years now and it's been great to see how the book started and progressed over the years. We even got to read snippets of the book on the blog. Like every good blogger Stuart found it hard to resist a blogging exercise.<br />
<a name='more'></a> Back in <a href="http://conduitnovel.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html">April 2007 he blogged</a>... <br />
<blockquote> A few weeks back, <a href="http://sexscenesatstarbucks.blogspot.com/">Sex Scenes at Starbucks</a> posted an interesting exercise on her blog. The idea is to go to page 123 of your work in progress, go to the fifth line, and take an excerpt from that paragraph. At the time I was at page twenty-something, so did it with page 23. Now I've reached page 123 I'm having another go. Here it is (complete with my customary foul language):</blockquote><blockquote><div id="extract" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Campbell grinned as Toner dragged him out to the street.</b><br />
<b>"What the fuck are you at?" asked Toner, his watery eyes wide, his mouth gaping under his thick moustache.</b><br />
<b>"He was asking for it," said Campbell.</b><br />
<b>Toner straightened his black tie. "Jesus Christ, Davy! Eddie Coyle's an arsehole, everyone knows that, but you don't beat the shit out of him in front of his mates if you're looking to make friends around here."</b><br />
<b>Campbell pointed to the Jaguar at the kerb. "That yours?"</b><br />
<b>"Aye," said Toner, seeming to grow a full inch taller.</b><br />
<b>Campbell picked glass from his palm. "Well, quit yapping and take me to McGinty."</b></div><br />
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What I'm particularly pleased with is that I've written almost 100 pages just a few weeks. :)</blockquote> For the aliens, ex prisoners still reading, the blurb for the book reads...<br />
<blockquote><br />
Sooner or later, everybody pays – and the dead will set the price... <br />
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Former paramilitary killer Gerry Fegan is haunted by his victims, twelve souls who shadow his every waking day and scream through every drunken night. Just as he reaches the edge of sanity they reveal their desire: vengeance on those who engineered their deaths. From the greedy politicians to the corrupt security forces, the street thugs to the complacent bystanders who let it happen, all must pay the price. <br />
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When Fegan’s vendetta threatens to derail Northern Ireland’s peace process and destabilise its fledgling government, old comrades and enemies alike want him gone. David Campbell, a double agent lost between the forces of law and terror, takes the job. But he has his own reasons for eliminating Fegan; the secrets of a dirty war should stay buried, even if its ghosts do not. <br />
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Set against the backdrop of a post-conflict Northern Ireland struggling with its past, <i>The Twelve </i>takes the reader from the back streets of the city, where violence and politics go hand-in-hand, to the country’s darkest heart. Stuart Neville’s gripping thriller marks the emergence of a brilliant new voice.</blockquote><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="258" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KBOlZfP1g4A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="426"></embed> <br />
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There are moments when reading the book it's nice to see something about Stuart that's recognisable. An example being his love of guitars. I was checking his blog tonight to try and find a photograph he'd posted displaying his impressive collection of guitars but sadly couldn't find it.In the book in chapter six he writes...<br />
<blockquote>Fegan picked up the whetstone and ran it along the fingerboard again, back and forth, the rhythm soothing him... lowered the guitar to the felt sheet that protected its lacquered finish...</blockquote>Writing like that and his obvious love of that instrument make me want to hear him play, hopefully that will happen sometime soon somewhere here in NI, hint hint Stuart.Maybe a gig of some sort to launch your next book :-) <br />
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The <a href="http://internationalnoir.blogspot.com/2010/06/stuart-neville-collusion.html">reviews</a> for his new book which is entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/184655280X?ie=UTF8&tag=bo0d-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=184655280X">Collusion</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=bo0d-21&l=as2&o=2&a=184655280X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />are starting already The official UK launch of COLLUSION is due to be on the 29th July 2010 @ No Alibis Bookstore, Botanic Avenue, Belfast Check the<a href="http://www.noalibis.com/"> No Alibis site</a> or <a href="http://www.stuartneville.com/appearances/">Stuarts site</a> for more details.<br />
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<noscript>&lt;br /&gt; &lt;img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/s/noscript?tag=bo0d-21" alt="" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; </noscript>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-90150703492691344092010-06-23T01:09:00.000+01:002010-06-23T01:09:41.148+01:00After all is said and done, more is said than done!<i>Join in, have fun...</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://booksni.proboards.com/index.cgi"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BooksNI: The Forum</span></b></a></div>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-77195023970211548112010-06-20T20:55:00.004+01:002010-06-23T23:59:22.340+01:00Introducing, Northern Irish sci-fi author Owen Quinn.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsWHn2zqgh9e8WashABl4E0ffcWw8ByzGfbGzljv6B6yXBfO_hRQ9LiaA6xCGEY178dU2oUbjswpZv442Rf8EFr3Eg5R4u7oh3Y7hNAY2G76qnb2FipSPa4xkTPXrsSEOABfoZjIPLGuJ/s1600/Owen+Quinn+Northern+Irish+sci-fi+author+booksni.biz+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsWHn2zqgh9e8WashABl4E0ffcWw8ByzGfbGzljv6B6yXBfO_hRQ9LiaA6xCGEY178dU2oUbjswpZv442Rf8EFr3Eg5R4u7oh3Y7hNAY2G76qnb2FipSPa4xkTPXrsSEOABfoZjIPLGuJ/s1600/Owen+Quinn+Northern+Irish+sci-fi+author+booksni.biz+2.jpg" /></a></div>"I<i>'m a 41 year old kid that at this stage will never grow up. I get excited every time I see a certain police box and in that moment when you actually stand on the threshold you believe that there may be more behind those wood panelled Tardis doors</i>" Yes, that's what Owen's <i><span style="color: #444444;"><b>about me</b></span></i> section on <a href="http://www.authonomy.com/Profile.aspx?userid=84210497-aa8d-4b6c-8de4-800585073810">his Authonomy page reads.</a> Owen's another Northern Irish author on the campaign trail, campaigning for your backing for his book <a href="http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=18646"><span id="ctl00_Content_BookHeader1_lblTitle">THE TIME WARRIORS </span></a><span id="ctl00_Content_BookHeader1_lblTitle">Moving up the ranks Owen's hoping that he'll make it all the way up to the top 5 so that the book will be </span>read by the publisher, Harper Collins, with the possibility then of a publishing deal.He's 10 days left to achieve his dream.<span id="ctl00_Content_BookHeader1_lblTitle"> I met Owen last week and interrogated him, <i>not quite Castlereagh style.</i></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>... </b></span></div><br />
<b>Why Authonomy, aren’t there more conventional routes to getting a book published?</b><br />
Getting a publishing deal is bloody hard and you usually need an agent. Most publishers won't look at you without it. I was offered a deal in February this year by a London publisher (pretty big and well known) except it turned out to be a Vanguard contract where I had to pay £4,600 over 10 months and they would publish it. Not having that sort of money I said no, so they came back and offered to drop it to £4,000 over 15 months but again I said no. I would have been tempted if I had that sort of money but to be honest, if I'm doing all the work, sitting to all hours of the morning to write this, then no way am I paying someone else for my work.So my agent Bill Jeffrey told me to put it on Authonomy and literally, put it to the public vote so here we are, just over 3 months and I'm on the verge of the 100's.<br />
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<b>You wrote your first novel when you were just 16, what inspired that? What was the novel about? Any snippets from it you’d want to share?<a name='more'></a></b><br />
I was desperate to write for Dr Who so hand wrote a complete story, designed a cover and everything and sent it off, expecting it to be snapped up but they didn't read handwritten scripts so sent me a lovely letter along with the manuscript back.I was so affronted at this complete lack of acceptance i decided to create my own series of people to protect the Earth. How simple was I? It became the origin story of the Time Warriors called Wail of the Banshee and it told of how they all came together. It involved an alien entity trying to reassert a foothold back in our reality, an unfortunate side effect being the universe itself began to fall apart. With Varran being the only man in creation that has looked into the heart of the universe, he races to stop the creature before it completes its mission. Set in the Ireland of past and present, the battlefield would have been Ireland during the potato famine.The book on Authonomy is actually books 2 and 3 of the series because when I came to write Banshee, I found that although I knew the characters, I didn't really KNOW them at all so began to write The Time Warriors in a set of 17 stories that could be read as standalone but as a whole form a complete story rather like how they do shows these days like Dr Who, Primeval and Merlin.<br />
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<b>Was there what might be called a defining moment when you realised you had to pull the finger out and get a book written and published?</b><br />
Yes, my father was diagnosed with a brain tumour 5 years ago and died in exactly 16 weeks. It was a devastating time and had a profound effect on me, so although the story had been sitting in my head for years, that's when I decided this was the time.I am determined for this to happen and it will be dedicated to him.<br />
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<b>You’re extremely passionate about pushing for a publishing deal are you as passionate and dedicated during the writing process?</b><br />
Yes, it's a bit like going to the gym, it's just getting yourself in the frame of mind to do it but once you're in, you're flying. My poor wife has had to go to bed many a night alone because I'm writing. Problem is it's not something you can switch on or off, you just have to be in the mood and right mind set to do it. I have seen myself tossing and turning and having to get up in the middle of the night just to write one page and once it's done, I fall right to sleep.<br />
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<b>Have you had a lifetime interest in science fiction or has it developed the older you get?</b><br />
Oh definitely lifetime. I credit my mother for getting me into it because I remember running upstairs in terror to my room the second I heard the Jon Pertwee era theme music and my punishment for being naughty was being sent to bed before Star Trek came on. Like all things there's good and bad but when it's good, it's good.<br />
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<b>Do you think that science fiction writers aren’t taken seriously enough by people in Northern Ireland?</b><br />
Unless you're Eoin Colfer, damn right. What I have found is there is no support network or forum for Irish writers. Even the BBC have no submissions dept here, it all goes over the water which is no good for us. Bill Jeffrey was the only literary agent in Nr Ireland and I found him by chance. There are pockets of groups and sci-fi events but no real sounding board to let everyone know what is going on or what new authors are out there. We are the land of saints and scholars but have been swamped by others who have the workshops and support networks we don't. So where are the focal points to get us noticed? Although thanks to the likes of Dr Who, the sci-fi profile has jumped ten fold and unlike my day, it's cool to be a sci-fi fan. Merlin, Robin Hood, primeval and ashes to Ashes are all off the back of the high profile of Dr Who. They have a Welsh, Scottish and English voice but I'm not hearing any Irish voice in the mix. I intend to change that.<br />
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<b>How do science fiction writers get inspired, could it be looking at everyday life from a different angle or are there other forces at work in your mind?</b><br />
I personally am fed up watching crap that any monkey can write. My ideas just come to me or I'll read something and think that would make a good story. If you start reading history, a lot of weird things have happened to people especially historical figures, events that would be deemed supernatural. So we have a rich background to use and besides, it's educational.<br />
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<b>A comment about your writing on Authonomy read…</b><i>Wow. The comments about your book are almost as riveting as the book itself! The fact that so many people have taken a lot of time to write their comments tells me that they have found something good in your book and something worth commenting on. I'm not sure I'm qualified to assess the merits of your writing but I am impressed that your story has touched so many people</i>.<br />
<b>I’ve seen other comments which might be described as constructive criticism, do you take on board what has been said? Do you edit your work that’s already up on Authonmomy or is it that the final draft? </b><br />
It's always a work in progress. I'm constantly re jiggling or rewriting things because I'm never entirely happy and want the plot points closed. Sometimes you get too close and you need a fresh pair of eyes. You can tell constructive criticism from people who want to help out from those just out to bitch and tear you down.<br />
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<b>What makes you and your writing unique? Why out of the hundreds of authors on Authonomy should we vote for you?</b><br />
Because it's bloody brilliant! LOL. Seriously, I'm an Irishman on a mission to put us back on the market which is why Jacke is black, female and from Belfast. I have a slew of stories that will take pace in Irish history, people forget how diverse we are. I have given my characters solid self journey arcs and that's why I tagged the book sci-fi with a heart. Anyone can write aliens and monster ass kicking but unless you make your characters lovable and relatable, forget it, it's just pulp. That's why my book deals with bullying, unrequited love, losing loved ones and your virginity, victimisation, loneliness, conspiracy, revenge,self worth and friendships in unlikely places. If your story hasn't got heart, it's just a story.Plus I did a few test subjects, people who don't go near scifi, I had several moved to the point of tears and the rest liked it, they saw what I saw in my head, so something must work in its favour. Remember £4.600 stopped it being printed this year. Damn poverty!<br />
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<b>Is it easy to vote for you on Authonomy?</b><br />
Yes, google Authonomy and register as a new reader. Then search for me or the Time Warriors. Once there click on BACK THE BOOK. If in doubt check your bookshelf or contact me on my facebook or via David Todd. Come on guys, let's get the Irish back on the map!<br />
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<b>On you’re Authonomy page you write… It's bloody hard to get a publishing deal! If a deal doesn’t materialise through Harper Colins what next?</b><br />
I keep going until it's published, I will knock on every door until I make this happen. It's in my blood and there's nothing I can do to change that. But have no doubt, The Time Warriors are coming!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>... </b></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lets help make it happen and make way for the Time Warriors, it's as simple as <b>1,<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span>,<span style="font-size: xx-small;">3..</span></b></span><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgmsDb4VCUyzKrBOJaSViiVs7O2FmhFjY-q2khouTfIFQtli8tFnx_qqBmj1TM-omzMIDDNVKuEAXyoMWBCd8bPW1LXzBgzRK2XZPFrrL-Lwtr6VQtMzRbKI7_RZA8nBteDOr_DP_8L5V/s1600/Owen+Quinn+Northern+Irish+sci-fi+author+booksni.biz+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgmsDb4VCUyzKrBOJaSViiVs7O2FmhFjY-q2khouTfIFQtli8tFnx_qqBmj1TM-omzMIDDNVKuEAXyoMWBCd8bPW1LXzBgzRK2XZPFrrL-Lwtr6VQtMzRbKI7_RZA8nBteDOr_DP_8L5V/s1600/Owen+Quinn+Northern+Irish+sci-fi+author+booksni.biz+3.jpg" /></a></div><ol><li><span style="font-size: small;">Register (simple) on <a href="http://www.authonomy.com/" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), "194f5", event)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.authonomy.com</a> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Search for<b> '</b><b><span id="ctl00_Content_BookHeader1_lblTitle">THE TIME WARRIORS</span></b><b>' </b>and click on it </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Then click on <b>'Back the book'</b></span></li>
</ol>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-60575382078835230072010-06-19T12:54:00.000+01:002010-06-19T12:54:27.459+01:00C. S. Lewis...<blockquote><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.</span></div></blockquote>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332928786890961750.post-87628722758543761382010-06-18T12:56:00.002+01:002010-06-19T12:57:45.930+01:00BooksNIAccording to an article on <a href="http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article.aspx?art_id=3369">CultureNI</a> BooksNI.COM is <a href="http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=BooksNI.Com&d=4588120392664791&mkt=en-GB&setlang=en-GB&w=e1aef402,4830eb8a">finally </a> being launched this evening. Back in March I'd blogged @ <a href="http://ye-what.blogspot.com/2010/03/books-nibiz.html">YeWhat.Biz</a><br />
<blockquote><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">I'd been asked to speak at a networking event for book publishers in Northern Ireland,which I didn't do. I'm that shy and retiring and feel comfortable hiding behind a big blog-wall. I'd also noticed more and more press releases and invites to numerous events in my inbox from book publishers. To add to this it seemed to me there was a gap that wasn't being filled, interesting information about books and authors from N.I. that could be shared. So I started <a href="http://www.booksni.biz/">http://www.BooksNI.Biz </a></span></blockquote>At the time when I chose the domain name BooksNI.BIZ I noticed that the domain name BooksNI.COM directed me to <a href="http://www.colourpoint.co.uk/">The Colourpoint Group's </a>website I then set up BooksNI.BIZ I've since discovered that the Colourpoint Group also own<cite style="font-style: normal;"> booksni.org, books-ni.org, books-ni.com and booksni.co.uk. <a href="http://www.booksni.net/"><a name='more'></a>BooksNI.NET</a> however has been registered by another Northern Irish publisher. I was in discussions with the team from Colourpoint to see if we could merge this blog <a href="http://booksnibiz.blogspot.com/">BooksNI.BIZ </a>with their site and was made an offer to write</cite><br />
<blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">One article 300-500 words a month, topic TBD</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">One column of review shorts (five or six pars each of four to six books – bni to provide the review copies)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">One column of literary news briefs (two to three pars each, as many as you deem appropriate)</span></span></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></div>I had to refuse this as I didn't have the time to do it and I believe that blogging about books is more of a natural process and not that regimented as suggested.I also refused to work for Colourpoint/BooksNI.COM because as a book buyer I would find it hard to buy any books from a site that when you search for one of the top Northern Irish authors there aren't any books written by that author. When I met the team about a month ago I pointed out to them that if you search for Colin Bateman on their site the results come up include a book by Ivan Martin entitled David Healy: The Story So Far. A month on they haven't corrected this. There were other 'site problems' that'd make me hesitant to buy from the site I'd noticed and told them about then, which I haven't had time to check to see if they've fixed yet. I'm sure there are even more booksni domain names available and would love to see more people buying them up and using them to promote books written by people from Northern Ireland, published in Northern Ireland or books that are about Northern Irish topics.<br />
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To add to the intrigue the <a href="http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/artforms/literature.htm">Arts Council have recently pointed out on their website</a>...<br />
<blockquote><b>Books NI</b>, a company comprising four Arts Council-funded organisations (Blackstaff Press, Guildhall Press, Lagan Press, Verbal Arts Centre), is in the process of developing a ‘book space’ and common branding initiative for NI-published books, with the help of a grant from the Creative Industries Innovation Fund. Further information can be obtained from <a href="mailto:James.Kerr@verbalartscentre.co.uk"><b>James.Kerr@verbalartscentre.co.uk</b></a>. </blockquote>David Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12317741293964456034noreply@blogger.com0