Still Dreaming and WAKE

Still Dreaming: Poetry and Short Stories, the first book by Northern Irish author, Ellie Rose McKee, was first released in May 2012 and then re-released as a second edition earlier this month, on September 17^th. WAKE, which is the sequel, is due for release in just a few days – on September 28^th.

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.

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.

Ellie really enjoys photography and even produced a paperback containing all her own ‘shots’ over the summer entitled Overlooked Awe.

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.

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 website, Facebook Fan Page or Twitter Profile. 

Dusk Chorus by Colin Dardis

Taken from Gerry McCullough's review on Amazon.co.uk

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.

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.

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.'

If you like good poetry, then you really shouldn't miss out on this very good book.

Link to download pdf version:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/​colin-dardis/dusk-chorus/​ebook/product-20086465.html

Kindle for UK users:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/​Dusk-Chorus-ebook/dp/​B00810GSF2/​ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336​565411&sr=8-1

Kindle for US users:
http://www.amazon.com/​Dusk-Chorus-ebook/dp/​B00810GSF2/​ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336​565450&sr=8-1

Débuting with ebooks

FOR 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.

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!.

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.

Yes, it can be a little fiddly to start with, but it is worth the effort.

You can check out my stories here. 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!

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!"

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!)

Twisted Agendas

THE second novel by Northern Irish writer Damian McNicholl is currently enjoying great critical acclaim.

 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.

 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.

 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.

 ‘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

 ‘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)

 ‘A thoroughly engrossing transatlantic adventure…' Irish World

 ‘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

 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.

He maintains a blog at www.damianm.blogspot.com and can be found on Twitter at @damianmcn. He lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and is at work on his third novel.