A Wonderfully Weird Flash Fiction Competition...

....Well, what else would you expect from the folk at The Molotov Cocktail, those doyens of the bizarre? They published a story of mine a while ago:
(https://themolotovcocktail.com/about/archive-vols-1-3/vol-6/vol-6-issue-14/anabel/)
and I've been a fan ever since.

Details here:

https://themolotovcocktail.com/flash-worlds/

Good luck!

When Are You Going To Write A Proper Book? Focus On Picturebooks #properbook

Yesterday I attended a day for picturebook writers and illustrators in the magnificent Lexicon library in Dun Laoghaire. Now, I hasten to add that I don't consider myself a picture book writer and I definitely can't illustrate (unless stick men count) but I jumped at the chance to find out more because never say never. The day was facilitated by the energetic and talented Sarah Webb, author of children's, YA and adult fiction as well as being the current writer in residence at the library.

As you can see from the programme below, it was a packed day with great panel discussions from stalwarts of the industry. A highlight for me was Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick taking us on the journey from idea to dummy book to finished product for her beautifully touching wordless picture book, Owl Bat Bat Owl.

Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick begins her talk.

There was also a very passionate contribution by iBbY Ireland's President, Jane O'Hanlon on the Silent Book Exhibition, comprised solely of wordless picture books which developed as a response to the refugee crisis. The flyer for the exhibition is below so you an see what it's about.

Some links:

Sarah Webb's excellent blog: https://www.sarahwebb.info/blog/
Michael Emberley's site: http://www.michaelemberley.com/
Chris Judge's site: http://www.chrisjudge.com/
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick's site: http://www.marielouisefitzpatrick.com/

Exclusive Extract - Philip Pullman's new novel

The Guardian published an exclusive extract today from the first volume of Philip Pullman's hotly anticipated new novel, The Book of Dust. Nice etching-type illustrations too.

Read it here - 

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/may/26/before-his-dark-materials-how-lyras-story-began-exclusive-extract

Missed The Deadlines for National Flash Fiction Day? Lagan Online are Accepting Submissions

100 words or less, excluding title. Ten best published online. 4th June deadline.

Get flashing!

http://laganonline.co/submission-call-for-national-flash-fiction-day/

The Seán Ó'Faoláin International Short Story Prize 2017 - Open for Entries

Closing date 31st July 2017.

First Prize: €2,000

(approx $2308/£1583 in May 2016), publication in the literary journal Southword, AND a week-long residency at Anam Cara Retreat

Second Prize: €500 and publication in Southword

Four more shortlisted entries will be selected for publication in Southword and receive a publication fee of €120.

https://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.html

Writing a Picture Book?

When Are You Going to Write a Proper Book? A Day for Picturebook Writers and Illustrators   Programmed by Sarah Webb in association with Children’s Books Ireland and iBbY Ireland, supported by dlr Libraries. 

http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/event-calendar/when-are-you-going-write-proper-book-day-picturebook-writers-and

Limited Places Available for Claire Keegan Fiction Workshop

Claire Keegan, internationally acclaimed author and teacher of creative writing, will run a two day fiction workshop in Bunclody. This weekend will concentrate on works-in-progress submitted by the participants.

https://ckfictionclinic.com/2017/02/13/wexford-workshop-in-april/

Mentorship Opportunities With The Munster Literature Centre

The Munster Literature Centre is delighted to be offering mentorships for emerging poets and fiction writers.

Matthew Sweeney is available to mentor a Munster-resident poet during the course of this year. The mentorship is our own initiative sponsored by Words Ireland. Eligible candidates must have at least one collection (book or chapbook) published and no more than two. Details here Deadline May 30^th.

2017 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Fellow Marie-Helene Bertino (funded by Cork City Council) is available to mentor two Cork-resident fiction writers in October and November. Eligible candidates must have had at least one short story published in a reputable literary journal. Details here. Deadline May 29^th.

Words Ireland will be offering its own series of mentorships on a national basis in the coming year. Keep up to date with news of Words Ireland here. The Words Ireland website is also a source for factsheets useful to writers in Ireland on subjects such as tax, contracts and what to expect when invited to a festival.

New Literary Festival in Bray - September 2017

Colin Dardis of Lagan Online talks to one of the organisers of Bray Literary Festival, author and prize winner Tanya Farrelly.

http://laganonline.co/bray-literary-festival-announced-for-september/

New Writing By Nuala O'Connor

New story up on the Granta site by Nuala O'Connor (Nuala Ní Chonchúir) from her upcoming short story collection Joyride to Jupiter.

https://granta.com/consolata/

You can see more of Nuala's writing here.

http://www.nualanichonchuir.com/home.php

The Willesden Herald New Short Stories Competition 2017

Now open for submissions. Judged by Lane Ashfeldt.

http://newshortstories.com/wordpress/our-judge-for-2017-lane-ashfeldt/

Link to submit - https://willesdenherald.submittable.com/submit

Entry fee: £7.50

The Ogham Stone Seeking Submissions

Submissions are now invited for the 2018 issue of The Ogham Stone, the University of Limericks’s journal of literature and arts.
Produced by the students on the MA in English and the MA in Creative Writing programmes at UL, The Ogham Stone is fast emerging as a distinctive and prestigious context for new writing in Ireland. The 2017 issue showcases important new writing and artwork by established and emerging Irish writers as well as international contributors from the UK and the USA. It features (among thirty-two pieces) poetry by Orla Fay, Julian Gough, Marie Cadden, Catherine Phil MacCarthy, Mike Gallagher, and Jaki McCarrick; short stories by Joseph O’Connor, Catherine Donnelly and Anne Griffin; creative non-fiction by Nuala Ní Chonchúir and Barry McKinley; and artwork by Kieran Nee, Ruth Egan, Richard Smyth and John Chavers.

The Ogham Stone submission guidelines are available at https://theoghamstoneul.com/submit/ and the team can be contacted at oghamstoneul@gmail.com. The deadline is 31^st August 2017.

Books Ireland Short Story Competition 2017

 Books Ireland is delighted to launch the 2017 short story competition. Enter your story for the opportunity to win cash prizes, a place on a writing course at The Irish Writers Centre and publication in Books Ireland.
Entries will be accepted from May 1 2017 with a closing date of July 31 2017.
The competition is open to writers of any nationality writing in English, with no restriction on style or theme. The maximum number of words allowed is 2,600 and entries must be original, unpublished and not currently submitted for publication nor for any other competition or award.
Adjudicator: Mia Gallagher
Closing date: 31 July 2017

• First prize: €400, a writing course at the Irish Writers Centre irishwriterscentre.ie and publication in Books Ireland magazine
• Second prize: €200
• Third prize: €100

Further details here - http://www.booksirelandmagazine.com/comp/