1 Month!
In many ways it feels a lot longer since some of us gathered in the wonderful Established Coffee house and heard the story of Half Irish. The night was fantastic and a wonderful way to celebrate a couple of years of hard work. My only regret - I didn’t get to eat any of the awesome traybakes! I haven’t put the photos online - must do that soon!
Over the last month (and I don’t mean to sound like a celeb here) I have had a number of radio interviews, TV interviews, been in a couple of magazines, presented at the Belfast Book Festival and tried my hand at having a market stall! It’s been a surreal experience and I have been loving every minute of it.
Things I have been learning:
The people of Belfast/Northern Ireland/Ireland love a good yarn/story/natter! I have had countless conversations with people of all arts and from all parts. Carrying a message of life, love and inspiration is an attractive message. People seem to be attracted to Half Irish - through its message, the characters and the way I carry how much I love it! Whatever gift you have or thing you work at carry it with life, love and inspiration. That’s not just summer advice but life advice.
Tall Ships We love a good global event. Yesterday I had a stall at the Tall Ships - hosted at the wonderful Dock Market (blog post to follow later in the summer) There was so much to do so I would recommend getting down and checking it out! My only regret - I could only have my stall for 1 day as I am heading off at the weekend to Latvia.
Tall Ships
Huge Sails!
This is a lifetimes work Over the month I have been convinced once again that this writing malarkey is a lifetimes work. Buoyed by the joy of the feedback coming in about Half Irish - from 73 year olds to teenagers and everyone in between - I have been encouraged and convinced that writing is something that I not only want to do, but have to do.
Listening During the last month I met the wonderful local author Tony McCauley for a coffee and he gave me some tips, hints and great advice. Apart from being local authors, we have a few more things in common - past pupils of BRA, youth work backgrounds and we are both former employees, of sorts, of Ormo Bakery! Tony has written about his experience in Bread Boy - a recommended summer read! It was fantastic to listen to Tony, the journey his writing has taken/is taking him on and to garner inspirational thoughts and words from someone who is further down the line.
Next Project I have been sharing a little but about my summer writing project and have received some great reactions to it. At the end of my workshop in Belfast Book Festival I read the first chapter of the next book and the audience were laughing throughout! It’s about a Polish kid who comes to live in Belfast. The book has been great yet difficult to write. I tackle the idea of a changing Belfast, racism, transitions and write about another character coming out of a paramilitary background. Some chapters are charming and others are just difficult to write because they reflect on some issues that are live and real to our wee country.
I hope you have a rocking weekend! I might be a bit quiet over here for a week as I’m away - but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on getting stuck into Half Irish
Other random things:
A dead ringer for Foy Vance in a charity shop in East Belfast
Writers Sleepy Friend
It's always BBQ season at our house! But this week we had an awesome chicken! Also look at the freshly painted wall in the background!
Big love!