Saturday, June 29, 2013
Say it with Pride!
Yes love, live and be proud is the theme for this year's Dublin Pride Festival, the fun has already started but there are events going on all day as well as a few tomorrow so if you're around Dublin get down there now! Love this photo that my friend sent on Facebook! Happy Pride Everyone!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The Journey Continues...
You might be glad to know that I'm improving at this old technology malarky! It has taken me hours rather than days to figure it out. OK yes I did start trying to download or upload this morning which I know is approximately thirteen hours ago BUT in my defense there was the small matter of seven kids, school, tidying, dinner, homework, more tidying, swimming, tea, bedtime still more tidying and a few tantrums thrown in for good measure (not all mine, I promise) On top of that my phone died but I won't bore you or frustrate myself more with those details, let's just say AAAAGGGGHHHHHH!
So where was I? Oh yes, my Creative Writing Tips 1! I'm not sure if you got to see them or what you thought of them but if you're interested here's Creative Writing Tips 2! I'd love to get some feedback on the videos, so please leave a comment (I'll ignore the bad ones, ha!) and if you've any suggestions or areas you'd like me to focus on I'd be happy to do so.
I'm also extremely excited about IBBY Ireland's Event next Wednesday night (26th June) upstairs in the Workman's Club. It'll be a discussion on Controversial Themes in YA Literature. OK yes I am honoured to be one of the speakers but the other speakers include, Sheena Wilkinson multi award winner for her books Taking Flight and Grounded, Siobhan Parkinson, writer, editor, publisher whom I am constantly in awe of and award winning author Anna Carey, who I'm dying to meet. Sine Quinn, a children's Book Editor and one of my favourite people will be chairing the meeting. So if you're around we'd love to see you!
You might be glad to know that I'm improving at this old technology malarky! It has taken me hours rather than days to figure it out. OK yes I did start trying to download or upload this morning which I know is approximately thirteen hours ago BUT in my defense there was the small matter of seven kids, school, tidying, dinner, homework, more tidying, swimming, tea, bedtime still more tidying and a few tantrums thrown in for good measure (not all mine, I promise) On top of that my phone died but I won't bore you or frustrate myself more with those details, let's just say AAAAGGGGHHHHHH!
So where was I? Oh yes, my Creative Writing Tips 1! I'm not sure if you got to see them or what you thought of them but if you're interested here's Creative Writing Tips 2! I'd love to get some feedback on the videos, so please leave a comment (I'll ignore the bad ones, ha!) and if you've any suggestions or areas you'd like me to focus on I'd be happy to do so.
I'm also extremely excited about IBBY Ireland's Event next Wednesday night (26th June) upstairs in the Workman's Club. It'll be a discussion on Controversial Themes in YA Literature. OK yes I am honoured to be one of the speakers but the other speakers include, Sheena Wilkinson multi award winner for her books Taking Flight and Grounded, Siobhan Parkinson, writer, editor, publisher whom I am constantly in awe of and award winning author Anna Carey, who I'm dying to meet. Sine Quinn, a children's Book Editor and one of my favourite people will be chairing the meeting. So if you're around we'd love to see you!
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
I know it's been a while since I've written and I've rounded a few bends on this winding road since then. I've also picked up another passenger, yes our seventh baby Cúán arrived safely some months ago. While away I've written a lot but I've also had the opportunity to visit lots of schools and groups around the country so I've decided to do a series of videos full of creative writing tips which I've picked up along my way. I hope that they motivate, inspire, educate, help you on your journey (or at the very least make you laugh!)
Four days later. . . Aaagghhh! So I'm still technically challenged! And my video wouldn't upload. Apologies for the delay but you can find it here at Creative Writing Tips!
Video two will be up in the next ten days! Enjoy!
Four days later. . . Aaagghhh! So I'm still technically challenged! And my video wouldn't upload. Apologies for the delay but you can find it here at Creative Writing Tips!
Video two will be up in the next ten days! Enjoy!
Monday, November 7, 2011
My New New Year's Resolution!
I know, I know it's only November, for once I'm ahead of myself but I'm sure you'll be delighted to hear that any future blogs will be very short and will have some sort of media attatched (once I figure out how to add them) and hopefully won't be all about me (Yippee!)
You must admit though that last blog made up for all the months of waiting (word wise anyway) I'm sure you've had enough of me for another few months!
No Media attatched. That resolution only starts from when I post this one.
PS A very early good morning (it's 1.08) and an even earlier Happy New Year
You must admit though that last blog made up for all the months of waiting (word wise anyway) I'm sure you've had enough of me for another few months!
No Media attatched. That resolution only starts from when I post this one.
PS A very early good morning (it's 1.08) and an even earlier Happy New Year
Guess Who?
Bet you thought I'd up and left for good? Sorry you're not so lucky because yes I'm back all over again. I wasn't wasn't supposed to be writing this because I am supposed to be doing the legitimate writing whenever I get a minute but I had written a piece regarding a discussion on YA Lit I was part of and thought I would share it. So here it is...
I got an invite some weeks ago to partake in a discussion on Young Adult Literature, with the award winning and controversial Melvin Burgess and the award winning Celine Kiernan, what an honour! It all happened on Monday the 17th of October in Pearse Street library, organised by the brilliant Aoife in Children’s Books Ireland, thanks Aoife. It was a bonus that our chair for the evening is one of my favourite people, Niall McMonagle, even if he does ask difficult questions… well maybe not difficult as much as insightful and thought provoking, which made for an interesting chat. It was great to listen to different authors discuss their craft, it’s amazing how much it varies for us all.
I have to apologise that I was stumped when Niall asked about YA authors that we admired. I know, I know, how the hell could I not name anyone? When there are so many brilliant writers out there. My answer is two-fold, firstly because of my fantastically crazy kids, six in total, I get very little time to myself so any moment I have free I write. Reading books is a luxury I’ve had to sacrifice (along with tv, magazines, surfing the web etc) to become an author. I’m sure this will change…someday. Secondly in those rare few moments before sleep or when I cannot sleep I do have a book on creative visualisation and other books on positive motivation, which I dip in and out of, they really help to re-focus and re-energise me when I need it.
The discussion ended all too soon and just in that last moment a lady from the audience posed a very interesting question, ‘were we, the authors, concerned that our books, which all deal with the issue of being gay to different degrees, would prompt people to become gay, even as a passing phase, because it’s fashionable?’ Celine became a tad irate and reminded the woman that there’s nothing wrong with being gay, Melvin laughed and hoped they’d become gay for longer than five minutes, he thought they might even enjoy it and want to be gay for longer. Me, well I didn’t get the chance to answer…until now!!! I think well done to the lady for posing the question, it’s a difficult thing to do in this day and age, especially when we’re supposed to be so PC, considerate, diplomatic, inclusive, inoffensive, liberal, multicultural, non-discriminatory, non-racist, non-sexist, respectful, sensitive etc. We have to remember that the catholic doctrine still believes that it is wrong to be gay and for generations now the Catholic Church has had a lot of power over its many followers, like all religions it doesn’t allow people to question, you accept the teaching of the church and that’s it. It is only in recent years that people have begun to question and stand up to the church. So I don’t think it is the fault of people, who have been forced to believe for years, albeit wrongly, that it is wrong to be gay. But asking and expecting them to suddenly accept the complete opposite is unfair, especially if we are expecting them to accept it without raising their concerns or questions. It is only through reasonable discussion and talking openly about being gay that people will come to understand and accept that love is love regardless of whether it is two girls, two boys or a boy and a girl.
So what do you think? Interesting? It's about to chime midnight so I'm off to my leaba before I turn into a pumkin or something, or was that the coach?
PS Hi Juliette and thanks for looking me up.
I got an invite some weeks ago to partake in a discussion on Young Adult Literature, with the award winning and controversial Melvin Burgess and the award winning Celine Kiernan, what an honour! It all happened on Monday the 17th of October in Pearse Street library, organised by the brilliant Aoife in Children’s Books Ireland, thanks Aoife. It was a bonus that our chair for the evening is one of my favourite people, Niall McMonagle, even if he does ask difficult questions… well maybe not difficult as much as insightful and thought provoking, which made for an interesting chat. It was great to listen to different authors discuss their craft, it’s amazing how much it varies for us all.
I have to apologise that I was stumped when Niall asked about YA authors that we admired. I know, I know, how the hell could I not name anyone? When there are so many brilliant writers out there. My answer is two-fold, firstly because of my fantastically crazy kids, six in total, I get very little time to myself so any moment I have free I write. Reading books is a luxury I’ve had to sacrifice (along with tv, magazines, surfing the web etc) to become an author. I’m sure this will change…someday. Secondly in those rare few moments before sleep or when I cannot sleep I do have a book on creative visualisation and other books on positive motivation, which I dip in and out of, they really help to re-focus and re-energise me when I need it.
The discussion ended all too soon and just in that last moment a lady from the audience posed a very interesting question, ‘were we, the authors, concerned that our books, which all deal with the issue of being gay to different degrees, would prompt people to become gay, even as a passing phase, because it’s fashionable?’ Celine became a tad irate and reminded the woman that there’s nothing wrong with being gay, Melvin laughed and hoped they’d become gay for longer than five minutes, he thought they might even enjoy it and want to be gay for longer. Me, well I didn’t get the chance to answer…until now!!! I think well done to the lady for posing the question, it’s a difficult thing to do in this day and age, especially when we’re supposed to be so PC, considerate, diplomatic, inclusive, inoffensive, liberal, multicultural, non-discriminatory, non-racist, non-sexist, respectful, sensitive etc. We have to remember that the catholic doctrine still believes that it is wrong to be gay and for generations now the Catholic Church has had a lot of power over its many followers, like all religions it doesn’t allow people to question, you accept the teaching of the church and that’s it. It is only in recent years that people have begun to question and stand up to the church. So I don’t think it is the fault of people, who have been forced to believe for years, albeit wrongly, that it is wrong to be gay. But asking and expecting them to suddenly accept the complete opposite is unfair, especially if we are expecting them to accept it without raising their concerns or questions. It is only through reasonable discussion and talking openly about being gay that people will come to understand and accept that love is love regardless of whether it is two girls, two boys or a boy and a girl.
So what do you think? Interesting? It's about to chime midnight so I'm off to my leaba before I turn into a pumkin or something, or was that the coach?
PS Hi Juliette and thanks for looking me up.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
No Excuses!
I've run out of excuses, so lets just skip over the whys of why I haven't written in ages and just get down to the important stuff like did you know that magnetic north has shifted and north really isn't north any more??? Interesting eh? Or that Jupiter's magnetic field is so massive that it pours billions of Watts into Earths magnetic field every day? Or that BROADWAY'S NOT JUST FOR GAYS ANYMORE ?
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