Rafael Mendes & Aisling Walsh on representation and ethics in writing. Is being close to, enough? How do you write about identities, sexualities, lived experience that are not your own? Where are the lines drawn for/at appropriation against a canon that were 'writers' without an added 'other' label?

The interview/chat with Roddy Doyle & Elizabeth Reapy was so chill and enthralling. Roddy is so down to earth and sensible, but his honesty is unusual in this lit-climate. He laughed at a terrible review of his first book, spoke about writing as 'labour' and dissed too much editorial interference.

The Blessing of the Rags and Happy Stigmata at an alternative #Mass at #DoolinWritersWeekend "We'll heal what ails you"...

Lovely cosy storytelling this blustery rainy morning 🥰 Best place to be!

Looking for a Christmas book for children? There are some amazing Irish titles avail for all ages - check out our handy posters for details! From Santa picture books, to snowy verse novels, there is something for every young reader. Reviews here: discoveririshkidsbooks.ie/the-festive-...

Labyrinth, 1991 by Leonora Carrington, UK-born Mexican artist, surrealist painter, and novelist. #womensart

'Heart of the Dragon, Socotra, Yemen' by photographer Beth Moon on her fourteen-year quest to photograph ancient trees of the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa #WomensArt

Thank you so much @rurooie.bsky.social 🥰

Day 4 of #DIKBCHALLENGE25: a book that's perfect for bookclub I feel like a good mystery is always a safe bet for bookclubs, and the intrigue and twists and turns in Arabella Pepper by @ermurray.bsky.social are guaranteed to grip any reader 🔍 #DiscoverIrishKidsBooks @irishkidsbooks.bsky.social

@2waystreet.bsky.social hello lovely! I hope all is well with you 🥰 I feel I’ve lost contact with people a bit with the way social media has changed !

I’ll be facilitating another online Build A Strong Writing Foundation workshop for the Irish Writers Centre starting November 12th This is a generative workshop, designed to build confidence & kickstart a viable writing routine - booking details: irishwriterscentre.ie/courses/buil... Please share! ♥️

And this morning the Shed is a tiny coach, made from a single walnut-shell, and drawn by a team of bumble-bees…

We've got a new Storyshaped podcast episode for you - and it's a banger! We recorded this chat with @kieranlarwood.bsky.social at @ilfdublin.bsky.social earlier this year, and now you can check it out wherever you get your podcasts! @susancahill.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/68Fz...

Went foraging for mushrooms, found samphire instead 🤷‍♀️💙 #westcorklife

When you go to a coffee shop to write for the first time in ages… & forget paper 🤯 very grateful to those with a bit of spare cardboard box & some baking paper 🤩 #oldschool #writingfail #trustmeimapro 😂😂😂

Amrita Sher-Gil, Little Girl in Blue, 1934 Indian modernist painter #WomensArt

and that is the final post transferred onto the Big Bearded Bookseller blog and it was the author interview with @stephencoxauthor.bsky.social and that is all the 97 interviews on the blog now bigbeardedbookseller.uk/questions-fo... #WritersLift #Author #BookSky 💙📚

Was in Finland for August on residency… redrafted a whole book, met some wonderful people, saw some beautiful skies…

If you're an artist based in Ireland, this survey relates directly to you. It'll take three or four minutes, if that (it's actually too short). Please check it out. ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...

My next show is in DUBLIN!! If you fancy having a laugh about some of the absurdities of being a woman & getting older, grab your gal pals, your sisters, your Ma, your daughters and your fellas and come along to the gorgeous Stillgarden Distillery on 12 Sept stillgardenbarbarascully.eventbrite.ie

Another joyous day yesterday at @wcorklitfest.bsky.social interviewing the effervescent @pollyrowena.bsky.social about her fab book, The Company of owls. After which I joined @ermurray.bsky.social at the Bantry Day Cebtre for chats, readings & craic with real wise owls. (Forgot photos there tho)

Pure joy to interview Carol Drinkwater at @wcorklitfest.bsky.social in Bantry last night. Her new novel One Summer in Provence is a warm and thoroughly satisfying read.

It always feels like we’re just getting there in comics breaking into the mainstream in Ireland and the UK, the way they are in other European countries, and yet we never quite reach that tipping point. With reading stamina levels going the way they are, comics really need to be pushed more.

The @wcorklitfest.bsky.social is in full swing until the end of next week. I’m on the ferry to Whiddy a island with Eimear, festival boss and huge book fan, and my friend @ermurray.bsky.social writer.

Come and hear @cauverymadhavan.bsky.social at Bantry Bookshop today (Saturday morning 11.30am) #FreeEvent #WCLF2025 @hoperoadpublish.bsky.social www.westcorkmusic.ie/events/2025/cauvery-madhavan/ www.echolive.ie/corklives/ar...

In fabulous company - I’ve read each book & love them all. Thank you @rurooie.bsky.social & @booksireland.bsky.social for taking the time to read & review #ArabellaPepperBook 💙🧡

This is hardly even parody, especially the last bit.

Almost full moon, Mir space station joined in the fun, sparkling across the sky. The sea was like warm silk, and then midnight Prosecco under the stars. A perfect Wicklow night. 🙂 🏊 🌕 🍾🥂 ✨

*crying in art director* Please please please let your #portfoliday gift to yourself be adding your contact info (email), portfolio (link), and NAME to your socials. Some of you are missing opportunities because we can't reach you!!!!! 🫣

Working on some smaller cityscapes.

Just back from 3 nights in this gorgeous little cottage in another part of West Cork - where myself & Danielle McLaughlin nearly broke our brains doing a final edit of a joint manuscript we’ve been working on, ready for agent feedback.

Did you know that all our children's events are free & feature Irish authors/illustrators? Many are ticketed so book now to avoid disappointment. Our director Eimear is in @echolive.bsky.social talking about our events & joy of kids' books @childrensbooksireland.ie www.echolive.ie/corkviews/ar...

Delighted to see 4 WCLF 2025 authors longlisted for @wainwrightprize.bsky.social for nature writing. @pollyrowena.bsky.social @seanronayne.bsky.social Nature Writing; @helenscales.bsky.social Conservation Writing @ermurray.bsky.social, Children's Fiction wainwrightprize.com/longlist-2025/

If you heard Graham Norton's fab interview with Brendan O'Connor on @rteradio1.bsky.social last Saturday you'll have heard Graham announce this exciting news. Graham Norton and Ryan Tubridy together at WCLF #DreamTeam @echolive.bsky.social www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...

Dear #Booksky. Always looking for new starter packs with people from the book, writing and publishing world in them. Suggestions? I made one myself an age ago, but it's still good... go.bsky.app/6zX28p1

Time for a bit of play 🥰 Filling up the creative well with watercolours 🫟🎨 Most of my hyper focus involves words (reading or writing) so it’s lovely to attend to the world in a different way #notanartist #hobbytime #naturelover

I made some mistakes so you can skip them!

Waterford Poetry Prize 2025 Competition deadline: 15th August 2025 The Waterford Poetry Prize is open to all writers currently living on the island of Ireland. The winners of the Waterford Poetry Prize 2025 will be announced at the closing event of the Waterford Writers Weekend on Sunday, October…

The Eavan Boland Award returns for 2025, inviting early-career poets based in the UK and mid-career poets based in Ireland to apply. ✨✨Competition Deadline: 30th June 2025 Read more: www.writing.ie/writing-comp... @poetryireland.bsky.social

Submissions Call: Ragaire Literary Magazine Submissions deadline: 15th July 2025 Ragaire Literary Magazine: An independent literary magazine showcasing the best of new Irish and international writing. Ragaire is a literary magazine based in Galway. The title ‘Ragaire’ is an old Irish word to…

Curating the Irish Writers Centre by Damien Donnelly Damien Donnelly on his ‘hopes and dreams’ as the Programme Director for The Irish Writers Centre in Dublin. Arriving hot on the heels of my beginning at the Irish Writers Centre (while still producing my journal and podcast series), was our new…

I would appear to have won the European Science Fiction Society Hall of Fame award for Best Author I, hum, am going to need a minute and possibly a drastic reassessment of my self image (Thx @effjayem.bsky.social for tagging me)

Went to meet my sister @erikamcgann.bsky.social afer her event at the #HinterlandFestival in Kells, and ran into Síne Quinn, who was on just after her, so we grabbed a photo and had lunch. The bookshop had a copy of Short Hopeful Guide too, which is cleverly camouflaged against my Trabant t-shirt.

I can't wait to return to this fabulous writer's retreat in France this October. Just three days left to enter #TheMoth short story prize, which offers as 2nd place a week at Circle of Missé, including a travel stipend from anywhere in the world. 🖊 www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?...

Excellent advice here from @ermurray.bsky.social! ✒️ www.writing.ie/resources/wr...

In a #timewarp café in Strokestown where the prices belong to bygone years 😃 When did Dublin last have these prices!?

Thanks to @wgbh.org’s Callie Crossley for inviting me, @jbradley.bsky.social and @adibkhorram.bsky.social on her podcast series about banned books and censorship! We highlighted @authorsabb.bsky.social and talked about how we are fighting censorship. Tune in: www.wgbh.org/culture/book...

Delighted to see my Story Detectives event at West Cork Literary festival has sold out! Looking forward to meeting lots of young readers & writers this July 😍 check out the rest of the festival… there are so many incredible events to choose from! #westcork #arabellapepperbook

we are open for submissions until July 2 surprise us with your nature writing, poetry and essays wingedmoon.com/submit