Writing. Writing a novel - involves spemding time writing a whole lot of words while thinking “I’ll probably cut this out later, this won’t stay in.”

Want to send someone an uplifting gift?

If you are wondering what the hell is going on in life, in the world right now, this might settle your heart, even briefly.

This is not Queen Annie's best work by a long shot but it's still far better than most. You wanna learn how to write proper dialogue, walk this way; not many folk can even dream of doing it as well as she does. A goddess in my little writing world. Read and learn, kidz, read and learn.

open.substack.com/pub/authorjm... “Skin”, my flash fiction offering in the jam packed new issue of Frazzled Lit @frazzledlit.bsky.social

I have a new story out in Frazzled Lit Mag! I’m very fond of this story called The Philosophical Bug based on a song sung to us as children by our Dad. The bug wants to know what is life all about. Read or listen at the link below. Check out the jam packed mag! open.substack.com/pub/authorjm...

Have started listening to the 'Welcome to Jurassic Park' Theme every morning when I wake up, to start the day. Best thing I have ever done for my mental health. Can literally deal with anything after those 7.55mins. Thoroughly recommend.

Looking forward to being one of Deirdre Walsh's guests on @radiokerry.bsky.social 's Talkabout programme today. We'll be chatting about my new novel ONCE A YEAR - what inspired it, what it's about, and where to find it in the Kingdom's brilliant bookshops and libraries #spéirgorm #booksky #Books 💙📚

Delighted to represent writers in Arlen House anthology Fire - Brigid and the Sacred Feminine today in Books Upstairs. Compered by Shauna Gilligan,with an illustrious spectrum of Arlen House authors: Rosemary Jenkinson,Ger Reidy& Celia de Fréine Fire-Brigid and the Sacred Feminine shorturl.at/uZ4em

🎉 ANOTHER PUB DAY!🎉 A new retelling of Tír na nÓg from me and Conor Busuttil, following Niamh as she learns about the beauty of being vulnerable and human. Conor’s artwork is absolutely stunning 🌟 And thank you Huw Davies for the gorgeous animation below!

Come along tomorrow to Books Upstairs at 4pm, we’d love to see you.

Eminently relevant St. Brigid’s weekend reading for a future world writing project. Two Lives of St. Brigid, The Book of St. Brigid, Female Monasticism in Medieval Ireland and Sacred Whore (Sheela Goddess of the Celts). All borrowed from the (public) library.

Wow, this is something. Do you know what they played first?

Patrick Kavanagh’s Self-Portrait published by Dolmen Press was recently returned to Deansgrange library after 47 years! Publishedin 1964 and last issued in 1977 it contains the text of an autobiographical discourse on Telifis Eireann in 1962.

Happy Christmas Eve. Working in the library till lunchtime.

Last year following publication of Random Acts of Optimism short story collection I created an uplifting pack: book, gratitude journal, bamboo pen and nature bookmark. If you would like me to send this lovely gift set to you or a friend, follow link or message me alison-wells.com/purchase-sig...

In the lead up to the #LateLateToyShow, I'm giving personalised book recommendations for the young readers in your life. Just tell me their age (0-18 years) and a bit about their interests and I'll share a book I think they'll love! #BookElves2024 @sarahwebbwriter.bsky.social @rte.ie

The practice of dry stone wall construction in Ireland has been added to UNESCO's list of protected cultural heritages around the world

The meeting of the waters Avoca through a lichen speckled bench.

#EverydayBeauty Bray, Co. Wicklow.

In my library job we work alternate Fridays and Saturdays each week. I had all sorts of plans for my day off today but mainly paired a lot of socks. Here are some of them 🤦‍♀️

Library colleague created a replica of my short story collection Random Acts of Optimism. ❤️❤️❤️ Cover art by Beatrice Mecking.

Secret peek inside the old Dun Laoghaire Carnegie Library which is to be part of an extended IADT campus.

When you find an old photo of your now 22 and 24 year old boys driving their Thomas trains on the garden bench.

Today’s poem is called ‘She’d Dance’.

Have been out of creative writing for quite a while due to Library Masters course and full time work, should I dabble & play or get stuck in to regular writing on half complete or ekse brand new long project?

Mary Cassatt

Really great to be with Books Ireland Magazine reading from Random Acts of Optimism (published by Wordsonthestreet) for The First Page booksirelandmagazine.com/the-first-pa...

Really great to be with Books Ireland Magazine reading from Random Acts of Optimism (published by Wordsonthestreet) for The First Page booksirelandmagazine.com/the-first-pa...

What Was Actually Lost When the Library of Alexandria Burned? www.openculture.com/2022/03/what...

For gift giving season, a lovely ‘Optimism’ gift set for a positive, determined path: My book of short stories Random Acts of Optimism,gratitude & affirmation journal, eco pen & nature/bookmark/ruler. Limited no, I will send immediately to chosen address. alison-wells.com/purchase-sig...

The moon at Dun Laoghaire Harbour 3 years ago tonight.

Please share - New Prize for non-fiction for black women writers, amplifying us as knowledge-makers and critical thinkers. Global scope with a $20,000 award for exceptional work by black cis, trans and genderqueer women. Details here. Judged by Bernadine Evaristo.

Lovely “optimism” package includes my new book Random Acts of Optimism short stories, gratitude/affirmation journal, bamboo pen, nature bookmark. Can post direct as gift. alison-wells.com/purchase-sig...

Really wonderful lift to the day this morning, have had a poem accepted in a journal for the first time. I’ve concentrated on other forms of writing so this is very special.

If you are a little battered and bruised by life, you will love this book - ostensibly for children but full of warmth and love for all the weird stuff and mixed up people in the world - Flora & Ulysses by Kate diCamillo

Competiton! Are you in a book club? I am giving away copies of my short story book Random Acts of Optimism & optional Zoom call. Enter by telling me a bit about your group. Please Repost Thanks! alison-wells.com/2023/10/28/w...

Seaweed hills on Bray beach after the storm.

If you are nosy about other people’s writing & lives, grab litmag Crannòg 59 where I spill the beans on background & process, neuroscience & short collection debuts. With a fabulous host of writers’ stories & poems too crannogmagazine.com

Random Acts of Optimism launch pictures. Fantastic launch w @inkwellHQ & @wordsstreet with the help of @dlrlibraries staff at @dlrLexicon. Thanks to above family &friends, Atrium Writers & book club members at Shankill Library for making it so special. alison-wells.com/2023/10/13/w...

The Memory Jar (Story 3)"In the galley kitchen with the painted white units, Sarah decanted her memories into the jars. Next,she added labels,dating them like her mother's homemade jam or her father's photo album; Summer 2010, Christmas 1989, Autumn 1977." www.amazon.co.uk/Random-Acts-...

Tears today before I collected my 19yo daughter from study session at the National Rehab Hospital in Dun L. She is training to be OT. In 2010 when my daughter was 6, her fabulous, fun Nanna (my MIL) had a devastating stoke age 62 & spent time at NRH, she passed away in 2021. 😪

Random Acts of Optimism launch pictures. Fantastic launch w @inkwellHQ & @wordsstreet with the help of @dlrlibraries staff at @dlrLexicon. Thanks to above family &friends, Atrium Writers & book club members at Shankill Library for making it so special. alison-wells.com/2023/10/13/w...

Authors did you create in depth saga games as a child? We had a long running soap opera using cardboard Bunty cutouts, a real life adventure (boat on real stream) with Playmobil’s and also Fisher Price toy people game of family life.

Last night at our little Carnegie library some children came in dressed in Halloween costumes carrying a cauldron, waited in line until we were free and gave US (library assistants) sweets 🍭 ❤️

Random Acts of Optimism “a crystalline quality to the prose that at times dazzles & at others leaves you gasping for breath,but more than anything it’s the compulsive nature of the storytelling that will have readers unable to put this collection down” Billy O' Callaghan amazon.co.uk/s?k=random+act…

In 2009 writing w 4 children, 9,7,5 & 2 I started blog called Head above Water on how to write alongside busy lives & difficult times, last month my debut short collection was published.On Women Writers,Women’s Books I look at How to Hold On to your Writing Optimism booksbywomen.org/how-to-hold-...

The trouble with being pathologically curious and interested in so many things…How can I write a novel, do a Masters dissertation, work enthusiastically fulltime in libraries and finish reading a bedside bookstack of 60 books in the next few months? Umm…

I think we all just need a bit of a rest. But there’s so many of us that find it hard to stop. Do you remember just tracing the path of raindrops down the windowpane as a child?