Absolutely thrilled to share the cover for my next book, The Cleaner, which is out mid January. 🩸🔑🩸🔑🩸🔑🩸 For those readers who like stories with morally grey characters, intricate plotting with twists and turns, and a smattering of fairy tale weaved in too.

Words To Live By Number 22

Gairm bheatha nach bhfaca mé cheana. Agus gan oiread agus cóip amháin den uimhir fágtha ag bun an leathanaigh - is cosúil go bhfuil ráchairt ar na taibhsí sna bollaí seo.

Bro excitement over “AI” art strikes me as another example of the notion that an “idea” is worth more than execution, as in “I’ll give you my idea, you write it, and we’ll split the proceeds 50/50.” Ideas are cheap. The execution of ideas is the part that takes skill, & skill that makes great art.

Ceann chapaill

It's a win! Childrens books Ireland and KPMG Ireland win best long term partnership at the Business to Arts awards.

Reposting as the Bluesky app does not like the bigger images (or its the .png format) on the android app. Is it too early in my career to be recycling jokes? Is it offensive to compare writers and illustrators to cows? 😀 Anyway, read more Irish Kid’s Books. They are ace. #discoveririshkidsbooks

Happy birthday Mary Shelley! Fondly remembering when @zdarsky.bsky.social uncovered the first edition of Frankenstein.

Popped into Charlie Byrne’s bookshop this morning and I’m loving the #DiscoverIrishKidsBooks display.

Looking forward to following along with the #discoveririshkidsbooks campaign and seeing all the amazing Irish authors and illustrators back in the best selling lists 💚

Sleeping dogs. I bet she’s thinking, these humans are so damn noisy.

revisiting the hunger games this week. gotta tell you, that's some watertight architecture. that's some clear, concise exploration of the mechanics of revolution and war. is it dour as hell at the mockingjay end of things? oh absolutely but it's worth it for the sheer... clarity

Fionnscoth ar bhóthar an phortaigh, Mionloch, inniu. Bláth álainn nach bhfuil feicthe go minic agam.

One of my recent reads is the companion novel to Queen of Coin and Whispers by @hcor.bsky.social - it’s highly enjoyable with courtly intrigue, mythology, a magical adventure and compelling writing of family. Definitely recommend! Preorder now for 4 September.

Or swoon. Either from fright or excessive emotion, or a hot duke or whatever. I’ve fainted many a time but that’s so much duller that swooning.

The person who invites you to Bluesky is the closest thing we have to vampire sires.

Argh!! Am editing and for the second time today the power in our area has inexplicably cut out. I haven’t saved the last ten minutes of fine tuning. Going to scream into the abyss.

Sár imeartas focail mar theidil ar iris Children's Books Ireland - treise leo.

Skating

The best girl.

Who’s watching Eurovision?

A lone whitethorn (or hawthorn) in the middle of a field is a faerie tree. Cutting them down is not recommended because that will anger the faeries. This is my favourite whitethorn, with its gorgeous burst of white every May.

I ran some storytelling workshops for children this week for Cuírt Festival and was so impressed by their creativity.

"There’s something about a woman’s rage that feels very old, very primal. A man’s rage may be more physical, but a woman’s rage is born from centuries of violence. It calls across cultures. It calls across race. It is old, and hungry, and dark, and does not know its power. Yet."

Last night in the garden.

Found this guy among the apple blossoms.

Apple blossoms

Late, I know, but I finally started watching Dark and it’s so good! I’m loving the time bending and small community vibes. Anything else like this?

Blue gentians on nearby limestone hillside.