New Year New Writing Goals

Today is the fourteenth of January, two weeks into a beautiful New Year. Time to take stock of our writing goals and plan for the future. We face the blank page, word by word, line by line the page fills and we are once again anchored in our writing life. We check out closing dates of competitions and possibility opens. We dream, we allow our minds to wander, excitement fills us and we begin to create in our own unique way. 

Start your writing year today and may 2016 be a wonderful year of writing for you!

                                              

Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book of the Year

Congratulations to Louise O'Neill who has just won the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book of the Year award for her novel Asking for It. Last year Louise won the title of Newcomer of the Year at the awards for her debut novel Only Ever Yours. We wish Louise continued success with her writing career! 

                                    

Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize

Closing date for the Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize competition is fast approaching: 31st December 2015. There is no line limit and entry fee is €12. This years first prize is €10,000 with three further prizes of €1000, and will be judged by Billy Collins. For further details check out www.themothmagazine.com or write to The Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize, c/o The Moth, Ardan Grange, Milltown, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland.

                       

Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award

Congratulations to J. P. Dunleavy who won the prestigious Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent Irish Book Awards. Previous winners of this award include Maeve Binchy, Seamus Heaney, and John Banville to name but a few.

Check out the recent winners of the Irish Book Awards at www.irishbookawards.ie and vote for your overall book of the year before 17th  December 2015!

                                      

Costa Book Awards 2015

The shortlist for the 2015 Costa Book Awards has just been announced. I am delighted to see that Anne Enright's The Green Road and Sara Baume's Spill Simmer Falter Wither are included on the shortlist. The winner will be announced on the 4th January 2016 and each category winner will receive £5000.00. For further details and information check out www.costabookawards.com!

                                          

Irish Book Awards 2015

The Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards 2015 shortlist was announced earlier this month. Hundreds of books were submitted this year and the public are being asked to cast their vote on the best books via www.bgeirishbookawards.ie. So let your voice be heard and cast your vote before midnight November 20th 2015!

                                                 

Dublin Book Festival

The 2015 Dublin Book Festival takes place this weekend, the 12th - 15th November. Guest speakers include Kevin Barry, Judi Curtin, Claire Kilroy, Donal Ryan and Ian Sansom. A wide variety of events are planned for the weekend including literary walking tours, book launches, children & young writers workshops and a live broadcast of RTE Radio 1's Arena programme. For further details and bookings check out www.dublinbookfestival.com