Cover Reveal(s)!!!

The last couple of weeks have been busy, coinciding with schools returning and summer ending. Interspersed among several rejections I've received, there have been some high points. These included two Zoom sessions - one with SCBWI Ireland members (the first catch up since the beginning of the summer) and a very informative webinar about children's publishing hosted by Golden Egg Academy.

But even better, within a few days I saw the cover of not one, but two books soon to be launched which I have work included in. The first one is for 'Underneath the Tree' an anthology of Christmas stories which launches in November.

I think the cover is beautiful. The book is now available to pre-order on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Underneath-Tree-Christmas-stories-Northern-ebook/dp/B08HNB1KBY/ref=redir_mobile_desktop/257-1153980-2021622?ie=UTF8&qid=1600603952&ref_=tmm_kin_title_0&sr=8-1

The second cover is for 'Places of Poetry - Mapping the Nation in Verse' a poetry anthology containing 200 poems imbued with a strong sense of journey and discovery from across the UK. Again a beautiful and simple cover. This project has been shortlisted for 'Research Project of the Year: Humanities and Social Sciences ' at THE Awards and this gorgeous book will be launched on 1st October by the Poetry Society.

I'm looking forward to the launch for each book and holding these books in my hands.

National Read A Book Day

There seems to be a day to celebrate all sorts of events and occasions nowadays, some of which are quite obscure.  I discovered earlier today that it is National Read A Book Day which probably should really be celebrated every single day. Thankfully as it fell at the weekend there was a bit more time to read, so I marked the occasion by indulging in some quality 'me' time today, sitting down with a coffee and a chocanana muffin (left over from yesterday's virtual  writing group meeting - and still yummy)

 and enjoying  more of the book I'm currently reading 'Vanilla Beans and Brodo' by Isabella Dusi.  I haven't been able to travel to Italy this summer, so this book has been the perfect way of transporting me to the heart of Tuscany without the hassle of queues, masks and quarantine. So for a couple of hours I was there today - enjoying the sights and sounds of Lent preparations, picking jonquils and Tuscan football matches - bliss! Can't wait to read more...

Places of Poetry

Earlier this year I heard that my poem 'Riverdance' was going to be included in the 'Places of Poetry: Mapping the Nation in Verse' anthology. The poem, about the River Lagan won first prize in the Lagan Navigation Trust's first ever Storymaking Festival a couple of years ago http://www.lagannavigationtrust.org/1st-annual-story-making-festival-2018/

This new anthology which is launched on 1st October features poems about places throughout the United Kingdom, and I'm delighted that my poem will be one representing Northern Ireland. https://www.placesofpoetry.org.uk/About/

Last weekend I had fun recording a poetry reading on the banks of the Lagan as part of the promotional work for the forthcoming launch. Watch this space for more news!