Book Lovers Day(s)

Yesterday was celebrated as Book Lovers Day (to me that should really be every day) but with 9th August falling at the weekend, it meant there was a little bit more time to enjoy book related activities. With the main focus encouraging people to take some time out to read, I managed to get a few hours in the garden relaxing and reading.

I also took time to love books I've contributed to and work on new book related projects. I celebrated having some of my work published in 'Yarns', the Ulster Scots Agency's anthology. It was an honour to be asked to take part in BBC Radio Ulster's Kintra programme celebrating this publication. Tonight the programme we recorded last week aired. It is available on BBC sounds for the next few weeks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002gx8d

We had fun gathering round the table, chatting about the opportunities 'Yarns' provides, talking about our Ulster Scots influences and reading our work. 'Yarns' has been a great encouragement to new writers in Ulster-Scots, while also building a supportive writing community.  

And as well as working on my submission for the next call out, I've had fun working on another writing project. Further news on that in the coming weeks, but in the meantime here's the latest writing-related work in progress......

Bletherin about Books

Earlier this week I took part in a fun project. I'd been asked to participate in the recording of a special BBC Radio Ulster Kintra programme celebrating the Ulster Scots Agency's 'Yarns' publication.

On Thursday evening we gathered round a big dining room table for a blether about our writing and 'Yarns'.

I have two poems included in the fourth edition of 'Yarns'. It was an honour to be asked to participate in this special Kintra programme and great to see behind the scenes and appreciate all the production work involved in an episode of Kintra. I'm looking forward to hearing the programme when it airs in a few weeks' time.

More blethering took place yesterday seated round another big dining table when I was back at Coney with writing pals. With mugs of tea and coffee and my rhubarb and ginger muffins, we caught up on news - what we're working on, what we've been doing since we last met, writing workshops we've attended  - made plans and did some research and some writing.

And we were so busy blethering, we didn't notice the sun had come out - 'Ye cannae beat a cup of tea an a guid wee blether'.