Back in the groove

June has been a busy month with lots of writing related activities, and I'm pleased to say some writing too. Last weekend I managed to quickly pop back down to The Secret Bookshelf to pick up an order. It will definitely keep me occupied for a while.

Later I took advantage of the sunshine to sit outside in the garden and get on with some writing. We were due back at Coney Island yesterday so there was homework to be done in advance.

I had fun completing the task, writing a new short story which I shared with the group yesterday. It needs a bit more work but it is still a first draft. It was good to get feedback on it from my writing pals over coffee and rhubarb and ginger muffins (they were yummy).

We shared our writing news, gave feedback to each other on our work, made plans, did some writing exercises using some picture prompts and had a thoroughly enjoyable morning, despite the sun not joining us. It rounded off a busy month which has seen me getting back into my writing groove.

How many books is too many books?

It's been a busy week with some inspiring events at the Belfast book festival, catching up with writing friends and independent book shop week kicking off. 

The good news is that being in the company of successful writers, supportive writing friends and LOTS of books has got me back to my writing again after a break. During the week I took some time to dust off a manuscript I hadn't looked at for more than six months and I'm back working on it again. 

I also had a poetry acceptance from The Dirigible Balloon for my poem 'Waiter! I am most disgusted!' This couldnt have come at a better time, as I get back to my writing.

I also managed to acquire a pile of new books - well eleven, to be precise, during the last week, along with a lovely goody bag yesterday when I visited The Secret Bookshelf.

Now to find time to read them all..............

Mingling with Writing Royalty

I've spent the most amazing day at the Belfast Book Festival today. I mingled with and met writing royalty. The first session I attended today was Dame Jacqueline Wilson talking to a sold out room about her writing journey and her latest books. 

It was an absolute joy to listen to her, to watch how she engaged with young and older fans and a privilege then to later meet her and chat about her writing.

Alongside catching up with some of my writing friends today, it was also lovely to finally meet some of the Children's Books Belfast group - Clive, Colleen and Ashling - in person. After lunch we had fun at Colleen Larmour and Ashling Lindsay's session hearing them read from their newest picture books.

They are both very talented illustrators - I'm not so sure the same could be said for the attempts I made in the creative session they led that followed. But it certainly gave Marianne McShane, Myra Zepf and I a laugh. My attempts are below:

Later the whole room - from the youngest to the oldest - was enthralled as Martin Waddell read some of his picture books to the audience and talked about how he created these books.

I've been a fan of his writing since I was a teenager. At school I chose one of his books, written under the Catherine Sefton pseudonym, 'In a Blue Velvet Dress' as a prize. It was a delight to meet him afterwards and ask him to sign that book.

Altogether it was an amazing day celebrating children's writers.

Volunteers' Week

This week the contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK is being celebrated during Volunteers Week.

I've been volunteering with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) as Regional Adviser for Ireland for almost 18 months.

I've made good friends in SCBWI over the years as a member so it's been good to be able to give something back to this supportive community.

Volunteering is a two way street  - it's a chance to give back and support communities and organisations by giving up some of your free time and using your skills and experience to benefit an organisation.

I'm able to bring my planning and organisation skills, budgeting, people management and presentation skills to name but a few to help grow and support our region and lead its volunteer team.

Yes it means I'm spending my time organising 'stuff' for SCBWI when I could otherwise be writing. But I see it as time well spent as I'm helping other writers in developing our local writing community. Writing can be a lonely occupation, so this makes it all the more important to try to build up supportive communities.

A typical week can see me spending a few hours of my spare time doing 'admin' work for SCBWI, planning our next events, developing and issuing our monthly newsletter, getting to grips with how the back end of the website works and developing Web pages to advertise our events, answering members' email queries, updating our social media feeds or interviewing the Managing Director of a publishing house as one of our sessions for members.

I'm really fortunate to lead a willing and supportive volunteer team who are based across the island of Ireland. They also give up their time in supporting Illustrators' queries, keeping our social media presence current, running critique groups and in organising and hosting our in - person meet ups across Ireland. They all have busy lives too - some working full-time as well as having caring responsibilities.

Thank you team - you are all amazing!

Amazing Amigos

The sun welcomed us back to Coney Island like an old friend when we caught up there again yesterday. 

We'd lots to catch up on, hearing news and developments from each other while we enjoyed strawberry muffins and other sweet treats and coffee. (My fellow writers don't seem to mind trying out my muffin experiments!)

It was good to re-engage our writing muscles when we did a few writing exercises. As always I came away encouraged and enthused as we talked about our writing and made plans.

I never fail to be amazed at just how powerful reconnecting with other writers can be in inspiring me to put pen to paper. 

Coming back to Writing

After a bit of a hiatus due to life events, this week I've been enthused with writing again. Being in the company of other writers, receiving good news, getting back to the theatre and engaging with publishers have all helped.

Last weekend I met up with our SCBWI Ireland Belfast social group. Over coffee we chatted and shared tips and our experiences of submitting our work to publishers and collectively enthused each other.

During the week I attended a couple of performances as part of the Ulster Drama Festival. The standard of acting was extremely high in The Actress by Peter Quilter performed by Bart Players. We were moved and entertained.

And I received unexpected good news during the week from Jonathan Humble, editor of The Dirigible Balloon. I've had a few of my children's poems published on this website, so I was excited to open an email telling me one of these poems has been selected to be included in a forthcoming anthology to be published later this year.

https://dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Exciting-News-From-The-Balloon

I'm honoured that my poem 'Calendar Countdown' will feature alongside the work of other children’s poets, including Michael Rosen and Philip Ardagh. Having met Michael a few years ago at a poetry event, I'm still amazed that my words will be printed in a publication alongside his work. And the best news is that profit from sales of the anthology (out at the end of 2024) will be donated to Juvenile Arthritis Research (UK charity no 1091620).

Last night I facilitated our SCBWI Ireland zoom meeting with Ivan O'Brien from the O'Brien Press. Our members heard Ivan willingly and openly share his experience and tips on Getting Published. It was fun, enlightening and inspiring. I'm delighted that several of our members are now going to sumbit their work as a result of our engagement with Ivan. Now, to dust off that manuscript.....

Cupcakes and Chums

I caught up with a few writing chums last night at the book launch of one of our mutual friend's new YA novel. Jenny Ireland's second novel 'The Boy Next Door' was published earlier in the week by Penguin.  We gathered last night at The Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast to celebrate Jenny's achievement.

Jenny spoke eloquently about her illness and the inspiration behind this novel before reading from it. Later we tucked into delicious cupcakes  - some with a mini book cover made of icing and others that reflected the gorgeous colours in the book cover design. They tasted even better than they looked!

Having got my copy of the novel from The Secret Bookshelf who were at the launch, I queued to get it signed with so many others at the packed event.

Events like this encourage and inspire other writers. They remind me why I enjoy writing and also that writers are among the best people about. Thanks to Marianne McShane for posting this fun photo on Children's Books Belfast instagram account - we really had the best time.