Christmas at Coney

Yesterday morning we held our Coney Christmas celebrations. Proceedings kicked off with coffee and festive muffins - (cranberry and orange :-))

After catching up on news with Maddie, Mairi, Moira, Rhonda and Fionnuala a gobblefunking, grisliping workshop was followed by a delicious Christmas lunch - thanks to Nick and Sophie.

googling

Oh the power of the internet! Sometimes its worth doing a google search. When I did so earlier I discovered I was shortlisted in a writing competition at the beginning of this year and never heard about it! http://www.wordsmag.com/howitwentdec16.html

Remembering and looking forward

What a lovely day I had yesterday in Belfast. In the morning I attended a SCBWI meeting. Over coffee and traybakes/ cakes (ALWAYS required for writers!) it was lovely, along with my writing friend Mairi, to meet and get to know fellow children's writers Vicky, Jill, Jenny, Jacqui, Helen and Kelly.

 

It was so inspiring to hear what they've all written/ are writing and to make plans. I'm looking forward to our next get-together already!

After browsing (and making an obligatory book purchase) it was good to stop off for a relaxing lunch in the Ulster Museum (and a browse and purchase or three in their shop).

It was especially poignant to be there on Armistice Day and see the wonderful falling poppies exhibition currently on display.

 

The afternoon was spent at the launch of Sheena Wilkinson's new book 'Star by Star' in No Alibis bookshop, with yet another purchase...

Complete with star shaped biscuits, this was another inspiring event, where Anna Lo, Siobhan Parkinson and Sheena all spoke and Sheena read an excerpt from her book from 11th November 1918.

And the day only got better as I took the chance to start reading Sheena's new book on the way home on the train.

 



I've had some of my poems included in a new anthology

I'm delighted to have five of my poems included in this new anthology from A New Ulster - The Hidden and The Divine - Female Voices in Ireland

You can read them here - pages 56-61



https://issuu.com/amosgreig/docs/anu_women_s_anthology_2017

Striking gold!

Woohoo! I heard late yesterday that my story 'Stepping Out' was chosen for the 'Gold' issue of Sixteen magazine . You can read it here.

http://sixteen.ie/stepping-out-morna-sullivan/

shortlisted poet

I was delighted to pick up my certificate from the 5th Bangor Poetry competition on Friday. Thanks to Amy and Paul for organising this great event again this year.

chocanana muffins

Chocanana muffins on a Saturday morning can only mean one thing - writing fuel for Coney writers! It was good to be back at a writing workshop yesterday with Maddie, Rhonda and Fionnuala.  It's always exciting to catch up on our writing news (and other news!). We had a productive discussion around dialogue, while we ate shortbread and muffins. Altogether a fruitful morning - especially when it was rounded off by some retail therapy!