Aspects Festival talks Literary Festivals Programmes on 30th Sept 9-10pm GMT.

Aspects Festival website and details for 2018 events.

Chat on 30th August will be with programme and festival director Patricia Hamilton. 

Topic – Programmes for Literary Festivals. 

T1. What literary festivals do you like to attend? Hope to attend?

T2. What events do you/would you like to see at literary festivals?

T3. Do you speak at events and how do you get involved? 

T4. What are the advantages of attending festivals and events?

T5. Share the links to your writing events with us and pls RT Aspects website and details too. Thank you. 

Closing thoughts. 

The next #Writerswise will be with Maria Hoey on Writing Compelling Characters on 6th Sept.

 

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Vivian Conroy back with us Talking Surviving being published & beyond.’ 9th August. 9-10pm GMT.

@Vivwrites. Vivian Conroy will celebrate the release of her new book with us.

The Butterfly Conspiracy.  Her 10th book!!!! YES 10th. 

The Butterfly Conspiracy

Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell mysteries comes the enchanting series debut from Vivian Conroy, The Butterfly Conspiracy.

In late Victorian times, when new inventions cause both excitement and terror, a mysterious death at a zoological lecture brings together two unlikely allies in a quest through London’s upper crust and underbelly to unravel the ingenious murder method and killer behind it.

Miss Merula Merriweather is not like other women her age: instead of hunting for a husband at balls and soirees she spends her time in a conservatory hatching exotic creatures. As the Royal Zoological Society won’t accept a woman’s accomplishments, she has her uncle Rupert take credit for her achievements. But at a zoological lecture, the guest of honor dies after contact with one of Merula’s butterflies, and Merula’s uncle is arrested for murder.

In an attempt to safeguard evidence to prove his innocence, Merula almost gets killed but for the timely interference of enigmatic Lord Raven Royston. Viewing natural history as a last resort to regain respectability lost by too many dubious business investments, Raven didn’t expect his first lecture to take a murderous turn. Feeling partially responsible because he encouraged Merula to release the gigantic butterfly from the glass case in which it was kept, Raven suggests they solve the puzzle of Lady Sophia’s sudden death together by looking closer at her relations with estranged friends, long suffering staff and the man groomed to be her heir, so close to her money and yet unable to touch any of it.

With the police looking for them, and every new discovery raising more questions than answers, especially about the murder method which left no traces of foul play on the body, Merula will have to risk her own life to get at the truth and save her uncle from the gallows in The Butterfly Conspiracy, Vivian Conroy’s enchanting series debut.

 

We are taking the topic ‘Surviving being published and beyond.’

T1. How do you know what idea to run with?

T2. Who do you listen to?

T3. Where can you find opportunities?

T4. How do you celebrate milestones?

T5. What makes publishing nerves easier and how to survive the stress?

Closing Thoughts. Next #WritersWise coming soon. 

 

Viv has planned her responses in this lovely graphic. 

Bernie McGill talks ‘Historical fiction and short story writing.’ Thurs 28th June.

Topic is; Historical fiction and short story writing.

introductions and hullos.

T1 Do you write short stories or longer fiction? Both? Why?

T2. Tips for writing short stories? Have we any?

T3 What draws you to historical fiction?

T4 What draws you to a particular location?

T5 What are you working on now?

CT – Closing thoughts.

Guest-host is Bernie McGill.

Bernie McGill is the author of Sleepwalkers, a collection of stories short-listed in 2014 for the Edge Hill short story prize, and of The Butterfly Cabinet (named in 2012 by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes as his novel of the year). Her latest novel, The Watch House, is set on Rathlin Island in 1898 at the time of the Marconi wireless experiments. She has been published in the UK, the US and in translation in Italy and the Netherlands. Her work has been placed in the Seán Ó Faoláin, the Bridport, and the Michael McLaverty short story prizes and she won the Zoetrope: All-Story award in the US in 2008. Her short fiction has appeared in acclaimed anthologies The Long Gaze Back, The Glass Shore and Female Lines, all by New Island Books, and for the theatre she has written The Haunting of Helena Blunden and The Weather Watchers. She works as a Creative Writing facilitator, as a Writer in Schools with Poetry Ireland, and as a Professional Mentor with the Irish Writers’ Centre. In September 2018 she takes up a Fellowship with the Royal Literary Fund at Queen’s University, Belfast.

www.berniemcgill.com

Evie Gaughan talks ‘Being a Hybrid Author.’ 21st June 9-10pm.

Evie Gaughan is a novelist and lives in the medieval city of Galway, on the West Coast of Ireland. Her books are an eclectic mix of genres, incorporating her love of history, folklore and finding magic in the everyday. She graduated from the Universite de Paul Sabatier, Toulouse with a marketing diploma in 1996 and spent the next few years working abroad and discovering that she didn’t like marketing one bit. Evie abandoned the corporate world to follow her dream of becoming a writer and an artist. Since then, she has written two novels, The Heirloom and The Mysterious Bakery On Rue De Paris, and contributes articles to The Irish Times and Women Writers, Women’s Books.

Her third novel, The Story Collector, was published by Urbane this month (June 18).

 

Topic for the chat is – Being a Hybrid Author. 

Introductions and hullos. 9pm. Questions are posted at intervals until Closing thoughts at 10pm.

T1. What is a hybrid author?

T2. Benefits of self-publishing?

T3. Benefits of traditional publishing?

T4. Who can become a hybrid?

Closing thoughts.

Next #WritersWise in on 28th June with Bernie McGill on literary fiction.

‘How to write strong characters,’ with Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin @inkwell_HQ/@Samblakebooks on 14th June 9-10pm GMT.

Topic for Thursday 14th June is, ‘How to write strong characters.’

Transcript of tweet-chat

Introductions and if you have a protagonist tell us their name (or just gender and age)

T1. What are their (3) strengths and (3) weaknesses?

T2. In fiction, which characters have you loved, or hated?

T3. As a reader, what makes a well-rounded character?

T4. What are your tips for developing strong characters?

Closing thoughts.

Our guest-host is Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, who is founder of The Inkwell Group, a publishing consultancy and also of the hugely popular national writing resources website, Writing.ie.

Vanessa is also Ireland’s leading literary scout who has assisted many award winning authors and best-selling authors to publication. 

Vanessa is also #1 Best-selling author under her pseudonym Sam Blake. www.samblakebooks.com The third in her trilogy, ‘No Turning Back’, came out on May 17th and is available HERE

‘Trying to build a writing life? What might help?’ #WritersWise With #Indulgeinwriting @sharontwriter on 7th June 9-10pm.

 

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

On Thursday 7th June, #WritersWise co-founder, Sharon Thompson will chat about ‘Building your Writing life’. All writers are welcome to join in from 9-10pm.

Introduction and T1. What is your writing life like? Describe it and share it here.

T2. What helps you most in building your writing life?

T3. What pitfalls made you stumble in creating your writing life?

T4. Where did you start or what would you recommend to those starting out?

T5. Are there any links, groups, events you’d recommend to other writers? Pls Share.

Closing thoughts.

Sharon Thompson @sharontwriter, is a number one best-selling author and she has started a writing group called Indulgeinwriting. It’s aim is to help writers to build their writing lives.

#Indulgeinwriting is an exclusive network of writers.

Connect with established and establishing writers. Have real, sustained support at your finger-tips from those who ‘get writing’. Join our wonderful community for links and expert opinions on writing and getting published.

Build your writing life and #Indulgeinwriting.

Contact us.

• Meet writers who have succeeded in their writing careers, those who write for pleasure and those who are on the road to publication.
• Hear, see and learn skills from established people in the writing industry.
• Network and build your writing CV/brand.
• Have access to private social media forums for tips and opinions.
• Establish your social media networks and expand your knowledge of writing.
• Simply indulge your passion for writing.

Check out the full website www.indulgeinwriting.com and join in the #Writerwise tweet-chat. Check out #indulgeinwriting You-tube for some of the material that is available to members.

Next #WriterWise is on 14th June with Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin @inkwellHQ

 

 

‘How to use twitter effectively as a writer.’ 31st May with @Pauldunphy

Transcript of the chat with Paul Dunphy.

We have the king of social media, Paul Dunphy with us on the 31st, to discuss ‘How to use twitter effectively as a writer.’

Our questions to frame the conversation from 9-10pm GMT, are;

Introductions and hullos.

T1 Do you pin a tweet? Why you should?

T2 How often to tweet, retweet?

T3 Best times of the day to tweet?

T4 Why you should tweet about other interests besides books!?

Closing thoughts. (CT)

We are thrilled to have a social media consultant with such experience join us on #WritersWise. Paul works with writers a great deal and he has a free slot for a new client at the moment, so book him now, you won’t regret it! More at www.pauldunphyesquire.com

Paul Dunphy Esquire. 

Paul has over 20 years experience in all forms of media and branding.  Having worked with the charity sector for 14 years as a Media and Communications Executive, he has a wealth of experience of using all forms of media.  Paul then went out on his own 6 years ago and after building up his own brand online in particular on Twitter, he then started his own social media business www.pauldunphyesquire.com as he loves social media so much.

Paul is a social media consultant and curator and you can find out all about what he can do for you at his new webpage www.pauldunphyesquire.com

Using acquired experience, Paul can guarantee to make you social media soar, using his positivity and fun to guarantee success.  As one of his endorsements Gavin Duffy from Dragons Den says ‘In a world filled with noise, Paul brings an energy and humour to the social media platform worth listening to. Paul’s voice online is discerning, clever and smart. He can engage with multiple voices creating fun, lively conversations worth listening too.” 

More endorsements on his webpage from author Marian Keyes, broadcaster Tom Dunne and others.

Join us to chat with Paul on May 31st, for a whole, free hour!

Thank you in advance Paul and ….

Our next #WritersWise chat will be with Lorna Sixsmith on the 7th June.

Andrea Mara on ‘Writing a Second Book.’ 17th May 9-10pm GMT.

 Transcript of the chat with Andrea Mara.

Podcast summary of the chat with Andrea by #WritersWise co-founder Sharon Thompson.

Topic – ‘Writing that second book’  on #Writerswise 17th May.

Introductions and hullos.

T1. Are second books really a challenge – is the “difficult second album” thing true?

T2. Do readers expect more of the same or want something different?

T3. What are the pitfalls when writing a second book?

T4. Is the book promotion side of it easier second time around?

Closing Thoughts.

Who is the guest-host? 

Andrea Mara is a freelance writer, author, and blogger, who lives in Dublin with her husband and three young children. She writes lifestyle features for Irish newspapers and magazines, and has won a number of awards for blogging. She attempts – often badly – to balance work, family, and writing, then lets off steam on her blog, OfficeMum.ie. 

Her first book, The Other Side of the Wall (Poolbeg Press) and was published in 2017 and shortlisted for the Kate O’Brien Award in 2018.  Her second book One Click is out now in bookstores and on Amazon.

One Click

One photo couldn’t hurt, could it?

Publication date: May 1st (Poolbeg Press)

Amazon link here

When Lauren takes a photo of a stranger on a beach and shares it online, she has no idea what will come of that single click.

Her daughters are surprised that she posted a photo without consent, but it’s only when she starts to get anonymous messages about the woman on the beach that she deletes the photo. It’s too little too late, and the messages escalate, prompting Lauren to confess to the woman. The woman has her own dark story, one that might explain the messages, but Lauren isn’t convinced. Then her ex-husband begins to harass her, telling her she shares too much online and brought this on herself.

She’s also dealing with other problems. A difficult client at work – one who starts to show up in places he shouldn’t be. Her younger daughter is behaving out of character and Lauren can’t work out what’s wrong. And the cracks are literally beginning to show in her old South Dublin house, mirroring the cracks in her carefully curated life.

Meanwhile, the messages from the internet troll become more personal and more vindictive. Her friends feel she should stand up to her stalker, but Lauren isn’t so sure. And then she makes one small mistake that brings everything tumbling down.

Our next chat is on May 31st with Paul Dunphy Esq the fabulous social media and marketing guru!

 

 

Writing Across Genres. It CAN be done. Sharon Dempsey joins us 26th April.

Writing Across Genres Transcript of chat with Sharon Dempsey.

 

Sharon Dempsey writes across many genres and will delve into how we all can do it. The pitfalls and the ways to do it well, will be covered in the hour long chat, on 26th April 9-10pm.

Sharon Dempsey is a Belfast based writer of fiction and non-fiction books, with four health books published. Her crime debut Little Bird was released July 2017 with Bloodhound Books. Her contemporary fiction novel, A Posy of Promises, will be published by Bombshell Books in June.

She facilitates therapeutic creative writing classes for people affected by cancer and other health challenges and runs a creative writing group for young people, called Young Scribblers, at the Crescent Arts Centre. She tutors at Queen’s University and Stranmillis College. She has written for a variety of publications and newspapers, including the Irish Times.

Sharon is working on the follow up to Little Bird and a collection of dark short stories.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharon-Dempsey/e/B001JP4MYK

Social media info:

Twitter @svjdempz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharondempseybooks/

Blog: www.1stchapterdempsey.wordpress.com

Topic is; ‘Writing across genres. You can do it and how to.’

Introductions and hullos.

T1. What genres do you read and write in?

T2. What are the advantages of reading/writing across genres?

T3. What pitfalls are there to writing in many genres?

T4. What tips could you give to write across genres?

T5. How can readers help writers who write across genres?

Closing Thoughts. (CT)

 

 

 

 

 

Historical Fiction tweet-chat Thurs 5th April @CarolineBusher.

On Thursday 5th April 9-10 pm GMT and 4-5pm ET Caroline Busher will talk historical fiction with us. Her recent appearance on the TV3 Ireland AM couch to talk about children’s literature is testament to her rising profile.

Question for the chat are;

Introductions – hullos and what you write/read/want to say.

T1. When writing historical fiction, how much research should you conduct?

T2.  How do you decide which period in history to write about?

T3. Do you have to write about well known figures/events for your book to be a success?

T4. How relevant is historical fiction to the modern reader?

Closing Thoughts.

Details about Caroline are;
Author, Heritage Expert – The Heritage Council – Heritage in Schools Scheme
Festival Manager – Towers and Tales – Lismore Castle. Vice Chair – Wexford Literary Festival

www.carolinebusher.wordpress.com

https://twitter.com/CarolineBusher

https://www.instagram.com/carolinebusher

Caroline is an experienced tweet-chatter with us, so this will be a frantic, fun-filled hour. She’s a children’s literary expert and her beautiful book ‘The Girl Who Ate the Stars’ is out now! 

Cuan wakes from her sleep. She has claws like daggers and glowing amber eyes. Her dress is made from the petals of black roses and she wears a necklace made of thorns. An ill wind blows, and a pack of bloodthirsty wolves appears….

As World War 11 rages, Lottie and Albert Hope are evacuated from England. They are sent to Kilbree, a village in Ireland where nothing is as it seems.

A German bomb is dropped in error there by a young pilot. It opens a portal to another world, Wolf Land, which is ruled by the evil Deathhound and his Werewolf Warriors.

Lottie and Albert, together with their gypsy friend Blaise and the pilot Gunther cross the portal to that savage world.

They are on a mission. They must find Wolf Girl call Cuan a girl with two hearts, one human,one wolf, who eats the stars to survive. In a race against time, they must rescue her from Wold Land.

A terrifying future awaits them all if the portal between the two worlds closes forever.

Buy Here.

 

Contemporary Crime Fiction with @MrDBLyons on 22nd Thurs 9-10pm. Launching his debut novel ‘Midday’ with us.

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/ycjcda2j

Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/y9wvk9zw

Bio:

David B. Lyons is a former award-winning journalist-turned-author. He is a writer of psychological thrillers, the first of which – Midday – was compared to the writing of Quentin Tarantino by Bookstormer: “For me he is the Tarantino of the book world.” Not a bad start to life as an author! He signed a three-book publishing deal with Bloodhound Books at the tail end of 2017.

David grew up in Dublin – the city his novels are set – but currently spends his time between Birmingham in the UK and the Irish capital. He is married to a Brummie, Kerry, and they have one daughter, Lola.

He has also lectured in Creative Writing in colleges and universities in both Ireland and in the UK.

Follow David here:
Twitter: @MrDBLyons
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorDavidBLyons/

Topic is ‘Contemporary Crime fiction and Submitting’.

Intro/Hullos and what you like to read/write.

T1. What contemporary crime fiction do you read/write?

T2. What are the advantages of writing contemporary fiction in general.

T3 What is difficult about contemporary fiction?

T3. Where do you submit contemporary crime fiction?

T5. Tips for submitting in this genre are…

Closing thoughts. (CT)

Transcript of David’s chat on contemporary crime fiction.

Next #WritersWise is with Caroline Busher on 5th April.